MidlandRed.net

Whistle stop tour today, but weather very dull so photographs not my very best - just a record of what is operating at the end of 2016!

Thanks Tim. the blue looks good on the Enviro I think.

And not a single one of them is on fire

It's hard to believe it's already over three and a half years since Diamond took over the Redditch and Kidderminster operations. It's good that the number of Diamond horror stories coming out of those areas seems to be going down... or are we so used it it now we don't bother talking about it?

You must be very keen to go out in December to take photographs Tim, it's been my day off today and I've stopped at home in the warm! Thanks for your efforts though.

MattW wrote: ↑

20:11 Thursday 15th December 2016

Thanks Tim. the blue looks good on the Enviro I think.

It doesn't look too bad, but the blue is very dark, almost black in some light, so I feel it could do with another colour, say a light blue, grey or silver roof. The big DIAMOND logo is a nice touch though!

From an accountant's point of view I guess having only one colour simplifies the spray job and probably cuts cost of repairing minor bumps, scratches and dents that afflict all low-floor bus skirts and lower panels.

AdamH wrote: ↑

21:56 Thursday 15th December 2016

And not a single one of them is on fire

It's hard to believe it's already over three and a half years since Diamond took over the Redditch and Kidderminster operations. It's good that the number of Diamond horror stories coming out of those areas seems to be going down... or are we so used it it now we don't bother talking about it?

You must be very keen to go out in December to take photographs Tim, it's been my day off today and I've stopped at home in the warm! Thanks for your efforts though.

The weather was deceptive, very dull and threatening to rain but not too cold when standing for over an hour aiming the camera.

As far as Diamond buses go they seemed to be running OK bar for one 08 registered single-deck smoking badly up the steep hill on leaving Redditch bus station. Trident/Plaxton President 40544, V544 ESC sounded rough with an engine knock and a lot of oily smoke coming from the breather, even when ticking over; I don't think this engine has much longer to go without some major re-building.

In the main, bodywork looks to be in better condition than say twelve months ago, but it would be interesting to hear how this company is faring with regard to reliability and punctuality?