Posted by Paul K on March 6, 2001, 4:55 pm
, in reply to "Favourite bus" 143.117.11.17
It's still 126 of course! Just knowing that it's alive still as a tow bus in Dungannon (I hope) is enough for me. I must go to Newry to see if 1961 is still there sometime as well. On the face of it a lot of Leopards have left Downpatrick but there are still six left (I was on one coming in this morning---312); I suppose there were quite a lot beforehand. But all the ones that left would have been candidates for a favourite bus. The only Leopards left have 53 hard seats and they're just not the same.
I have some nice memories of going home from school on 1384 when it was just new (like a Cityliner but with high-backed seats) but the seats are so close together with no legroom it is too annoying. 1368 is just like a Citybus cityliner and I think it's a very nice comfortable and good-sounding bus, but it's based in Strangford sub-depot so I don't get to see it much unless I get the 17:00 bus from Belfast to Downpatrick, which it does on alternate weeks (only 2 duties in Strangford and the drivers each have their own bus).
Then again 3 of the most comfortable buses in service with Ulsterbus (in my opinion of course) - ex-Mk. II Goldliners 1349 (original DP), 1351 (ex Newry) and 1352 (ex Derry) are now in service in Downpatrick and it's always a nice surprise when one of them turns up.