[GB] Stagecoach 14000 running day

Today (3rd Sep 2011) saw Stagecoach United Counties holding a running day for its much endeared tri-axle Leyland Olympian 14000 (F110NES). Although it was based at Bedford, 14000 was loaned to Peterborough garage for the event, which also became its debut after being restored to its former glory of the Stagecoach stripe livery with the "Britain's Biggest Bus" legend.



This bus is one of the only 3 tri-axle Olympians bought by Stagecoach back in 1989. Unlike its 2 other sisters, 14000 is fitted up in high capacity bus layout, even spotting the 3+2 seating that was so familiar in Hong Kong. This gives the bus an unprecedented capacity of 110 seats, making a case for its claim (at the time) as the biggest bus in the country.



The event saw the 22-year vintage Olympian touring around East England, taking a route that brought it across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire. A number of photo stops were made on route:





The day also included two depot visits, the first being Go Whippet's depot in Swavesey:



Followed later in the afternoon by a quick stopover at Fowler Coaches' garage, which turns out to host a few little gems in its yard:



The running concluded at Peterbrough just before 6pm. The most impressive part of the day is 14000 itself -  For a bus that sports pretty much the same mechanical outfit as some of the KMB S3BLs, its smoothness at gearchanges, supple ride quality and fabulous outturn of speed is simply sublimb. Following additional work on the bus, 14000 is due to make an appearance at Duxford in 2 weeks time. After that, it will be formally retired from Stagecoach service and then donated to Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.



[ 本帖最後由 NV58 於 2011-9-3 23:34 編輯 ]