The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  

Issue 249
(OBP-462)
Friday 30th November
2007
next update week ending 14th December 2007

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

News Archive Pages from the "Oxford Bus Page"

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/6995/archiveindex/arcindex.html
I regret that the server used to store the pictures for many of these pages is no longer available.
I hope to restore the pictures at some time in the future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note that any comments made in this news page are those of the Editors' and in no way constitute 
any official points of view from the bus companies mentioned,  or indeed any other official body. 
As a news page we reserve the right to make valid comments as seen from an editorial point of view.

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid-week news please let me know
malcolmhc@aol.com

To see the pictures full size just click on the thumbnail

A note regarding photographs which show drivers faces.
Following one complaint from a bus driver in Oxford but considering the fact that the photographs are taken of the vehicle not any person,
I will blank out the face to avoid any discomfort to the individual concerned. If you are the person involved send me an email to have this action taken.
I am sure people will realise that to ask everyone in advance of publication, whose face may appear in a picture is wholly impractical in both time and practice.
I am sorry to have to mention such a matter but we now live in a world of human rights and political correctness which must be considered.


Editorial

This week sees me on one weeks leave from my driving duties and so the opportunity was taken to visit London and see St Pancras International and the newly reopened Transport Museum. A very enjoyable day was had by both Gavin Francis and myself and reference is made to our trip below.

Reading today's local paper, the Bucks Free Press, there is a lot about doubling the cost of parking in High Wycombe and concerns of traffic and parking problems when the new Eden Centre fully opens. Steve Burns of Carousel is quoted as being concerned about the effect of traffic problems on local bus services which lack more than one effort to provide bus priority facilities on the local roads.

I must say that driving around as I do, one cannot help but notice how the increase in traffic, year on year, is now having an enormous impact on traffic flows. This is very obvious in High Wycombe and also Oxford. It is slowly but surely approaching a situation of gridlock at certain times of the day and one wonders how long this state of affairs can continue.

I wonder if the powers that be shouldn't be looking towards a strongly regulated regime, where cars just cannot continue to come into our cities and towns in such ever increasing numbers. The public transport facilities are thus going to have to change by increase and one suspects the use of more out of town parking. This has to be coupled to efficient park and ride schemes at a cost which will encourage, rather than deter, motorists using them.

I see from The Oxford Times, that the Westgate development has run into problems. The city has not agreed to the construction of a large temporary car park to replace the Westgate facility during reconstruction planned for 2011. Instead there are now talks of making Redbridge into a two story facility.

In fact anything which would reduce the amount of traffic on the Abingdon Road should be welcomed.

The future holds problems which need to be answered by some constructive thinking and action to arrest these problems before they become beyond our help.

The Nickey Line

As I drive between Oxford and Stansted I often wonder about certain landmarks which I pass. On the road between Luton and St Albans, as one passes through Harpenden, there is a rail overbridge, now long disused. Not being a native of the area, I concluded that this must bring a line from the Midland Line towards Hemel Hempstead.

The wonders of web answered my question, since I also knew that there was a rail bridge over the old A5 as it entered Redbourne and I then wondered where the line went from Redbourne. I assumed it must have gone into Hemel Hempstead and then wondered if it joined the West Coast main line somewhere nearby.

I was delighted to find all revealed in a most interesting web site, the link being shown below. 

http://uk.geocities.com/nickey_line/index.htm

For modern day public transport users there is now a bus service which seems to follow the line in many places on the B487, this being the Centrebus 320. And that set in motion a further train of thought (nice pun) .............................

However for those of you who have followed me so far, I have "stumbled" across the Nickey Line through the wonders of the Internet.

A day in London - with trains and buses and a Museum

I read with interest that St Pancras had become St Pancras International and that Eurostar had moved from Waterloo to a new home. Some little while later I was reminded that The London Transport Museum had reopened after a refit and thus suggested to Gavin Francis that we take a day out in London to see what had changed.

http://www.stpancras.com/

We took an early Oxford Tube from Lewknor to London and leaving our Neoplan at Notting Hill Gate we took the Circle Line round to Kings Cross & St Pancras. Needless to day at 09:00 it was very busy and we crowded onto a C69 type set which I think has been modernised with some air conditioning. Not being a train buff this is only an impression. We alighted at KC&StP and I was pleasantly surprised to find the exit to St Pancras both quick and clean. One comes out into the lower level of the station in  what I assume was once the underneath of the main station. This has been opened out to provide and immediate view of the newly refurbished and modernised facility seen today.


