I am sure the next time we see 220 she will look a lot better than this. She already has new panels fitted and is currently in the paintshop I believe so should appear in full swoops very shortly.
Here's a couple they prepared earlier...
206 WK58EAE and 208 WK58EAG both out and about on Friday.
Recommended Reading
Just a quick note about a slight change in how I am doing things. You may have noticed I now have a full blogroll in the right hand panel of the blog which gives the latest updates on most of the transport blogs I follow. This is because it's impossible to keep up with all the latests posts as the moment with so much happening! I will still post the odd recommendation and news item here from time to time though. There are still a few blogs to add to the list but most of the frequent ones are there now. Please use the links to visit the other blogs - they all deserve your support - blogging is hard work!
i wish they would keep one or two of these green for a western greyhound memory
ReplyDeleteFDC have several ex WGL green buses running around Cornwall with pink or white F's on them. Can't imagine they will be in any hurry to repaint. The dog is dead - move on.
DeleteI don't agree about referring to buses as "she". They are inanimate!
ReplyDeleteYes buses are "inanimate" and it is your prerogative not to agree with them being referred to as "she".
DeleteHowever in all my 50+ years, all things mechanical were referred to as "she" when talking about them and I expect the majority or readers will have no problem with that either.
207 has been sitting outside the workshops on the old death row since before the weekend
ReplyDeleteFirst are drafting in buses from other parts of the country to replace the inherited Dart's and Solo's from Western Greyhound. There is no intention to keep these long term hence they still carry their Western Greyhound fleet numbers.
ReplyDeleteNot naked, but a very well-dressed red Solo on the 79 service. The only problem was the destination display - in best WG free. The service number was shown as a very large paper '79', but there was no destination shown (TC please note?). The green display, though, showed 'NOT IN SERVICE Sorry', which, surely, was not going to attract passengers. How complicated is it to re-programme electronic displays? Is there no other message which could have been displayed - like 'Welcome aboard Citybus'?
ReplyDeleteThey have had to purchase software to update the blinds as it happens 2 different types as the short ones have a different blind to the long ones! It's not cheap either but should be ready by April 12th.
DeleteAs normal a bus spotter sees a problem and thinks they have the answer, why didn't you ask the driver, or give Citybus a ring, to find out why??
No, I don't think I have the answer - it was a genuine question as to how complicated it is to re-programme the WG electronic displays. I couldn't ask the driver as I met the bus as I was driving in the opposite direction. My contention is that, of all things the display could have shown, 'not in service' was the least helpful. Surely the thing can be switched off.
ReplyDeleteAlso - if there is to be a paper sticker showing the service number, one showing the destination as well is not high technology. The 79 route has a long double run to Calstock, so there is a two-mile stretch where buses travelling in the same direction could be going to either Tavistock or Callington. A passenger could, obviously, stop the bus and ask the driver where he is going - but, if the bus is marked 'not in service, may well not do so.
we are experiencing problems with the software on the solos. the long solos 220 - 224 have a system called gorba. tom michaels went to milehouse on 29/3/15 to load the buses and there was an issue with the sign configuration details, asking for a certain config, different to what tom had it under. this was changed to the required format, then it deleted everything! the short solos 206 -209 have a system called brightech. a plate has to be removed to gain access to the bit to programme the blinds. the allen keys provided were no good, we were hoping to speak to the man who programmed western greyhounds blinds, but now that they gone bust, that isn't an option. Tom & I are working very hard to try to get these sorted as quick as possible. We hate seeing buses with paper in the window, as do the management of citybus. All we ask is that you bear with us, we are doing all we can to remedy the situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for an authoritative answer(unlike - and I quite accept that Citybus don't like paper in the windscreen.
DeleteOh, incidentally, Anonymous - I am not a bus spotter; I have never 'spotted' a bus or train in my life. I do, though, have an interest in public transport and especially rural transport - with which I was professionally involved before I retired.
Solo 224 now in red. 77, the bus involved in the accident when working the Padstow route is in the workshops, I assume for assessment and/or repair.
ReplyDelete77 does seem to get herself into the wars. Here is a Plymothian Transit post from March 2014
ReplyDeletehttp://www.plymothiantransit.com/2014/03/business-as-usual.html