T-52 – My last ever Strathtay Rover?
Aug. 6th, 2007 09:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
suzyscottdotcomSomething I never thought that I would say – well, in the May changes, the £5.80 Rover was renamed to a Strathtay DayRider. The driver machines were reset, but not the conductors, so the latter were still issuing Strathtay Rover tickets (same price, different names). In any case, the changes to the ticket range (see here – the Rover/DayRider becomes a Tayside DayRider at £5.00, with a weekly Tayside MegaRider for £20.00) will mean this will be the last day bash on a Rover that I undertake – must have done well over a hundred over the years! I’ve been to every point on the network (almost) with one of these, at some point or other (going back even to when Strathtay’s Perth garage was open – a long time ago!)
Anyway, I digress. Of course it was wet, cold today – so I had plenty of things to do and see to. Once I had spent the first part of the morning around Dundee city centre, and had breakfast, I decided to make my way along the coast. Starting at Dundee, I had Volvo B10B 21019 on the 76 to Monifieth High Street, continuing on Volvo B7 16933 on the 75A to Carnoustie High Street. Here it is, in the rain, passing Carnoustie library, about to head back to Ninewells.
The bus I was waiting for, similar 16928 on the 73A, was running behind time, so it turned up with the 75A running a little early behind! Here is similar 16925 in Arbroath town centre, between the library and the new Access office.
Got back to Dundee on Service 39 with Volvo 16810 (old 956), and heard the phone ringing just before I got to Ethiebeaton Park/Dobbies. Upon answering it, it turned out that the company in question have sent me a job interview letter for this coming Thursday… but they’ve put the wrong date on the letter, so they are going to send me another one. Nice mistake to make, as it meant I got a heads-up before getting back home again! After textingcmmathieson the good news, I was in to see both Dundee City Council’s sustainable transport team, and Stagecoach Strathtay management re the forthcoming changes. When I arrived to see the latter, Martin was quite happy that the new edition 73 leaflets had turned up… apparently, some bus-spotter spotted that Marketing had copied and pasted the wrong bit on the Sunday times, but they only noticed after they’d been printed… (well I’ve been busy… lol) We also discussed the new ticketing range, which I will discuss in a post of its own.
From Dundee, I travelled north towards Forfar on 16881 (old 951) on the first of two afternoon through journeys on Service 27. On the way out of town, we left via Forfar Road, passing my former school Linlathen High School. Well, at least, where it used to be, now where a superstore is being built for Morrisons. This was one of Dundee City Council’s first acts of saving money i.e. closing and demolishing the school – but the ground lay empty until fairly recently. This pics was taken off a fast moving bus!
After arriving at Forfar, 42357 took me on Service 124. The bus shows Kirriemuir, but runs via Glamis. The journey is effectively a ‘depot run’ from the daytime Service 125, but serves Eassie, Balkeerie and Newtyle on request (i.e. any point west of Glamis). After dropping off a passenger at Glamis, and a parent & child at Balkeerie, I continued alone onto Newtyle Church. This is the second time I’ve done this journey this year, but from a week today, Services 117, 124 and 125 will all be operated by JP Mini Coaches.
So, you can probably guess why I wanted to visit Newtyle. I’ve not seen my dad for some time, and although *sometimes* it is difficult knowing what to say at various points (he has always been quiet), I still wanted to visit in passing (wanted to visit last time I was up, but never got the chance). This is the home where he lives…
… and this is the two of us!
This is him on his own. Many people say he has lost a lot of weight – well, judge for yourself. It’s not deliberate, HD does cause problems in swallowing, as well as everything else.
I did say to my sister that I’d try to get hold of my mother – well, I tried again, and the phone was engaged. Still. So, I tried (several times), then tried my sister’s mobile(s). Never mind, 16930 (710) – complete with new Service 73 route branding – took me back to Dundee on Service 57 (one of the Dundee depot workings).
