Spottings & Jottings nr. 80 - Monday 29th September 2014
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002
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advise of any mid-week news please let me know
malcolmhc@aol.com
Editorial
The last weeks have, as you will see when you read this page, been a very busy and eventful period. What with training, route assessment and visits my days have been very full.
We have attended two rallies, one at Gaydon and the other at Duxford. Visits were made to West Ham, Northampton and an overnight to Glasgow and Ayr. All this makes for a very interesting but for me a very challenging page. New vehicles now fully in service are the new Oxford tube Astromegas, the Oxford Bus Brookes E400s and changes in the Arriva allocations including some significant additions to the Aylesbury fleet.
I am pleased to report that many of you have kept me posted with news and pictures and I have tried to include all this in the current issue.
It goes without saying, there are not enough hours in each day!!
I have been very busy with some work at Stagecoach and this needed my full attention. Therefore I had to delay publication for 7 days, apologies.
Just published
The latest fleet book from SKM is
Stagecoach Oxfordshire at £3.95.
(click on the thumb nail above to see more detail)
Running Days
Amersham & District
Motorbus Society
http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/
Nearly eleven years ago and on 5 October 2003,
RLH48 takes a happy group of enthusiasts on a run
http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/
If you are a vehicle owner and would like to get involved in one of our events please e-mail us for further details. Owners receive a commemorative plaque to celebrate the occasion.
Amersham & District Motorbus Society presents its
26th Amersham Vintage Bus Running Day -
Sunday 5 October 2014
at AMERSHAM based at car park near railway station
The programmes for Amersham are now
available :
£6.50 by post from Peter Cartwright, 54 Guinions Road, HIGH WYCOMBE HP13
7NX
Cheques payable to Amersham & District Motorbus Society
£7.00 on the day at Amersham, King George V Road car park.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 21st October 2014.
The speaker is T.W.W Knowles giving a talk entitled
"Malta, from Green to Aquamarine" on the history of Maltese buses.
Following ongoing issues with the White House pub, we are currently
looking to switch venues and a further announcement will be made on the
choice of venue.
A detailed programme of meetings can be found at the following link and we hope many of you will attend future meetings. Also the web site will give you details of the venue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The level of contribution to this page by readers, as ever, remains excellent! Thank you all.
Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP - 29 September 2014
Spottings
Observations and pictures
Gavin notes
"Stagecoach have withdrawn their original Trident TA1 (17000) after service
on the 22nd August.
Bernard Lewendon writes
"Probably my last contribution before flying off to sunnier lands.
Carousel 101 in Wycombe having recently had a
repaint and full titles added, and LT133 at Notting Hill Gate yesterday.
A recent new sighting at Wycombe.
Seen 11 September were National Express BK14 LGG, fleet number SH191.
I'd like to than Bernard for his contributions, we will indeed miss him. Ed.
Keith Wood
Do you know what happened to RTL1348 that you featured in one of your
earlier updates? its a real shame that this bus has fallen into such a poor
state of repair.. Like you I saw it at the RT50 event and it was immaculate.
I hope that it can be put back on the road. I was lucky enough to drive an
RTL that had come up form Devon to attend the Stockwell open day - first
time I had driven an RT; definitely an experience!
RT1347
Heeling over, ex COMS Regent gives a fine
display.
Ex Crosville CRG103 at Gaydon
V6; this is the second Euro 6 Volvo demonstrator that we have had that bears
this fleet number this year(!).
Baz
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10624108@N07/
and TGM
Gavin writes
"I see Transdev have bought Original Sightseeing from Arriva! With all the
routes they have been losing lately Arriva seem to be on the way down!
I wonder what will happen to the fleet
now?
Arriva Wycombe
I hear that five new buses are due for the 33 route in January. This will be the first new buses in the depot since the Solos arrived some six and half years ago!!!!
Nigel Peach
Solos 2496/7 are now at Hemel.
Thanks for the latest S & J, and the time you
spend on this. Plenty to read, as always.
