Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

[M113 YKC]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews

(27/06/2012 21:00)K853 MTJ Wrote:  

(27/06/2012 19:12)27701 Wrote:  

(27/06/2012 18:29)Marshall Capital SLF Wrote:  Slow bus, Quick driver, You say the bus barley made it past 20MPH, With a fast driver ...

:P

(27/06/2012 18:20)27701 Wrote:  7 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > Huyton Bus Station
Pulsar CX58 EWR (2902)
Such a slow bus... On the many hills en-route, the bus barely made it past 20-MPH - like it couldn't get off gear one! The driver was very fast - kickdown all the way!

On the hills, it barely made it past 20-MPH. The driver had his foot down at every available occasion, though!

2902 is extremely poor, definitely in safe made, it can't be that slow and not be in safe mode really!

Like a few others, it has the sensitive kickdown issue (which is good!). A few buses other than 09-plated Pulsar 2s seem to have it, such as CX58 FZE (2923) and MX59 FFT (3015).

2902 up Brownlow Hill in Liverpool was nothing more than a disgrace! The driver definitely had his foot right down and the bus was on gear one to the top (20-MPH, dead). Then when he got to the top (where it slightly declines a bit), it just flew off gear two (kickdown) - evidently, he had his foot down!

[M113 YKC]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Tomorrow, I'm going to ride on some Green Lane buses.

Through the week, I plan on going to Birkenhead, Southport and St Helens. Also, I plan on riding on some of the unique services - such as ANW's morning 14X and morning and evening 345 from/to Skelmersdale to/from Liverpool, and also Cumfybus' 830/831.

[kuyoyo]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
As previously mentioned, tomorrow I'm making my first visit behond the North East (bar a small trip to Blackpool last October) to Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Hoping to get some rides on First, Stagecoach (both Yorkshire and Sheffield), Supertram and TM Travel among others. Plus a chance to try one of the Astromegas used on Megabus.

[R311 WVR]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Saveaway, Any Bus, Any Train Day Out
Tommorow, Armed with a saveaway, Ill be heading to Mersyside. I'll be riding on anything of intrest. I Will Post my Reviews on here! Some Places i hope to visit are: Crosby, Green Lane, Bootle and New Brighton

[V671 DVU]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Headed out to try the now Green Lane 68 service, this is what I rode:

6 Huyton to Liverpool (2718) - Same as last week, OK but nothing to rave about. Was fast though!

472 Liverpool to Birkenhead (4077) - This was OK. Was quite fast, but rattled a lot for a DLA.

407 Birkenhead to Liverpool (4408) - Quite nice. Hardly rattled, and had nice kickdown.

12 Liverpool to West Derby Road (2313) - Average. It seemed a tad sluggish, and has developed a rear window rattle which seems to plague a lot of Darts.

68 West Derby Road to Old Swan (7664) - I was very surprised to see this turn up. It was a very fast bus, but god was it rattly.

68 Old Swan to West Derby Road (2229) - Oh God, the dreaded 2229... What a dire bus that is, rattly, and by far the loudest bus i've ever rode (way louder than 7671.) The only praise I can find in this shed is the speed, it is a fast bus.

15 West Derby Road to Liverpool (3067) - Great! It's one of the most solid Pulsars i've ever rode, barely rattling at all. It's also very fast.

437 Liverpool to Birkenhead - (4406) A shadow of it's former self. This used to be a great, fast and rattle free bus. Now, it rattles violently as doesn't feel as fast as it used to be. Driver maybe?...

437 Birkenhead to Liverpool (4400) - Fantastic! It had great kickdown, held a great turn of speed and didn't rattle.

8 Liverpool to Huyton (7614) - Pretty poor. It was sluggish, rattly and the brakes were eardrum bursting.

HTIOI

[M113 YKC]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Today, I went out to ride on some of (ANW's) Green Lane depot's Darts. I started the day as I planned, and then I soon went off-plan, as usual, and chased-down some of their Pulsars/Pulsar 2s instead... Anyway, here's what I rode on:

52 (ANW) - Netherton, Glovers Lane > Queen Square Bus Station
Pulsar 2 MX09 LYA (2941)
I was disappointed to see this bus operating my first journey of the day, however the fast driver was welcoming - although they changed mid-journey and the new driver wasn't very fast. The bus was in "slow mode", as usual; the ride-quality of the bus wasn't too bad (bearable!). Interestingly, the bus only features four opening windows - there are usually six on these buses.

