Sunday Variety

Stagecoach Stockport Switch Suspended

The cunning plan was to add all 170 electric buses to the Stagecoach fleet operated for Manchester's Bee Network. But it simply isn't going to happen for a good few years. The headline (above) quotes a "depot difficulty".

Here is the Stagecoach depot at Stockport, sheltering under the shadow of the famous railway viaduct.

A peep though the door reveals plenty of space.

Indeed, it appears that there is more than enough room for the depot to be used as a staff car park.

There are cars all around!

And there is still plenty of room. The depot has been rebuilt and is very good condition ...

... you couldn't even use the word "tired"!

GROAN!

So what is wrong with the depot?

Answer, nothing!

Those vehicles are being part-funded by the first round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme via a successful bid led by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Most recently it had been envisaged that the depot work in Stockport would be complete by Q3 2025. However, a report to go before the GMCA Joint Clean Air Scrutiny Committee on 26 September notes that “challenges to site availability” have pushed that back by at least a further three years.

In an indication of the scope of difficulty in finding a suitable location for large-scale battery-electric bus operation in Stockport, the report says that TfGM continues to work with Stockport Council to source one and that the new depot is expected to be operational no sooner than late 2028.

No sooner, so could be later, much later

The Volvo BZL fleet intended for Stockport will instead be deployed from depots including Middleton – which Stagecoach operates under the second tranche of bus franchising in the city region – and Hyde Road and Ashton-under-Lyne. The latter two are currently outside the Bee Network but will move from Stagecoach to Metroline in early 2025 under the third tranche.

But there is still no explanation of the "problem" at Stockport depot.

One of fbb's correspondents has hinted (expertly) at the depot difficulty.

There is not enough electricity. The pipes delivering the electric to that part of Stockport are far too small to fill up 170 batteries overnight. The only way it could be done is to switch off the whole of the rest of Stockport overnight.

This would not be the most popular decision.

It will take at least until 2028 to upgrade the supply and, it seems, the National Grid is uneasy about spending the money.

Blog readers may remember a relatively recent BBC documentary which revealed that the UK has a shortage of generating capability and, even it extra power stations could be built in time, the National Grid would need massive investment to deliver said juice to where the chargers would need to be charging.

And that means more and bigger pylons ...

... and we know how popular they will be - and very expensive!

It's all going terribly well - as confidently predicted in this blog.

First Has Another Trainset ...

... with second-hand rolling stock!

The story so far:-

ORR will allow Grand Union Trains to run four return services a day between Stirling and London Euston, starting in 2025.

The trains would call at Larbert, Greenfaulds (for Cumbernauld), Whifflet (for Coatbridge and Airdrie), Motherwell and Lockerbie, and in England at Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes Central. 

Larbert, Greenfaulds and Whifflet would all gain their first direct services to London.

The company said it will use former Virgin Class 220/221 trains that are stored off-lease. 

Some publicity shows 225s from the East Coast main line ...

... but, pre take-over, Grand Union has said that it would use diesels because of, guess what, "power supply problems on the West Coast main line"!

First has not, so far, revealed what trains it will operate.

In the longer term, Grand Union aims to use electric or bi-mode trains, but added that “with current power supply being an issue on the WCML” it would use diesel power throughout the electrified route.

Grand Union was also planning to run from Carmarthen to London but this project appears to be stalled and is not included in the First Rail take-over.

More New Old Trains

Strange things continue to happen in the OO gauge model railway world. 

In the good old days, you either started with a Triang set ...

... or, if your parents were indulgent, you had Hornby Dublo ...

... and you grew the model from there.

Now it is much more toys for very old boys! 

Recently there has been an outbreak of real nostalgia models, dating from before the current crop of wealthy old biys were alive.

First Hattons announced their "Genesis" range of generic four and six wheel coaches in a plethora of ancient liveries.

These coaches were not models of any specific type, but acceptable examples which would pass muster for all but the most pedantic and specialist of modellers.

Then Hornby did the same.

fbb had intended to get samples of both, but Hattons sold out so quickly that he missed out! But Hattons ordered a second batch from the factories way out East. Then Hattons closed down but the "second batch" was taken over by Rails of Sheffield from whom fbb has ordered a sample due for delivery very soon. Well, the old miser has paid for it!

Both companies offered a huge range of liveries all available with optional internal lighting.

