Hot stuff

Lets get it right out at at the start of this post – I do not like this hot weather. I can cope with cold but I really cant cope with heat. Well it seems to me that its not just me. It does appear that quite a few of the buses don't like the excessive heat either. It may just be coincidence but I am sure I have either been on, or seen more poorly buses over the last couple of weeks than I do normally.

Last week after a nice meal at the Jack Rabbit with my son, we rushed down the hill to the welcome sight of Western National liveried Trident 32716  waiting at the stop on the 15. Ideal for us as it saved us hanging around for the 50. Sat upstairs in the boiling heat and waited for the bus to leave. Several attempts to start the bus later it was apparent that it was not going anywhere. Bus fares refunded and then onto the 50 instead. I saw 32716 sitting at Derriford again later in the week not in service – poorly again by the look of it and the bored looking driver.

Friday morning I was waiting for the 50 to work due at my stop at 07:40. Still waiting at 07:50 when a Dart came into view at the top of the hill instead of the more usual Citaro. It was Plymouth Citybus 2 N102UTT and it clearly was not a happy bus. You could see why the bus was late when the driver pulled up to the stop and jumped out of his seat to open the door! His first bus had broken down and this was all they could give him at the time. The non functioning door was the least of the issues. It seems that this bus had major front suspension issues as well. It was bouncing around all over the place! Remember the back seats of the old Leyland Nationals? Just like that! It also then grounded at every speed bump along Miller Way. A really awful ride. It was helped though by an excellent driver with great humour and apologising to all passengers who tried to get aboard. He gave up at Derriford and was taking the bus back out of service to Milehouse. The next 50 should have been almost right behind us by the time we reached Derriford anyway. I have to say this was probably the worse condition Citybus I have been on. Most unusual for them so they must have been really short of buses, or this one was sent out in error.

Seen in happier times back in 2007. These used to be regulars on the 50 back then.

The fun didn't end there. Whilst chatting to one of the Target Travel Park & Ride drivers we were alerted to the sound of a very poorly Target Travel Solo attempting to leave the bus stop and get up the hill. Not sure which one it was -  one of the SA02 Glasgow buses. It managed to reach the zebra crossing and then with smoke billowing out the back it ground to a halt! My friend then assisting the driver so he could roll it back down the hill into the taxi rank so other buses could leave. I was about to take a video clip but my 50 came in and I couldn't wait. A few mins later the 52 driver did get her going again and did get up the hill. We didn't see her again so she didn't break down before Asda at least!

The topic of overheated buses has become quite a discussion over on Plymouth Citybus’ Facebook pages too. Citybus issued this timely advice to its passengers:

Hot Weather Advice: As the temperature shows no sign of falling anytime soon, please be careful when travelling by bus. We know that some of our vehicles can get very warm so please drink plenty of water, try to wear light clothing and be aware of hot metal surfaces on board. We try to do everything we can to keep our vehicles cool, for the comfort of our passengers, but it just isn't possible to further increase the airflow at the speed buses travel.

Quite a few people mentioned that the heating was on on their bus.

Plymouth Citybus We can assure you all that the heating is not on the buses. The engine and general heat of the bus heats the pipes and makes it seem that way. Unfortunately, there is very little we can about about this.

And as for air conditioning:

Plymouth Citybus Unfortunately, it isn't us that design the buses and as much as we'd like all of our vehicles to have air conditioning, it is a very expensive addition, not just to fit on the bus but to run.

Of course not all Citybus passengers had it quite so bad yesterday:

Richard Smith caught this shot of 358 with a happy bunch of passengers on Friday afternoon. Pretty much every bus passenger looking out of the window seeing this bus go past would have been very jealous indeed!

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PT RECOMMENDS

• Yes it's that time of year again when we say a fond farewell to Plymouth Citybus' Volvo B10Ms! In all seriousness, it really does seem that this year will finally be the final year of the yellow beasts dominating the school gates PTOTPA
• The 172/72 has been described as one of the most scenic bus routes in South Wales. It originates in the valley town of Aberdare, travels over mountains offering some spectacular views of the Rhondda before terminating down some 42 miles later in the seaside resort of Porthcaw Omnibuses
• Name the official supplier of bus timetables in London? There isn't one - CORRECT Public Transport Experience

Recovery

Jeff Lloyd Collection. Photographer unknown

Stunning shot of Western National recovery truck rescuing a Bristol VRT in Plymouth. This is towards to top of Alma Road, approaching Milehouse Depot.  Even the house behind the bus are long gone.