The trains are up above - a surprise to the unexpecting traveller. The roof can be seen and it does look rather splendid.

Upstairs one could see the whole station and appreciate the significant amount of work completed in recent years. I did like the statue of John Betjeman which graces this level, sharing space with another sculpture of a meeting. I liked the following link about Red Trains and Middlesex. Of course the Metropolitan ran out to the Chilterns in places such as Amersham and Chesham, my tenuous link to the area normally covered by this page.  http://www.johnbetjeman.com/middlesex.html


The wonderful statue of the man himself. One does want to look up when arriving in the great station.


9am did not seem quite the time for a glass of champagne.


This really was an enormous sculpture but somehow appropriate.


Still a lot of work to be done on the outside.


Can this be London - we saw the 09:34 from Paris arrive and it was very well loaded.


The "local" trains now start from what was the outer end of the old station. The East Midland Line is now operated by Stagecoach.

I had not been inside St Pancras for years and much enjoyed this visit. The whole place has a clean, pleasant and imposing atmosphere.

We walked across to Kings Cross and one of the first things one notices is the departure board, no longer a flip over board, which always made such a noise when changing, but a nice digital board and there are still named trains from this station, which is nice.

 
The 10am to Edinburgh is The Flying Scotsman and the 10.30 to Aberdeen, The Northern Lights.


However the pièce de résistance has to be finding Platform 9¾.

After that (and a coffee) we moved on to The London Transport Museum. A short and very crowded ride on the Piccadilly Line brought us to Covent Garden. This is an alighting station only at present but after a ride in a lift (how old fashioned) we were soon at the museum.

http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/

Entry is well organised and a cloakroom is to hand on arrival and we were then free to wander around to our hearts content. I will let readers saviour some of what is on offer through the photographs taken. I have to say it was a really enjoyable visit finished off by a nice lunch and a browse in the well stocked shop.


Two forms of electric transport greet visitors.


Good views can be gained from the galleries, the museum being on three floors.

 
We met on The Green Line - inside the TF.


Every effort is made to create reality.

There is a library where you can read or browse interesting books and also some nice computer screens where one can search through the enormous photo library which is available.

The large exhibits are nicely presented and there a number of interactive displays where one can drive a Tube train.

Altogether a very worthwhile visit for young and old alike.

Travel to Victoria for our journey home was by route 24 as London General have a fleet of new Enviro 400s in operation. The highest we saw was E93.

 

Finally having spent several hours looking a the past, when one emerged from the Museum it was nice to be greeted by an RM on Heritage route 15.

