Former Driver Trainers?

[hst43102]

Hi!

Just seen on SKM that Stagecoach Cumbria B10M coach 52414 has been repainted from Driver Training livery into the local SchoolRunner branding. Are there any other buses that have been in driver training use but then repainted/reinstated into the main fleet?

 

[michael Bell]

52414 was not part of the Training fleet it was used on contracts and some times on service and was in standard livery when I last saw it last year . The training fleet was alx300 Mans and has changed to Dennis Darts during the last 18 months.

 

[mbonwick]

52414 was a trainer for a period up to 2015 when it was replaced by the MANs.

Merseyside had Dart SLF 34579 as a trainer for a while.

 

[ajrm]

Hi!

Just seen on SKM that Stagecoach Cumbria B10M coach 52414 has been repainted from Driver Training livery into the local SchoolRunner branding. Are there any other buses that have been in driver training use but then repainted/reinstated into the main fleet?

Going back a little, Tayside Regional Council converted one of its Ailsas (271) to a driver trainer in c. 1983 when it was only a few years old. It returned to service in 1991 after the driver training rules changed (making it redundant).

 

[Fleetapix]

Stagecoach South West's 24141 spent a number of months as a driver trainer:
https://flic.kr/p/YZ9bxs

It then returned to normal service as can be seen here:
https://flic.kr/p/2dKpjyV

 

[Jordan Adam]

Stagecoach Bluebird can go one better with P569MSX / 52362...

It got converted to a driver trainer in 2008. However was withdrawn at the end of 2010 and sat out of use for quite some time being officially listed as "for disposal"
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41987105@N06/5573960970/

In 2012 it then got reinstated and repainted in to the SchoolBus livery and became a dedicated School vehicle.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thejamster/9473360133/

Then finally in 2014 it got repainted in to beachball and fully reinstated after over 6 years.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41987105@N06/25424540882/

It stayed in service with Bluebird until late 2017 when it transferred to Aviemore (Stagecoach Highlands), it the continued to provide service right up until Summer of 2018.

I can't imagine there have been many vehicles that were dedicated driver trainers, a schoolbus and then fully reinstated back in to service!