Tuesday, October 11, 2005

More post

In this mornings conventionally-sized "dead tree mail" - remember yesterday I said the footwear was starting to wear out? Well, aptly enough, the new winter TallGirls catalouge has just arrived...

posted by Suzy Scott @ 09:30 0 comments

Wake up!

OK, following the previous long day, there was a parcel I was expecting this morning... turned up at 0745. Signed for, and left for now, to let me get back to bed! Box appears to be fine, supplier recommended. Now, see if you see me any differently in the next few days...

posted by Suzy Scott @ 07:45 0 comments

Monday, October 10, 2005

X-City Direct - Day One

So, the first day of X-City Direct has now come. And my alarm was set for 0440 to make sure I got up in time...

If you are not familiar with X-City Direct, there are two routes. http://scotbus.com/techpark/cross.pdf gives you a timetable and basic route map for both. The 13 is being operated by Strathtay Scottish using brand new Optare Solo's from Dundee depot - the last of which was delivered on Saturday morning, after being registered in yorkshire. The 14 is being operated by Travel Dundee using ex-TWM B6LE's that came spare after changes to the 56 and other services in the south side of Brum, and were since refurbished with new seats, new floors, etc., and fitted in Dundee with Mobitec by McKenna destination equipment. The Scottish Executive granted DCC a sum of £1.7million of Bus Route Development Grant funding to allow the start of these services, which they hope will eventually become commercially viable over a pre-determined timescale.

Just after 0600, I left the house, and headed for the Seagate.

A quick look in the bus station revaled 260 was preparing for its first trip on the new route, less than forty eight hours after it arrived from Optare. 260 pulls out from the bus station, correctly blinded for Dobbies Garden Centre 13. First passenger on the first journey of the new service. I get on the bus, and start sending text messages to all those involved so far. I get one back from the marketing/production manager at Travel West Midlands (who also do the leaflets for Dundee), saying he can't understand why I'm heading out there at half six LOL. Of course, I'm sure he could guess why I'd be doing it... Dobbies Garden Centre is part of Ethiebeaton Park, which is slightly over the boundary into Angus. Since Dobbies opened in 1999, the Angus Gateway outlet has moved in next door. Part of the same ownership, it's your usual outlet stores - but all under one roof i.e. make sure you take it to the right till ! When I came up for a run up here on Sunday, the car park was full. This time of the morning, it was full of crows. (I could do a line about old crows, but never mind!) See this slightly black picture of 260 at Dobbies (in the dark).


The reason for the first journey was to connect with the first 14. The first one from Dobbies is 0705. The first one from Ninewells is 0707. So, 61 technically was the first bus on the new service - and I was also first passenger on this as well. As I get on the bus, I recieve a text about the "Dobbies effect" from same person in Brum (yes, thanks Paul!) suggesting we name 60 "Alan Titsmarch", followed by (when he heard I was first on 61) naming 61 "Charlie Dimmock"... There's another line about hanging baskets I could do there, but best not. Anyway, onboard I could see the depth of the refurb job on these Volvo B6LE's have been refurbished inside, with new floor and seats.

We got to Balgillo, and when waiting our time, a passenger realised this bus would save her changing for her journey along the Clepington Road. We arrived at Ninewells Hospital, time for some pictures... one, two, three, four (and more!), and this left a little time before proceeding to the 0803 departure on the 13. We got to Dobbies on Solo 259 where the daylight allowed a shot of the rear lettering on these buses. The missing line was printed as "Hawhill/University" but this line was removed before application - as Hawkhill usually has a K in it! Go in a little closer... not very often I'm reflected in the paintwork... come on, I don't bite! ... and then I awaited the 0856 71 from Dobbies to Kingsway West Retail Park. Not brand new (in operation since 15th August) but first time I've gone all the way through. Mercedes 224 was used...

