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 

Saturday TramFest Varety

What's Missing In Sheffield?

Here are a couple of clues.

With some haste, the Stagecoach name has been removed from the SuperTram logo! At the the same time PTE's Travel South Yorkshire web st has changed ...

... gaining a new logo for its newly acquired toys.

There is a "headline" panel on the web site as well ...

... and all the online timetables have lost their "Stagecoach".

Metrolink's Manchester Moves

It was way back (2019BF - before franchising) that Affable Andy Birnham announced that he wanted to take control of the trams and build multiple extensions. The extension to Stockport was set for delivery in 2023. Mancunians may have noticed some slippage in the timescale!

But here is Andy, pictured outside the lifts that take you down from town centre to the new Stockport interchange. The entrance, as you see, is Bee-oo-tiful. GROAN!

This is the latest from Andy.

Meanwhile, HM Government, always on the ball with all matters Public Transport has been extolling the financial virtues of cancelling the essential northern section of HS2.

This, according the HMG, will allow trams to run to Manchester Airport. While you are thinking this through, here is a video - slightly longer than an fbb video "quote" but well worth a look.

Yep, HMG, trams to Manchester Airport started running in 2014! So you are only eleven years out of date.

 Longer LeMans Trams

 

As a special treat, fbb can offer you a brief note in French describing the system ...

... but below os a version in the vernacular.

The Le Mans tramway is a tramway in the city of Le Mans, Pays de la Loire, France. It opened on the 17 November 2007 and currently consists of two lines with a seven station common section in the center of town. The most recent addition to the tramway occurred on the 30 August 2014 which added a connection to Bellevue and created the second line, before that there had been a single line with a branch.

Currently, the trams are smart five segment units ...

... and the plan, now confirmed, is to extend by a further two chunks to create seven segment trams.

Zut alors!

And Proposed Trams in Kent

A grand scheme linking Grays with Ebbsfleet is currently proposed; but, fbb suspects, it is more aspirational that a practicable costed project. The tunnel under the Thames will cost a pantograph and a bogie times 100!

Maybe it would be best not to start planning your trans-Thames tram trips. Certainly NOT a practical aspiration for fbb!!

But, indubitably, there are definite trams coming to Kent, as we shall see tomorrow.

Proliferating Power Problems At Peterviille

One of the dubious delights of railway modelling is the electrics. In theory the good old-fashioned way is to connect two wires to the track and turn a knob on a controller.

Back in the days of Hornby Dublo three rail, that was pretty much all you had to do. The controller was heavy, chunky and a big red light came on  with a powerful "clunk" if anything upset the electric apple cart.

Modern controllers are tiny by comparison and wiring a two-rail layout involves certain restrictions and complexities that never applied to chunky near indestructible metal three rail stuff.

Modern two-rail electrics are small and fiddly and VERY easy to mess up.

So much so that fbb has had to dismantle Peterville tunnel to sort out his problems, all of them equally small and fiddly.

Scenic "modules" removed, tunnel "top" removed ...

... and debugging was going well. Until ...

... it would appear that fbb's controller is failing/has failed!

Another £45 replacement is looming.

Troubling!

=========================

The rich man wanted eternal life and claimed that he always kept the commandments (a likely story!).

He did not murder, he had nor committed adultery, he did not STEAL, he did not CHEAT but it was some of the first two commandments that he probably did not manage. His wealth was more important to him than his relationship with God.

He went away troubled, unwilling to make the commitment that would lead to eternal salvation. He was blind to the whole truth.

Whenever the Bible records the healing of a blind man (there are several incidents) there is always a deeper message than just the healing. Physical blindness was often an analogy of spiritual blindness.

As the first Easter approached this dropout needed the Easter symbol of new life to "make him complete".

=========================

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 24th March 

Saturday Variety

Manchester City into Manchester city

This footy stadium is located in the Etihad district of Manchester, (?) according to its official name. It is the home of big successful footy club, Manchester City. The club has just announced a massive network of footy match special buses to transport fans to stadium.

The new network is far-ranging.

Here is the detail for any readers who want to try out the new services, starting on 17th inst.

