Lay-up and refurbishment of Volvo B10M Mk IV (Part 4)

• Merczrox

  24 Dec 14, 21:25

  2622T tdy 2nd day on 37 shld be temp covering 1952Y for now.. this bus from far can hear the engine roaring quite loudly..

• SBS 9631X

  5 Jan 15, 18:56

  Any updates on the replacements for the Mk4s that were de-reg in Dec?
  
  As far as I know, I don't think any of the KUBs they x-ferred to BNDEP from AMDEP are consistently & hence likely candidates as replacements for the Mk4s~ I see them doing random svcs still. 

• SBS 9631X

  5 Jan 15, 18:57

  Someone edited 2777E as now perm BN 38 though. 

• SBS 9631X

  5 Jan 15, 18:57

  Originally posted by Merczrox:

  2622T tdy 2nd day on 37 shld be temp covering 1952Y for now.. this bus from far can hear the engine roaring quite loudly..

  2622T still running today. Today on Sv 81 iirc. 

• Merczrox

  5 Jan 15, 20:51

  Originally posted by SBS 9631X:

  Any updates on the replacements for the Mk4s that were de-reg in Dec?
  
  As far as I know, I don't think any of the KUBs they x-ferred to BNDEP from AMDEP are consistently & hence likely candidates as replacements for the Mk4s~ I see them doing random svcs still. 

  Yeah rmb saw 5251K on 37 and 8843H on 38 last fri..

• Merczrox

  5 Jan 15, 20:56

  Originally posted by SBS 9631X:

  2622T still running today. Today on Sv 81 iirc. 

  Yeah saw it too haha..
  
  btw there is a DM on 9 tdy..saw it from far just now and it didnt look like 988B..Heard the bus screeching quite loudly as it exited the bus stop..

• Gus.chong

  7 Jan 15, 17:06

  SBS1988U
  (AMDEP TRG)  (awatiing lay up/deregistration)

• Gus.chong

  4 Feb 15, 20:08

  Any news on the laid up buses 1988 1990 1999 2637 2638 2639?

  And are the February & March MK4 batches still on the roads?

• 7337

  4 Feb 15, 20:55

  SBS 1985C still running strong on 69 today.

• Merczrox

  5 Feb 15, 00:58

  Saw 993K on 9 yest and there was a DM on 29 also..

• Gus.chong

  5 Feb 15, 20:55

  SBS1990L has been officially de-registered on 05th February 2015.

• SBS 9631X

  6 Feb 15, 14:14

  2594R is still running well on Sv 21 today. 

  Something I don't get is, why did BNDEP repaint 1989S (CG 293) just recently about a month ago when its de-reg date is supposely in Feb..?

• 23ispolo

  6 Feb 15, 14:50

  Originally posted by SBS 9631X:

  Something I don't get is, why did BNDEP repaint 1989S (CG 293) just recently about a month ago when its de-reg date is supposely in Feb..?

  There has been a trend of BNDEP repainting more of their non-WAB buses (Strider, DM3500, VO3X and VSO) recently... Even SBS1985C got repainted in January, a month before its de-registration date. I won't be surprised if BNDEP suddenly repaints their DMs (SBS992M - SBS994H and SBS996C). 

• Merczrox

  7 Feb 15, 00:58

  Originally posted by SBS 9631X:

  2594R is still running well on Sv 21 today. 

  Something I don't get is, why did BNDEP repaint 1989S (CG 293) just recently about a month ago when its de-reg date is supposely in Feb..?

  Yeah saw this bus for the past few days continuously..   thought this bus wld have been gone case alr as well since 2637B has been alr laid up..haha..good that its still running..maybe got something to do with 2637B's condition hence it got laid up first??

• Gus.chong

  7 Feb 15, 09:10

  Originally posted by 23ispolo:

  There has been a trend of BNDEP repainting more of their non-WAB buses (Strider, DM3500, VO3X and VSO) recently... Even SBS1985C got repainted in January, a month before its de-registration date. I won't be surprised if BNDEP suddenly repaints their DMs (SBS992M - SBS994H and SBS996C). 

  I just want to ask, does anyone wish for the MK4s to be given another extension beyond 19 years' of lifespan?

