Spottings & Jottings nr. 83 - February 22nd 2015
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002
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Editorial
Since our last issue in January, there have been a number of most interesting changes in our area. The four Green Line Acrons have moved to Arriva Southern Counties (pictures most appreciated) and we now have full details of the four Levantes moved from Tellings Golden Miller and most recently used on the National Express 010 services from Cambridge to London. It is rather ironical that Green Line are now operating Volvo Levantes to Luton on the 757 in competition with National Express's own Levantes identical in specification !!!
Oxford bus is introducing route colours with the first being for the 6 road service where three Citaros (839-841) have been painted green and branded for the 6.
Oxford Bus tell me that further routes to be colour branded are the 4 and 5 with details to follow. Also I am advised that the next eight Interdeck coaches are due to arrive in March. This will make many more services out of Gloucester Green will be operated by 14 and 15 metre coaches. A real challenge for what is rather a small facility.
A 14 metre X5 stands next to a 15 metre Oxford bus Volvo in Gloucester Green
on 17th February by Malcolm Crowe.
Stagecoach recently hosted one of the latest Astromega sleeper coaches. This was so that driver training could take place for those based at Cwmbran and Rugby and gave me my first opportunity to drive one of these 15 metre coaches. The coach was yet to enter service and it was a first for Oxford.
50312 reverse in after a days training - February 4th by Malcolm Crowe.
As related in the last issue National Express awarded the 737 service from Oxford to Stansted to Oxford Bus and in advance of a new fleet for the service five Volvo B9Rs were transferred from other locations to enable COMS to start the service. We now have a number of pictures of these Volvos in service and also pictures of COMS Volvos in white multi- route livery operating the service.
Volvo 46 on thev1140 service to Stansted some 10 minutes late on 18th
January taken by Gavin Francis.
The company had as yet not had time to programme the destination screens.
51 showing its Go-Ahead Northern fleet number 7118 leaving Gloucester Green
on a Stansted departure on February 14th by Gavin Francis.
Oxford has been beset by road works and remodelling of a number of junctions throughout the city. St Clements has been the subject of this type of work recently and was closed in an east or westbound direction for several weeks. Whilst local services were routed via local narrow roads the coach services were routed via Marston road, Marston Ferry Road and Banbury Road resulting in no service from the city centre stops. Gavin Francis took a number of pictures of services on diversion at Marston Road and Headington Hill.
Oxford's 52 first approaching the junction and then it turns out of Marston
Road on to Headington Hill on 22nd January by Gavin Francis.
Oxford's 61 first approaching the junction and then it turns out of Marston
Road on to Headington Hill on 22nd January by Gavin Francis.
Oxford's 97 turning onto Marston Rd on 22nd January by Gavin Francis.
Oxford Tube 50272 turning onto Marston Rd on 22nd January by Gavin Francis.
Oxford tube 50285 turns out of Marston Road on to Headington Hill on 22nd
January by Gavin Francis.
Gavin has provided many pictures for this month and I must say I have been spoilt for choice.
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Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society
The Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society was formed in June 2010 and aims to
provide an informal monthly social meeting in Oxford for those with an
interest in buses. Meetings are normally held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
and normally take the form of a picture show with local and guest
speakers. A small charge is made to cover the cost of hiring the function
room and this is usually around £1 for members per meeting depending on numbers.
For non-members a charge of £3 per head is made.
Next meeting:
Our next meeting is on Tuesday March 17th
Our speaker is notable Bristol bus
expert Allan Macfarlane giving a talk on the history of Bristol
Commercial Vehicles.
in depth look at Bristol VR's in their home city.
Meetings are held in the new venue at:
The Tree Hotel,
63 Church Way,
Iffley Village, Oxford OX4 4EY
The venue offers a wide range of excellent food
A detailed programme of meetings can be found at the following link and we hope many of you will attend future meetings.
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When readers take copies of pictures from the OCBP site
Some of the contributors to this site have noticed that their pictures are appearing on e-bay sites selling such things.
Needless to say this is a theft of copyright and one which I deplore!
I would not wish to have to watermark photographs, thereby making them unsalable as such but if this practice continues I shall be left with no alternative. I am sure this would detract from the pleasure so many of you get from the OCBP.
May I please ask readers to do two things?
1/ If you see any photos on sale please let me know and where they are appearing.
