Sunday Variety

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SUNDAY SERVICE STARTS AT 1030

Today's service is live and ON-LINE.

 Click on this link (here),

which will take you to the YouTube page.

Then click on the icon for today's date.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o 

Nearly - But Not Quite

The problem with "surveys" is that they are often not done properly (the above admits that it is not a statistically "accurate" job) and the results are not well presented. Most surveys are undertaken to "prove" a point decided in advance, so the questions are carefully phrased to elicit the "right" result.

A GOOD survey will publish the questions as well as the answers to allow the reader to make a judgement on the appropriateness of any specific point being considered. A GOOD survey will come clean on how many were asked, and what percentage of those asked replied.

There is much of interest in the Great British Bus Survey, despite possible limitations in the survey process.

fbb has selected three from amongst questions about driver politeness, bus cleanliness (inside and out) and reliability.

One question was about what you would WANT which your bus doesn't currently offer.

A more useful question would be about what you would USE if available. fbb suspects that USB charging, WiFi and the ghastly litter generating Metro non--news paper would drop off the list! Very few passengers USE WiFi which is Wi Stagecoach has withdrawn it from most routes. fbb has used a USB charging point, but only because it was THERE. Usually on his travels he takes a spare phone to use as a camera and a "connected" phone to prod for an occasional reference to the interwebnet.

The jury is out on this survey result.

But these two seem clearer:-

A large multiple of cheers for that one. And:-

Ditto.

Printing is small-change cheap and saves NOTHING relative to the cost of running buses. With all timetable data already whirling around in company computer systems, preparing material for print is a job the MD's 7 year old could do for a little extra pocket money.

So here goes with some examples from very recent history, and thanks to Roger French particularly and many correspondents to this blog for their dedication in travelling around and sharing their experiences. And thanks to David for forwarding a copy of the above survey.

Missing In Maidstone : Closed In Canterbury

When fbb wrote about the "new" X3/X4 he commented on the lack of maps on-line, specifically that the Stagecoach network map had not been updated.

And still hasn't.

Leaflets have been produced, however, and they contain excellent maps, firstly a simplified diagram of the whole route ...

...and secondly a Faversham local map which is not very well done at all.

How do I know which X3 buses run via Court Street and which via Napleton Road. Is there a leaflet for the service 3 and its variations - if not should it at least appear on the Faversham local map?

But these two maps (all together now) ...

Are NOT All On Line

... so why not?

And where might you FIND the new leaflets for the X3/X4? Canterbury bus station travel shop?

The Travel Shop at Maidstone bus station?

Guess?

Again, spotted by Roger, "route equipment" (that's bus stops to the non-professional) had not been updated ...

... nor had bus station stands.

Again, why not?

In his blog, Uncle Roger suggests a "lack of resources" at Kent County Council. If so, why isn't a Stagecoach man nipping around with his sticky-backed plastic and doing the job, proper-like?

There is no excuse for confusing and misleading your customers.

And the worst horror of all spotted by Rog ...

... the pop-up stall had run out of hot water, so no pop-up coffee and, presumably, no pop-up doughnuts.

Is it really beyond the wit of a huge company like Stagecoach to reach a complex legal agreement with a Faversham caff to fill the urn in exchange for a bundle of free tickets? Is it beyond the wit of a huge company like Stagecoach to nip round to Tesco (other supermarkets are available) and buy up their supply of doughnuts?

Pity.

Nearly - But Not Quite

Not A Trailer But A Rack!

Received opinion was that Stagecoach buses on their new Derbyshire route (H1) would tow a trailer for two bikes. In fact it is a two bike rack, seen here actually in use on the H1 outside Chesterfield railway station.

And there was a timetable or departure list at the stop outside the station?

Err, no!

H1 was on the bus stop "flag" in Cavendish Street in the centre of town (just!) ...

... and the electronic gizmos had been updated.

There are only a couple of positioning journeys from and to Chesterfield, so maybe understandable that there is no detailed timetable information from Derbyshire who wurle the data. But, surely, Stagecoach would want to encourage Chesterfield folk to take a trip? Poster at the stop? Printed leaflets readily available?

Nearly - But Not Quite.

And, thanks to Jordan, the H1 about to climb Winnats Pass on its way from Castleton to the Blue John Cavern at Mam Tor.

Lovely Lynmouth Lures ...

The fbbs were scheduled to visit Lynmouth last autumn and then Lockdown 2 happened. Maybe, running a year late, they will have a second attempt. In the meantime a birthday card for ex Bro-in-Law John now beset with dementia.

It is good to see that pictures like that on the card are very much "for real".

Opposite are the railings and the landing area where "motor boats" may have once plied.

But where is the ancient iron capstan, painted brown?

Artistic licence has moved it along just a few yards.

Nearly - But Not Quite

But still very lovely. When would be a good time this autumn?

For The Man Who Has Everything?

GT3, meaning Gas Turbine number 3 (following 18000 and 18100 as gas turbines 1 and 2), was a prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built in 1961 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows to investigate the use of its gas turbines in rail traction applications.

Externally it resembled a steam tender locomotive, but the tender carried kerosene fuel. The designer said the traditional chassis and mechanical transmission avoided complications with (at the time of its conception) relatively untried technologies for bogies and electrical transmission.

And it is now available as an OO gauge model, proiduced for K R Models.

It is, fbb thinks, the first OO loco to top the £300 record for a retail price. OK it has electronic control (DCC) and a comprehensive sound chip so all the bells and smells. Well, not actually smells.

Hey that might be the next idea. OO gauge locos that SMELL like the real thing!

But if you want thr very basic bottom draw model, you cna get it for a modest (???!!!) £200.

As ever, fbb will NOT be buying either version!

Another experimental British Railwats gas turbine loco numbered 18000 has sold out on pre-order and a secoind batch is to be manufactured.

Also £200 - sound upgrade available. And if you like models of "odd" locomotives, the "Fell" diesel (numbered 10100) will soon find its way onto the model shop shelves.

 Next Variety blog : Monday 9th August