LTSV - Forum Post

Title:	Filling the gaps but also leaving stuff out
Category:	Website General
Posted by:	Thomas Young
On:	07/12/2022 00:13
Text:	We recently received a list of the current RATP service vehicle fleet, which proved to be very useful. However, as is often the case, the list only provided some of the information (fleetnumber, registration and allocation). So where did all the other information come from? Well, the first port of call is any one of the various car checking websites. The DVLA has its own site, but others tend to provide more detailed information (such as models and specifications). This gave the vehicle type information, the colour and (using the dates of licensing and/or V5C issue) some indications of when the vehicles were acquired. I was curious about the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter truck in particular so I Googled the registration. This often gives little more than links back to LTSV but in this case I was lucky. A few years ago the vehicle had been sold to a dealer, who then posted a video of it on Youtube, seemingly their standard practice when selling vehicles. I then sent an e-mail around the gang of most prolific SV observers, outlining the additions and mentioning the video. One replied to say that, having watched the video, they had realised that they had seen the truck in Fulwell garage during the open day held a few months ago. It appears in some photos taken that day but, because it was right at the back, no further details could be seen. Another correspondent who had visited the open day recalled seeing one of the BYD cars. He wasn't sure if it was a service vehicle (it was in unmarked black) but he took a photo anyway. So, thanks to the data available on the internet, and to the conscientiousness (or perhaps prescience) of correspondents, I was able to add fairly full details of the vehicles to the database, and I will have at least one photo that can be added. This does all show how sometimes even incomplete information can be useful. Many thanks to the guys that helped with this, and to everyone who contributes sightings and notes to the website. It all helps. The second part of this post is about information that we have but that we do not show. The RATP list included a number of vehicles that turned out to be cars (of various types and colours). It was assumed that most of these were 'management' vehicles, and these are not normally added to LTSV. Exceptions will only be made if the information is already in the public domain, or if the vehicles are known to carry company lettering and/or livery. Obviously in some cases it is hard to be certain if a car is for use by management or as a crew ferry. Again, sightings will help. If you see something that seems to be a service vehicle but that is not on LTSV, please let me know about it.

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