Greater Manchester East

North West

South West

In his excitement to record this news, fbb has missed off Macclesfield at the bottom of the above map. Sorry, Macclesfield.

There are no times given in the introductory asticle, but then times will vary week by week according to kick-off time. 

For an early evening KO you would leave Macclesfield at 1500. The services are (very) limited stop.

It is not a cheap ride!

Nostalgic Northampton Nuggets

Fancy A Holiday? Wellies Essential

When TV started up in earnest post WW2, classics academics immediately predicted its failure. "No word that combines Greek and Latin can ever be a success - television is doomed!"

Tele is Greek; Vision is Latin. Likewise Aqua is Latin and Drome is Greek.

fbb worked there as a schoolboy and student and became de-facto a sort of assistant to the boss. His work was mainly ordering, stocking and selling at the refreshment kiosks ...

... but occasionally he was allowed to drive the train.

Back then the park was served by York Btos bus to Cogenhoe and beyond.

The local owners sold the business to a national leisure outfit and it expanded dramatically with many mo caravans, assorted chalets and all-year-round residences. Actually they were technically not annually occupied; residents had to leave for six weeks each year.

Day visitors can still go by bus using Stagecoach 16 ...

... and a footpath from Fishponds Road. 

Not many people go by bus!

The Park is built around some worked out gravel pits and on the flood plain of the River Nene. So every few years chalet residents and caravan owners get a bit of a soggy surprise.

This winter was worse than usual ...

... with rescue being necessary.

Maybe not quite a perfect holiday destination.

See Uno Go, You Know ...

Registrations posted with the Traffic Commissioners recently included the cancellation of all UNO services in the town to be replaced by Stagecoach.

Did they jump or were they pushed?

The main service 19/19A, linking the new campus south of the town centre with Halls of Residence at the old site ...

... will be replaced by a rejig of Stagecoach's current service 4.

This would just need extending to the Uni campus ...

... and variations 4A and 4B are included in the plans which should make a lot of sense for all concerned.

Stagecoach has also registered the existing UNO Park and Ride route 18 ...

... but the competitive non-University 21 is not being replaced as such.

All parts of the 21 are covered by existing Stagecoach routes, so we can expect some minor re-jigs in the "Eastern District".

As many readers will know, published registrations tell you nothing about routes or timetables; they merely report that something will happen. To find the detail you have to go to the Traffic Commissioners' Offices, which, these days, are probably located on North Uist!

fbb awaits timetables with interest.

It Seemed A Good Idea At The Time

"You see," said Councillor Fred Twinge, "now we've demolished that horrible bus station that was big enough for all the services, we can build a new bus station which won't be big enough and make absolutely oodles of money by selling the Greyfriars site."

Which they did, but the developer walked away and nothing has happened since.

It would, of course, be an excellent site for a new bus station that was actually big enough for all the services!

"But," says Councillor Thrubley, "we can spend loadsmoney to create an urban open space which we will not be able to maintain and which will become a no-go area populated by the less desirable members of Northampton's youff."

"We can also turn the existing and very useful car park ...

... into pleasant greenery as well."

"Ah but," he said, "It won't be ALL park."

So that's all right then?

===========================

Buying An 8F - Or Buying An 8F

Hornby have just announced supplies of their new LMS 8F goods loco.

And it is ONLY (???!!!) £230. OUCH.

But when it was Hornby Dublo in the mid 1960s the company introduced a superb (for its day) model of an ...

... LMS 8F. Back then, fbb's modest pocket money made a purchase impossible but he could, and did, drool and dream.

It is, of course, a less detailed model than the 'new tooling" but is readily available for a modest price.

For more nostalgia, here is the 8F in a two-rail "heavy goods" set.

Another product which caused a youthful fbb to gaze lovingly at an impossible dream. And there was a three-rail set as well.

The huge cost of maintaining TWO electrical systems was one of the nails in the coffin for Hornby Dublo.

Production of the 8F continued from Wrenn until that company also went bust.

A real 8F would cost even more than the new Hornby model ...

... and probably wouldn't fit in the garden.

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 11th February