Two for Today: First YJ51PZZ

I am working my way through a load of photo CDs to sort out my archives so will be running a new series of photo posts from the archives as I come across them!  We start with a couple of photos of YJ51PZZ

First Devon & Cornwall 4624 April 2003 in as new Barbie livery

Two years later in September 2005 it now carries fleet number 40570 and the red Over ground branding that First tried for a while.The whole effect rather spoilt by the advert. 

The end of a Wright old saga

Its funny. I have always hated these buses. With a few exceptions they hate hills, are noisy and most of them have really uncomfortable seats. I like the look of them, the Wright body is a bit of a classic design, but the whole product is poor and not a good example of what can be done. I have so many photos of these buses as they have been mainstay of the Plymouth fleet since they were new back in a time when First were still buying regular batches of new buses for us down here.

However, for the first time ever I was kind of hoping to get a few shots of these today. When you take a photo of one of your local buses you never know if it will be the last photo you get of that bus. Well today may well be the last time for these buses, and a few others I caught on camera today. I cant imagine may other First Group companies will want them.

I thought I would be glad to see the back of these buses.

 

Now its about to actually happen I have to admit I might actually miss them. Just a tiny little bit.

 

© Nick Rice (cc) December 2013

Incoming First B6BLE and Solos

First Devon & Cornwall have had a few "new" buses arrive in Plymouth recently:
48210 V810EFB Volvo B6BLE Wright Photo Link
48211 W811PFB Volvo B6BLE Wright

Photo credit: jhughes258 under Creative Commons Licence.

At least 48211 has been seen out in service

There have also been a few extra Optare Solos arriving at The Ride:

50290 W331DWX

Photo credit: Teggers 419 under Creative Commons Licence.

50291 W322DWX Photo Link
50292 W337DWX

Photo credit: David McBride under Creative Commons Licence.

I have not seen any of these out and about yet but I believe they are in service?

Recommended Reading

• Fylde Bus Blog: January Round Up
• Norwich Buses: WiFi on buses: Is it really necessary?
• Ipswich Bus Blog: AN EVENING WATCHING FIRST IPSWICH'S FRESH START PROGRAMME
• Humber Transport: Humber Flyer Potential Re-routing Not Happening
• Dennis Basfords Rails Roads and Runways: ‘Scene’ in K & H Doyle of Alfreton’s fleet part 2
• Andys Bus Blog: an hour in the winter sunshine at Huntingdon
• Andys Bus Blog: Coaches at the Ideal Home Show 1995
• Steves Bus and Train Page: A Few Obs
• Ian Visits: Weekly round-up of London’s railway transport news
• Great Yarmouth Bus Page: Damaged Enviro and more
• British Bus Bugle: Cheaper petrol, but bus fares go up!
• Home Counties Buses: Arriva appoints MD of UK Bus
• Home Counties Buses: RouteOne Test Drive Reading Buses Enviro 400 MMC
• Public Transport Experience: Big Bus to Bodmin [2]
• Public Transport Experience: Trevor? An Easy Quiz?
• East Anglian Rail Scene: AbellioGreaterAnglia & ShortSet Contibution
• East Anglian Rail Scene: TOCs ~ London Overground
• Focus Transport: SOUTH YORKSHIRE PTE BUDGET CUTBACKS
• Norwich Buses: First announce changes to the X1 and X2
• Ipswich Bus Blog: FIRST WIN BEST LIVERY OF THE LAST YEAR
• Great Yarmouth Bus Page: Saturday Sightings
• Public Transport Experience: Janet?
• Norwich Buses: The routes we all forgot about
• Steves Bus and Train Page: Weekly News Round Up
• Dennis Basfords Rails Roads and Runways: ‘Scene’ in K & H Doyle of Alfreton’s fleet part 3
• Fylde Bus Blog: Buses to the Caravan Park
• Fylde Bus Blog: You Can't Save Them All

Plus Bus?

Meet 48270, my steed to work this morning. You can tell it apart from the others in the batch as it has great big "PlusBus" stickers all over the windows.
Apart from the window stickers there is one big feature that sets this bus apart from the others. It does not like hills. In fact, I would go further than that - it hates hills! There are three up hill sections on the 15 on my morning commute, the last section is actually done twice. The run out of Derriford Hospital up to traffic lights for Marjons is particularly painful for this bus.
Now I know how it feels. I hate hills too. I struggle to get up the hill from my house to the bus stop. I need a rest half way up. I'm getting on a bit. I don't though have to carry anyone else up the hill. If anyone else wants to get up the same hill they can usually walk past me. They don't have to follow me up the hill. 48270 does not have this advantage. The poor driver just has to put his foot down and wait, and eventually the bus will get to the top. Some passengers will mutter to themselves about the lack of speed. Some will joke about it and occasionally suggest to the driver that they might get out and push. And then we look out the window and read the writing - "PlusBus"
These Volvos do seem to be the bus of choice on the 15 these days, (the company's choice, not the passengers). None of them really enjoy hills. There are a couple of the W-PAF and W-PFBs which are almost as slow as 48270, but its the PlusBus which stands proud.
Now if I am really lucky tomorrow I will get an old Dart.