Memories of route 359 by Mick Payne

Following on from several articles on routes, Mick Payne sent this discourse on a long gone route of United Counties and London Transport. 

~~~~~~

The appearance of RT3254 LYR915 on route 359 at this year’s Amersham running day prompted some boyhood memories. Route 359 ran past our house in London Road, Wendover and was my regular means of transport over time for school, college, work and leisure. Not many people nowadays appreciate that for much of its 30 year history route 359 was a joint operation born of wartime exigency.  Picture is United Counties Bristol LS5G MNV763 heading out of Aylesbury on an Amersham working. MNV763 along with LS5Gs LBD260, MNV762 and LS6B JBD993 almost but never quite monopolised United Counties’ share of route 359 from their arrival at Aylesbury Depot in late 1956/early 1957 until London Transport became the sole operator in the summer of 1964. Reproduced is the final timetable published by United Counties on 26 January 1964. During the currency of this timetable, the 0634 ex Aylesbury and 0717 ex Great Missenden was crew operated with a Bristol Lodekka, 60 seater Monday to Friday, 70 seater on Saturday, the buses spending the rest of the day on routes 141 and 366 respectively. Also crew operated were the 0945 and 1755 ex Aylesbury and 1047 and 1855 ex Amersham on Saturdays with either a 60 seater Lodekka or by one of Aylesbury Depot’s then few remaining 55 seater Bristol K5Gs.

Bristol K5Gs worked nearly all journeys when I first got to know route 359 around the time when United Counties acquired Eastern National’s Aylesbury operations in 1952. The exceptions were the 0747 and 1945 ex Aylesbury on Monday to Friday which were worked by a single deck Bristol JO5G or L5G until replaced by MNV763 etc which then gradually usurped the K5Gs, although oddly an L5G, normally NNO109 or MPU29 was later to appear on the 1755 ex Aylesbury on Monday to Friday until both buses were withdrawn from service in late 1963.

I have to confess, as a boy, I much preferred the RT London Transport provided for its share of route 359. I remember being mortified on the occasions when a lowbridge RLH  was substituted. I regarded these (with apologies to all RLH enthusiasts) as an inferior K5G. From October 1958 my allegiance changed when LT introduced driver only operation using RFs. No disrespect to the RF but they could not keep to time and were too small a bus at busy periods. Their introduction did much to drive passengers away and as such were a factor in ending the joint operation which in turn led to a reduction in frequency. 

So you ask, how did the joint operation come about? Well, my mum recalls arriving in Wendover from London in the late 1930s aboard Greenline route B. At the time Eastern National provided local services from Aylesbury to Wendover continuing to either RAF Halton or Great Missenden. At the outbreak of war, all Greenline coaches were withdrawn and London Transport put on substitute bus 393 between Amersham and Great Missenden , a road that otherwise would have been devoid of  public transport. This lasted until 4 December 1940, when route B returned running as Greenline 35 using Central area red STLs between Victoria and Aylesbury. Then on 29 September 1942 all Greenline services were again withdrawn but this time Eastern National’s Aylesbury- Great Missenden service was extended to Amersham Station in a joint operation with London Transport as route 359. Post war, route B returned as the 703 Wrotham – Amersham Greenline but bus 359 went on to survive into London Country ownership, being withdrawn between Great Missenden and Aylesbury in February 1972. 

Thanks are due to Mr Roger M Warwick MCIT, author and publisher of An Illustrated History of the United Counties Omnibus Company Ltd for permission to reproduce from his collection the photograph of MNV763. Historical data is taken from Greenline by A McCall, published by New Cavendish Books, London 1980.

Developments around Heathrow by Richard Griffin

Following pictures and comments in the last issue Richard Griffin wrote.

~~~~~

A great shot of Windsor from 09-L finals!  As well as the castle, one can see the Riverside station and Eton college chapel.  My wife and I visit Windsor when our own scummy town gets too depressing!

In response to your comments about LHR in last week's page:

The aircraft level crossing at the Eastern Perimeter Road had long been a source of delay and frustration;  ever since 9/11 they had been supplementing the flimsy barriers across the road with an armed police
vehicle ready to shoot-to-kill anyone who tried to ram through them. When I was on nights it had become the norm to have the L/C closed overnight, with traffic having to go round the back of the maintenance
area on a road barely wide enough for two coaches to pass at 10mph.

The permanent closure of the L/C has resulted in the Eastern Perimeter Road taking that back route instead.  However they have widened it, and the construction of the Jury's Inn Hotel (I think it is) on the A30 means that they have provided an entirely new section of road through what was car-park round the south end of the hangars into the Hatton Cross gyratory.

If you had gone that way, you would also have seen Concorde Alpha-Bravo -- she has been sitting (visible from the A30) on the apron outside there, immediately the other side of the fence from the perimeter road.


A recent development where I live is the use of GPS technology on the TfL route 117 (Staines to West Middx Hospital): the name of the next stop is displayed on a dot-matrix indicator and spoken by a digital voice announcement.  A very useful function for those not already familiar with the route, and I look forward to seeing this sort of thing on buses in Oxford & elsewhere.


Other comments arising from last week's page:  On the Oxford sightseeing bus... not a "live guide" but a dead one!!  I liked that!

Spot the differences on that Tube at Thornhill:  well, it's got metal instead of rubber trim around the bottom of the upper windows;  but I can't see what the other difference might be.  Do tell!

Well Richard and others who wondered, the Oxford Tube branding on the front upper deck window is much lower than normal. Ed.

RT Moquette

David Cooper (01327 830663) writes saying "If you are interested I am putting an order for RT moquette together. I have nearly 500 metres on order so far.

If you or anyone you know require any please can you advise as it will be the last time RT moquette will be manufactured. - price around £17-50 plus VAT a metre.

From the south by Anthony Poulton

Ant Poulton writes "Thought you might be interested in a couple of shots I took yesterday - Volvo B10B N416NRG now Damory 5092 in Salisbury garage laying over on market day service 302, and then my vehicle for the night, Volvo B10M R807NUD that I was taking to use on Chichester to Littlehampton rail replacement - first picture is at Chichester, the second at Littlehampton."

http://poultygscsblphotos.fotopic.net/ 

http://poultygscwdphotos.fotopic.net/

http://antssouthernvectispics.fotopic.net/

http://poultygscmmphotos.fotopic.net/

http://wiltsanddorsetgroup.forumup.co.uk/

The new Mercedes 19 seaters with easyBus

David Rawsthorn of easyBus writes "please can I respectfully point out that our current fleet of Mercedes Benz Sprinters (not Fords) are being replaced by Optare Sorocos (based on the Mercedes Benz 515 Sprinter chassis). 

24 vehicles are currently on order for both this service and a new service between London and Gatwick to commence March 2008. 

Deliveries have already begun (self evidently) and we anticipate completion of the deliveries by June 2008."

Oh dear, apologies to everyone and to Mercedes. Ed.

I took a couple more pictures at Stansted last week.


And NO, the queue was not for easyBus but Terravision who seemed lacking in any coaches.


They do look quite comfortable inside.

The brick train by Gavin Francis

In his quest to support Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, Gavin saw a sign post which he followed and was surprised by his find of "brick train" on the side of the A66 near Darlington.

http://www.darlingtontown.co.uk/For_Visitors/darlington_brick-train.shtml


Well, it makes a change from buses !!!! - picture by Gavin Francis

LHS question ?

I am sure many of you will have a picture in your mind of an LHS when you read about it. For those who do not enlarging the name we add Bristol. Bernie writes "I am trying to get all the surviving National Welsh Bristol LHS ECW's together for a rally and to keep owners in touch for spares, photos etc,  I noticed in your archive pictures you have a picture of KWO 569X in Binders Yard, High Wycombe, do you know who owns it or could you put a piece in your weekly news for the owner or information on this bus, I can be contacted at nationalwelshlhs@aol.com 

A Saturday in London with Stephen Le Bras

Stephen nearly always goes up to London on Saturdays and he wrote regarding last weekend saying "Saturday midday (24th November) and chaos at Victoria Coach Station. Why, you might ask? The road outside VCS where coaches arrived and departed was being dug up for the umpteenth time- it was only resurfaced a few months ago! As a result, traffic struggled up the road from Victoria station. I watched and then found it impossible to cross the road to snap a departing SC Oxford 18052 on trainer duties. I retraced my steps towards Grosvenor Gardens but it had gone. 

Now if I had been on the opposite side of the road! 

I did make it to Greenwich to try out the new Travel London Wright hybrids on route 129. Very comfortable and more like a trolleybus in operation!"

Around and about with Terry Wong Min

Terry wrote to enclose some pictures "Long time no speak.  I enclose some items from Reading, Clapham Junction SWT (CJ-Richmond/Twickenham/Kew Bridge) rail replacement with various operators, I enclose a Reading picture from Saturday.

 

Also the big talked about vehicles on the 129 in London." 

 

On the M40 - a coach and Carlisle United and an old Bedford find by Steve Bunce

Steve writes "I attach a photo of the Carlisle United team coach on the M40 heading east towards the M25 on their way to Brighton for a 2-2 draw (against ten man Brighton!) I pass this on because the mileage on Saturday's round trip must be one of the longest in the football league. 

Multimap tells me the shortest route is 365.4 miles thus making a minimum return trip of 730.8 miles at least. I think they would need all the comfort you could get on that Neoplan to be driving for over 13 hours in one day."

Interesting that the registration could just be mistaken for an Oxford one Ed.

Steve goes on to add "I came across this Bedford a couple of Sundays' ago at The Olde Watermill Shopping Village, Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire. Although the body is a 1980s replica (by Harris I understand) and is B12F, the chassis is an original WLB from 1935 - new to Bojangles of Southampton as a lorry. I enclose a couple of photos. The above information was gleaned from a website called "The Wakefield Files" - an excellent site for vintage Bedford information and a few other bits besides, and well worth and look."

 

On the move by Richard Sharman

Richard was out an about with his camera by the M40 and sent some nice pictures. 


Seen passing through Oxfordshire after just joining the M40 is Mistral V908DDY on the new Southsea to Birmingham Service via Oxford and Coventry.


Volvo B12B/Caetano Levante (nr VO12) FJ57 KHP of Bruce's passing Oxfordshire on the 539


NXL18 passing Bicester on the M40 Service 420 to London


RH 408  All three 07 plate MAN Solo's have now gained MAN badges 

A mistake – sorry to John Marsh & John Bristow 

Regarding last week's page John Marsh "Good of you to credit me with the "Historical Picture of Bicester Depot".  Sadly, it wasn't me ! 

The pictures I sent last week were Buses in the Landscape with an industrial bent plus a shot of autumn in Euston Road. 

Perhaps you can use those next week now? 

Another great page. Don't know how you find the time but be assured, it is much appreciated and looked forward to!"

Sometimes I wonder myself. Ed.

Comment from Alistair Liddle

Excellent page this week and very enjoyable as always. 

I was fascinated with the old photograph of the Oxford Fleetline 402, there is no doubt in my mind that the Alexander Atlantean/Fleetline body was the most attractive of all and was so far removed from the 'square tin boxes' that the other builders such as East Lancs, Northern Counties, Park Royal, etc. produced that it's not surprising that so many English fleets bought them. 

Your photograph of OBC's 817 reminded me of it being up here at the Bus Driver of the Year final, in a much cleaner state but a much more incongruous setting!! 

Leslie Smith writes from Camberley 

Thank you for putting my picture on. Here are two more you might like.
 
Pegasus have got this years Christmas Park and Ride in Camberley. They are using vehicles from the school bus fleet allocated to First's Bracknell Depot. These two were taken last Saturday.

 

Buses in the Landscape

John Marsh  writes "Some more London scenes. Three with something of an industrial bent for a change.  Re last week's excellent and very interesting page, the one taken in Euston Road does show that autumn did come to central London."

     
Buses in and around London by John Marsh - see locations in the picture title.

Paul Dudfield writes "I thought you might like this picture for OCBP. It shows a Stagecoach Devon Optare Solo on Exeter Quay."

Finally, those of you who know High Wycombe will be aware of how hilly it is. My picture below shows this to good affect taken last Thursday.

Changes to service in East Oxfordshire from 9th December

Follow the link below to get the full picture.

http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/portal/publicsite/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKL94039HcCSZnFO8WHOepHogtZIoR8PfJzU_WDgFKR5kAhY3Mf_aic1PTE5Er9YH1v_QD9gtzQiHJvR0cAhVVPFg!!/delta/base64xml/L0lJSk03dWlDU1lBIS9JTGpBQU15QUJFUkVSRUlrLzRGR2dkWW5LSjBGUm9YZnJDRUEhLzdfTV8zN0wvMjQ!?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_M_37L_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=http://apps.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Council+services/Roads+and+transport/Public+transport/Bus+services/RT+-+PT+-+Bus+Service+Review 

I look forward to pictures of the new operators in action at the earliest possible date.


Malcolm Crowe - Friday 30th November 2007

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date

News of the local companies – 30th November 2007

 

Nigel Peach writes "I haven't seen any of the three Mercedes Varios around lately (2196-8 - R196-8 DNM). I wonder if they have departed from Wycombe following the arrival of he Solos and Versas, and the two extra Darts 3208 and 3217?"

Glenn Knight adds his weekly contribution saying "ARRIVA Shires N43JPP 5143 broke down at 7.30am at Dunstable "The Link" Tow-truck arrived at 10.20. 20.11.2007."

Daniel B sent a nice picture of 3268 on a Sunday working of the 27.

I spent a pleasant morning in Wycombe on Thursday and took a number of pictures of Arriva at work in the town.


The Versas continue to work on a variety of routes in addition to their rostered 39 route. Other routes include the 40 and 74.


Renumbering of Wycombe based routes includes the old 317 now the 37. Seen here being worked by 3144.