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Elsewhere on the net

• Hmm I think some more Kingsbridge is in order! VRs for this weekend PTOTPA
• That Dam Railway. Not an uncharacteristic outburst of asperity by the usually mild-spoken fbb but an accurate description of today's blog. Public Transport Experience
• For my part I told the congregation that in 2012 once again Londoners will rely on its transport workers to deliver and also that they will be supported by the entire extended TfL family Leon Daniels
• Francis Brincat 86 Luqa Rd., then from 1964 92A Dockyard St., Paola’ 69 bodies recorded. Also assembled some chassis. TGP Photos Unlimited
• Like remembering how we all felt that the National Bus Company and the new passenger transport executives seemed so *permanent*. They weren’t. Omnibuses
• ... and, in the early days of the reservoir, the spire would re-appear eerily through the morning mists when water levels were low. Poetic, eh? Public Transport Experience

Broken

"Field Services were busy...” Flickr Set from 15/7/09 Omnibuses: Murder Carbon

Managed a couple of hours down on The Embankment on Wednesday afternoon and thanks to good weather and trying out a new location I got a good collection of new photos to add to my collection. Field Services were busy... First Devon and Cornwall W809PAF hitches a ride back to The Ride I guess much more of a challenge for the recovery crew is presented by this Mercedes Econic Refuse Compactor DK56DNU of Riverside Rental.

Sunday Best: Citybus Recovery

"It's hard to miss the Citybus wrecker ”   Elsewhere: TGP on canals TGP goes Quackers TGP looses his bottle Omnibuses: 1969 and all that The mouse has left the bus?

©Alredbus via Flickr Plymouth 166, a regular on these pages, needs some help to get it back home in this view taken in September 1991. It's hard to miss the Citybus wrecker in this colourful shot. Another superb shot! The recovery truck certainly stands out well - an impressive beast. It was always nice to see this fine truck out and about. For more great Atlantean shots visit Alredbus flickr stream here

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!

Trying to get out of Derriford

It was a miserable damp morning and I had just got off the bus (the second red Dart in the background) and walked across to the main bus stop ready to catch the next one out to my place of work. It soon became apparent that the FDC Dart in the front the the queue wasnt going anywhere.

If you are going to breakdown this is the place to do it!

The queue of traffic by now reaching back to the main road. Actually just after I took this photo the driver did manage to start the bus and bring it into the bus stop. The driver was telling 'control' that this was the second time it had stopped like this. Control then obviously told him to try to continue up to The George. It all seemed to be going well as the driver pulled out into traffic and started to pass the Citybus Dart at the top bus stop - he only got this far...

and stopped again. He was back on the phone to 'Control' when I pointed out to him the fluid that was pouring out the back of the bus.

There was just about room for buses to get passed if they mounted the pavement but it was tight. My own Taxibus was caught up in the queue behind this bus so I managed to get my ride to work just after I took this photo.

Luckily for Diana and Daniel 'they go' visiting Derriford and FDC did get them to Derriford Hospital. Lets hope they were not in a hurry to get home!

These things happen

Plymouth Citybus 113 L113YOD is one of the latest repaints into the new livery complete with a rear end advert for ets. This morning though it was not having such a good day.

I caught it at Leigham on the 47 to Derriford. I was a bit annoyed that once I was on the bus the 52 came along 15 minutes late - and would have got me to Derriford nearly 10 minutes earlier than the 47, still these things happen.

All was going well until we stopped just above Keswick Crescent when an alarm went off. The driver stopped the engine and checked a few bits and then restarted. Alarm still on. At the bottom of Keswick Crescent the driver again stopped the engine and made a call back to base. A couple of mins on the phone while checking something at the back of the bus and then he boarded the bus and we started off again. As I was already late for work it was a bit annoying but its not the drivers fault - these things happen.

The alarm was still sounding as we continued on our way. As we pulled out from the Tamar Science Park bus stop I noticed that there was a lot of 'smoke' coming out of the back. As all the passengers left the bus at Derriford I mentioned this to the driver who then pulled in at the main bus stops to inspect what was going on.

I must admit at this point I was standing here watching with my camera thinking that if it did burst into flames it would make for some great photos for the blog!

While you cant really see any of the 'smoke' (or more likely 'steam?') you can just about make out a damp patch under the right hand side of the bus. Water was pouring out from the engine compartment. The driver can just be seen (or at least his arm can be seen) making another phone call back to base. It didnt catch fire (not while I was there anyway) so I ended up with a rather boring photo of the back end of a bus. Still - these things happen!

Breakdown

If you are going to experience a breakdown then Derriford Hospital is probably a good place to have it. Unless you are a bus. In this case its not a good idea. At least this one chose to let go on a Saturday lunchtime. If this had been a weekday then this scene would be one of utter chaos!

Tamar Link Buses continued

Still with Tamar Link services, we see VRT 38847 LFJ847W at work on the 81B. This route is too tight for the new double deckers so we still get to see these wonderful but ancient buses. In the summer they really do need the capacity that these double deckers provide. It remains to be seen what happens and how long these VRTs will hang on for.

didbygraham