One bit of news to add:
Arriva. DAF SB120s 4527 and 4534 (both ex Hemel I think) have joined sisters
4529-32 at Wycombe. They appear to have replaced the two Optare Solos
2496/7. The "57" plate Solos, at 6 ½ years old were actually the newest
buses at the Wycombe depot! Compare that with Carousel, where the
oldest single deckers are the two original Citaros 871/2
from 2003. Then come the Optare Tempos (801-808) dating from 2006. The
newest buses at Arriva HW are now the ex TGM MANs (Men?!) 3741-7, which were
also new in 2006!
Phil
Gates
It is from Arriva the Shires at Aylesbury. Fleet
number 5454.
Sister 5455 SN58 EOB should also be there. They had
internal Sapphire return for 280 Aylesbury to Oxford but kept interurban
livery to be used as spares.
However they did not meet requirements for Oxford low emission zone, whilst
the others did. Bit complicated, but existing vehicles had to have been used
in Oxford over a certain period of time at end of 2012 to qualify. These 2
did not as they were based at Hemel depot at the time.
3908 BU06HSN
3909 BU06HSO
3914 BV58 MLK
3915 BV58 MKO
3916 BV58 MLL
I was out on the 1st September to catch the buses
on there first day of use at Aylesbury. During the first two days of use
none of the Citaros had had there destination displays programmed.
Unfortunately, 3909 is still yet to enter service
as of the 8th September due to issues with the bus.
By the 3rd September, the Citaros that had arrived
from Garston within the past few days had had there destination displays
programmed.
This can be seen on 3914 BV58MLK while operating
route 150 in Aylesbury.
As seen in the last issue of OCBP many Sapphire Enviro400s have strayed from
the 280 since the arrival of 5459 and 5460 and this has continued to happen.
On the 11th August, 5435 SN58 EOG was seen
operating route 16.
On the 19th August, 5435 SN58 EOG was seen
operating a one-off working on Pink Route 8.
On the 22nd August, 5434 SN58 EOF was seen
operating route 50.
On the 22nd August, 5435 SN58 EOG was seen
operating Blue Route 2.
On the 1st September, 5435 SN58 EOG was seen
operating a one-off working on Pink Route 8.
On the 3rd September, 5452 SN58 ENX was seen operating Blue Route 2 and
later passed to route 300.
On the 4th September, 5438 SN58 EOK was seen
operating route 150.
3909 BU06 HSO has now entered service at Aylesbury after being here for over
a week before seeing use in service.
Arriva the Shires 3908 BU06 HSN r300 010914 L Braham
Arriva the Shires 3914 BV58 MLK r150 010914 L Braham - it was raining cats
and dogs!
Arriva the Shires 3914 BV58 MLK r150 030914 L Braham - better weather today.
Arriva the Shires 3915 BV58 MKO r300 010914 L Braham
Arriva the Shires 3916 BV58 MLL r150 020914 L Braham
Another arrival at Aylesbury is Ex-Arriva North West 3299 V579 DJC. It entered service with us by the 9th September but arrived on the 2nd. It has been seen in use on routes 150 and 500. I’ll try to get a picture of it in service shortly."
Pete Cabin
Arriva 2346 V576DJC ex Arriva NW and Wales r 37 WYC 250914 G Francis
This bus was with Arriva in Bangor and latterly with Arriva North West,
where it was in St Helens in August 2013.
Arriva 3224 r 30 WYC 250914 G Francis
Arriva 3225 from Watford r 30 WYC 110914 G Francis
Arriva 6283 super rear for Cake Box WYC 110914 G Francis
and finally the continuing saga of unreliability on route 40
3217 broke down again on September 18th and a fitter dispatched in a spare
bus which also broke down in Stokenchurch.
I have been hearing rumours that route 40 is likely not to run as we know it
now in the new financial year
Carousel Buses
An item of note is that ex Oxford P&R Tridents 101 and 102 have been repainted in full fleet livery and look very smart indeed. Indeed Carousel in Wycombe now have a large proportion of the 20 Tridents new in 1999 for the Oxford P&R services. In addition to the above buses they also have 103,4,11,13,16,18 and 20 which I believe are all in blue school bus livery.
112 which seems to come and go was once again operating in Wycombe on September 26th possibly filling in for a Trident away for repaint??
