Spottings & Jottings

Issue nr. 33 - September 7th 2010

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002

John adds "I've moved December forward to the 2nd Tuesday because of Christmas party events etc later in the month."

Finally and as always, my thanks to all who have contributed to this issue.

Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP - September 7th 2010.

Some bus drivers do object to their pictures being taken, even though the photographer is taking the bus and not the driver.
So 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.
Now that we live in a world of human rights and political correctness which must be considered.
It is interesting to note that a change in official attitudes to pictures is changing and even companies will not support bus drivers who are abusive or threatening!

Spottings

Readers varied contributions

~~~~~~~~~~~

And so on to fleet news with individual company happenings.

The company surprised many of us on September 1st when it launched four brand new M A N 14.220 single deckers with ADL Enviro 200 bodywork. They took to the road fully branded for Line 4 Wycombe - Amersham/Chesham looking very smart indeed.

Details of the fleet numbers and registrations are as follows:

ENV16     RX60 DLY

ENV17     RX60 DLZ

ENV18     RX60 DME

ENV19     RX60 DMF

I was able to take a number of pictures on the first morning which are shown here.

I understand that a number of older buses are to be withdrawn but as yet the company has not confirmed details.

Many readers including Glenn Knight and Stuart Harvey sent emails and pictures reporting these new buses.

When I visited their premises on September 1st the recovery truck had arrived to take away the Metrobus with a hole in side recently used in filming.

The RML in Baker St yard is confirmed by Steve Burns as RML2457. Also Steve advised that he just purchased ex London Transport V2, latterly with Black Prince. He hopes to have this back on the road by the New Year.

I took a few other pictures included for readers below.

Stuart Harvey writes "Whilst travelling home this evening (Sep 1), on EVL7 of Carousel on the 740 I saw the back of what looked like an Enviro 200 in full Carousel livery heading off London Road towards Bourne End."

"Now the schools are back we see 8 buses on the service (barring changes etc) and that was on the journey that after arriving in Wycombe at about 8.50 doesn't appear on the service group again. Not sure if that is the official way, but that's what I have seen from observation." 

"So far today on the group I have seen;

STL11

EVO12 - which was my bus to work

EVL7

ENV18

Unfortunately due to traffic we were too late through Gerrards Cross so I missed seeing the 8.30 off Uxbridge on the A30. It also appeared as though a MB class was on Line 1 this morning."

Stuart later wrote "I saw ENV18 again this evening on the 4, also on the 4 was DPL479, hadn't seen this for about a month." 

Others on the 740/A40/A30 group today were

EVL4

EVL6

MB52

I missed the other working. EVO12 was replaced on its last journey with the Primo which was packed!

Also of note Carousel, fares rise on Sunday.

The next day Stuart reported "Another update, from a quick visit into town, it would appear Olympian L510, F510 NJE is now withdrawn as it has no tax disc etc in the holders. 

The Dennis Dart used for filming that has occupied the corner of the Baker Street compound is no longer there."

and later still "ENV18 was again on the same journey on the 740 on Monday 6th September."

Ace photographer, Mark E Lyons, sent this picture of ENV16 passing through Amersham. The offside centre emergency exit is shown to good effect.

Centrebus

Paul Davis writes "The First revisions to their version of the 74 took place over the Bank Holiday weekend. The X74 uses the same eclectic mix of vehicles as before, two of which are seen in Wycombe 31Aug.

Pictures by Paul Davis.

A far cry from the Routemaster days when it was 441 (1977 picture below).

Picture by Paul Davis.

Stephen Le Bras reports that "Former Legoland all over advert 42644 is now at Slough."

Picture Stephen LB

Heyfordian-Tappins

Steve Warwick advises of two double decks recently acquired by the company as follows:

R872 MDY Optare Spectra DAF DE02RSDB250 XMGDE02RS0H006472 - Optare 8637 H48/29F 6/1998

R874 MDY Optare Spectra DAF DE02RSDB250 XMGDE02RS0H006474 - Optare 8637 H48/29F 6/1998

National Express have awarded the contract for services running between Gloucester and Heathrow / Gatwick airports to Bennett's Coaches commencing November. The service is currently operated by First Somerset & Avon and its loss will bring to an end operation of National Express routes after the 403 service was awarded to South Gloucester in August. 

One of the latest Levantes, now on Volvo B9R chassis ready to leave VCS on a Leicester working. Photo by Richard Sharman.

Finally Richard Sharman sent this picture of 59213 working the 007 to Dover, this coach now being with East Kent.

On a Mission

Chris Lowe writes "Further news regarding the former MK Dons team coach, Ayats Bravo (MK56 DON) formerly with On A Mission Coaches, is that it is still in the yard of Santander Used Vehicle Sales in Trafford Park, but all branding and graphics for its former use now look to have been removed and the coach is now basically in all over silver livery, as seen in the attached photo."

Gavin Francis also took some pictures of On A Mission vehicles some months ago which show the fleet in its latter days.

