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Transfers in + out

Posted: 13:23 Tuesday 2nd July 2019
by DD12
One of the "fascinations" of the bustimes.org tracking system is that one can "visit" the live map, like I've just done, and see a transfer, or loan is in service on a local route !

53817, a short, slimline Solo is apparently on the 31 today.
Don't know if it's just a loan (?)
It's from Bath, and it's part of the same batch as our 53802.

This prompts me to ask "will 53207 ever return to service" ? ( - having been repainted, it's then been out of service for a long time, despite various parts being available from our withdrawn Solos).

(It's a shame we no longer get any news from "mechwr26", - who hopefully is enjoying his campervan tour of the world, again).

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 15:52 Wednesday 3rd July 2019
by DD12
UPDATE ! - according to bustimes.org 53207 has returned to service today. :D

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 00:14 Friday 5th July 2019
by DD12
Taken from the official update supplied to Tony Hunter's wmbusphotos website, is the news that 44515 has transferred to Adderley Green.

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 09:05 Friday 5th July 2019
by willr7
DD12 wrote:
00:14 Friday 5th July 2019
Taken from the official update supplied to Tony Hunter's wmbusphotos website, is the news that 44515 has transferred to Adderley Green.
Yes, it was also sited in the potteries area by another forum member on on the wmbusphotos site!

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 09:17 Friday 5th July 2019
by willr7
DD12 wrote:
13:23 Tuesday 2nd July 2019
One of the "fascinations" of the bustimes.org tracking system is that one can "visit" the live map, like I've just done, and see a transfer, or loan is in service on a local route !

53817, a short, slimline Solo is apparently on the 31 today.
Don't know if it's just a loan (?)
It's from Bath, and it's part of the same batch as our 53802.

This prompts me to ask "will 53207 ever return to service" ? ( - having been repainted, it's then been out of service for a long time, despite various parts being available from our withdrawn Solos).

(It's a shame we no longer get any news from "mechwr26", - who hopefully is enjoying his campervan tour of the world, again).
Looking at the tracker, 53061 has been off the road for a short period and with the fact that 53207 has also been off the road I presume that we were/are short of Solo’s as at least two are specifically required for the operation of service 31 due to the weight restriction along the route.

During the period of them both being off the road, if 53062 or 53802 had failed then there would be a shortage meaning that the 31 could not run properly I presume! This may explain why a bath solo is on loan? I may be incorrect... :lol:

Now that 53207 is back on the road this will take the pressure off I pressume. I take it that this is why we have 4 as one can act as spare and one can be used on Village Links services unless required for the 31 when vehicles are off the road as demonstrated recently.

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 12:23 Friday 5th July 2019
by DD12
willr7 wrote:
09:17 Friday 5th July 2019
[quote This may explain why a bath solo is on loan? I may be incorrect....
That looks like a pretty good summary to me ! --

I believe I read that a bridge in the area is to be strengthened, so if it's the same one, that will be good !

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 14:09 Friday 5th July 2019
by bmmoboy
Network Rail have said, some years ago, that the Comer Road bridge is due to be strengthened in 2020. That said, the present limit must be close to being broken even if a Solo goes across with the large number of cars parked on it (even thought most of it has zig zag markings!)

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 14:33 Friday 5th July 2019
by willr7
bmmoboy wrote:
14:09 Friday 5th July 2019
Network Rail have said, some years ago, that the Comer Road bridge is due to be strengthened in 2020. That said, the present limit must be close to being broken even if a Solo goes across with the large number of cars parked on it (even thought most of it has zig zag markings!)
Thanks for sharing this, I was not aware of the upcoming strengthening. :)
When the bridge is strengthened then there is less reason for the route to be restricted to solo operation only, this could potentially leave Worcester with only the two solos (53207, 53802) for Village Links/spare (allowing the older 53061/2 to follow the rest of the batch and be withdrawn) :shock:

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 15:34 Friday 5th July 2019
by Charliedaffin
I got a pic of the solo from bath on the 30

Re: Transfers in + out

Posted: 15:36 Friday 5th July 2019
by AdamH
bmmoboy wrote:
14:09 Friday 5th July 2019
Network Rail have said, some years ago, that the Comer Road bridge is due to be strengthened in 2020. That said, the present limit must be close to being broken even if a Solo goes across with the large number of cars parked on it (even thought most of it has zig zag markings!)
They pulled the limit out of thin air and nobody at the council questioned it. The bridge can take the weight but the limit is now a local bylaw and can’t easily be changed.