There has been much criticism of the revised Bucks County school bus services, especially around Wycombe. These are designed to save the county some £5 million but have resulted in children arriving late at school, having much longer journeys and of course parents now taking children to school by car. This adds to the traffic.
For those interested you can read fully at the following link.
Problems are added to by Carousel Tridents getting broken windows and you can read this story at the link below.
A rather sad state of affairs and I'm very glad I don't have to drive on these route.
Carousel pictures
Carousel 102 rp r 36 WYC 110914 G Francis
Abus R981FNW once with Carousel 190814 K Baker
CAROUSEL R981FNW in Stokenchurch when part of the Carousel fleet. 260310 G
Francis
Carousel 112 at WYC BS on 260914 M Crowe
First ES64037 r X74 WYC 200814 G Francis
It is somewhat unusual to see a Citaro now as usually a branded X74 Volvo is
on the route.
http://http://www.nationalexpress.com/
This issue covers the change over from 14 to 64 plate and some new coaches are appearing at Stansted's Start Hill depot. Unusually the tri-axles are now often on the 737 Oxford-Stansted service, a fact which adds to the difficulties in Gloucester Green bus station which is hardly big enough for such coaches!!
NEx SH200 BN64FKM on the 737 in Oxford 180914 G
Francis - first 64 plate NEx in Oxford.
~
NEx SR140 FJ12FYR r A6 wrap for Scouts 150814 G
Francis
NEx Travel de Courcey MD23 FJ13EAO - Pride of
Britain 2014 - r 420 170814 G Francis
NEx SH194 r 737 GG OX 250814 M Crowe
Oxford company web page - Enthusiasts update.
12 September 2014
New Vehicles (9/14):
601-14 GB, UK, GO,
SU14 OXF; SM, SC, SB, RW, PS, PK, LM, GA, JG, GH64 OXF
ADL Enviro400 MMC H47/32F
Vehicles Out:
211: written off
following fire on 6/6/14
1571-8: to Go South Coast, 6/14 (1571/2); 7/14
(1573-7); 8/14 (1578)
The current fleet list can be viewed at:
http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/72/OBC%20fleetlist-sept2014.pdf
Ralph
Loaned 1584 heads down St Aldates on September
16th, caught in the lens of Gavin Francis.
A company development is on the 600 route.
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11476950.New_bus_link_will_ease_scientists____journeys/?ref=mr
Gavin writes
"Just in case you do not have a reg list for the new Brookes Buses here is
my list so far. Not seen 601 or 603. Maybe they are keeping 601 back for
Showbus.
601
602 UK14OXF
603 GO14OXF
604 GH64OXF
605 SM64OXF
606 SC64OXF
607 SB64OXF
608 RW64OXF
609 PS64OXF
610 PK64OXF
611 LM64OXF
612 GA64OXF
613 JG64OXF
614 GH640XF
Ian Rivett writes "They are standard E40D diesel buses with a 6700cc engine but will be retrofitted with the latest hybrid Gyrodrive technology that dramatically reduces fuel consumption and emissions and it achieves the benefits of electric hybrids at a fraction of the cost. The system uses a carbon fibre high-speed flywheel to store the energy generated by a bus as it slows down. It then uses the stored energy to power an electric motor that helps accelerate the bus, generating fuel savings of more than 20% at a significantly lower cost than battery hybrid alternatives. The innovative system is based on Formula 1 race technology and was developed by Williams at Grove, Oxfordshire. The unit was sold to engineering firm GKN and its Hybrid Power division earlier this year. The new technology is being retrofitted to 14 all-new ADL Enviro400MMC Euro 6 buses in the Brookes fleet, which is 'probably' where 601 is at the moment(?),"
602 is seen turning into Castle St on a U1 working on September 16th - G
Francis
608 is seen in New Road with a full load on September 16th by Gavin Francis
The same bus on September 14th working the U1 by Gavin Francis
610 working the U1 on September 16th by Gavin Francis
604 in the High Street seen by Mark E Lyons on September 26th
607, one of the 64 plate ones, shows off its nearside at Morrell Avenue as
it heads into the City by Mark E Lyons on September 26th.
Various pictures by David Benyon during the closure of St Giles for the Annual Fair.