One route to retain its old LT number is the 362 with Scania 3145 in charge.

 
The ex OBC/Wycombe Bus Darts continue in service at Wycombe including 3825 on the 33.


The 31 to Penn is normally a Volvo working as seen in the picture above of 3866.

 
Real Time information has arrived in High Wycombe. however the 45 seems not to be included as yet.


Finally this Olympian is a long time servant at Wycombe. 5109 is on the 74 to Slough.

Carousel Bus, High Wycombe - http://www.carouselbuses.com/


The two recently arrived Darts are always seen to be busy about Wycombe.


The 400 is a very regular service and one of the buses in use on Thursday was DAF 988.


Another 400 departure, this time in the hands of Metrobus M1432 followed by an Arriva Volvo B6 on the 74.

 

Centrebus

Andrew Morgan wrote saying "Firstly, please let me congratulate you on your excellent website.

Secondly, you might like to see another photograph of Centrebus 352. (Sorry – but it is not a very good shot – taken into the sun in the depot on the 4th November.) A few weeks ago, I noticed that it had had the nearside advert changed from Virgin to Galleria. There are now four Darts in St. Albans with the nearside Galleria adverts, namely 352, 569, 573, 582. There are also two Darts with rear full adverts for the Galleria, namely 576 and 578.

 

Just to complete the record, the other St. Albans based buses with adverts are :

Darts 563 has all over advert for Papa John’s, Dart 571 for Bus Plus and Dart 574 has rear advert for Chips Away Car Care. These two all over adverts have Centrebus white, orange and blue painted fronts."

Charlton Services

Richard Sharman writes "Charlton Services have acquired Olympian/Alexander G648 EEV from EnsignBus. - (Thanks to Ross Newman for info)."

First

Richard Sharman writes "Seen today (241107) in Oxpens is one of the new Plaxton Profiles just been delivered to First Cymru's new Coaching unit at Cardiff."

Grant Palmer

Glenn Knight writes "I have attached a photo of H102GEV Leyland Olympian Grant Palmer, Dunstable on 197 to Biggleswade in Milton Keynes Ex-ARRIVA Manchester 3102 20.11.2007."

Heyfordian


I am still hoping someone will submit a picture of the Heyfordian Olympian which has been transferred and repainted into Tappins orange. Picture by Chris Maxfield.

Motts

Reference a picture on the last page, Stephen Le Bras writes "9920MT is a Neoplan Euroliner, not a Cityliner."

Further deliveries of Scania tri-axle Levantes to Stansted are as follows:

SC25 - FJ57 KJE ( seen below)

SC27 - FJ57 KJF

SC28 - FJ57 KHU

Note the haphazard sequence of coaches scattered over various operators.


Latest deliveries to Stansted include this tri-axle.

A revised livery is to be applied to National Express coaches as seen below in a picture published in Route One. Hope they don't mind. The four year old livery has been updated again and now includes grey "Connections" link lines. However the familiar blue and red symbols disappear. This in some ways is a pity since the older livery could be seen from miles away.


Bruce's FJ57 KHP is seen again, this time in Oxford in a picture taken by Gavin Francis.


Another style super rear, this time on one of Veoilas Irizar PBs on the 777.
 

Richard Sharman has been busy gathering information as to which vehicles were for sale at a recent sale of surplus buses and coaches in Birmingham at Go-West Midlands. He writes "Go-Ahead had an add in the trade press for a 2 day sale event at the West Bromwich depot this week just gone.

This consisted of Diamonds and COMS excess vehicles which of interest included Diamonds ex Thames Transit Lances N901-3 PFC, various ex Oxford B10B Verdes and Excaliburs from Oxford Espress.

Oxford vehicles at Diamond for disposal were-

Excaliburs - R258/9DWL, R809NUD, V281SBW

Verdes - 604/5/7/9-11/18/19

(Thanks to Britishbus Group for this info)  

Further details of fleet for sale were at www.nigelmccree.com and of particular interest is they also have a ex Tube Monaco in stock."

Chris Maxfield was busy taking pictures last week and some are included below. 