2/ If you are someone who has copied and sold photos please desist as this is theft and I will have to take legal action against anyone found doing so.
The site is free to all readers and I pay a price to publish the pages which is not passed on.
Please respect those freedoms and I hope I may not have to mention this matter again.
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The level of contribution to this page by readers, as ever, remains excellent! Thank you all.
Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP -
22nd February 2015
Spottings
and TGM
A change in the 757 fleet has occurred with the loss of four of the tri-axle
Van Hool T917 Acron coaches to Southern Counties. These are 4372/9/84/6
(YN58FJN/y, FJA, FFW)
These have been replaced by four Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante C49FLt coaches
from other parts of Arriva. These are 4101-4 (FJ60HYH/K-M)
Luke Braham
3914 in Max livery seen in Aylesbury on 24th
January by Luke Braham.
Citaro 3909 BU06 HSO has returned from
refurbishment to MAX specification but has now got to go to VOSA for
recertification. I am told that it carries MAX route 150 branding.
Glenn Knight
Sold to Ensign in Nov 2011 then onto Cotswold
Green, Gloucestershire, around
11/11-01/12
Currently being preserved back in Bedfordshire, will now be attending local
Bus Events including Showbus (Woburn Abbey) & Luton Festival of Transport in
June.
Mark Turner has provided some pictures taken in Watford recently.
Arriva 3419 on route 10 in Watford on 17th February taken by Mark Turner.
Arriva 3655 on the 321 in Watford on 17th February taken by Mark Turner.
Arriva 6309 on the 500 in Watford on 17th February taken by Mark Turner.
Carousel Buses
One of Carousel's ex COMS Tridents, 113
re-registered MIG7113, seen waiting to operate the BB14 to Little Marlow on
February 6th by Malcolm Crowe.
Charlton X37XAW at St Giles on 26th January by
Gavin Francis
Heyfordian FJ60EKD at Oxford Station on rail
replacement on 25th January by Gavin Francis.
and
Crusader Holidays
Luke Braham
This year, two ex-Dublin Bus ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs are due and will be
registered X800 MTT and X900 MTT with Motts but there identities are
otherwise unknown. They will carry 82 seats and were new in 2000.
Also due this year are
two brand new Mercedes Benz Tourismos for the Crusader Holidays fleet. They
will be Euro 6 and are to be tri-axle with C49Ft seating. These have been
chosen as Setra coaches are no longer sold in the UK and after the
demonstrator that Motts had on loan over the summer which received good
feedback from both customers and drivers.
Since it was first reported on the OCBP, Setra GT60 MTT (BF60 OFZ) has received its private plate and now carries Motts Travel livery."
Motts Travel GT60MTT seen on 7th February by Luke
Braham
http://http://www.nationalexpress.com/
Start Hill's 189 on an A6 working yurns into to
Buckingham Palace Rd on 30th January taken by Gavin Francis.
The coach may be in som e difficulty since it seems to have stuck in low
boarding mode!!
National Express provides interest in a variety
of super rears. A Lucketts 63 plate stands alongside a South Gloucester with
cherished registration.
Taken on 18th February by Gavin Francis.
Lucketts have repainted a number of ex National Express Levantes in their
own livery.
FJ58AHP is seen on Buckingham Palace Road on 17th January by Gavin Francis.
Oxford Bus working the 737
44 at Stokenchurch on 21st January by Gavin Francis.
48 at Stokenchurch was once 111 with NEx seen on 24th January by Gavin
Francis.
51 at Stokenchurch is from Go Ahead Northern 7119 seen again on 24th January
by Gavin Francis.
Quite a lot has been happening in recent weeks in this company.
The 737 service is now in full operation using the five "loaned" Volvo B9R's. When any one of these is unavailable agreement has, I've been told, reached to allow the use of one of the white multi-route 61 plate Volvos as substitute. New coaches are due later in the year, it is suggested by sources at Gloucester Green that whilst these may be Levantes they are rumoured to have Mercedes chassis. Time will tell.
What is confirmed is the arrival of eight new Interdeckers in March. This will then enable all peak hour services on the X90 to be operated by these 63 seaters.
As mentioned in the Editorial route coloured buses are on the cards and the first route, 6 road, is now being operated by green Citaros.
Quite soon after operation commenced on 6 road, 839 appeared on a 300
working almost immediately ahead of 840 on the 6.