See pictures of it taken at Dobbies - 259 (with blind correctly set, it just jumped at this point!), and 224 behind,
or Vario 224 solo, as it were!. Then via Broughty Ferry, Dundee City Centre and Lawton to at Kingsway West Retail Park. After coffee and bacon roll from burger king (and eight copies of the 13/14 promo leaflet given back over the counter), this then allowed me to pick up a 14 back to Dobbies - 60. Pics taken at Kingsway West and Dobbies - front or rear

After I very nearly leave the pink book on the bus, dive back on for it, then get 711 on the 75 to Monifieth High Street. A few mins there (no pics) then 316 on the late morning Monikie's took me back to Dobbies. As I arrived, I saw 61 pulling off for the next 14 journey... and then I got a text saying "Nice jacket"... I looked around, and no-one was there. I presumed the sender (Gareth!) had left on the 14, so I replied asking where he was... inbetween, snapped this Fife Council community services Mercedes in Dobbies car park, and then I got one back saying "In McDonalds". Unsual, as he does not eat the stuff... then he told me he liked their new range. I did not stop for one myself, as I was preparing for the next Strathtay arrival on the 13, and he accompanied me for the trip... which was using 260 again, which took a fast trip cross-city, picking up a good handful and still managing to have time to wait. (The traffic was light due to the schools, so no excessive delays).

Anyway, at Ninewells, we catch up with 61, which was taken eastbound. Now, at this point, this was the 1207 from Ninewells. The launch was due for "the back of one" so I thought this might give me time for another rounder. Discussed by text/phone was it was going to be 1315 at the bottom of Ninewells... jumped off 61 moments after, just in time to get 60 heading the other way to the stop before Ninewells. Ran down the hill to the A&E car park, and ahead to the bit behind the helipad where the launch was being held. They were just about to head off, but had held back the five/ten minutes to allow me to catch them, which was good. Neil G. (DCC) was winding me up last week on getting his pic taken for the website LOL... I figured some cross-country running would be needed at some point of the day, hence the flat shoes (which are now starting to show signs of wear after many miles a*sing about this summer/autumn!)

Launch pics (I did half a dozen or so from sides, angles etc.) start from here. After our seven men and a lady were all snapped up, time for close-ups of the buses! Marvel at 59 front/os, 59 rear/ns, 257 rear/os - with corrected branding!
257 ns/rear, 257 front/ns. After this point, the various VIP's split themselves between the bus(es) and the car. Strathtay's Ray Taylor (Q&A Manager) started up 257, which allowed this shot of 59 after 257 had pulled aside.

So, that was it for another launch... but there was still the rest of the day to go! At this point, I'd not got 258 on Service 13 (it was), or 62/63, which were the other two buses on the 14. I stopped at Westgate HC on the way up to Ninewells terminus, then 702 on 75A to Hawkhill (for Perth Road). Got off for some card & notepads from Urban Print, then returned to the Hawkhill to get 716 on the 73 to Wallacetown Health Centre. Crossed back over Victoria Street - there was a 13 due, but Travel Dundee 149 on the 9 turned up first, so that took me to the Westport. I then got a text from Gareth to say 257 had turned up on the 54... (1428 journey)... feasibile, as the Perth schools were off. Upon dumping my items at home, coming back out again (with a fresh supply of 13/14 summary leaflets!), I got a text from Graeme/TP2040 to say that 257 has just passed him at work on the 54 to Perth...

After stopping the Forum to have a go at losing my change in the digital print machine (how come it's ALWAYS the one in the Forum that loses the money?) I gave up and went for a 13 - one due again! - and it's 258! Yay, that's the last one I need! The timetable leaflets (I did the one for Strathtay - see scotbus.com/timetables if you want one!) had been given to the drivers to give to passengers (some 71 drivers had them too!), but this driver had placed his stock on the front panel dash, meaning they were v.popular through the trip. One passenger even commented that it was a novelty to get one of these from Strathtay... (I'm just repeating what was said... we both know there are well over 50 leaflets and booklets covering Strathtay services...)

