Suzy, Drinker Of Coffee

... we may, or may not, have stopped at Corley and/or Keele, I wasn't awake... Anyway, on the drive into Glasgow, 50132 performed well, and the departing driver insisted on reminding us once more about the luggage policy, and was quite buoyant in mentioning he'd turned away ten passengers the previous night. He added in a weight limit of 15kgs, which is not on the website! Having said that, 15 kilos is about the maximum I'd want to lift if I had a coach to fill... The reason I mention this is, because... we were a little late in leaving Glasgow. We ended up leaving via Roystonhill, almost as if we were heading for the Glasgow depot in Blochairn Road... The driver who was departing came back on the pa, and apologised because he'd not noticed a defect on the bus (despite driving it for several hours...), and we had to swap. 50132 was a Perth based vehicle, and the driver promised us "another new Neoplan". That was interesting, as Glasgow don't have any... we drove about half-way down the access road into the depot (former Fife bendi 51062/562 was there, allegedly kept back for a later Glasgow - Aberdeen run), and the red MAN's from Motorvator were all parked up. So, 50137 - on paper an Aberdeen based bus - was sitting there ready for us. We were then subbed from 50132 accordingly, but as the door had been wide open waiting for us, the air-con wasn't on, and the bus was somewhat warm. The drivers shifted the lugagge across, and at one point cheated by moving 50132 further forward to allow the lugagge to be moved parallel across... Now, just as the aircon was getting cool enough for a very warm day in Glasgow (it was hotter than London the day before...), until we got to Moodiesburn Crossroads... and the engine belt snapped... The fix for this on a car, when the fan belt goes, is to try to wrap a pair of tights around it... but on inspection, it looked like even that wouldn't hold it. Volvo bendi 51062 (from the garage) came to rescue us! Got back to Dundee just over one hour late at 1135, and went home and had a quick doze. Woke up about the back of 6pm... Overall a good trip, but the first Megabus trip where I've actually had such a serious hitch as this. It was 51 weekends ago exactly when I tried Scotland - London by Megabus for the first time, and I must say although the Neoplans are good, the MAN's are better, but I still didn't think I'd get a go in an artic back!

This week at work was not too bad. I've had worse (see last week...) Anyway, tonight (once again I am retroblogging this!) I am on the way to London. We have Stagecoach Megabus Neoplan 50143 on the M11 from Aberdeen, with 50128 providing a duplicate from Glasgow. This means passengers from Perth and points north have plenty space to stretch out. Night night ;-)

(At this point, we were somewhere around Gretna, IIRC).

Well, even after this week, still had a feeling of some things I wanted to do and see. I spent almost an hour perfecting this journey plan, and it worked - almost briliantly.

From Dundee Bus Station at 0820 - that takes some doing to be there the morning after the team night out!, I took Fife 20322 on the 99 to Guardbridge Main Street - well, me & TP2040. Got off there, but didn't snap the bus at either end due to the sun at that time (keep reading for more!), but crossed the road to Cupar Road, for Service 23 - the unique Saturday early run from St Andrews to Letham, that comes back as a 64B (and in the end, does the same at the end of the shift too). Bus involved was Dennis Dart 32204, seen here at Letham. Like several other Fife Council stop names, this stop gets another new name. "Letham, bus shelter" - as the timetable shows - is also represented as "Monimail Road Letham" from a previous board sticking excercise, but the new bus stop shows "Letham Village centre"...

From Cupar, and just before we took 34086 in Go-Flexi colours on the F1/F2 (F1 up, F2 down, and the other bus generally does the opposite), it was interesting to see First's standards still as they were - another elderly Tiger on the 23 - this time with no destination, but a service number!. After a brief wait at Newburgh, ex-Devon Volvo Olympian 16403 on the 36 took us to Perth. When we got there, it was planned to take a look Pegasus Travel Service 49 from Perth to Glenalmond & Harrietfield, as next Saturday is the last day. This link was provided by Lawson's of Methven until the early 1990's, and the area had no bus service at all until Perth & Kinross Council reinstated a service a few years back. The regular bus R79 EDW was spotted by me a few weeks ago, but today, the service was being operated by ex-Arran Scania/Plaxton G262EHD! The board was in the window, but an Almex "A" ticket machine was in use, as opposed to the electronic A90 usually on this route. R79 would have done the last round trip, as the regular driver and bus were due back by that time! The operations manager (who was driving) talked of his days with Lawson's on this route (with cars usually!), and it would seem this is the only times bug buses have got in the area. The bus was snapped at the Perth end as well as opposite Glenalmond College As ever, the service has started to pick up, just in time for it's withdrawal....

As a result of the passenger loadings, we were a moment or two down on arriving Perth, and it was a tight time for our next bus - but we made it, and Volvo B10M/Alexander PS 20196 took us to Kelty, and similar 20330 took us on the 55 to Dunfermline (pics taken at Kelty Cross). This one has also recently been refurbished.