208, once a Brookes Bus is seen in Broad St working 2 road on September 9th.
Hybrid 369, branded for the 500 P&R is seen in Broad St on September 9th by
David Benyon.
Graham Low on the only highbridge bus in the Oxford fleet
Graham Low reminds us that this, once Demonstrator, is the only highbridge
bus in the Oxford fleet. Hence the fleet number 900.
It is now also the only dual door decker, a type once so popular. Taken on
September 6th.
More general pictures of Oxford Bus vehicles
A regular on 2 road is this Southern Vectis loan, 1580, seen on September
16th by Gavin Francis.
Another fine picture of 900, this time by Mark E Lyons, showing the dual
doors on September 26th.
Once with Oxford
Seaford 224 seen at Duxford was in Oxford as 792.
Catteralls UUI 4921 (ex OW03LFP, J1OXF) was Oxford's fleet nr 35.
Here we see the once 88 with Oxford Bus now
adorned in a new livery of Hamilton Gray
but working the M6 Megabus service on September 29th. Taken by Gavin
Francis.
Seen on the M16 on September 2nd, ex nr 87 is
seen in VCS in nearly complete X90 livery excepting the lettering.
This was the coach, when parked in Green Line, nearly got taken off to
Oxford by an X90 driver who was understandably confused!!!
Red Eagle
A lot of effort has gone into improving the presentation of this fleet with a new livery of very dark red.
Bernard Lewendon writes
"Seen in Wycombe recently with a high quality shiny new repaint was this
Dart, MV59 ASX.
Redline
Luke Braham
Both MX09 HJN and MX09 HHL started life on loan to
Arriva the Shires’ Milton Keynes depot pending the arrival of the Mercedes
Benz Citaros for route 300. Once they had arrived Mistral Bus & Coach took
them back and they went to, the now closed, Maytree Travel. They returned
back to Mistral Bus & Coach and were then used on loan to various operators
and have now been sold to Redline Buses.
Another Enviro200 to arrive at Redline Buses, with MX09 HHL and MX09 HJN, is MX09 HHN."
MX09HHL by Luke Braham.
Red Line R160VLA r 321 WYC BS 250914 G Francis
Redline MX09HHL r 321WYC 170914 G Francis
Showbus 2014 - Redline MX13BCF - 210914 G Francis
Showbus 2014 - Redline V112LGC - 210914
I was leaving High Wycombe earlier in the week and noted an unbelievably scruffy decker from this company heading to the town centre. I could not believe that a company with such a smart fleet could also have one that looked as if it hadn't been painted for 30 years!!!!
Red Rose
The company has started to apply fleet numbers, which adds to the interest. I wonder if anyone has a full fleet list?
Showbus 2014 - Red Rose 50501 MX61BAO - 210914
Oxfordshire
Oxford's National Express 737 coaches
59212 - FJ56OBY is now with West Coast
Motors/Citylink as their J70WCM.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/westernsmt/15142743211/in/pool-837113@N25%7Cwesternsmt/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/westernsmt/14928471252/in/pool-837113@N25%7Cwesternsmt/
Two others, 59211 and 59213 are now in service with South Gloucester Bus and Coach.
Peter Butterfield of Stagecoach provided this picture of the buses in
Scotland.
E300 22770 is now in the reserve fleet at Oxford.
New Gold Scanias, 15964,5 and 6 are now at Witney.
15968, Swindon's spare Gold on r 66 in Oxford 7th September by M Crowe.
At 12.20 on 23rd September, I was near Castle Way Carlisle and saw 2 Unibus
E400 (Stagecoach Leamington Spa) heading eastbound heading back to the M6
after refuel and break at Carlisle depot and off to the Gleneagles Ryder Cup
Park and Ride bus shuttle.
Park and Ride is operating from 3 locations:
-
East Park and Ride (Balado, Kinross), 15 miles south east of Gleneagles,
normal travel time 25 minutes
-
North Park and Ride (McDiarmid Park, Perth), 16 miles north east of
Gleneagles, normal travel time 20 minutes
-
West Park and Ride (Castleview, Stirling), 19 miles south west of
Gleneagles, normal travel time 25 minutes
More details at
http://www.rydercup.com/europe/gettingthere
Whilst Stagecoach East Scotland are managing the whole operation, and providing a significant number of buses from their own fleet, there are buses coming from across UK Bus to assist.