But fbb suspects that no more will be produced from either stable,

So expect a very belated contrast and compare in a future blog.

Then Rapido, well known for its eclectic range of very accurate (and very expensive) old-style models, announced something out of character.

They would be offering a truly huge range of "generic" bogie non corridor (suburban) coaches in oodles of different liveries. And they would come with lighting as standard.

Their video explains.

In a rush of financial resource from the pocket and blood to the head, fbb has ordered one. He will have to wait until later in 2025 for it to materialise, by which time he will probably have forgotten that he ordered it.

He doesn't pay for it until the model is in stock.

For comparison, here is the very first clerestory coach (pronounced "clear story" being the extra "storey" on the roof with clear glass to allow more light into the carriage) offered by Triang in the very early 1960s.

Back then we thought it was wonderful!

Two New UK Platforms ...

... but not yet open. A Puzzle Picture.

But where are they. A clue?

The bus is on route 395 to Stony Stratford.

 4 Days to Go 

 Next Ashley Down blog : Mon 30th Sept 

Sunday Variety on Tuesday

University Upgrade Uplift

There must be a huge number of bus managers and transport bloggers who are perennially excited by something. Sam Turner (of Sam's Trains fame) is one such. But now he is joined by Robert Williams of Reading buses.

His latest new bus route is upping his heart rate noiceably.

fbb thinks (so possibly unreliably!) that,  previously, service 21 (CLARET), which runs via the University, had gained extra short-workings to the hallowed halls of academe during term time. 

Now Mr Williams has made them a separate branded route.

"White Knight" is the name of the Uni Campus but fbb does not know why.

Unfortunately the on-line presentation is currently, poor. There is no proper map, just one of these ...

... which is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. The only timetable looks like this ....

... where you have to specify date and day to get the table. A chocolate coffee pot?

There is no PDF of the complete service.

Disappointing!

Puzzle Picture Answer No 1

Wigan Corporation c/o GoAhead. Here is a real one for comparison purposes.

Puzzle Picture No 2

Of course the star of the image is Ivor The Engine.

This was the product of Oliver Postgate (Noggin the Nog and Captain Pugwash) and Peter Firmin.

The other visible characters in the above picture are Edwin Jones (a k a Jones The Steam - Ivor's driver), Dai Station and Evans the Song (choirmaster). Not appearing, but probably residing in the boiler, would be Idris the Dragon.

But what is of notable interest is that an OO gauge model of Ivor and some rolling stock is being produced for Rapido Trains.

To enhance the nostalgia, cut-out figures like the originals are also included with the sets. fbb would have preferred proper 3D versions.

Talking of 3D, Rapido has been showing 3D printed mock-ups which look delightful!

fbb has fallen in love with Ivor ...

... but the loco and two goods wagons ...

... are priced at £200.

That does deserve a loud and resounding "OUCH"!!

Here is a bit about the background to the series.

And there is more!

Perhaps fbb could save up his weekly pocket money and get one for Christmas? Or for his upcoming 80th Birthday in early 2025.

A Big Technological Surprise

So no surprise there, then.

Liverpool Launches Lovely Livery

Again!

Mega Metro Merseyside Mayor Steve Rotheram is pictured with current Transport Minister the Lovely Louise in front of the "launch".

There has already been a launch of the proposed "Glider" bus network.

... also "wrapped" in Metro yellow.

Manchester Heritage Livery

from Stagecoach

To fbb the orange is a bit too red, despite the fact that it was always a deeper orange than the original SELNEC ...

... and maybe even deeper that SELNEC'S succesor brand, GMPTE.

And In Manchester Today?

So no surprise there, then.

Watching Paint Dry

fbb was intrigued by this item ...

... and decided to investigate further.

Now watch again and count the number of locomotives!

 9 Days to Go 

 Next Austria blog : Weds 25th September 

Satirday Variety

Diesel Electric? Gas Turbine Electric!

Above is a turbine.

A turbine  (from the Greek τύρβη, tyrbē, or Latin turbo, meaning vortex) is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work. The work produced can be used for generating electrical power when combined with a generator. A turbine is a turbo machine with at least one moving part called a rotor, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades so that they move and impart rotational energy to the rotor. Technically windmills and water wheels are "turbines".

In the above example the turbine is extracting energy from a gas produced by burning a fuel. The energy created is then used to generate electricity ...

