Page 14 - MBF Supplement Demo

3. Because of the ambiguous nature of the above, all types of buses/coaches can & will be used freely, including UK, US, European, Australian, Hong Kong & Japanese prototypes,
4. It is hoped to introduce an interstate express service as well and as all the vehicles used are US or European prototype, they will be 1:87 models. As their base is far away from the 'local' depot, these will never be seen together with the rest of the 1:76 fleet. Contracts have already been signed with operators such as Parry's, Southwest Tours, Gray Line & Welsh's Tours (to name a few), who will be partners in this venture.
Having said all of the above, the operations may from time to time be shared in co-operation with 'real' operators like National Express, Oxford Bus Company and Metroline. However, inspiration has been taken (stolen?) from the Oxford Bus Company for a lot of the ideas of the operations it is hoped to introduce over time, like their airport & city expresses, park & ride, university services etc.
As of 1st March the double deckers in the "specialist" fleet were renumbered. Bristol FLFs 132 (MHN225E), 133 (5083HN) and 135 (316NJO) become 151-3 respectively, Bristol FS 136 (274BWU) becomes 154, and Scania / Alexander 146 (350ELD) becomes 155. This means that, along with BMMO D9 159 (2959HA), all these special vehicles are numbered in the same decade (15x) and there is now a gap between these and the highest numbered "ordinary" double decker (122) to allow for expansion. In addition, the Bristol FS (now 154) has been fitted with destination equipment in order to comply with PSVAR.
Additional DDA compliant vehicles acquired for use
on the sight-seeing tours and converted to open top are 156/7 (YN56 FEA/FEC), Scania N94s with Optare OmniDekka bodies, fitted with wheelchair lifts to the upper deck in the centre entrance. 156 is branded for the Manchester Tour and 157 for the Peak Explorer. Following all this fuss, it has become apparent that since these services are registered as hop-on/hop-off tours, and not as stage carriage services, the use of DDA-compliant vehicles is not strictly necessary! Eldorado, however, feels that it is good PR to have them available. It does mean though, that the BMMO D9 which, as reported last time, had been taken out of regular service, will still probably be used fairly regularly.
The two “new” open-toppers. The weird Perspex canopy on 156 (the Manchester Tour one) is necessary because open toppers are not allowed to pass under the Metrolink wiring whilst passengers are upstairs. As this only happens once on the tour, up to now passengers have had to come downstairs whilst the bus passes under the wiring, or if there are too many to fit downstairs, get off and walk the 20 yards or so across the track and get back on at the other side. This, of course, is no longer practical now that wheelchairs users can be upstairs, hence the canopy. A similar, but not identical, removable canopy, can be fitted to 157 if it is needed to deputise on the Manchester Tour.
Eldorado
Dave Jessop - East Cheshire
Following steadily increasing patronage, the X3 - X6 group of express services to London has been extensively revised, with a streamlined service giving faster journey times and increased frequencies. There is now no direct service to London from Eldorado's home town of Kirton. The X4 (Manchester-London direct) and X6 (via Birmingham & Coventry) no longer go through Kirton, and the X3 service is now purely a feeder which meets the X4 and X6 at the Weston outstation, which, fortuitously, is less than a mile from J19 of the M6. This has allowed the faster journey time from Manchester to London, and despite the need for a change at Weston, has not increased the journey time from Kirton to London. The X5, Manchester-London via Sheffield, also no longer goes via Kirton, again resulting in a shorter journey time. A new service, X7,
The open-toppers in the fleet have recently been renumbered so that they are all in the same "decade". Posed here shortly afterwards are the new 151 to 155 and 159 - refer to report text for details. Note that the photo was taken before the Bristol FS (now 154) was re-fitted with its destination equipment.
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