In Dunfermline, we could see 32104has been fitted with an electronic display. After this, Volvo B10M/Plaxton 52442 took us to Edinburgh, where sights included the Mercedes Citaro artic on the 19 once more (still not got it for a photo yet!), a one-time FifeFirst Scania on the 44, another new OmniDekka, a fairly new Dart/Pointer for Waverly Travel that I'd not seen before, one of the former Diamond Airlink Scania's, Motorvator Volvo/Plaxton R85 SEF with back end advert for Wrigley's Mints, as well as a reorganisation of street furniture in time for the start (tommorrow) of the new Central Edinburgh Traffic Management scheme.

After that, we got back to the bus station, and saw Rapsons ESK 985 and plain white Fife N618 USS together, before we got on 52160 on the X59 (pic taken in Glenrothes). From the coach window, we were able to snap ex-Tube 42 on Megabus M90. When we got to Glenrothes, coach 52385 was seen in the bus station, before Volvo Olympian 16101 arrived on the 46A. We took this bus to Caskieberran, back to Glenrothes, then onto Leven/Buckhaven. Must admit, this was another run which was expected to be a minibus... We got to Buckhaven, and rather than going back to Leven bus station, the bus drove back to Aberhill depot, with the two of us still on it... now, when we got there, there were a few more buses ahead waiting to get into the washbed. When we got off - one of the new Solo's for the 13 was looking straight ahead of us! The bus is due to go on the road on Monday (two branded for the 13, one spare in plain), but the 13 will not be able to accept them initally due to road preperation works in Dysart - so look out for them appearing anywhere in Levenmouth! The "coastrider 13" branding includes two water waves, and "starfish" - is this a comment on the 13's passengers? (The tech tales website refers to "starfish" as those people who call techical support, with little knowledge of what is going on...)

So, snapped it up, offside and nearside, that before walking back to the bus station to catch 16132 on the 95 (pic taken at St Andrews). While we were waiting on 20304 on the 96 back to Dundee, 20314 arrived back from a party which had been held by Brian Souter at his estate near Crieff to commemorate 25 years of Stagecoach, and a party had been held for staff and their families. Also spotted was 20305 and 20322 - we'd been on the latter earlier on the 99's, and 20305 looked like it had been on the 90's today - showing "St Andrews 90" which you can now only see on Saturdays!

Anyway, very good day out - and more than 14 hours long. I will probably beat it before the end of the summer...

Still feeling a little ill, but went into work anyway. Now, going back to last year when I came out, we'd had an agreement on the facilities i'd be using. I was somewhat concerned to see that these were almost all unsuable, thanks no lights working in either! Therfore, as I was still feeling ill, left it as long as I could, then walked out the door, and kept walking till I got to the top of Thurso Crescent, got the 17 home, and went home to get refreshed and cleaned up.

At around 3pm, had the agency on the phone wondering where I was... concerned for my health and safety...

Sent a two-page complaint/email to them, my manager, and his manager, around 6pm.

Not long later, at around 7pm, got a call from the new contract manager... who seems somewhat apologetic as to what happened.

In the meantime, I am not in tommorrow, but back on Friday.

Today's trip was mostly done on a First Scotland East day ticket (£8 worth, because the bit from St Andrews to just beyond Cupar is before 0930... but I still had £6 in vouchers to use from a time when a 23 - a two-hourly route - completly ignored my waiting at Balado Crossroads!). Anyway, I digress. Started of with Stagecoach 20329 on the 99 took me to St Andrews, where reconstruction of City Road and the bus station led to a lot of vehicles in wrong places, and waiting lights (road) or banksmen (bus station) to let them through! Full pics here, but my first First of the day was the "regular" bus on the 23, despite having no number box (and the digital display rescued from an M9 coach!), 62250. The coach handled somewhat roughly, especially over unmade bits of road. After getting off at Stirling bus station, I thought I was in somewhat of a timewarp (t..tt..tt..timewarp... etc.), as I was able to spot at least seven buses advertising "Dowa" month - which was MARCH, this is JUNE! Other notables included a brand new LINLITHGOW based Scania on the 58 - well, it was screened for it, but as you expect, it was acutally a 38 (the big Merc ex-demonstrator L140MAK was on 58's, running Dunblane-Stirling from Bannocklburn depot, as usual). Anyway, during/after breakfast, snapped at Murray Place, ex-CentreWest DW78 on the 51's (not low floor but never mind...) Mercedes 62365 on the 11 heading for Balfron via Aberfoyle (also with "Dowa"!), Mitchell's of Plean's Enviro 300, and what used to be Mercedes 54, on the 54! I started walking back to the bus station, and was able to snap an original, and newer Scania from Mackies, then for those wondering where all the Route 60 branded buses were, I snapped one on the X39 heading for Glasgow! Larbert were also at it, as a 6/7 branded Dart was on the 16!

