FMR Fleet Movements

Vehicle and Fleet discussions for First Midland Red Buses Limited or its predecessor, Midland Red West Limited.
TimBrown
Posts: 1280
Joined: 05:59 Monday 4th July 2016
Location: Worcester

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by TimBrown » 08:57 Thursday 6th April 2017

AdamH wrote:
21:43 Wednesday 5th April 2017
I put the same question to him when I finished tonight, and yes, he expects to be busy when they arrive due to a short MOT. He also used a selection of 4-letter words to describe the engine type used in them. And the gearbox. And the kingpins...

You get the picture!

On the othe hand, these are the only Dats I have ever liked. All the other ones I have driven have been terrible to drive, but this batch were superb.
I never had the pleasure of driving these buses, but from a passenger's point of view they have good legroom, smooth gearbox and seemed to have progressive brakes no matter who was driving (unlike Enviro 300 and Volvo/Plaxton Centros!). On the down side, the diffs became very noisy with lots of excess backlash after about 18 months of continuous 303 working, so that may be another weakness of the type. Whilst acceptable at low speed, the noise levels increased as speed rose to the point where conversation with other passengers was nigh on impossible at top speed. I guess the bodywork will feel like a loose garden shed around the cab and entrance door areas - those transferred to Diamond certainly do!
Despite all the criticisms, in the past, I was always pleased when one of the class turned up on my next bus journey, rather than those horrible cramped Caetano bodied ex 'Park & Ride' and Jersey Darts!

bmmoboy
Posts: 549
Joined: 20:02 Tuesday 5th July 2016

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by bmmoboy » 20:28 Friday 7th April 2017

They were very nice vehicles to work on, like driving an S23 but with some power!!!

MattW
Posts: 979
Joined: 20:42 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Cornwall

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by MattW » 14:07 Saturday 8th April 2017

I was disappointed to miss driving a proper Dart /Pointer as they are a really iconic vehicle of recent times. I remember when still with my buddy driver I did a couple of 30s in one of the ex P&R Caetano bodied vehicles (sunglasses required for the blue plastics inside!) and of course my 2nd favourite vehicle the 'Jersey' Darts on all kinds of routes. No I'm not going to come back though :lol:

User avatar
AdamH
Posts: 2044
Joined: 12:17 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by AdamH » 15:45 Saturday 8th April 2017

The ex-Park+Ride Darts were not a good example of the type. Jersey Darts were better but a bit twitchy above walking pace. The ex-303 Darts, for want of a better name, were miles better.

Mechwr26
Posts: 114
Joined: 22:30 Sunday 7th August 2016

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by Mechwr26 » 19:46 Saturday 15th April 2017

DD12 wrote:
18:35 Wednesday 5th April 2017
Mechwr26 wrote:
16:14 Wednesday 5th April 2017


And most of us are not looking forward to their return 😃
- is that because you expect to have to do a lot of work on them, to bring them up-to-scratch ??

Well the first one has arrived ( 42893) and after an inspection it's now awaiting a load of repairs. I fitted an almost new engine to this bus before it left Worcester and in the time it's been away the engine has been replaced again with a Cummins Recon which itself is smoking and doesn't sound the best. After a service it's been noted that the camshaft or one of the followers is damaged or worn. That's a nice couple of days work in the future.

User avatar
AdamH
Posts: 2044
Joined: 12:17 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by AdamH » 20:10 Saturday 15th April 2017

Mechwr26 wrote:
19:46 Saturday 15th April 2017
Well the first one has arrived ( 42893) and after an inspection it's now awaiting a load of repairs. I fitted an almost new engine to this bus before it left Worcester and in the time it's been away the engine has been replaced again with a Cummins Recon which itself is smoking and doesn't sound the best. After a service it's been noted that the camshaft or one of the followers is damaged or worn. That's a nice couple of days work in the future.
This was always the worry. I know MechWR26 doesn't rate these Darts much, but as I've said before they were great to drive and I believe they were in good condition when they left Worcester in October 2013.

I have made a wager with the admin clerk who decides the servicing schedule and MOT schedule etc... He thinks that all 3 Darts will arrive from Stoke under their own power with no problems, but at least one of the E300s from Worcester will fail on it's way north to Stoke. I have bet the other way round. I think the Worcester buses will get to Stoke without issue but at least one Dart from Stoke will have a problem on the way here.

He has based his bet on the fact that Stoke has a higher MOT pass rate than Worcester (98% v 92% I think he said), while I have based my bet on the fact that I've driven some of Stoke's buses... :shock:

There is a Cadburys Cream Egg at stake here :lol:

DD12
Posts: 1650
Joined: 19:49 Monday 4th July 2016

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by DD12 » 20:16 Saturday 15th April 2017

(Brilliant posts above, from you guys !! ) ;)

Mechwr26
Posts: 114
Joined: 22:30 Sunday 7th August 2016

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by Mechwr26 » 06:21 Sunday 16th April 2017

A bus failing an Mot test on a loose seat belt or a wheelchair sticker missing is no indication of its ability to trundle 80 miles up the M6 reliably.

User avatar
AdamH
Posts: 2044
Joined: 12:17 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by AdamH » 20:33 Tuesday 18th April 2017

Enviro300 67649 transferred to Potteries today, and in it's place Dart 42894 moved to Worcester.

Talking to our number one spanner man, it seems 42894 has had a new(ish) engine fitted recently so is in better condition than 42893, which could be off the road for a while yet.

User avatar
marck
Posts: 137
Joined: 20:51 Tuesday 5th July 2016
Location: Northwick

Re: FMR Fleet Movements

Post by marck » 20:56 Tuesday 18th April 2017

I've noticed on some photos of 42894 I've seen it says free WiFi by the destination display does anyone know if it still has it?

Post Reply

Return to “Fleet Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests