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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 9, 2022 1:11:40 GMT
Can I ask out of curiosity, why did you want 176, and not stick with 170? I originally wanted VLA176 purely because of how its gearbox sounded. I was in talks with Arriva since early 2019 to reserve it and went to view it in Grays. When they were ready to let the buses go, I decided to get a second as a spare in case 176 ever needed parts. Went for a viewing in Beddington and on advice from the engineer who accompanied me, I picked 170 as it had not had any components removed, whereas most of the others at Beddington did or had other damage. By this point, 176 had been moved and buried in another storage yard along with dozens of other buses, so I had to wait for a few months for that yard to be cleared before I could get to it. As everything else with Replacement Bus Hire was ready to go, I decided to reinstate 170 instead of using it for components. Once 170 had been retrieved from Beddington (this was not an easy task), the workshop did some great work reinstating it and it has been a strong, reliable performer ever since. It has earned the cost of purchase, mechanical work, insurance and then some. Given the amount recently spent on making it good it would be a shame for it to become a Christmas Tree and/or go for scrap.
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Post by class387 on Aug 14, 2022 12:23:55 GMT
Update I rode it from Hounslow - Ascot and my god is it quick. The amount of time and effort you put into it really shows as it is an amazing bus 😅. Glad I was able to ride this early afternoon Thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed it! I've booked it into the workshop as a few things require attention before it gets to the stage where they cause a problem. Intensive work keeping on top of the maintenance! In the meantime, fleet updates. 23065 is being prepped for MOT and will have work done on its Hanovers, electric ramp, air conditioning blowers and exterior lights. MAL108 has been earning its keep on emergency rail replacement and did a shift at short notice on Ascot to Aldershot the Sunday before last. TA23 will be the next in for work on its radiator and water circuit. PSVAR upgrades are now complete, all that's required for official conformity is a certificate. VLA170 is still stored serviceable, but is now surplus to requirements. It was only ever taken on to tide me over and get the operation started while waiting for VLA176 to be dug out from Arriva's storage yard and restored to working condition. It's a good bus, but it has fulfilled its purpose and is now up for sale as a complete vehicle. Hi, will either of the Citaro bendies be on replacements from Barnes tomorrow or Tuesday? Would love a ride on one.
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 14, 2022 13:16:55 GMT
lHi, will either of the Citaro bendies be on replacements from Barnes tomorrow or Tuesday? Would love a ride on one. I wasn’t going to allocate one, was meant to be VLA176. 23065 is being prepped for MOT so it definitely won’t be that. It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no either…
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 15, 2022 11:00:44 GMT
Thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed it! I've booked it into the workshop as a few things require attention before it gets to the stage where they cause a problem. Intensive work keeping on top of the maintenance! In the meantime, fleet updates. 23065 is being prepped for MOT and will have work done on its Hanovers, electric ramp, air conditioning blowers and exterior lights. MAL108 has been earning its keep on emergency rail replacement and did a shift at short notice on Ascot to Aldershot the Sunday before last. TA23 will be the next in for work on its radiator and water circuit. PSVAR upgrades are now complete, all that's required for official conformity is a certificate. VLA170 is still stored serviceable, but is now surplus to requirements. It was only ever taken on to tide me over and get the operation started while waiting for VLA176 to be dug out from Arriva's storage yard and restored to working condition. It's a good bus, but it has fulfilled its purpose and is now up for sale as a complete vehicle. Hi, will either of the Citaro bendies be on replacements from Barnes tomorrow or Tuesday? Would love a ride on one. The answer would be yes - MAL108 is out today. VLA176 off for performance enhancements and other bits of work tonight.
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Post by class387 on Aug 15, 2022 12:28:19 GMT
Hi, will either of the Citaro bendies be on replacements from Barnes tomorrow or Tuesday? Would love a ride on one. The answer would be yes - MAL108 is out today. VLA176 off for performance enhancements and other bits of work tonight. Would it also be out tomorrow (it's quite far for me to get to, great to hear though)?
