Whiteway215
Established Member
It was withdrawn in June and towed away by Wigleys in July, probably for scrap.What's happened to 32553?
It was withdrawn in June and towed away by Wigleys in July, probably for scrap.What's happened to 32553?
Was it damaged?It was withdrawn in June and towed away by Wigleys in July, probably for scrap.
Sorry I don’t know.Was it damaged?
Oh wow, that is ancient! Good find.Here’s one survivor
And either 'Bristol Country Bus' or 'Bristol' appearing in Green behind it!Here’s one survivor (image shows a bus stop flag with old Badgerline branding)
Given its location, I suspect a Bristol fleetname and double N symbolAnd either 'Bristol Country Bus' or 'Bristol' appearing in Green behind it!
It would be a unique bus in Weston, unless they are planning to trial it on Excel work? But if they were to transfer to Weston, what could replace them which is low enough and can have the guide wheels fitted? The original gas bus only just got under the swing bridge?Long Ashton M2 bus 36807 has arrived at Weston depot newly painted in blue. Colour looks similar to 39472 - Weston Pride bus perhaps?
It’s one of three dual door MMCs being painted for use elsewhere due to lower PVRs. The others are a Portway P&R MMC and another Scania I believe.It would be a unique bus in Weston, unless they are planning to trial it on Excel work? But if they were to transfer to Weston, what could replace them which is low enough and can have the guide wheels fitted? The original gas bus only just got under the swing bridge?
I know Weston has been using a B7RLE on Excel work, so they may be short of deckers. What with the E400 which caught fire and one was involved in an incident last week. The better option to get extra deckers into Weston would be to send E400s back from Marlborough Street or to have kept the E400s which came up from Kernow. There place could then be made up in Bristol using B9s.
The new or second hand new fleet for Excel work will have to come soon as they won’t be able to send the B7TLs to Bristol indefinitely. When the Bristol low emission zone comes in they will be confined to the 1, 3, 7 and 20. I think the best bet when Weston do receive whatever they’re getting will be to replace the B7TLs with the E400s, they’re newer and have been upgraded so will be able to go to Bristol if needed.
The other Scania could be 36808 which like 807 hasn't tracked for a while; both did Isle of Wight rail replacement in the Summer.It’s one of three dual door MMCs being painted for use elsewhere due to lower PVRs. The others are a Portway P&R MMC and another Scania I believe.
Wouldn’t the common sense option be to keep them at Hengrove to use on their services or to Bath to back up the X39 and UniBus fleets. These depots already use them so both drivers and engineering know them and have parts.It’s one of three dual door MMCs being painted for use elsewhere due to lower PVRs. The others are a Portway P&R MMC and another Scania I believe
Yes it would be interesting to know the intention for these latest withdrawals.It may seem that a little event passed away un-noticed last week with the final B7TL operations in Bristol (though Weston depot are still running in). Prompted by a nudge from another poster on here and being in the area, I dropped in on Saturday afternoon to find a few parked up at Lawrence Hill with 32281/2/9 joined by 32347/54 in the deadpool (providing a contrast with 39191/2).
West of England received 67 examples, mostly to Bristol with Weston getting 3 and Bath 7. Of course, their number swelled in later years with various cascades from London, and latterly from Leicester and Glasgow. It'll be interesting where the most recent withdrawals head to - disposal or elsewhere in First?
South Wales would make some sense in getting rid of the W/X reg and replacing them with stuff that is 3 or so years newer. I'm not so certain on replacing Tridents elsewhere especially as they've been repainting Tridents in Norwich in the last few months. Three of the ex London Wright ones were, of course, converted to partial open top for Dorset and perhaps similar conversions could be considered? Otherwise, I'm sure there will be plenty of willing customers for them.Yes it would be interesting to know the intention for these latest withdrawals.
Cymru still have X reg B7TLs and there are still quite a few Tridents still running with other opcos.
Portsmouth Clean Air Zone imminent. Maybe EL Trident replacements if Euro 6 compliant?South Wales would make some sense in getting rid of the W/X reg and replacing them with stuff that is 3 or so years newer. I'm not so certain on replacing Tridents elsewhere especially as they've been repainting Tridents in Norwich in the last few months. Three of the ex London Wright ones were, of course, converted to partial open top for Dorset and perhaps similar conversions could be considered? Otherwise, I'm sure there will be plenty of willing customers for them.
