TUNEFUL ZF GEARBOX: Trent Barton The Villager Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban [740 - FJ09 BXE]

Recorded on 31/05/24. In this video, I film Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban 740 (FJ09 BXE) on The Villager towards Burton. Here are the key moments in this video:
0:28 - Skip the interior showcase
1:19 - Distinct ZF idle
2:46 - Lovely deceleration whine
3:45 - Prolonged acceleration
4:06 - Full acceleration & deceleration sound
5:22 - Start of Hilton to Hatton fast section
7:33 - Quick deceleration
8:19 - Gentle acceleration

Compared to all the other Villager Volvos, 740 has had a different history. It entered in March 2009 and was initially branded for Route 15 (now the My 15). Just two years later, in 2011, the Route 15 Volvos were replaced by Optare Versas. Subsequently, 740 (alongside 739, FJ09 BXD) were repurposed for the new Rapid 1 service. The Rapid 1 connected Nottingham with Heanor and Ripley travelling non-stop down the A610.

In 2014, 739 and 740 were displaced by Versas yet again when Rapid One was relaunched. Therefore, 740 was repainted into Trent Barton's dark red spare livery, carrying an advertisement for the company's "Superhero" drivers.

In a surprise move, 740 was repainted into the Ilkeston Flyer livery (in 2019) when the frequency was increased from every 15 minutes to every 12. Following the pandemic, the 12 minute frequency was never reinstated. Subsequently, in 2022, 740 was taken off the Ilkeston Flyer. In January 2023, 740 gained its new role on The Villager. It served as a replacement for RTC write-off 705 (FJ58 KJV).

Throughout its time on the Ilkeston Flyer and The Villager, 740 has worked alongside older, 58-plated B7RLE Eclipses. These were formerly branded for the Indigo. As a result, 740 has always been the odd one out. However, they took it a step further when refurbishing it into The Villager livery.

All the other Volvos carried an animal near the side Villager logo. For example, on 703 (FJ58 KJO), there is a duck perched on the 'g.' Not only does 740 lack this feature, but it has a completely different side circle design. The other B7RLE Eclipses have a plain, light yellow circle. Meanwhile, 740 has a light blue side circle promoting the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

Personally, I prefer the original yellow circle as I feel that light blue circles are overused (i.e., The Sixes and Swift also carry light blue circles, albeit with different designs). The differences also continue onto the interior as well. Unlike the other Eclipses, 740 has light blue overhead lights (carried over from its days on Ilkeston Flyer) and the newer USB design (with the yellow casing). Older counterparts have orange overhead lights and black USBs.

The final noticeable difference is with the interior stickers. The "it's all brewing in Burton" sticker has been moved and the "what's happening on The Villager?" sticker has been replaced with an exclusive Hilton Willow Pit one.

Now, onto 740 itself. This journey was a stark contrast to the one I did on 701 (FJ58 KJK). I have absolutely no complaints about this vehicle whatsoever. The ZF gearbox is melodic and reminds me of the former Red Arrow Scania K320IB4 Irizar i4s. Journeys like these are what cement my love for the Volvo B7RLE Eclipses.

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