Hi All

As promised i will now publish my findings from last weekend, when i
spent Friday & Saturday in and around Salisbury, Bournemouth & Poole.

Most importantly AFC Bournemouth beat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 (Best
game of the season so far).

I started my journey at Bath Bus Station aboard 3614, working the
09.20am departure on the X4 to Salisbury (nice Journey, a bit
tedious in places). I then had lunch in the Cafe within Salisbury
Bus Station (Nice Pie, Chips & Beans only £4.00), i made my way to
Bournemouth aboard 3606 ?? which was working the 12.10pm X3. Nothing
unusual to report in Bournemouth Square apart from Graham Leyland
(Poole Driver) running on time through Gervis Place with 2657 on the
new extended 164. I decided to Join Graham on his way back to Poole,
by the way the new 164 route has now got its own rota and is
supposed to be operated every 10 minutes by Poole's contingent of
Solos !!! Whilst i was travelling between, Bournemouth & Poole i
noticed one low floor spectra and a Unilink Volvo coming the other
way both on 164's (Bit of a joke as most of the time the 164 runs
empty, and they had 2 solos working one 97 service from Poole as
there was nearly 80 people waiting to board). Graham was on Spare so
i hung around the Bus Station with him and noticed :

3185 : Signed off with Faulty steering wheel adjuster !!!
Solent Blue line Bread Van in Poole Workshop (See Workshop Photo)
702 with Engine Missing & fitters working on engine in 4904.
3118 in process of having new looms fitted within workshops
3602 : Rear Destination numbers missing, and on workshop bench !!
26?? being towed in with locked brakes and blown airbags (What a
shame)
Various other vehicles in the workshops, with every bay taken the
back of the yard resembles Wombwells Scrapyards !!!

I then made my Way to Football

Saturday i started by getting on the 164 at Alder Road (2657 again),
i then met Graham and Rob in Poole and hung around for a few hours
to get some photos, here are my observations :

3178 : Signed off, water pee*&^ out the back of vehicle in Bus
Station.
705 : Signed off, Couldn't turn hazards off (701 replaces from depot
@ Corfe Mullen).
404 : Injector Porblems, coughing and Spluttering and receiving
attention from the fitters.
107 : Severe rear N/S damage, looks like close encounter with a
bollard.
Driver pleading with inspector to take a Solo on 132 (Wimborne
Complete), instead of 4454 (which replaced the knackered 3178). What
a T&*T.
4424,4450,4453,701,700,4454 & 4430 on 152, 158, 97, 94 & 131/108
multiples.
4417 : Round the back with engine cowling off and oil leaking from
coolant pipes !!!!
Services 5,6,7 allworked by Excels.

I then made my way back to Salisbury aboard the 11.30am X3 (3174), i
then boarded the 15.00 X4 which was worked by First 62242. Nothing
of any interest in Salisbury, and no oily cans about. Once in Bath i
got 3233 on RR work and many other coaches.

I hope this is off interest to you all, and enjoy the new Rail
Replacement Photo Collection i have listed below.

Friday Photos
http://south-by-southwest.fotopic.net/c721316.html

Saturdays Photos
http://south-by-southwest.fotopic.net/c721344.html

Rail Replacment Photos
http://south-by-southwest.fotopic.net/c723825.html



Matthew Reynolds
Bus Photographer & Enthusiast

Visit Matt's Photo Website's on :
http://south-by-southwest.fotopic.net/