The buses currently scheduled to be in use on the P&R services are as follows:
North Scotland
19170/5, 52605/8, 53106/7/11/2, 53037, 54013/36
West Scotland
15629-33 (+ 1 other), 50126-8/30-4/6/8-41/3/5/6/9/50, 51093-5, 54027, 59301-5
Cumbria & North Lancs
10014/8/9/24/9/30
North East
19437-46, 19683
Yorkshire
15715-20, 19055/63/5/9/71/7-9/81/90/6/7/9
Manchester
19476-8/80-4/6/7/9
Merseyside & South Lancs
15839/40, 19042-5/70
Midlands
10033-9
East Midlands
19688-92
East
10011/2, 19618-20
South East
15538/9/50/4, 15903/4
South (Norfolk Green)
17448/9, 17549/91, 17740/2/3/5
Oxfordshire
15994-6
West
15871-3
South West
15668, 15800/99/901
.....and finally from the local East Scotland fleet
10002-5, 16057/67/73/5/7, 16189, 16228-32/319/24, 16658, 16753/4/62/3/70/2/8, 19366-8, 19543/9-57, 19641-56/62/4-9, 22367-9, 52420/6/77/8, 52666, 53253/4/7/8
Whilst this is an official list (posted with full permission), there was the possibility of last minute changes to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.
Seen at Glasgow depot on September 4th, 50223, 50210 and 50222 in company
with Gold 50301 by S. Walker
one time winner at Duxford Showbus when new is 50223 ready for work on the
X25 - September 4th by S. Walker.
From
Gordon Scott.
I spoke to you at Showbus with smart new Van Hool 50284 coach. I have attached some shots of ex Oxford Tube Van Hool 50210 and 50220 with Scotland Western on route X77 taken at Buchanan Bus Station Glasgow.
SCWS 50210 R X77 Buchanan Bus Stn GLA 040914 G Scott
SCWS 50220 R X77 Buchanan Bus Stn GLA 040914 G Scott
The pictures above of 50210 and 50220 are interesting as they precede the re-registration of these buses and mentioned below.
Following the arrival of the new fleet for the Oxford tube, the old coaches are now all safely installed with Stagecoach West Scotland. The allocations are given below and details of the many picture sites which update on a regular basis to keep those interested up to date.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/david371/14848179567/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/david371/15032111941/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/westernscottishbuses/15034784202/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/westernscottishbuses/15032140331/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/david371/15145463837
Final Allocations of the Oxford Astromegas by Scotland West
|
West Scotland Astromegas |
||||
|
Fleet nr. |
Registration |
Route |
||
|
50201 |
GX09OTN |
X76 |
||
|
50202 |
GX09OTM |
X76 |
||
|
50203 |
GX09OYF |
X76 |
||
|
50204 |
GX09OTP |
X25 |
||
|
50205 |
GX09OFE |
X76 |
||
|
50206 |
OU09FMY |
X76 |
||
|
50207 |
OU09FMZ |
X76 |
||
|
50208 |
OU09FNA |
X76 |
||
|
50209 |
X77SCA |
X77 |
||
|
50210 |
X77SCB |
X77 |
||
|
50211 |
X77BUS |
X77 |
||
|
50212 |
X77SCC |
X77 |
||
|
50213 |
X77SCD |
X77 |
||
|
50214 |
X77SCE |
X77 |
||
|
50215 |
X77SCF |
X77 |
||
|
50216 |
X77SCG |
X77 |
||
|
50217 |
X77SCH |
X77 |
||
|
50218 |
X77SCK |
X77 |
||
|
50219 |
X77SCJ |
X77 |
||
|
50220 |
OU59AUR |
X25 |
||
|
50221 |
OU59AUT |
X25 |
||
|
50222 |
OU59AUV |
X25 |
||
|
50223 |
OU59AUW |
X25 |
||
|
50224 |
OU59AUX |
X25 |
||
|
50225 |
OU59AUY |
X76 |
||
|
50226 |
OU59AVB |
X76 |
||
The X25 and X76 livery carries a red rear, whereas the X77 carries a blue one.
The three variations are shown above, X76, X25 and X77. Pictures by M Crowe.
From David Walker
A couple of pictures for your site Malcolm of 50209/15 in the fully revised livery for the X77 service.
More Tube news.
Gavin took this nice picture of 50262 passing 50261 (on the poster) in New
Road on September 29th.
50284, the newest in service, attended Showbus at Duxford, where we won best
Stagecoach vehicle in show.
50272 heads towards the terminus in London on September 2nd taken by Gavin
Francis.
Having just arrived on the 0725 S5 Express from Caversfield, Bicester, 50283
poses for the camera in Magdalen St East on August 15th. Taken by M Crowe.
50266 is seen in Parliament Sq on Driver Training on September 11th - M
Crowe
Megabus advertising in VCS seen on September
29th and
Mentioning
54214 alternatively on the ME5 to Paris and the ME25 to Barcelona, the
latest Megabus route. Taken by Gavin Francis.
Van Hool Interdecker 55004 is seen on the ME4 to Cologne on September 16th
Gavin Francis.
New Megabus Astromega 50253 ready for service to Pembroke Dock on August
29th taken by Gavin Francis.
Hamilton Gray HG18 ex Oxford having arrived at Victoria on an M18 service on
September 3rd - taken by Gavin Francis.
I am pleased to include the latest fleet list for this operator.
| Thames Travel Fleet List correct to June 2014 | |||||||
| Total | 47 | ||||||
| Oxford | 19 | ||||||
| Wallingford | 28 | ||||||
| Fleet No. | Registration Number | Chassis Type | Body Type | Passenger Capacity |
Year | Livery | Allocation |
| 105 | T105 DBW | Dennis Trident | Alexander ALX400 | H47/31F | 01.06.1999 | The Blue Bus | WAL |
| 106 | T106 DBW | Dennis Trident | Alexander ALX400 | H47/31F | 01.06.1999 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 109 | T109 DBW | Dennis Trident | Alexander ALX400 | H47/31F | 01.06.1999 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 212 | AF10 OXF | Scania 230UD | Alexander | Red | OX | ||
| 213 | BF10 OXF | Scania 230UD | Alexander | Red | OX | ||
| 418 | AE59 AWH | MAN 14.220 | MCV Evolution | B44F | 2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 504 | OU57 FGZ | Alexander Dennis | ADL Enviro 200 | B28F | 01.12.2007 | Science Park | OX |
| 505 | OU57 FHA | Alexander Dennis | ADL Enviro 200 | B28F | 01.12.2007 | Science Park | OX |
| 506 | SN10 CCX | Alexander Dennis | ADL Enviro 200 | B29F | 01.05.2010 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 507 | SN10 CCY | Alexander Dennis | ADL Enviro 200 | B29F | 01.05.2010 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 508 | SN10 CCZ | Alexander Dennis | ADL Enviro 200 | B29F | 01.05.2010 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 551 | AJ58 PZS | Alexander Dennis | MCV Evolution | B40F | 30.09.2008 | Plain White | OX |
| 552 | OU57 FKB | Alexander Dennis | ADL Enviro 200 | B37F | 01.01.2008 | Plain White | WAL |
| 553 | AE59 AWM | Alexander Dennis | MCV Evolution | B40F | 14.12.2009 | Science Park | OX |
| 701 | YJ10 MFA | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 25.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 702 | YJ10 MFE | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 25.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 703 | YJ10 MFF | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 25.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 704 | YJ10 MFK | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 25.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 705 | YJ10 MFN | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 27.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 706 | YJ10 MFO | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 27.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 707 | YJ10 MFP | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 28.