Could some of those be later model B7TLs and heading south of FWoE?The first double deckers released from Glasgow when the electric double deckers arrive are supposed to be Trident replacements.
It's true that something will need to allow those ones to head to Kernow. I had wondered about the ex Manc e400s that Weymouth received being a better fit for the Solent rather than the Jurassic Coaster routes but the couple I travelled on seemed ok and they've been painted now.Portsmouth Clean Air Zone imminent. Maybe EL Trident replacements if Euro 6 compliant?
Does it matter if they are Barbie however because they seem to be the youngest Tridents in the fleet whereas the branded ones seem to be the oldest?The B7TLs from Glasgow are most likely to go to Essex, Cymru and Eastern Counties (Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft as they still have Barbie Tridents and W-plates running around) in my opinion.
There's a handful of 2007 ones but mainly 54 platesI thought they may be 54 plates although I do not know how many are still around.
The B7TLs from Glasgow are most likely to go to Essex, Cymru and Eastern Counties (Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft as they still have Barbie Tridents and W-plates running around) in my opinion.
Think we are going a little off topic now so to bring it back a little...Does it matter if they are Barbie however because they seem to be the youngest Tridents in the fleet whereas the branded ones seem to be the oldest?
This does beg the question though, when will we perhaps see the 21/22/36/37/38 branded ones withdrawn, even the 02/52 reg B7TLs? It will be interesting to see if 33120 gets withdrawn whenever the electric stock enter Glasgow.
Portsmouth Clean Air Zone imminent. Maybe EL Trident replacements if Euro 6 compliant?
Certainly so, as we see from our friends in FSW - I mean, who'd have predicted Enviro 500s for Kernow!Cascades are a dark art in First so don't know if we can predict anything!
In fairness to @baza585, I think that was their point. They need to be replaced by something that is CAZ compliant so could that involve slightly newer cascades to replace them?If your thinking about the East Lancs Myllennium Tridents, already accounted for and due to head to First Kernow.
It would be interesting to see if some of the Enviro 400s move to Somerset to perhaps replace the ALX400s.In fairness to @baza585, I think that was their point. They need to be replaced by something that is CAZ compliant so could that involve slightly newer cascades to replace them?
If the reports are true that the FWoE Excel fleet is to be upgraded with newer fleet in early 2022, then some compliant fleet would come free?
The Tridents are actually going to BoS now not Cornwall by Kernow.If your thinking about the East Lancs Myllennium Tridents, already accounted for and due to head to First Kernow.
Certainly so, as we see from our friends in FSW - I mean, who'd have predicted Enviro 500s for Kernow!
You have your answer from @On the Buses but the question was more on how the Portsmouth CAZ would be met. Some compliant but mature e400s would be a solution but as we see, cascades are complex and are subject to change.It would be interesting to see if some of the Enviro 400s move to Somerset to perhaps replace the ALX400s.
Thank you for that clarification. The current BoS Tridents have been good servants but welcome news that some decent upgrades are on the way.The Tridents are actually going to BoS now not Cornwall by Kernow.
In another refinement, 33420-2 are not now heading to WoE but are staying with / returning to FSW, but to Taunton. The remainder of Somerset’s double deck cascades will be Geminis already allocated from across the U.K.
And my thanks as well.You have your answer from @On the Buses but the question was more on how the Portsmouth CAZ would be met. Some compliant but mature e400s would be a solution but as we see, cascades are complex and are subject to change.
Thank you for that clarification. The current BoS Tridents have been good servants but welcome news that some decent upgrades are on the way.
Some? I think they only have three left now.I imagine these all would also see off some of the Eclipses to join the training fleet?
I thought the AC esque liveried ones were Eclipses, my bad.Some? I think they only have three left now.
There are more than 2 Geminis as I alludedAnd my thanks as well.
Interesting, 7 ELCs from Hampshire, 3 E400s & 2+ Geminis would make welcome upgrades to BOS and hopefully they all get painted into vibrant BOS liveries.
I imagine these all would also see off some of the Eclipses to join the training fleet?
They are Solars - on Scania chassis. They may well get displaced from the 21 by deckers but of course we have more plans…I thought the AC esque liveried ones were Eclipses, my bad.