• 23ispolo

  7 Feb 15, 09:33

  Originally posted by Gus.chong:

  I just want to ask, does anyone wish for the MK4s to be given another extension beyond 19 years' of lifespan?

  Honestly, I do... Especially the Striders. But then again, there are already enough SP Citaros to replace them... SBS1898X was repainted just before it retired, probably BNDEP giving it some shine before its actual retirement.

• SBS 9631X

  8 Feb 15, 21:14

  Originally posted by Merczrox:

  Yeah saw this bus for the past few days continuously..   thought this bus wld have been gone case alr as well since 2637B has been alr laid up..haha..good that its still running..maybe got something to do with 2637B's condition hence it got laid up first??

  I do think 2637B was in a worse condition than 2594R when it got deployed to Sv 21 though. IIRC, there was a constant grinding sound (or the "aeroplane" sound) whenever the bus picks up speed. Idk if that was the axles or gearbox wearing out?
  
  But yeah, 2594R doesn't have this problem much yet~

• SBS 9631X

  8 Feb 15, 21:19

  Originally posted by 23ispolo:

  Honestly, I do... Especially the Striders. But then again, there are already enough SP Citaros to replace them... SBS1898X was repainted just before it retired, probably BNDEP giving it some shine before its actual retirement.

  Err. I actually do think some of the Striders are worth extending, because their conditions are worth the extension. Or at least, get them converted for some other purposes (ie. think Molly the Library bus that kind of purpose) after their official revenue service ends. 

  Although I have to say that, I can't think of any of the Mk4s in the Feb & Mar batch that are worth extending..Oops. Maybe 988B but that's more of because it's alittle "unlocked" at the top end. 

  But after the Mar batch, there's quite a number of Striders IMO worth extending. 2614S & 2618G (acceleration and unlocked top end), the Sv 39 Striders (acceleration and interior conditions) etc. 

• SBS 9631X

  8 Feb 15, 21:22

  And suspiciously, some of the DM3500s are getting repaints at weird timings too. 2716G was repainted not long ago (actually in Jan IIRC), and 2729U (BN 518) just got repainted within the past week. 

  I would like to think that their repaints have to do with a possible extension (when none of those before them were extended..), but at the moment, I can't think of any services that could use them~ Just look at how long 2716G has been under SP status.  And Sv 518 possibly waiting to get a 2nd DD after 2729U's expiry is up~

• bus555

  9 Feb 15, 18:06

  SBS2617J & SBS2730P at BNDEP corner

• Lsk138

  9 Feb 15, 19:11

  while 1995 2599 2602 etc.... still running strong on perm as of today

• Gus.chong

  9 Feb 15, 19:28

  It seems that the result is quite clear...most of the February to April batches of DMs & Striders will serve on their perm services until end of lifespan while the later ones will face early retirement...

• bus555

  25 Feb 15, 21:34

  2617J should be 100% gone case le

• SBS 9631X

  26 Feb 15, 17:22

  Actually, has there been any tenders or notices for export offers for SBST buses lately? I still think that it's quite weird that SBST repainted some of that outgoing Mk4 DM3500s just a month or two before they are gone..

  Maybe SBST is going to export them to abroad? Considering how SMRT tends to rip the usable parts from its O405s to its almost barren shells before some other middleman company exports the buses to abroad on behalf of SMRT, I'm thinking maybe SBST is going to do the same? 

• Gus.chong

  26 Feb 15, 20:40

  Originally posted by SBS 9631X:

  Actually, has there been any tenders or notices for export offers for SBST buses lately? I still think that it's quite weird that SBST repainted some of that outgoing Mk4 DM3500s just a month or two before they are gone..

  Maybe SBST is going to export them to abroad? Considering how SMRT tends to rip the usable parts from its O405s to its almost barren shells before some other middleman company exports the buses to abroad on behalf of SMRT, I'm thinking maybe SBST is going to do the same? 

  If only there are people who read The Straits Times regularly since last year; at least there may be a chance of spotting the tender notices...

  But seriously, there aren't any signs of the DM3500's interiors being refurbished; seat covers and ducts not getting changed...