Farewell Stagecoach Mercedes 709d Minibus 301.

[@bennyf1561]

I do love sound of them 709D

[@iana6713]

That brings back a ton of memories! Stagecoach North Scotland used to run a few of these for rural services in my area, one of which I was a weekly user. That engine noise and gearbox whine in first is etched into my brain, and always will be!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@iana6713 That and the 'whoosh' from the vacuum as you brake!

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this great video and I have always liked the Mercedes 709s, and clearly Stagecoach did too ! I look forward to hearing more about 301 !

[@JakeSCOC]

@@anthonywarrener1881 You're welcome.

[@davestransportvideos]

Very fond of the 709D's, one of the first buses I have early childhood memories of riding on. Stagecoach Cumbria had plenty of these in Barrow once upon a time. The fleet included three of 301's sisters, 327, 328 and 329.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@davestransportvideos They're brilliant little buses aren't they?

[@davestransportvideos]

Aye. My friends in the Barrow Transport Museum Trust are currently in possession of an older G reg model. G572 PRM. Solidly reliable and fuss free, although unfortunately, it failed its last MOT and has been off the road for a while as the group have had trouble in sourcing spare parts for it. I believe though that the parts needed have been found and we hope to get it roadworthy again soon, although the group is currently committed to an engine rebuild and refurbishment of open top Leyland Atlantean Seadog 931 GTA at present.

[@JakeSCOC]

@davestransportvideos Wow a Seadog. One of my favourite Atlanteans

[@melvy211]

I remember riding these round Dover. I have a number plate for one of them at my parents somewhere. I think it is N964 NAP. Probably got the numbers wrong, but it's definitely Nxxx NAP. I always considered it 'my bus'. Also, the dogleg 1st gear used to fascinate and make me laugh how many drivers didn't use it, so we'd shake away from a stop 😂

[@JakeSCOC]

@@melvy211 You're spot on. The East Kent ones were N###NAP. Bus seated where as this one is duel purpose - bit like the EK Volvo B10Ms.

[@thedaddie]

Lol on the buses music Another great video Jake excellent video

[@JakeSCOC]

@@thedaddie Thank you. Glad you're enjoying them.

[@barrie5852]

I also drove 709d mini buses, not a bad bus to drive but I always thought the level of engine noise in the cab and saloon was ridiculously high,still seeing the Interior of a Stagecoach bus of that era brought back good memories.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@barrie5852 Yes could be a bit noisy. Especially if the engine cover wasn't snuggly fitted.

[@smogmonster1876]

Enjoyed this video. These bring back memories of Stagecoach in Darlington. Fingers crossed she gets her MOT next time Jake. LOLat LWT Must be time for Blind Date

[@JakeSCOC]

@@smogmonster1876 She'll definitely get there. Blind date 😂. What a lorra lorra laffs that was.

[@smogmonster1876]

@ ❤️. Hope she has a long and happy life with her new owner. Blind Date was funny. I got to admit.

[@sameyers2670]

At East Yorkshire we had a number of small Mercs, 609Ds, 709Ds, 811Ds and Varios, most had gone by the time I started but there were still about 4 or 5 Varios knocking about, they were good buses

[@JakeSCOC]

@@sameyers2670 I'm a big fan of any of the old Mercs. I think these are the same as the Varios. I know the brakes are the same.

[@sameyers2670]

@@JakeSCOC When I did my driving assessment they had a C reg 609D they used for them, it was completely knackered to be honest, but was a good test of someone's driving as if they could drive that then they could drive anything 🤣

[@lucythemoggy1970]

nice to see a fellow driver use 1st on the flat. i used to use 1st like that when plymouth had loads of 709d's

[@JakeSCOC]

@@lucythemoggy1970 on all vehicles I always use first. I don't want the cost of a gearbox rebuild 😨

[@lucythemoggy1970]

@@JakeSCOC i knew drivers who used to pull away in 2nd even on hills! all that would do is burn out the clutch

[@JakeSCOC]

@@lucythemoggy1970 Totally. My Leopard and VRs I do all the same too. Anyone who can't use first can't drive them .

[@lucythemoggy1970]

@@JakeSCOC good man

[@AdamHiley-k7k]

So more character than modern Buses

[@JakeSCOC]

@@AdamHiley-k7k Oh yes.