So, I'd had a quick look at the Balfron timetable (well, a photocopy of one page of it), and could see the opportunity to go from Stirling to Glasgow via Balfron on a 12/10 combination. It used to be a through service, and some buses work through. I saw the driver of 30126 arriving as a 59, and started winding to the end of the blind - and he found it - Glasgow via Balfron etc. OK, so went for it, but as I hadn't been up this way for a bit, double-checked the arrangements for changing from a 12 to a 10. Driver stated that a change of bus was needed, and "this thing widnae make it to Glasgow". Having said that, it was one of the better journeys of the day, it had to be said! The bus was an ex-Manchester Olympian, one of those still with Manchester stickers all over the cab, and coach seats downstairs! We got to Balfron, and the landmark timing point "opposite clinic" had been demolished (Stirling Bus Station now referred to as "Going Local Office"). So, the bus took me round the corner to the depot, and the driver admitted he'd forgotten I was upstairs... never mind, just enough time to get back to Buchanan Street (Balfron that is!) Stopped at the council office as I could see someone else was waiting for the bus. The timetable booklet showed that on schooldays, another bus ran 15 minutes behind this one. Well, if I'd known that before... aah well. Later on, I saw it, a Metrobus... Anyway, Mercedes 62315 (used to be 55) took me on the 10 half to Glasgow, but not before I spotted 62365 finally arriving at Balfron, having gone the long way from when I snapped it in Stirling!

Upon arrival in Glasgow, had just over half an hour, but that ended up being a lot less due to feeling somewhat ill in the loo, but still managed to get about 20 minutes to meet up once more with the West End Poet (who beat our meet to his blog before mine!) An exchange of timetables should leave my bags a little lighter, but as I needed a few of each of all the new First and Arriva stuff for friends, I managed to leave with more than I arrived with... aah well, nice one all the same (and I love the choice of music you had for the day!) Left on 62378 (now registered N473 KHU) on the 15A to Livingston, where the pic was taken.

This was the point where I almost had as much time as I'd like, because it was around 1525 and my bus from Edinburgh back to Dundee left about four and a half hours later (the trip back takes about an hour or so, depending on traffic). I was able to grab another new OmniDekka, plain white Dart Y213 BGB which is "on loan" to Horsburgh on the 404/406, P199 ENN of Blue Bus, Shotts (the wife of the former proprietor of HAD Coaches), as well as some somewhat boring shoping by comparison - a bite to eat, and some paper from the Paper Mill shop. This offers the chance to fill a box with paper/card at a fixed price, and both A5 and A4 boxes can be had - the former boxes are magazine files in style, which are somewhat hard to find over the counter (i.e. without buying a case load) in A5 size!

Scania OmniDekka 36007 on the 28 (1647 ex Livi IIRC) took me back to Edinburgh via Sighthill. The routing on the way in allowed me to see the delays in the Hermiston/Sighthill area - primarily due to the construction of the new Hermiston Park & Ride! The top of Riccarton Mains Road is no longer used, and there is a new roundabout further back, just before the turn off for the Trefoil Centre etc. Buses and traffic heading for the uni would then turn left at the roundabout, passing the new P&R. Wonder if the delays make the drivers feel like the car in this picture? Aah well, it will be for the better long-term - there are going to be several of these created (Newcraighall and more-than-doubled-in-capacity Ferrytoll alreadfy exist, and Ingilston, Hermiston, Hillend, Straiton, Todhills, and more, will be with us soon).

On the Calder Road/Gorgie Road/Haymarket, spotted various off the top deck of the bus. A First Plaxton coach with large fleetnames and most recent livery, the Galleries Shuttle bus on the 44A, and G&L Executive Travel on Citylink's 904 to East Kilbride. Upon arrival at Waterloo Place, I was able to snap a few buses including a 26 Trident on the peak time X26 variant, a Yellow Taxibus with offside fleetname missing, and a Routemaster now painted into Guide Friday Edinburgh Tour colours. Stopped at a cashpoint on the way through the St James, and the change from the tenner when I bought two bottles of Coke was enough to give me the change for the locker, and 20p piece for the facilities. Left the bags in the locker, got refreshed, then back out for another go. No 43 timetables left, but a quick look at the office copy showed I probably did not have enough time for a complete rounder on that, and given the nature of traffic on the Queensferry Road, decided against it (you see when you see me with a radio earphone in my ear... it does come in useful to save getting stuck in bad traffic! That's my excuse, and....). Had a look down to Princes Street, and had a trip on ex-Bristol Leyland Olympian 31704 on the X81 to Birkenside, and I alighted at Lady Road/Cameron Toll. In the vicinity, I was able to snap up a variety of "part route" buses working back to the depot, like Lothian 179 on a 49 Kings Road (for Marine garage) part route, 230 on a 31 to Elm Row (for Central garage) (turning east at the top of North Bridge to get there, not left), and a look at the BusTracker real-time system, before taking a First Dart 40942 on the 77 back to town - with a few remnants of broken glass at the back of the bus...

Got back to the bus station, picked up the luggage, then got Megabus X676NSE back to Perth, and Neoplan 50127 back to Dundee.

Overall impression of First service on the day - good, but still not as good as the proclamations they make.

... and severely in need of an update! For now... some of you are aware that I am in the middle of moving a domain name to Evo. In the meantime, I was having difficulty getting hold of my existing mail - take a look at this somewhat hilarious service status page. And when I got home and checked, there was a problem - the incoming mail server had been down for 36 hours. Still, not as long as "webmail - coming soon" which we've been promised since 2002! Useless fockers.