The date was 14th February seen by Gavin Francis.
As mentioned above 840 followed 839 and may have contributed some confusion
to intending passengers on 14th February.
206 lays over in Magdalen St East on 22nd January seen by Gavin Francis.
Something of a surprise os the black background to the City name!!
Current fleet 81 passes one time 87 on Elizabeth Br on 18th February seen by
Gavin Francis.
I think GB07OXF of Hamilton Gray on a Megabus service is the last one
remaining in X90 livery?
Current fleet 96 passes one time 87 on Elizabeth Br on 18th February seen by
Gavin Francis.
Even closer resemblance is provided by these two coaches.
209 and 210 were recently painted in Thames Travel livery and before moving
to Wallingford spent a few days on the 4.
209 is seen emerging from the rail bridge on 26th January by Peverel.
210 is seen in Castle Street on 29th January by Gavin Francis.
209 is seen from the rear in High Street on 28th January by Gavin Francis.
Oxfordshire
Witney's 15534 is seen working an S2 in George St on 22nd January by Gavin Francis.
Certain journey's on the X30 are worked by Gold buses as seen by 15831 on
22nd January by Gavin Francis.
Scotland
Gordon Scott has sent some more pictures of our ex Tube coaches.
50221 on the X25A in Glasgow on 26th January by Gordon Scott.
50224 on the X25A in Glasgow on 3rd February by Gordon Scott.
50204 in service in Glasgow on 12th February by Gordon Scott.
This was the coach I took to Kilmarnock last year on July 31st.
Megabus 54201 on the M9 in Glasgow on 12th
February by Gordon Scott.
Megabus Hamilton Gray HIG19 - HIG5345 - on
Elizabeth Bridge on 9th February seen by Gavin Francis.
Megabus Hamilton Gray HIG5339 near VCS on 11th
February by Gavin Francis.
Megabus 50228 on service M11 loads at VCS on
16th February seen by Gavin Francis.
Megabus 54202 carrying this years livery for
Young Scot Awards seen at VCS on 9th February by Gavin Francis.
#Megamoments Megabus 54053 in Bulleid Way on
19th February seen by Gavin Francis.
Freestones have several coaches in full Megabus
livery but this one is just in the blue seen by Gavin Francis on 20th
February.
As mentioned earlier in this issue two Scania deckers, 209 and 210, have been transferred from the main Oxford fleet. Prior to transfer they were in Brookes livery and even after repaint were used in Oxford for a few days. Now they are in livery and in use by Thames Travel.
210 seen in Reading on the X39 service on 20th February by Martin Dowling.
Weavaway
As happens on a number of weekends coach operators provide road services when the railway lines are closed.
One time National Express Neoplan now with Weavaway R9BRD on 25th January by
Gavin Francis.
Weavaway WA64CVY at Oxford Station on 25th January seen by Gavin Francis.
From readers
Just to say that over last couple of months I’ve added around 1000 new
photos to my Smugmug site (link below).
Some time ago, you asked me if any of the full-fronted, centre-entrance
post-war Leyland PD2/5 Titans were preserved. Apparently two survive,
although neither could be described as “preserved”. The Fylde Bus Page has
recently given information about them which I reproduce here:-
The Blackpool PD2/5s
Two of the iconic postwar streamliners survive, both owing their current
existence to post service use as tramway 'Permanent Way' buses. LTT owns
246, which spent over a decade as a site hut at the premises of Lister of
Bolton - a well known dealer. In 1989 it was rescued and temporarily stored
at Blackpool Transport depot by a local enthusiast, but LTT took it on the
following year moving it to Burscough then St. Helens. 25 years on and the
bus remains stored, back in Blackpool awaiting extensive restoration.
More complete is sister 300. Purchased by John Hinchliffe of Huddersfield,
it was cosmetically restored and rallied during the 1980s. Since then
structural work has commenced, but stalled while other projects took
precedent. After many years stored under a railway arch in Huddersfield, 300
was moved to a new storage site still in West Yorkshire in July 2004.
-
Fylde Bus Blog,
http://fyldebus.blogspot.co.uk/
-
1st. February, 2015.
Either of them look like an interesting preservation project!
