Pictures have appeared on the net elsewhere of 35155 being returned to the garage on suspended tow behind one of Rogers massive wreckers. According to Bus times website it appears to have broken down at Crowngate bus station having worked an X50 to Evesham and back.
Going back years ago when the Evesham service covered Fladbury and Charlton it was always necessary to push the bus between Worcester and Pershore especially after being held up in Worcester traffic. Today the X50 has far less time albeit via main road and about 10 minutes recovery time each end which probably means whatever bus is used it needs to be pushed to the legal limit on all sections of open road.
If you look at the 'Frequent Fourteens' timetable the 14 and 14A work within the Leicester City boundary in a city which is more or less flat throughout, so, whilst probably involved in much starting and stopping to pick up and set down passengers, these buses haven't been extended with 'flat-out' running for some time, if ever until now. Routes like the X50 and 144 will find any problems in a very short time - interesting to see how the other two
ex-Leicester Streetdecks cope!
35155 woes.
Re: 35155 woes.
Thanks for that post Tim.
Also, bmmoboy has told us that 35153 has severe vibration at 25 mph.
Hopefully drivers have a facility still for reporting faults, and that these reports are acted on.
I am under the impression that these 3 buses were driven from Leicester rather than being towed or put on a low-loader, and I have frequently read - online - of First's buses breaking down when being transferred long distances.
I have also read of (too many ?) StreetDecks needing very expensive new engines with a long wait to get them (don't know if it's true !)
When 35156-59 were brand new, I saw WrightBus service engineers reprogramming them in Crowngate for use on the 44, and now they can get up Fromes Hill OK, albeit that's when they are almost empty, - so perhaps WrightBus need to "reset" 35153-55 ?
Also, bmmoboy has told us that 35153 has severe vibration at 25 mph.
Hopefully drivers have a facility still for reporting faults, and that these reports are acted on.
I am under the impression that these 3 buses were driven from Leicester rather than being towed or put on a low-loader, and I have frequently read - online - of First's buses breaking down when being transferred long distances.
I have also read of (too many ?) StreetDecks needing very expensive new engines with a long wait to get them (don't know if it's true !)
When 35156-59 were brand new, I saw WrightBus service engineers reprogramming them in Crowngate for use on the 44, and now they can get up Fromes Hill OK, albeit that's when they are almost empty, - so perhaps WrightBus need to "reset" 35153-55 ?
Re: 35155 woes.
35155 was originally said to have a head gasket failure, but it was in fact a compressor problem.
35151/2 have appeared at Padmore Street, they are in normal (ie not orange promotional) livery, and only one arrived without any help, the other one needing a helping hand (tow truck) from Droitwich.
35151/2 have appeared at Padmore Street, they are in normal (ie not orange promotional) livery, and only one arrived without any help, the other one needing a helping hand (tow truck) from Droitwich.
Re: 35155 woes.
I have seen 35154/5 on the 144 here in Bromsgrove but not personally seen 35153 as yet.