So, yes, I had a good time. Value for money – well I paid £5.80. The sum of all journeys (£1.40 + £1.25 + £1.70 + £2.95 + £2.70 + £1.65 + £2.20) equalled £13.85 = saving of £8.05. That’s probably the good way to remember the Strathtay rover – force one into submission with a saving like that! You can see all today’s pictures here... After that, a quick look in Borders bookstore, before having a slightly early-ish night.
Anyway, I digress. Of course it was wet, cold today – so I had plenty of things to do and see to. Once I had spent the first part of the morning around Dundee city centre, and had breakfast, I decided to make my way along the coast. Starting at Dundee, I had Volvo B10B 21019 on the 76 to Monifieth High Street, continuing on Volvo B7 16933 on the 75A to Carnoustie High Street. Here it is, in the rain, passing Carnoustie library, about to head back to Ninewells.
The bus I was waiting for, similar 16928 on the 73A, was running behind time, so it turned up with the 75A running a little early behind! Here is similar 16925 in Arbroath town centre, between the library and the new Access office.
Got back to Dundee on Service 39 with Volvo 16810 (old 956), and heard the phone ringing just before I got to Ethiebeaton Park/Dobbies. Upon answering it, it turned out that the company in question have sent me a job interview letter for this coming Thursday… but they’ve put the wrong date on the letter, so they are going to send me another one. Nice mistake to make, as it meant I got a heads-up before getting back home again! After texting
cmmathieson the good news, I was in to see both Dundee City Council’s sustainable transport team, and Stagecoach Strathtay management re the forthcoming changes. When I arrived to see the latter, Martin was quite happy that the new edition 73 leaflets had turned up… apparently, some bus-spotter spotted that Marketing had copied and pasted the wrong bit on the Sunday times, but they only noticed after they’d been printed… (well I’ve been busy… lol) We also discussed the new ticketing range, which I will discuss in a post of its own.From Dundee, I travelled north towards Forfar on 16881 (old 951) on the first of two afternoon through journeys on Service 27. On the way out of town, we left via Forfar Road, passing my former school Linlathen High School. Well, at least, where it used to be, now where a superstore is being built for Morrisons. This was one of Dundee City Council’s first acts of saving money i.e. closing and demolishing the school – but the ground lay empty until fairly recently. This pics was taken off a fast moving bus!
After arriving at Forfar, 42357 took me on Service 124. The bus shows Kirriemuir, but runs via Glamis. The journey is effectively a ‘depot run’ from the daytime Service 125, but serves Eassie, Balkeerie and Newtyle on request (i.e. any point west of Glamis). After dropping off a passenger at Glamis, and a parent & child at Balkeerie, I continued alone onto Newtyle Church. This is the second time I’ve done this journey this year, but from a week today, Services 117, 124 and 125 will all be operated by JP Mini Coaches.
So, you can probably guess why I wanted to visit Newtyle. I’ve not seen my dad for some time, and although *sometimes* it is difficult knowing what to say at various points (he has always been quiet), I still wanted to visit in passing (wanted to visit last time I was up, but never got the chance). This is the home where he lives…
… and this is the two of us!
This is him on his own. Many people say he has lost a lot of weight – well, judge for yourself. It’s not deliberate, HD does cause problems in swallowing, as well as everything else.
I did say to my sister that I’d try to get hold of my mother – well, I tried again, and the phone was engaged. Still. So, I tried (several times), then tried my sister’s mobile(s). Never mind, 16930 (710) – complete with new Service 73 route branding – took me back to Dundee on Service 57 (one of the Dundee depot workings).
So, yes, I had a good time. Value for money – well I paid £5.80. The sum of all journeys (£1.40 + £1.25 + £1.70 + £2.95 + £2.70 + £1.65 + £2.20) equalled £13.85 = saving of £8.05. That’s probably the good way to remember the Strathtay rover – force one into submission with a saving like that! You can see all today’s pictures here... After that, a quick look in Borders bookstore, before having a slightly early-ish night.