A nice coach by Marcus Lapthorn
Scotland by Gordon Scott
Arriva SN15LLT new MAX at Alexanders 130215 G
Scott
Bruce FJ57KJF new service M8 Glasgow 030215 G
Scott
Bruce VXI696 new as FJ58AKK on new route M8
020215 G Scott
First 33902 r 747 Glasgow 120215 G Scott
SC 900 Citylink 54137 r 900 Glasgow 120215 G
Scott
For Stagecoach Manchester as 10429 on test
at Alexanders 130215 G Scott
Arriva LT347 r 137 090215 G Francis
LG LDP195 r 170 BPR VIC 110215 G Francis
LG PVL137 learner duties 160115 G Francis
LG WHY19 r 360 090215 G Francis
Metroline TEH915 r 16 - first Hybrid - 160215 G Francis
Tower Transit DN33778 r 23 Candy Crush overall r 23 160115 G Francis
Tower Transit DNH39115 r 23 Phillipines overall r 23 300115 G Francis
Candy Crush taxi overall 160115 G Francis
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Reviews of new books
I have received two books for review which I found well produced and most interesting.
The PSV Circle has a revised edition of Berkshire and Oxfordshire current fleets. There are some excellent colour pictures and almost every operator, large and small in the area is included. A most useful reference book.
You can purchase the book from : Sales Team, PSV Circle, Unit GK Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London N1 3QP. The cost is £9 inc post and packing.
The second book reviewed is a pocket sized booklet costing £5.95 which can be obtained from Presbus Publishing.
This is well produced book and in a way is retro repeating the successful format of Ian Allan spotters books in the 1950s. Very good price for a very nice book, giving all the information you could ask for on operations and buses in Stagecoach Midlands including six new Van Hool Altanos, yet to be delivered.
Please quote the OCBP when ordering.
Mike Penn's interesting web site for pictures
You might be interested to know that I have now uploaded 268 photos taken in
Beds, Bucks and Herts in the year 2000 to my website -
http://166emj.piwigo.com/index?/category/50-beds_bucks_and_herts_photographs_2000
One of the
major events of the year was the purchase by Arriva the Shires of the City
of Oxford operation in High Wycombe on December 13th. Two days later, as can
be seen from the photographs, vehicles had received Arriva The Shires fleet
names and legal lettering but retained their Oxford fleet numbers.
The other
major event was the enforced sale of the Lutonian operation by Arriva the
Shires.
Both Arriva
The Shires and Arriva East Herts & Essex continued to repaint vehicles into
Arriva livery though there were still many in previous liveries.
Elsewhere in
the region M K Metro continued their policy of purchasing various
interesting secondhand vehicles. Some of these came from Border Buses – the
company in Lancashire that M K Metro had bought.
Buffalo
Travel continued to run but Seamarks were taken over by Dunn-Line early in
the year.
Many other
independents are also represented.
Mike Penn
Todays buses - Oxfordshire
This review covers the
September 2010 video by Robin Clare
Transport. The issue costs £10 and is well worth this small cost for
over one hour of buses and coaches in our area.
THE FINAL
VOLUME IS
SO
RETAIL
PRICE £25
ORDER NOW
FOR £20+ £3
p&p
This final installment of the
4-volume 800-page history of the Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd. brings the
story to its conclusion on the last day of 1971.
All route developments and changes
to the fleet are fully detailed, along with special appendices for the
service vehicle fleet, garages and out-stations, a route map, garage
allocations and working arrangements.
Profusely illustrated with 548
monochrome half-tone illustrations and a full-colour section of 45 photos,
this provides a very comprehensive history of this interesting decade,
including the numerous secondhand vehicles acquired during those years.
Demand will be high, so
order now from: Paul Lacey, 17
Sparrow Close
Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire,
RG41 3HT
If you are local and wish to
collect please call me on 0118 979 4097
A Guy Arab on the Oxford service and seen at Gloucester Green.
One of the constituent companies was Denham's.
Apart from the archaic Leylands, the company ran some AEC Regals after the
war.
These were rebodied with ECOC/ECW bodies purchased from North Western Road
Car, Stockport via dealers.
They had been new in 1936 on Bristol Jo5G chassis which were rebodied with
Brush bodies in 1946 to a similar design.
Your Editor must have travelled on one of these buses, when in NWRCC
service, as a small boy.
They would have doubtless run on service to Highclere, now well known as the
house is featured in Downton Abbey.
17 Sparrow Close
Woosehill
Wokingham
Berkshire RG41 3HT.