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 708 | YJ10 MFU | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 28.05.2010 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 709 | MX08 MYV | Optare Solo M950 | Optare | B32F | 17.05.2008 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 716 | YJ13 HNW | Optare Solo SR M9000 | Optare | B29F | 06.2013 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 717 | YJ13 HNX | Optare Solo SR M9000 | Optare | B29F | 06.2013 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 718 | YJ13 HNY | Optare Solo SR M9000 | Optare | B29F | 06.2013 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 719 | YJ13 HNZ | Optare Solo SR M9000 | Optare | B29F | 06.2013 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 720 | YJ13 HOA | Optare Solo SR M9000 | Optare | B29F | 06.2013 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 721 | YJ13 HOH | Optare Solo SR M9000 | Optare | B29F | 06.2013 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 722 | YJ59 NNH | Optare Solo M880 | Optare | B29F | 12.2009 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 849 | LF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 850 | MF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 851 | OF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 852 | PF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 853 | RF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 854 | SF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 855 | TF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 856 | UF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 857 | VF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 858 | WF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 859 | YF56 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 860 | AF57 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 861 | BF57 OXF | Mercedes Benz Citaro 0530 | Mercedes | B42F | 12.2006 | Thames Travel | OX |
| 912 | OU08 HGM | Scania N230UD | Scania Omni City | H45/30F | 20.06.2008 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 913 | OU08 HGN | Scania N230UD | Scania Omni City | H45/30F | 20.06.2008 | Thames Travel | WAL |
| 914 | OU08 HGO | Scania N230UD | Scania Omni City | H45/30F | 20.06.2008 | Thames Travel | WAL |
Trips
John Bristow writes
"My wife and I recently spent a very
enjoyable week in North Wales and I thought that you might be interested to
see some shots I took of the Lloyds Coaches fleet, based at the former
Crosville garage in Machynlleth.
Lloyds Enviro 400 LC62WYN on the X28 from
Dolgellau to Aberystwyth in Machynlleth 090714 J Bristow.
Lloyds Mercedes Benz T586SKG at Dolgellau 110714
J Bristow.
Lloyds Optare Versa YJ14BCY r X29 to Towyn at
Machynlleth 090714 J Bristow
Edgar Tuburcio
This coach started life with Happiway-Spencer in Manchester on extended tour work
Showbus 2014 at Duxford
As usual your Editor was able to take a vehicle to this year's show. As those who attended will know we took a new Astromega coach, 50284, the last of the batch to be received at Oxford. I am including pictures from many of you who contributed including some of my own.
By Marcus Lapthorn.
By Gavin Francis
From Gary Seamarks.
TV Personality "Dom" was at Duxford making a TV Programme.
A treat for the day, those who like aircraft were most impressed. A Catalina.
Gary also took a few pictures of your Editor who is seen arriving at Duxford.
An Astromega at Buses Festival, Gaydon by Malcolm Crowe
A new event took place at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon at the end of August. Stagecoach participated sending a new Astromega coach, 50279. This proved very popular with people attending and on three runs carrying the public the coach was fully loaded.
en route to Gaydon we picked up at Banbury.
SCO 50279 arrives at Buses Festival Gaydon 310814 R Sharman
SCO 50279 a great attraction at Buses Festival Gaydon 310814 R Sharman
Some of the other vehicles present are shown below.
OX 602 at Buses Festival Gaydon 310814 R Sharman
SCO 50279 at Buses Festival Gaydon 310814 F Peddle
Ex COMS 105 seen at Gaydon by Frazer Peddle.
COMS 371 at Buses Festival Gaydon 310814 F Peddle
COMS 756 at Buses Festival Gaydon 310814 F Peddle
Trent RC7927 at Gaydon 310814 M Crowe
West Midlands variety at Gaydon 310814 M Crowe
Mid Wales Bedford OB with Mulliner body at Gaydon. M Crowe
A visit to Glasgow by Malcolm Crowe
I was very taken with the pictures sent by various people showing our old Astromegas in the new home in Scotland. I determined to visit Scotland during my week's leave and last Monday and Tuesday I took the train to Glasgow and enjoyed 24 hours photographing and riding on the coaches.
Buchanan Bus Station and if you look carefully you will see some of the
Oxford Astromegas.
Various coaches at Ayr depot including 50214 and 50217. The Neoplans are
50126 and 50150.
SCWS 50218 and 13628 at Ayr depot 230914 M Crowe
SCWS 50219 and 50220 lay over in Ayr Bus Stn 230914 M Crowe
SCWS 11081 an ex London Titan - and Ayr's OM 230914 M Crowe.