Citaro 825 is seen loading in St Aldates for Abingdon - Chris Maxfield


Solent Blue Line 630 is seen in Winchester at the northern end of the long route 1 to Southampton. Chris Maxfield


Another ex Oxford Volvo on route 1 was this one with a digital display, nr 626. Picture by Chris Maxfield.

RH Transport Services

Chris Maxfield visited the yard of RH last weekend and sent some interesting pictures.


A Solo from the same batch as those once owned by Bucks County Council.


Sitting somewhat forlornly at the yard was this ex Stagecoach Dennis Lance. I am not sure if it is still in service with RH.


Variety is the spice of life. All the vehicles look very smart.

Chris Maxfield visited Winchester and Salisbury a week ago and sent some interesting pictures.

   
The new Enviro 200s are now hard at work as these three pictures show taken in Winchester.

From Oxford by Chris Maxfield


Looking smart 22928 arrives in the city from Barton.


Once at Liverpool, this Volvo training coach was recently repainted and now looks very smart indeed.


One of the Solos branded up for the X88 seen at Oxford train station.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Another super rear for route 1 - this picture from Gavin Francis.


Paul Dudfield sent this picture of an ex Tube coach now in use by SC Devon on driver training.


Looking unusually filthy Oxford's Scania 59211 is seen heading out of Wycombe towards Hemel Hempstead last Thursday. Picture by M C

It is believed that Thames Travel may have a new Enviro 300 as one was seen in all white on the 105 tonight, Friday.  ??????

Worths Coaches

Interest lies in the recent change to using fleet numbers. You can see all the details at the following link : http://www.woottens.co.uk/fleet.htm


Picture by Chris Maxfield.

PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish to submit photos for this page please send them to the me at 
malcolmhc@aol.com

?

HISTORY IN PICTURES AND WORDS

If you have any pictures or historical memories and wish to submit them for this page please send them to the me at  malcolmhc@aol.com

?

Coming events, models and useful links

PSV Circle publishes latest issue of the fleet list for Berkshire and Oxfordshire

Ken MacKenzie writes to note that the new PSV Circle fleet list for Berkshire/Oxfordshire (G432) is now available.

Those readers wishing to buy a copy should write to: PSV Circle, 59 Palmer Avenue, Cheam SM3 8EF - Cost id £7.00 plus 50p P & P and it will also be available at the PSV Circle sales stand at Showbus 2007.

This will be a most useful reference for all those interested in the local scene.

Editors review - I have now had chance to review this book and it is indeed very useful, giving details of all known fleets in Berks and Oxon. Whilst some information is not totally up to date it allows the readers to have a comprehensive view of the local fleets and up dates can be gained by joining the PSV Circle. At £7.00 this represents value for money as it also includes a number of good photographs.

Britbus

A new casting with a local flavour has been released by Britbus as a picture from Mark Lyons shows. It is a nice model but as Mark says, a little pricey at £33.

Model News of an Oxford bus

Guy writes to send a picture of the latest offering on the model front related to Oxford.

 

Bus Models

James Smith writes "I can let your readers know that I have a few of the Creative Master, UKBUS 2015 Oxford Bus Plaxton President model left at a reduced price." 

It's been reduced to £20.50

I'm hoping to offer your readers a permanent discount in the very near future.

www.modelsmk.co.uk
- Low cost Bus models

A photo disc for your collection

This week I can bring details of a really super new photo disc from Vics cliix. The disc contains pictures taken in the early 1970s by Vic Zealey and copies can be obtained through Malcolm Hyland's web site http://www.cliix.co.uk.

Here are some samples of the 158 pictures on this disc.

       
The quality is good and they are all at high resolution.

Oxford Bus 125 commemorative book

In last week's issue I mentioned that Oxford Bus were publishing a book to commemorate the 125 years of public transport in Oxford. Thanks to Phil Ashworth I have had a review copy and hereunder give my thoughts on this book.

The book is well presented and includes a number of historical pictures of interest including some I had not seen before. The modern pictures have received a nice treatment reflecting the modern fleet against a background of typical Oxford architecture. The Botley Road rail bridge gets a mention and a picture of an AEC pre war decker which has done battle with said bridge and come off worse from its encounter is included.

The book, whilst rather small to reflect the 125 years in detail is nevertheless a must for all who love Oxford, historians and enthusiasts alike.