[@edbridges1164]

I've always loved the 709Ds East Kent had Some N---LPN & N---NAP Batch oddly some were 23 seaters and some were 25 seaters I loved the front left seats or the rear bench seat because I could stretch out and not end up with my knees round my ears

[@JakeSCOC]

@@edbridges1164 The N###NAP ones were the ones I used to drive in about 2000 Ed.

[@edbridges1164]

@JakeSCOC Thanet at one point had "899 - 904" minus 900 because for some reason Stagecoach never has new vehicles with "00" in the reg! I used to love riding them on the old 36 from Ramsgate - Northdown especially up to the old hospital entrance! They could shift if they wanted to! The route was cutback to Margate Station later as the "33A" then it later went back to Northdown as the "34" which always made me scratch my head as to why it didn't get it's old number back? As in "EK" and early "SEK" days the 34 was part of 4 routes either to or From Birchington Sherwood Road over to Dane Valley via Walmer Castle, Ulster Road and Margate Hospital it spun round in the layby at Updown Farm then went down to Dane Valley it only ran in one direction as the other direction was "34A" ran the same way except it ran via Westgate Station the return of each route was covered by the 35 or 35A which ran to/from Northdown over to or from Sherwood Road! I believe it was 34 and 35A over to Sherwood Road and 34A and 35 Back! But then Stagecoach came in and "simplified the timetable" or in other words hit the "del" button by accidentally on purpose! LoL! Still shame to see them both go BUT if it's for continued preservation then that's brilliant! I've seen photos of "933" resplendent in Stagecoach Stripes with "East Kent" fleetnames she's preserved nowhere near East Kent somewhere in Scotland still nice to see another ex Thanet car saved

[@Low760]

I used to work on them in Australia, Melbourne in the national bus fleet, but lo812's, always needed jump starting with 24v

[@JakeSCOC]

@@Low760 These are 24v too although I have a friend who's Iveco minibus runs on a 12v system.

[@shaundenny7216]

Given the Headlands destination blind I’d say it spent some of its life in Daventry…

[@JakeSCOC]

@@shaundenny7216 May well have done.

[@AJSAN1971]

301 was based at Northampton so would have spent time at Daventry outstation. I seem to remember that they had all the destinations for Northampton, Kettering and Corby depôts.

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Nice music from on the buses film

[@JakeSCOC]

@@LadySophieofHougunManor7325 Thanks. Yes I couldn't resist using it.

[@johnmichaeldorienjohn467]

Plus The Lwt Sting! Fantastic!👏🏾

[@DecalCentralUK]

oh my days, I would have loved to take those for further preservation....

[@JakeSCOC]

@@DecalCentralUK I must admit after driving it for an hour, I'm wishing I had more time to sort them out. They're cracking little buses.

[@MartinIbert]

If the test centre told you they could accomodate your vehicle, it should be on them to do so. Find a suitable test centre, go there, and pay some compensation for your time lost.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@MartinIbert Was a bit annoying admittedly. But we live and learn

[@KarrrRep]

I remember this i seem to remember it was used as a publicity vehicle.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@KarrrRep That's interesting. It's in fairly good condition with little corrosion.

[@AdamSidey]

I love small busses to the point that I want to preserve a optare solo sr preferably a 63 reg one as there part of my childhood but these 3 left out of the batch of 12 but the issue is that I am 17 but I need a driving license and all the others you need to be a bus driver but hopefully I can get one of them hopefully NL63 YBA 641 my personal favourite of the solos

[@DavidPeacock1972]

If you are going to try an preserve a Solo, try and go for either a Cummins or a MAN engines example. Mercedes Solo's are absolute sheds. There are plenty of Cummins engined Solo's knocking around. As far as I am aware MAN is exclusive to Stagecoach.

[@AdamSidey]

@DavidPeacock1972 thanks for the advise I don't know what the one I would like to save is do I will have to find out

[@JakeSCOC]

@AdamSidey Cummins all the way 👍🏻. You'll probably get a lot of stick from people for wanting to preserve a Solo. Ignore it. If that's what you want to do then go for it. Solos are great little buses. Although check them for corrosion. Optares are known for their ability to rot.

[@TruckinAboutWithSteve]

My first bus I driven was one of these. If i remember. It was manual with a dog leg gearbox

[@JakeSCOC]

@@TruckinAboutWithSteve Yes that's right. Can't hurry it or it's 'crunch'!