Anyway, 258 at Ninewells, just before heading back to Dobbies, and then the stance was visited by 309 on the 16/39 through working. 61 about to leave Ninewells for another 14 to Dobbies at 1607 (note the timing is off by a few minutes on all these pictures!)

I then took the once-a-day Travel Dundee Service 93 heading eastbound, from Ninewells (1622) to Kings Cross Road (1630ish).

... and now, a bit of quality allocating in play - 10 on the 10! Yes, we've brought you 11 on the 11, and 12 on the 12, but I've not yet seen any pics of 10 on the 10... taken at Kings Cross Road... (If anyone has 02 on the 2, 03 on the 3, 04 on the 4, 07 on the 7, 08 on the 8, 14 on the 14, 15 on the 15, or 17 on the 17, let me know!) After this I waited for the 14 back to Ninewells, to get 62. I did snap 63 heading the other way at the Lynch Centre, but it was a little too blurred.

Got off 62 at the end of my workplace road. I know it's the day off, but I So, headed to the Tech Park to try for 257 on the 76 (the 54/54A Perth School run in the afternoon ends at Invergowrie, waits for a bit then does the 1710 ex Apollo Way West)
704 at Apollo Way West
257 at Apollo Way West on the 76 rear or front
712 at Apollo Way East on the 76A, which starts from Explorer Road "South"

And that was it - almost. Took 60 on the 14 back up to Ninewells Hospital, went in for a bit to see my mother. Her ward (3) was overlooking all today's launch events out by the helipad, but she (despite having a window bed) didn't see anything. She'd seen it in the paper, as DC Thompsons staff have it in that evening's Telegraph, and when I got home, I found it was in the online version as well as the "dead tree" version. (Have a look on the online version. Those pictures from the launch have the Travel Dundee management in front of the Strathtay bus, and vice-versa - although mine were the other way round. It wasn't meant, it just worked out like that...)

Anyway, she's improved, and is getting home at some point of tommorrow. Hopefully she won't have to endure a mind-numbing wait for her drugs to come from pharmacy - I think I read somewhere they had a scheme in place to avoid that (it took close to nine hours when I was in North Mid...) anyway...

Speaking of "dead tree versions", I never did see the doc again who looked like Erin Lindsey... but maybe because she was moved to another ward in time for my next visit...

The last eastbound departure (of the day) on the 14 was 63. The last eastbound through to Dobbies on the 13 was 259, so I took this to Dobbies, and got off at Wellgate on the way back. Afterwards, met Graeme briefly, before heading home. So much work on the pc, and then I made a start FTPing the pics. As I'd been up for around fifteen/sixteen hours (not feeling tired) I headed to bed, but didn't sleep. Again. So, managed to wake up, finish the FTPing, get the Dundee Area Bus Forum SMF update to SMF1.0.5 done, and find and fix the bug that meant moderators couldn't view attachments. Fotopic's editing suite was down, due to server problems, but come just after 1am I could get through.

So, by 0230, I'd done the full day on two new bus routes, updated a software package, uploaded 68 pics, sent in excess of 50 texts out about it, got home and split it into three collections despite sever up and down, and fixed a long standing niggle. Then I went back to bed...

I thought for the night...
"Maybe tommorrow, world peace..."
"Yeah right, try something else?"
"How about an end to poverty in the city, peace and goodwill to all GLBT persons around the world, new bodies for myself and the rest of the family where needed, an end to HD around the world, oh yeah and get the pavement outside my door fixed..."
"Was that world peace on white or brown bread?"
(SYMBOLS CLASH)

(If you've not heard the Virgin Radio joke competition exerpts, that will probably mean nothing to you. But, after being up for a long time, doing lots of miles, seeing lots of people, and the rest, it was fun!)

I *still* can't believe Neil held everyone back at the launch, to let me get downhill off the bus... ok stop giggling now, sleep...

posted by Suzy Scott @ 23:59 0 comments