A recent yet unexpected repaint comes in the form of long term absentee SEL746, the vehicle is part of a batch of 33 ordered by the company in 2007 and delivered between the summer of that year and January 2008. For no apparent reason on the 19th of February 2013, the vehicle was withdrawn from service, however it was later emerged that it had suffered severe damage, although the details were not disclosed.
During my various trips to CELF, I never did actually manage to catch a glimpse of the vehicle, it became somewhat of an interest point for me as at the time it seemed weird as to why it was out of action for so long. One the 18th of January 2014, just a month shy of a year out of service, it inaudibly slipped back into service on the 297. Albeit sporting a fresh coat of paint complete with the latest Metroline logo and a very small roundel.
For all the efforts of repainting the vehicle, it will become redundant in June 2014 along with sister vehicles, SEL739 - 745 & 747 - 764 which will be replaced by 21 brand new Volvo B5LH/Gemini3 buses as per the new route 7 contract. No doubt the repaint has activated the rumour mill again to where these buses will end up after their duties are relieved on the route 7. One was seen driving in the Holloway area in the direction of HT garage. I'll let that one land where it does...Feel free to comment!
During my various trips to CELF, I never did actually manage to catch a glimpse of the vehicle, it became somewhat of an interest point for me as at the time it seemed weird as to why it was out of action for so long. One the 18th of January 2014, just a month shy of a year out of service, it inaudibly slipped back into service on the 297. Albeit sporting a fresh coat of paint complete with the latest Metroline logo and a very small roundel.
For all the efforts of repainting the vehicle, it will become redundant in June 2014 along with sister vehicles, SEL739 - 745 & 747 - 764 which will be replaced by 21 brand new Volvo B5LH/Gemini3 buses as per the new route 7 contract. No doubt the repaint has activated the rumour mill again to where these buses will end up after their duties are relieved on the route 7. One was seen driving in the Holloway area in the direction of HT garage. I'll let that one land where it does...Feel free to comment!
I rode SEL746 the other day, actually. SEL750 has also had a repaint. I went to the CELF on Wednesday and saw an SEL in the shed. That is probably 747,749 or 763. 763 is my favourite vehicle in London, and it's been out of service for ages. One more thing, what's happening to sel803-809?
ReplyDeleteSEL750 was done back in August, albeit without the roundel applied. I'm not sure what's happening with SEL803-809, but I suggest if SEL739 - 764 move to HT, I'm adamant they will will move to with about 7 VWs heading in the opposite direction.
ReplyDeleteI hope the SELs go to HT to replace older buses. I heard somewhere the SELs are going for scrap, have you heard this anywhere?
DeleteSel should go to hd in my opinion to oust 52 reg vp
ReplyDeleteThe SELs could go to Metroline West to replace the older TPs.
ReplyDeleteSEL could replace TEs at HT and the TEs could come to HD to replace the 52reg VPs.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan but it won't happen and besides I wouldn't want those TEs up these sides anyway. Two other SELs are off the road with blown engines. SEL763 is one of them.
ReplyDeleteGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, 763 is my favourite vehicle in the world!! Will it be back in service before June? Which is the other SEL with a blown engine? 747? 749? 760? LBOTG :)
DeleteThe TPs at Metroline West are being replaced by the TEs off the E1 and E3.
ReplyDeleteWhich garages, AH by any chance? ;) (my local garage, which run my local route)
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