This manhole cover is situated on the Newton Road close to Regent Close, which is where our depot is. It is also close to the two bus stops we change drivers at. So you get down there 5 minutes before your bus is due and wait. Every car that drives past in the direction of Torquay drives over this manhole cover. If you look closely you can see that the cover is about two inches below the level of the road and each car produces two loud clanging sounds and this is a very busy road. It is getting to be an audio variation of the Chinese Water Torture, especially if, which happens rarely, your bus is running a little late.
This bus, a Firstbus running as an X8o was on the Strand yesterday. I haven't seen one done up like this before. They must be getting short of buses.
11 comments:
First did the same when they had the 66. Took our liveried Optares off to Plymouth. Tchoh!
First have 'specialy' routes. Seen the Exeter to Bournemouth coastal bus? It's bright pink and purple.
"bright pink and purple." - Oh god it sounds like another lycra-clad Ray Stenning special...did it have "swirls" ??? (caution, affirmative answer raises probability to 95%)
Those pot holes/drain covers can't be as bad as some of the bumps and ditches in the roads around Roselands/White Rock after your lovely buses drive over the totally unsuitable road surface!
First are very bad at keeping specially liveried buses on the correct routes! At least Dartmouth is not that far from Torquay!!
I've not ever seen that bus (must be newish). Coming from Dartmouth, it was probably cascaded over due to their regular bus being called in for safety reasons.
And re: purple bus. I seem to remember fossils on it. But then I only see it every now and then when I am en route to Weymouth (stuck in Bridport where the routes cross). Exeter to Bournemouth via Bridport...must be a nice long route :)
These buses were first registered in 1999, belonging to Capital Citybus, (First in London). They came to Plymouth to operate the George Park and Ride site whilst First waited for their new Enviro 400s to arrive. The centre doors have been removed. The green and cream colour scheme is for the 93 route Plymouth to Dartmouth which is operated under a partnership with Devon County Council. The outside has been refreshed but typical First nothing is done to the interiors. As someone has already noted the vehicle allocation at First is a joke. This vehicle should be exclusively used on the 93, along with the other bus which is painted the same. If DCC notice this First will be fined.
Sorry Firstbus, I hope the DCC don't see my picture and you end up getting fined. Who am I kidding?
The First buses were going up to Glasgow after the Enviros came but the managers managed to keep hold of them to upgrade another route. You can tell they're ex-London as the staircase is in the middle!
Also, the Bournemouth - Exeter buses are cream, red and blue; not pink and purple. You are thinking of somewhere else!
If you're interested the pink and purple ones are the 'Tamar Link' buses which go from Plymouth over to Torpoint in sunny Cornwall!
Aswell as our Tamar Link buses the Dennis Tridents which there are 5 of named after birds. Aswell as a Dennis Dart MPD and 3 Varios there is also pink and purple branding for the tavistock buses which are Wright Volvo B10BLEs I think. They are in pink and purple "Tavy Linx" livery.
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