Copies of the book can be bought from the Oxford Bus Company, Cowley House, Watlington Rd, Oxford OX4 6GA. The cost is £5.95 including postage. Cheques should be made payable to "Oxford Bus Company", it is also available in person from the Oxford Bus Museum during normal opening hours. 

New DVD by Robin Clare - http://www.robinclare.co.uk

Robin sent me a copy of his latest DVD to review. "Today's buses - Oxfordshire" is the compelling title which includes Henley, Wallingford and Didcot before the viewer is taken onto Wantage, Witney, Banbury and finally Bicester. Each of these locations is covered in2 to 5 minutes and each shows the current selection of buses and coaches to be found. Finally over 37 minutes is devoted to Oxford with filming in a variety of locations in the city.

On another subject the road sense and behaviour of cyclists in Oxford has to be seen to be believed!!!!

The quality of the DVD is excellent and one can really see clearly the details of each vehicle, something which older video always seemed unable to do. All the latest developments are shown in this September 2007 DVD, including workings from Broad Street during the St Giles Fair weekend.

The DVD provides a unique record of events in Oxfordshire during this period and at £10 is not a very large outlay.

Robin Clare Transport Video
74 Polruan Place, Fishermead,
Milton Keynes MK6 2EA

The full details of DVDs available from Robin Clare may be found at his web site :- http://www.robinclare.co.uk/

Citaro models

Dave Rogers sent the following press release.

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE 

Mercedes-Benz Citaro - ukbus 5004 Arriva Manchester  -  ukbus 5007 Oxford Bus

 

Creative Master Northcord Limited is proud to release two brand new liveries on its well known Mercedes-Benz Citaro casting. Both models have received significant, yet different, modifications to the tooling in order to represent, as close to 100% accuracy as possible, the real buses on the roads. 

ukbus 5004 represents fleet number Arriva North West’s 2851 (CX55 EAA). This Mercedes Citaro is one of three such vehicles with dedicated route branding for service 700 and with the destination set to Manchester. The model features a redesigned interior layout that includes the reduced seating capacity and luggage racks. 

Starting on 29th October 2005, Arriva North West’s service 700 runs from Manchester’s Piccadilly Railway Station to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport. For the service, 3 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were purchased and numbered 2851-3. They were painted in the same style and colours as the Scania OmniCity buses that already operated between John Lennon and Liverpool city centre. 

ukbus 5007 represents fleet number 830 (X13 OXF) of Oxford Bus Company. 830 entered service in December 2003, to upgrade the X3 & X13 Oxford – Abingdon services. The bus was painted in a new and distinctive livery designed by Best Impressions. 

ukbus 5007 features the smooth, curved windscreen with the destination display set behind the windscreen glass rather than the protruding destination found on the Park & Ride Citaros in the fleet. This feature is one of the standard specifications on other Citaros that the Go-Ahead Group has purchased. 

Mercedes-Benz Citaro ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are each a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, double-glazed windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on both models is the extensive portrayal of handrails. The headlight / indicator units at the front and indicator / tail light units at the rear are made of individual components to look more realistic.

 

The brand new single-door Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are limited to 1700 pieces worldwide respectively. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would readers who respond to the above please quote my site when doing so.

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news & when each News Page is posted
please let me know on malcolmhc@aol.com

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date

Links

These are nine most interesting sites which I do recommend

Bus Zone Logo (2421 bytes)

Mike Penn's photo page with much from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire

Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK

John Marsh's pictures with a difference

The Oxford Bus Museum


Ray Jackson Art

A web site which has paintings of buses.
Nice present for a Christmas or Birthday wish list !!

http://www.rayjacksonart.co.uk/index.htm
 

 


Stagecoach Handbook for 2006
from British Bus Publishing

Arriva Handbook for 2006-2007
from British Bus Publishing

http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/

The latest handbooks are now on sale, the ever
popular Stagecoach edition now in its 13th year.

Links

Bus Services in Buckinghamshire

Bus services in Oxfordshire

Bus services in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Logo/link

Where are the Chilterns?

Visit this informative site through the link below.

back to home page
Map showing the Chilterns Hills beginning in Oxfordshire in the Thames Valley and stretching north-east through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. The highest points are over 250m. There are various water courses running from the Chilterns to the South East.

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002