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Elsewhere on the net

• Leyland PSUC1/13 East Lancs bodies new 1966 or 1967. To Malta 1981 or 1982 TGP Photos Unlimited
• As is very apparent in Plymouth at the moment that First have been concentrating their resources on the routes into Barne Barton, and Plymstock/Elburton PTOTPA
• Depressing Doncaster Discoveries [2] Loopy Hassle at Lordens Hill. Public Transport Experience
• Leicester Dominator 100 has returned to the workshop and a pause in its restoration whilst other projects progressed. Busworks Blog
• Depressing Doncaster Discoveries [3] Muddle at Maltby. Public Transport Experience

Another new advert bus

Its not just Citybus who are happy to plaster adverts over the windows of their buses. First D&C have just placed 48229 in this eyecatching scheme seen here at Derriford Hospital yesterday evening.

Woops!

I have been 'home alone' with child this last few days so spent most of the time indoors and haven't really got out much at all, but today I did manage a round trip into town - the long way round!

Zak decided he wanted a double deck ride and a taxibus ride so it was a taxibus ride to The George and then straight onto a very noisy (lots of rattles) Enviro doubledecker to town. Cant say I have noticed much noise on these buses before but even Zak asked why it was so noisy.

We didn't really have any reason to go to town, other than we needed a bottle of milk so it was just twenty mins or so taking a few photos and chatting with my friend Dave who was filling in an extra duty on and Park and Ride for a change.

One bus we did get on camera was FDC 48267 - it was making life difficult for other buses down on Royal Parade. It got even more difficult once the recovery truck arrived to take it home!

Then back home on the Park and Ride and then another Taxibus back home. Mum is now back from her weekend away so I get a day out tomorrow all by myself!

Evolution of TavyLinx

From Jeff Lloyds collection - photographer unknown

From Jeff Lloyds collection - photographer unknown

One of mine - taken this last weekend.

I know which ones I prefer!

Tavy Linx

Finally managed to get a photo of the new Tavy Linx livery.

First Western National 4602 W602PAF

I have been looking through my old photos just this week and am currently uploading a collection from 2002 onto my Flickr account. It is quite interesting seeing just how much has changed since then, especially with First.
4602 has now recieved the First national fleet number of 48262 and like the rest of the batch has lost any route branding.

The Wright stuff

When I took the photo above on Saturday afternoon I didn't notice anything different about it. Later that afternoon I found out that First Devon & Cornwall were taking delivery of some more second hand Volvo's from Bristol. It was only when I was going through my photos I realised I had already seen one.
W833PFB is one of at least 3 which are already here and it seems to whole batch of 8 or 9 buses will follow. These are of course sisters to the batch that were new to First Devon and Cornwall. It seems that these are to replace more of the non-low-floor single deck fleet left in the area, although it has been suggested that the awful Volvos which came down from South Yorkshire a few years ago are returning North. Lets hope so!

Volvo Wright

I had to make a quick trip into town tonight after work so ended up on a Tavistock - Plymouth 83 service provided by W605PAF Volvo B6BLE (Chassis number 010207) with Wright B36F (body number B610) bodywork which was new in May 2000 as First Western National 605. Now numbered 48265. Identical sister W602PAF is seen above a few months ago on the same route. These were quite a surprise when they arrived as it had been a case of Dart City as far as Plymouth was concerned until that point with Citybus and First both buying almost identical buses for their low floor fleet. FDC have since added a large batch of second hand Volvo Wright buses from South Yorkshire which are really awful buses.
These W reg buses are not as bad but they are not as comfortable as the earlier Darts. For all of First Group bragging about transforming travel with their well designed high standard interiors which was certainly the case with earlier low floor darts - these buses introduced the horrible hard seats which really spoil the travelling experience. If you travel any distance on one of these you certainly feel it. The Optare Solos which were added to the fleet at the same time also feature these horrible seats. First penny-pinching? I cant imagine that these seats were chosen by any passenger focus groups.
The only good thing is that standard First interior designed buses do have more leg room - certainly more than Citybus who cram in more seats in their buses. But I'd rather have a slightly cramped journey than end up with plenty of leg room but a sore bum. Maybe thats just me though?
didbygraham

FDC Volvo

Seen early in the morning sitting at Bretonside is YJ51PZZ a one-off Volvo Wright bus acquired when almost brand new from First York. Branded for the Red Line Saltash service.
didbygraham