[@TruckinAboutWithSteve]

@JakeSCOC I just realised that I am actually in Kent. Spent the night at the service area at Kipping Cross. Got an 8.30am delivery into Paddock wood

[@sameyers2670]

How many gears does 301 have?

[@JakeSCOC]

@@sameyers2670 6 speed manual.

[@KarrrRep]

Worked for stagecoach Peterborough 2006 /7 before transferring to northampton.

[@AJSAN1971]

It was at Northampton when I was there in 98.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@KarrrRep So you both may have driven 301 or 306?

[@KarrrRep]

I never have driven a 709D. I have driven O814s when I did a stint at arriva the shires and Essex at hemel Hempstead and one for diamond coaches rushden all automatics.

[@justinhamilton497]

What was wrong with the destination screen?

[@JakeSCOC]

@@justinhamilton497 I removed the original Brightech dot matrix and replaced it with Hanover unit. However, this wasn't included in the sale and Paul removed it for me. I'm going to put the Hanover in Leyland Titan T553. I've given the original Brightech unit to the new owners but it's not installed in the bus hence the empty blind box.

[@DavidPeacock1972]

Whem I worked for Stagecoach in Kilmarnock back in 2009 they have a couple of these for the Hurlford Hail and Ride service. At the time, those with a stick licence were the only people that could drive these, and guess who learned how to drive a bus with stick. Yep, me. I hated driving these things due to having to stop frequently and going through he gears so much. To noisy for me as you'd never get the chance to cruise in top gear.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@DavidPeacock1972 We used to use them on town services down in Kent. One route went from the town around a housing estate and back to the town. We used to see who could get around using the least gear changes 😂

[@DavidPeacock1972]

@@JakeSCOC 😂😂

[@alistairshaw3206]

AA Buses in Ayrshire got a batch of those 709D in 1995 for the Ayr to Dalmellington service when the Western lost the service due to Carrick Coaches reporting them for unfair competition. They were M397KVR and others in that sequence. Unfortunately, I was hit by an out of control car when driving 397. It was written off but later repaired. One of them has been preserved, 395 I think.

[@mattcalder1936]

Did you sell it back to Stagecoach South West considering that it still isn't the oldest working vehicle in their fleet

[@JakeSCOC]

@@mattcalder1936 Unfortunately not 😂

[@craigsibley8161]

A shame the test centre didn't know the size of a 709D . I worked on them when I served my time and they were big vans...

[@JakeSCOC]

@@craigsibley8161 Yes you don't realise how big they are do you?

[@a11csc]

damn shame Jake,on the other hand when yorkshire woollen first got merc minibuses they were like rolls royces after driving dodges lol

[@JakeSCOC]

@@a11csc Never driven a Dodge but they do look a bit harsh.

[@a11csc]

@@JakeSCOC do try if you can lol

[@stevenmoran4060]

If that test centre doesn’t even know what it can and can’t test, it doesn’t give much confidence in whatever tests they do put through.

[@dizzy2020]

You give-away who you took it to in the video so I checked their website and they offer testing for Class 4 (normal cars etc.) , 7 (lighter commercials) and 5L - (commercials and minibuses upto 5000kg) I suspect the issue here is 'loading' - they have to add 2tonnes of weight to it and that's a bit of a challenge unless you have 20-odd blokes standing around doing nowt - or 2000l of water...

[@JakeSCOC]

@@dizzy2020 Yes it's a shame as I was looking forward to him doing the test - he's into old vehicles too you see!

[@arthurvasey]

You can claim that you own a Merc - then turn up in that! If only I could drive a bus, and owned such a thing, I would lend it out to old folks’ homes and day centres and places like that - or, if I could not drive it myself, which I can’t, I’d have to insist that all drivers have to be properly licensed, insured and everything - also, it’s a bus - not a Formula 1 racing car - and it’s not an off-road vehicle - no driving round country lanes!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@arthurvasey Claiming to own a Merc is certainly good around the ladies... However when they find out it's a bus, not so good.

[@AlanGeorgeBates-oj9zr]

Are Stagecoach mad why get shot of a good bus it's madness bloody madness.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@AlanGeorgeBates-oj9zr Step entrance unfortunately. Not accessible.

[@SIMONWINTER-m6d]

First again !!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@SIMONWINTER-m6d Thanks Simon