Ventura Group news Jan-June 2010

[venturatiger]

Hi there was a bit of a blue morning on the 903 this morning, there were 3 MAN's from North Fitzroy & 2 Scania's from South Oakleigh, mainly due to Thermo King air/con failures on Buses in the group 642>658

Cheers Venturatiger

[National Link]

Hi there was a bit of a blue morning on the 903 this morning, there were 3 MAN's from North Fitzroy & 2 Scania's from South Oakleigh, mainly due to Thermo King air/con failures on Buses in the group 642>658

Cheers Venturatiger

One word: OUCH....

[Coach_Captain]

Hi there was a bit of a blue morning on the 903 this morning, there were 3 MAN's from North Fitzroy & 2 Scania's from South Oakleigh, mainly due to Thermo King air/con failures on Buses in the group 642>658

Cheers Venturatiger

More probabily to replace those missing Merc's from Altona... Today we had 642, 644 and 572, as I know 707 and 708 are out of service.
Wonder if they have fixed 643 yet?

[Craig]

Noticed the current Kmart TV commerical has a brief shot of the interior of what appears to be a Ventura Desginline:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxdeXC38550

Kind Regards


Craig

[Kitare]

It was Chaos and Mayhem Benny Hill style this afternoon after a Ventura bus broke down on the up ramp from Station Street, at Box Hill Station this afternoon.

The lone female Ventura AO appeared flustered as bus after bus attempted to turn into the ramp entrance only to realise there no way forward. Further adding to the frustration buses began dropping passengers just past the entrance on Station Street, as passengers were guided up the ramp on foot by the staff on hand, only to reach the top and be scolded by a bunch of Bus Vic Authorised Officers who clearly had nothing better to do.

The bus involved was 580, and you can bet your bottom dollar that a very angry "Kitare" will be forwarding a letter to Bus Vic regarding the conduct of their Authorised Officers at the scene, considering the circumstances. Its amazing how quickly a "herd" of overweight men wearing high visability vests become power hungry despite the fact that most of them are on minimum wages and have little other career prospects, unlike many of the people they choose to abuse and denegrate.

[BroadGauge]

It was Chaos and Mayhem Benny Hill style this afternoon after a Ventura bus broke down on the up ramp from Station Street, at Box Hill Station this afternoon.

LOL that is a bit of an awkward place to break down. It is actually quite steep. How long did they take to clear it?

[RailwayBus]

#859 is currently on the route 903. This is my first ever personal sighting of a North Coast on this route but no doubt it's happened before.

[Kitare]

It was Chaos and Mayhem Benny Hill style this afternoon after a Ventura bus broke down on the up ramp from Station Street, at Box Hill Station this afternoon.

LOL that is a bit of an awkward place to break down. It is actually quite steep. How long did they take to clear it?

Well, it was still there around an hour later when I left......and didnt look like it was going anywhere in a hurry.

[John]

Noted National MAN 12.220/CB30 no. 500 has been fitted with ventilation grilles on the rear engine hatch. I suppose this might get extended to the other members of the fleet if successful.

[Kitare]

Noted National MAN 12.220/CB30 no. 500 has been fitted with ventilation grilles on the rear engine hatch. I suppose this might get extended to the other members of the fleet if successful.

LOL! You can imagine some wise old professor at the NBC Laboratories suddenly having a lightbulb moment and discovering that ventilation to engines reduces the likely hood of engine overheating.

[yueses]

Firstly tonight (9/2/10) Ventura Bus #804 sighted driving along citylink towards Warrigal Rd/ Oakleigh depot at 12:45am.

And secondly last Monday afternoon around 3pm - Ventura/ National Bus Mk2 no.278 was parked up in the service lane on Dandenong Road in Springvale- heading towards Dandenong.. The driver, a gentleman in hi-vis appeared to be walking down to KFC at Springvale Junction..







Cheers, yueses.

[BroadGauge]

LOL! You can imagine some wise old professor at the NBC Laboratories suddenly having a lightbulb moment and discovering that ventilation to engines reduces the likely hood of engine overheating.

That one is the sole MAN CB30 based at Croydon depot.. we just have to wait and see if the North Fitzroy laboratory makes the same discovery

[red baron]

Spotted this afternoon MAN Ansair Mk1 #256 in Yarra St Heidelberg doing a school run.

[BroadGauge]

Spotted this afternoon MAN Ansair Mk1 #256 in Yarra St Heidelberg doing a school run.

It was working route 279 later, seen arriving at Box Hill around 6pm. Better get your shots of these in route service quick!

[John]

Spotted this afternoon MAN Ansair Mk1 #256 in Yarra St Heidelberg doing a school run.

It was working route 279 later, seen arriving at Box Hill around 6pm. Better get your shots of these in route service quick!

I believe they might be around until the end of the year.

[John]

Report from the field suggests NBC bus no. 700 (the little Volgren bodied MAN) is currently running route 207.

[yueses]

Ventura/ National #704 was broken down for a few hours on Bell Street in Coburg last friday afternoon.. luckily not blocking traffic..

[RailwayBus]

Ventura #658 was changed over for #630 this afternoon at Essendon station.

[Desto Dave]

Numerous Sth Oakleigh Scania/Volgren low floors operating on route 246 today as extras for the St Kilda festival. Noted 822 and even 802(!) at Elsternwick with several others too. All had destos programmed as well for 246. Looked weird seeing these running with CLIFTON HILL 246 or ST KILDA JUNCTION 246 on them.

[Coach_Captain]

Ventura/ National #704 was broken down for a few hours on Bell Street in Coburg last friday afternoon.. luckily not blocking traffic..

Are you sure it was 704?? I actually had it for my shift today, from 0710-1756, and all went well.

[Mercedes]

Numerous Sth Oakleigh Scania/Volgren low floors operating on route 246 today as extras for the St Kilda festival. Noted 822 and even 802(!) at Elsternwick with several others too. All had destos programmed as well for 246. Looked weird seeing these running with CLIFTON HILL 246 or ST KILDA JUNCTION 246 on them.

I understand Oakleigh were doing 246s between Elsternwick and St. Kilda junction so as late running is minimal. Most Ventura group vehicles gave both Vebtura and National destos in them nowdays.

[yueses]

Ventura/ National #704 was broken down for a few hours on Bell Street in Coburg last friday afternoon.. luckily not blocking traffic..

Are you sure it was 704?? I actually had it for my shift today, from 0710-1756, and all went well.

Sincerest APOLOGIES..!! It was 703...!! I would have taken a picture if i was stationary and not driving past I knew i'd either forget or mix the number up so i luckily dialled "703" into my phone at the time, and by my phone's dialled calls list I drove past #703 at 1:49pm on Friday.

Cheers

[scott]

Was sifting through Pete Kane's fotopic site last night and found this:

http://gallery6840.fotopic.net/p63207237.html

Is this the first US Bus Lines vehicle to recieve Ventura decals?. Will also probably have to lose it's AC plates. It is a PMCSA Apollo bodied Scania K113TR of about 1989 vintage, ex Australian Coach Travel.

[tonyw]

Has route 733 been rerouted due to the works on Albion Road? I keep seeing 733s turning right from Canterbury into Station, Monash bound. Couldn't find anything in the service alterations on Ventura's website.

[MTA]

Yes - they've been turning right into Albion Rd instead of left, and then turning left at Barkly St, left at Canterbury Rd and right at Middleborough Rd. Box Hill bound, they're using Sweetland Rd. Much better than the first couple of days the road was supposed to be closed when drivers seemed to choose for themselves between the above detour, the signposted detour, or just going down the road that wasn't yet closed.