8 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > Huyton Bus Station
Plaxton Pointer R603 MHN (2103)
Just the bus I was hoping for! It was just awful...! The gearbox revved high for about two seconds between gear one and two, EVERY TIME it went off the line - bit of a small issue on hills and at junctions. The first driver was very fast - the second (woman!) driver was also fast, mainly around the residential areas in Huyton. The ride-quality of the bus was also awful, however I'm a fan of the dotted moquette, so...!

9 (ANW) - Huyton Bus Station > Queen Square Bus Station
Plaxton Pointer 2 X204 ANC (2204)
Rather than getting the 10B (Pulsar/Pulsar 2) back into Liverpool, I seen this bus and decided to board it. It was excellent! The engine sounded very nice - interestingly, it stayed on gear one longer than usual each time! The ride-quality of the bus was perfect. The seat that I chose was padded, too. Excellent bus!

18 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > West Derby, Muirhead Avenue
Pulsar CX58 EUM (2670)
For some reason, I felt much more "at home" when I boarded this type again! This bus was really slow off the line (in the famous "slow mode"), however it had a sensitive kickdown and a nice gearbox. Good enough for me!

15 (ANW) - West Derby, West Derby Road > Queen Square Bus Station
Pulsar 2 MX61 AWU (3064)
This was a fantastic bus! It was really fast off the line and it barely rattled. The driver was really fast (not kickdown-fast). I didn't notice any vandalism, either. Excellent bus!

14 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > Broadway, Utting Avenue East
Pulsar 2 MX61 DCZ (3061)
This bus was being driven by the same woman that I had on MX10 DCV (3059) a few days ago, although she was different today - very fast, and she even kicked down twice (very unusual for her)! The bus was rattly and sounded rough.

14 (ANW) - Broadway, Utting Avenue East > Queen Square Bus Station
Pulsar 2 MX10 DCO (3057)
As soon as I got on this bus, it was bad - it was vibrating whilst idle! Then when in motion, everything seemed to rattle! The engine sounded rubbish - no fancy gearbox noises or anything...

13 (ANW) - Queen Square Bus Station > West Derby, Deysbrook Lane
Pulsar CX58 EUO (2672)
Yet again, another "slow" one. The gearbox was nice on this bus and the driver was nice and fast!

13 (ANW) - Deysbrook Lane Tesco Supermarket > Tuebrook, Rocky Lane
Pulsar CX58 EWP (2901)
Absolute shed! The interior was disgusting and the bus, as usual, was in the famous "slow mode". No fancy noises - boring engine. Rattles a lot.

27 (ANW) - Tuebrook, Belmont Road > Liverpool ONE Bus Station
Pulsar 2 MX09 JHH (2954)
You see - what is with these buses following me?! Only kidding - I like 2954! It barely rattled and the interior seemed to be in a nice condition. The driver was fast, too. A good ride!

27 (ANW) - Liverpool ONE Bus Station > Liverpool, Lodge Lane
Pulsar 2 MX09 JHV (2959)
Not a very nice bus... The driver was fast, however the engine sounded rough and it rattled a lot. Also, the interior was disgusting!

(That's the first and last time I go to Lodge Lane...)

26 (ANW) - Liverpool, Lodge Lane > Liverpool ONE Bus Station
Pulsar 2 MX09 JHY (2960)
Anything to get away from that place... Horrible bus. Slow-ish driver. Horrible interior.

52 (ANW) - Liverpool, Sir Thomas Street > Netherton, Glovers Lane
Pulsar 2 MX59 FGA (3021)
The first driver of this was fantastic - he kicked down everywhere until he changed! The second driver was alright. The bus was good - the engine sounded nice and there weren't many rattles!

[P450 SWX]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
What was wrong with Lodge Lane and where is it Mike?