... which drives the wheels of a railway locomotive.

Although this video is longer than fbb would normally quote, it does a far better job than fbb could do and is well worth watching.

Rails have recently been discounting their stock of 18100 models; but the offer is now over|!

The saving was £25 on locos priced at £225 so a tad over 5%. BIG DEAL!

Squashed A Bit?

The iconic loco of the L N E R was the A4 "pacific" designed by Sir Nigel Gresley.

Known by trainspotters as "Streaks" these thrashed up and down the East Coast main line hauling the top expresses to Newcastle and Glasgow. The biggie of the bunch was, of course Mallard which, to this day, holds the world speed record for a steam locomotive.

The valances over the the upper quadrant of the driving wheels were subsequently removed as they made maintenance slow and difficult. But two of the six remaining A4s had their extra tin bit replaced in preservation.

The historic Concours d'Elegance is seem above at the York Railway Museum and is probably a gathering that will never be repeated -  ever!

So when the L N R R decided to upgrade its service from Liverpool Street to Norwich with a "crack express" each way, they looked for a PR winner.

Although the "streamlining" on a Streak makes no difference to speed or coal consumption, it did look spectacular.

The L N E R even pinched the "brand" from the L M S - or was it the other way round?

The L M S removed its useless casing but the L N E R kept the shape to the very end.

But back to Norwich. The bosses opined that these fast trains needed the same look as on the Scotland run, so they took a couple of very ordinary 4-6-0 B17s ...

... and gave them an A4 makeover designating them B17/5.

Just shortening Nigel's design did not really work, visually.

It wss all a bit half hearted as parts of the Norwich line are commuter territory and high speeds are simply not possible between stopping trains.

Later B1s took on some of the work ...

... with a barely noticeable headboard. That for the short lived post WW2 revival of the train was better|!

But, continuing the tend of producing expensive models of rare (almost forgotten) traction to be bought by elderly and dotty collectors, Hornby have just released full details of their B17/5 "streamlined" models.

Only £225 each!

But, if you fancy a squashed streak for the sidings sheltering your steam selection, you have a choice of two liveries.

The Robert Stephenson locomotive company sold a clutch of "streamlined" 4-6-0 locos to Iraq.

Readers may wonder where they got their ideas from. Yet again the "streamlining" made no difference to the performance of Robert's exports.

Interior Irritation - Idiot!

Readers may remember that the old man was faced with finding an easy solution to adding bodged corridor doors to the bodged interior for his ancient Triang coach.

Whist perusing his junk, carefully filed in multiple boxes under the baseboard of the layout, he spotted these.

They are (they were) two sides from a greenhouse model that fbb had never made up. Surely, with a bit of a snip here and there, some doors could be created?

Amazingly, painted dark oak (!) they would look like sliding doors - bearing in mind that the interiors cannot be clearly seen as the trains trundle along! You just get a passing impression.

And here they are posed against the new-build compartments now with rather garish moquette on the bodged seats. And, guess what?

The old man has glued the doors on upside down! So Peterville's perturbed passengers will perforce have to leap with agility to get into their seats from the corridor side.

A touch of senior insanity strikes!

And before you ask ...

... the door frames will ping off leaving just a bit of touching up of the light oak. fbb was prudent enough to attach lightly, just in case.

We've Got The Key(s)

Well only one key ...

... and it is a very special key. Almost as special as those obtained by Siddy Holloway for her investigations as part of "Secrets of the London Underground". But not quite as special as hers, surely.

The key-on-a-spike is the ceremonial key handed over by the Mayor upon formally opening the Queens Road tram depot in Manchester. 

The building has passed through many phases and is currently in the care of GoAhead as a bus depot.

The key was presumed lost until it turned up at an auction where the anonymous owner accepted a bid (sum not disclosed) by GoAhead.

A key from history is now reunited with its non-existent lock!

They key is real gold ...

.. and probably worth more than GoAhead's current Manchester fleet\!

Another Farewell

Guess the County where the company operates! Trading since the 1970s this is another small local operator that has closed.

Well respected and recognised by their smart livery in traditional style with no swirly bits ... 

.

.. the numbers  did not add up.

Adieu good friend!

Tomorrow we have a tasty creamy summer blog as part of our charivari.

 Next Sunday Variety blog : 18th August