[MNL] J690 XAK (Read 1,150 times)

[22438]

Firstly, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this topic, but I rode this bus today on the 4 (Sheffield-Millhouses) and noticed it had a scrolling LED display at the front (on the inside), seemingly superfluous. I just wondered, what was it used for? Why is it no longer used? And are there any others on Sheffield B10Ms? The only other J-XAK bus (689) definitely doesn't have one. I got a picture on my phone but it didn't come out very well, then the bus got too busy for me to take another.

So, does anybody know what its for?

[metromadman]

did this have scroling LED on the front or inside, i noticed one in the J reg had LED fitted inside

[22438]

I meant, at the front inside the vehicle. I have seen a similar one before, years ago on one of the buses with grey seats and silver posts(ie some of the G-NWA, all H-THL or could have been the same bus)

[metromadman]

thought you ment on the front outside

[dave72122]

The only ones in use now with first are on the olypians in rotherham, which only start when you press the bell, and it says bus stopping, hold on tight!!!

Yorkshire traction had some aswell i remeber think it was 140 or 137 not sure, the rawmarsh b6bles had some of tem on, advertising their coaches etc.

Some wright renowns the R reg ones in sheffield have them aswell.

but as i have said above, only ones in use are on the rotherham olympians S217 LLO, and S219 LLO definately have them fitted.

[22438]

Yes I was on an R-WKW reg Renown and notices it had a kind of wooden box near the door that had screw holes and marks where one of these displays could have been originally. But I've never actually seen one on one of these Renowns, the only one I have seen is on this bus.

[lapike]

yes have seen the one on S219 LLO. Never been on S217 LLO.

[manontheinside]

690 (60532) had the internal scrolling matrix unit fitted around 15 years ago (IIRC) when new, at the same time as it gained a dot matrix unit on the front of the bus. As with the silver service B10Ms (626-37) and Easi Access (781-790) these units were there to scroll information.

All units i believe were supposed to be used to convey next stop information (as per Supertram) but poor technology at the time, coupled with passengers different descriptions for locations and the inability to take diversions (not something Supertram has to contend with) led to its lack of use.

Also, i believe 690 was also to be used to advertise both savers and external businesses, but again this was short lived. Useful source of revenue i guess if the kit works!

[22438]

Thanks for that information. So 690 was the only B10m to get one (other than the silver service ones)? I think most, if not all of the silver service ones have gone now as I certainly don't remember seeing them on these buses. And were the R-WKW buses originally the Easi Access branded buses that operated the 60, before ending up on the 22? I also remember "Comfort Zone" branded buses on the 22 before that, are these the ones that are now returning from Cornwall to Doncaster?

[manontheinside]

The Silver Service buses certainly started to get them (several examples on the 80 will confirm this), but maybe the programme was abandoned later on before the conversion list was complete.

The R-WKWs did indeed start out on the 60, although within about 24 months were replaced by T-MAK/T-ODT B10BLEs, and obviously later on by deckers. However, 2 of the R-WKW batch were intended for use on the 3/4 (Millhouses) which never really happened.

Once Mainline announced its orders for new buses, there were to be 31 SPDs and 20 B10BLEs. To make up for the allocation for the 52 (20 B10Bs weren't enough), the 2 'spare' R-WKWs were transferred to Greenland. However, by the time all the above arrived First were in charge and the B10BLE order was increased to 23, rendering 781 & 782 redundant.

When the SPDs started to arrive, there first homes were:

Greenland: 508, 511, 513-8
Rotherham/Doncaster: 509, 510, 512, 519-538

The 22 was converted to low floor with the SPDs, but in reality the B10BLEs (781 & 782) tended to operate the 22 more often than not. The spare SPDs and B10BLEs from all the above tended to escape on to the 51 until such time as its own 'First' buses arrived being as that the EasiAccess/Comfort Zone and Silver Service liveries were compatible.

So therefore, no. The B6LEs returning to Doncaster have not been used (as standard at least) on the 22. These were originally on the first low floor route in Sheffield - the 13/14.

[22438]

Yes, I remember catching one of these buses on the 3 (must have been about 1998) but it seemed to me to be more of a "one-off" amongst the usual Dominators. I don't seem to remember any Easiaccess branding on it though. Did it end up as "Comfort zone" when transferred to the 22?

I have to say I don't remember SPDs on the 22, my memory is of Wrigh bodied buses. I remember the SPDs on the 95 though. Or did that come later?

Sorry I'm going a bit off (my own) topic here!

[manontheinside]

Yes, the B10BLEs became Comfort Zone as per with the SPDs.

Trust me, 22 had SPDs, although originally i think these were for the 6!

Once new buses turned up for the likes of Maltby and Rossington in the shape of B10BLEs (815-841) the SPDs were recast including a lot to Halfway for the 95 route - although generally it is agreed that these were largely unsuitable.

When the decision was taken to take the B10BLEs out of Doncaster (as the original A638 plans were going backwards), the SPDs were swapped for B10s and Scanias via Olive Grove if i recall, and the SPDs returned from where hence they had come. And obviously the B6BLEs from the 51 (now there was a stupid plan!) went to Doncaster as well.

I think / hope that answers the question!

[22438]

It certainly does! Thanks for all the help.

[morrisminor]

Those SPDs are terrible. They were amongst the first 11.3m length examples if i remember rightly, but still had the Allison AT545 gearbox, which is totally unsuitable for such a large bus.

I remember the Dot Matrix blinds on 689 and 690 when new. Mostly on route 51?

[22438]

Here's a pic of 690 I found: patrick5536.fotopic.net/p9577306.html

It appears to have a roller blind here. Since this is such an old pic, the dot matrix blind must have been removed very early in the bus's life. And you say 689 had one too? That's interesting, because there is no sign that it ever had a scrolling LED on the inside.