Anyway yesterday I was gonna do a Savaway but me and a friend decided to go Manchester here is what we did

AVON BUSES - T840 CCK - 0614 SERVICE 110 NEW BRIGHTON TO BIRKENHEAD
What a shed rattled and smelt of dry pi**
(Met Friend)
ARRIVA NW - CX58 FGN - 0652 SERVICE 437 BIRKENHEAD TO LIVERPOOL
not a bad Enviro400 but been on better

ARRIVA NW - MX59 GZH - 0712 SERVICE 10 LIVERPOOL TO ST HELENS
Typical pulsar slow and horrid

ARRIVA NW - CX54 DKK - 0805 SERVICE 34 ST HELENS TO LEIGH
For a cadet this was nice good Speed and better than a Paladin

SLT - D10 SLT - 0940 SERVICE 126 LEOGH TO TRAFFORD CENTRE
Nice bus bit rattly and love the bit of route down M60?

ARRIVA NW - MX61 AVV - 0957 SERVICE 18 TRAFFORD CENTRE TO WYTHENSHAWE
Great bus I hate pulsars but this was fantastic

STAGECOACH - X228 BNE - 1111 SERVICE 369 WYTHENSHAWE TO STOCKPORT
Shed never going on one again am not a fan

STAGECOACH - R575 ABA - 1212 SERVICE 7 STOCKPORT TO ASHTON
Great bus typical ABA tbh loved every minute

FIRST - R977 NVT - 1340 SERVICE 346 ASHTON TO HYDE
Was shocked at the state of this engine sounded bad and was slow this was better when at Rock Ferry

STAGECOACH -MX57 KYH - 1422 SERVICE 201 HYDE TO PICCADILLY
Shed slow and kept cutting out

BLUEBIRD - SS55 BLU - 1517 SERVICE 44 PICCADILLY TO AIRPORT
First and last time on this operator bus was dirty and falling apart

STAGECOACH - MX10 MVY - 1640 SERVICE 43 AIRPORT TO PICCADILLY
Nice E400H very slow however driver was on phone as bus was struggling on hills and over 20 MPH

FIRST - MX07 BVA - 1750 SERVICE 32 MANCHESTER TO WIGAN
Nice buses these Gemini not much leg room at the front upstairs but fast bus

ARRIVA NW - MX09 OPE - 1920 SERVICE 352 WIGAN TO ST HELENS
When I went on this bus on the 401 last year it was slow now it's a rocket and it was quiet no rattles

STAGECOACH - PO11 BDF - 2020 SERVICE 10A ST HELENS TO LIVERPOOL
Nice bus but I fell asleep so don't remember it was to hot on it (with windows open)

ARRIVA NW - CX58 GBO - 2115 SERVICE 432 LIVERPOOL TO NEW BRIGHTON
Slow and sluggish one that's got worse since new

Hope you all enjoyed the read when I get a chance pics will be on my flikr

[K853 MTJ]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
@V671, i know exactly what you mean about 4406, used to be thebest enviro IMO, engine is now poor and is rattly as you day, shame really!

[P450 SWX]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Today I decided to pop out local
Here what I went on

ARRIVA NW - CX58 GBY - 1430 SERVICE 432 NEW BRIGHTON TO LIVERPOOL
Nice bus rattle free IMO a decent Enviro400

ARRIVA NW - MX61 AWA - 1505 SERVICE 14 LIVERPOOL TO CROXTETH
Very rattly bus rear axel sounded bad

(Visited Gillmoss Depot)

ARRIVA NW - MX61 AWH - 1620 SERVICE 14 CROXTETH TO LIVERPOOL
Much nicer than the pulsar I had going

(Pics at Queen Square)

ARRIVA NW - CX58 FZZ - 1735 SERVICE 437 LIVERPOOL TO BIRKENHEAD
Just a typical Enviro400 rattly and slow

(Walked to Woodside to get the 3 buses on the last night of 171/2)

ARRIVA NW - CX58 FZP - 2000 SERVICE 410 BIRKENHEAD TO NEW BRIGHTON
Nice Enviro400 a bit on the slow side much nicer than a Myllenium

[r411 xfl]

RE: Bus-Related Outings & Reviews
Had a quick visit to gillmoss depot yesterday.