A surprise at Ayr was this Megabus sleeper, seemingly staying around as a
spare? M Crowe.
SCWS 40056 at Ayr BS 230914 M Crowe
A study in rear branding, 50215 and 50216 featured. 220914 M Crowe.
50203 on its first day in service on the X76 Glasgow-Kilmarnock service -
220914 M Crowe.
50225 and 50226 also on the first day on the X76 leaving Glasgow - 220914 M
Crowe
50221 and 50223 are working on the X25 service and are seen at Glasgow by M
Crowe.
Ayr Bus Station on 23rd September by M Crowe.
My steed from Ayr to Glasgow was 50211 re-registered X77BUS. These services
carry good loads even in the middle of the day. M Crowe.
We passed 50212 heading into Ayr after its morning run to Glasgow and back
on 23 September, seen also later in Glasgow. M Crowe.
SC Megabus 50304 at Buchanan Bus Station on September 23rd - M Crowe
I really enjoyed my short visit and would like to go again.
Stagecoach West Ham depot
I had occasion to visit West Ham on a few times recently and include some pictures taken on those visits. They are interesting in showing some of the latest Hybrids ready to enter service. Also shown is one of the Megabus sleeper coaches which are serviced at West Ham after arrival in London.
Various views of West Ham including the Megabus being serviced.
New Hybrids including 12334, 12335, 12336, 12338 and 12339.
West Ham is a most interesting depot and holds some interesting buses.
MC visits Northampton depot, Stagecoach.
On my way to collect 50284 from Arriva, Wellingborough I passed by Northampton depot and took some interesting pictures.
16696
Various vehicles to be seen including an old coach, seemingly used on
training.
Pictures by M Crowe.
Running Days
Mark Turner
Peterborough Classic & Vintage Vehicle Show on September 14th by John Marsh
The only PSV at this show today, apart from Routemaster (SMK672F) which did a roaring trade in fish & chips and burgers, was former Northern Scottish Leyland Tiger PS1 Duple C35F which attracted a lot of attention.
Pictures by John Marsh - ©
Alan Coulson writes
"I wonder if you can help me out please or if any of your fellow historians can. I am doing family history of R.W. Carney (Bob) of Sunderland County Durham who ran coach business from 1948 till 1983.I have traced his 3rd coach to Surman of Chinnor a
Bedford SB new them in 5/1952 i gather that he bought it 2nd hand date
unknown I have a blurred front end photo and wonder if any one has better
photo as i have now started to do before and after Carneys in photos.
I could accept to my e.mail address from which i
could copy photo or i could cover any costs re postage. Any information be
gratefully accepted.
Whilst i Google Chinnor i noticed on page
Jeffways.
Bob’s 1st. coach was KKX28 bought 2nd from Fred Stratton of Redby coaches of Sunderland Bob and Fred were friends Bob would drive for Fred and Fred would help out Bob on his milk round.
My query is my notes state Fred had this coach in 1946 then to Bob in 1948. As I bid to trace history with no access to records I have been told that coach was new to Jeffways and Station Taxis in 1947 of High Wycombe. As the dates don't seem to add up I ask could you confirm any history?
I have side-on photo which has a J
motif on coach. On reading about Jeffways and their history plus take overs
J & P, I see a link re J Jeffways.
KKX28 is listed as a Bedford and later describe as
a Longwell Green rebodied Bedford OB. Number 50788. Can any one
say this is a Bedford with a new Longwell Green body.
I thank you for any help.
Pictures of the coaches relating to Alan's questions.
Andrew Cowell
LUL ADH10 overall for Rimmel r 94 080914 G Francis
LUL ADH13 overall ad r 94 Acton 080914 G Francis
LUL ADH15 r 94 overall for GAP 080914 G Francis
Metroline VW1407 r 52 overall ad for David Gandy 180914 G Francis
Terravision BL14LSX VIC BPR 090914 G Francis
Terravision BL14LSU 130914 G Francis
Terravision YN64AMX in Green Line 270914 G Francis
Pictures by Malcolm Crowe
Terravision BL14LSV first day in service 290814 M Crowe
Ensign's RT8 on the Wartime tour of London - 160814 M Crowe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.