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 16, 2022 8:58:34 GMT
The answer would be yes - MAL108 is out today. VLA176 off for performance enhancements and other bits of work tonight. Would it also be out tomorrow (it's quite far for me to get to, great to hear though)? Yes, out this morning and afternoon!
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 18, 2022 22:55:42 GMT
Fleet updates
23065 - being prepped for MOT
MAL108 - was out in London doing rail replacement on Monday and Tuesday this week. Serviceable
TA11 - has formally left the fleet and will no longer be referred to
TA23 - VOR awaiting a tandem pump to assist with engine temperature control
VLA170 - stored
VLA176 - has received further mechanical attention this week. Some parts have been replaced and the recurring boost leak impairing its performance hopefully fixed for good. Its rating has been reduced from 250bhp to 220bhp in favour of increased torque output to improve acceleration at lower speeds. It leaves works tomorrow and is presently allocated to limited rail replacement duties on Sunday.
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Post by M1104 on Aug 19, 2022 11:29:11 GMT
Fleet updates 23065 - being prepped for MOT MAL108 - was out in London doing rail replacement on Monday and Tuesday this week. Serviceable TA11 - has formally left the fleet and will no longer be referred to TA23 - VOR awaiting a tandem pump to assist with engine temperature control VLA170 - stored VLA176 - has received further mechanical attention this week. Some parts have been replaced and the recurring boost leak impairing its performance hopefully fixed for good. Its rating has been reduced from 250bhp to 220bhp in favour of increased torque output to improve acceleration at lower speeds. It leaves works tomorrow and is presently allocated to limited rail replacement duties on Sunday. Was VLA176 250bhp from new or modified sometime along the way?
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 19, 2022 12:27:50 GMT
Fleet updates 23065 - being prepped for MOT MAL108 - was out in London doing rail replacement on Monday and Tuesday this week. Serviceable TA11 - has formally left the fleet and will no longer be referred to TA23 - VOR awaiting a tandem pump to assist with engine temperature control VLA170 - stored VLA176 - has received further mechanical attention this week. Some parts have been replaced and the recurring boost leak impairing its performance hopefully fixed for good. Its rating has been reduced from 250bhp to 220bhp in favour of increased torque output to improve acceleration at lower speeds. It leaves works tomorrow and is presently allocated to limited rail replacement duties on Sunday. Was VLA176 250bhp from new or modified sometime along the way? I assume the whole batch was 250bhp from new. It is being worked on by Volvo specialists who confirmed it's currently 250bhp. Looking forward to collecting and seeing how it performs with the extra torque without boost pressure escaping from various hoses and gaskets!
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dart
Cleaner
Posts: 6
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Post by dart on Aug 21, 2022 7:41:25 GMT
Fleet updates 23065 - being prepped for MOT MAL108 - was out in London doing rail replacement on Monday and Tuesday this week. Serviceable TA11 - has formally left the fleet and will no longer be referred to TA23 - VOR awaiting a tandem pump to assist with engine temperature control VLA170 - stored VLA176 - has received further mechanical attention this week. Some parts have been replaced and the recurring boost leak impairing its performance hopefully fixed for good. Its rating has been reduced from 250bhp to 220bhp in favour of increased torque output to improve acceleration at lower speeds. It leaves works tomorrow and is presently allocated to limited rail replacement duties on Sunday. What rails is VLA176 on?
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 21, 2022 8:45:53 GMT
Standby at Twickenham now, unlikely to do any trips today. Standby next weekend too.
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dart
Cleaner
Posts: 6
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Post by dart on Aug 21, 2022 8:53:32 GMT
Standby at Twickenham now, unlikely to do any trips today. Standby next weekend too. [br Thanks! Might come down and grab a photo as I'm working round there today
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dart
Cleaner
Posts: 6
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Post by dart on Aug 22, 2022 20:10:03 GMT
Standby at Twickenham now, unlikely to do any trips today. Standby next weekend too. Oh, by the way, I did manage to get a photo! See here:
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Post by 6HP502C on Aug 23, 2022 1:04:06 GMT
Nice photos
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Post by TNA33379 on Aug 25, 2022 20:07:02 GMT
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