A coach taken in Oxford's Oxpens in July 2008, happier days for the company.

Some of the elderly double decks employed in the last days of operation. 

 Pictures all from Gavin Francis.

Phil Gates sent this nice picture of 601 Seen at Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent in July 2010, now with Farleigh coaches.
Your Editor remember driving many happy miles in this fine bus when it was Oxford Bus to Cardiff, Rugby, Farnborough, Wimbledon etc etc. 

Ralph Adams writes "I have been noting what buses are missing from Oxford Bus company recently. I have not see the following Park & Ride buses for the past month - 113, 116, 118. Where are they?

The U5X is due to start shortly and will require 3 additional Brookes buses to operate the service.
 
COMS had 20 new Scanias, then withdrew 3 Darts, 8 9xx Tridents, 10 Volvo B10BLE. 21 less buses. Then 4 9xx Tridents came back from West Bromwich and the above 3 buses disappeared."

I expect all will become clear in due course Ed.
 
Ken Aveyard, Data Coordinator Dorset, Traveline South West writes "On 24 August 2010 I attended the first of two days of training on new software for Traveline South West, based at their offices in the Plymouth Citybus head office at Milehouse. During the lunch break I was able to walk around the depot in glorious sunshine taking pictures and came across three ex Oxford single deckers." 

Here are two pictures of Citybus 216 which is ex Oxford R408FFC almost complete,
whilst 215 ex 402 and 214 which had no visible registration were being prepared for painting within the workshops.
Pictures by Ken Aveyard 

Rachel writes "Whilst in Peterborough yesterday I saw Kimes Buses, V929 FMS working a service to Oakham (Rutland)."

http://stagecoachbuses.fotopic.net/p66892395.html

Rachel adds "I was interested to find the history of this Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400 and discovered it was originally a demonstrator for Alexander's and delivered in silver/blue livery on July 18th 2000 to Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company for inspection only. It has been with City of Oxford Motor Services and used on Park and Ride services. Also University of Portsmouth had this vehicle for some time but in which order, I'm not sure?"

Reading Buses

The Oxford Tube involved in the incident on the M40 was 50214. Very little damage was sustained to the coach although some additional damage inevitably resulted when the coach was righted during recovery. Indeed the strength of the design was shown by the way in which only one passenger was hurt and then was seemingly not wearing a seat belt. So quite a tribute to Van Hool.

This issue sees quite a lot of interest in other fleets in the group and these are recorded below. 

SC Manchester

Chris Lowe wrote on 25/8 "I have also just been informed that the first Manchester Hybrid (12028) has turned up this morning at Stagecoach Manchester's Princess Road garage for driver training. Although at least eight of them have been delivered with the other seven (12027/9-34) at Hyde Road garage." 

"The Hybrid in use at PS on driver training duties at the moment only has fleet numbers and possibly legal lettering applied, there is no branding yet so I can show you."

The new buses are seen awaiting entry into service in the large yard at the back of Hyde road Depot in Manchester.
Pictures by Chris Lowe.

Some days later Chris added "I managed to get the following three pictures of some of them just after delivery, ironically the first one arrived the day I went to Oxford and was photographing their examples. Manchester's examples delivered are 12027-34 (MX10 MVR/S/T/U/V/W/Y/Z) and the remaining 22 are expected to be 60 plates."

SC Cheltenham & Gloucester

Matt Turley, Controller - Stagecoach Gloucester reports "New Elite 53704 was loaned to Gloucester over the bank holiday weekend to cover for the unavailability of two of our Levantes. It operated the 1015 to London and the 1500 return on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday."

Matt adds that Gloucester's Routemaster 12657 is going to be attending SHOWBUS this year and is up for judging as they have recently finished a complete interior refurbishment.

Dave & Deric report "Owing to several of Cheltenham & Gloucester's Scania/Caetano being off the road, Stagecoach Oxford Volvo/Plaxton Elite 53704 (OU10 GYN) has been on loan for three days to operate National Express Service 444
Gloucester/Cheltenham - London."

"C & G has also had transferred two MAN/ALX300 from Cambridgeshire, believed to be 22457/8 (S457/8 OFT), based at Gloucester for service changes starting September 1st."

"The ex A1 Tridents, 18017-20 now in corporate livery, also officially entered service at Gloucester recently. 18018/9 were loaned to South Wales for driver/engineering familiarisation prior to the Ryder Golf Tournament operation."

"Volvo Olympian 16207 has received a branded livery to operate new Service 101 around Gloucester City Centre."

SC Yorkshire Bus

Ian writes to report an update on recent arrivals and forthcoming departures at the NEX Coaching unit at Chesterfield depot:

In to the fleet:

Volvo B12M/Transbus Paragon 53012/3/4 (VU03 VVW/X/Y) from Stagecoach East Kent

Volvo B9R/Plaxton Elite 53712-16 (YN60 ABX/ACF/J/O/U) - these are the first SC coaches on 60 plates.

Due to leave the fleet are:

Scania/Levante 59201-6 (FJ56 PDX/PEO/PFA/PFD/OBR/OBS) to move to East Kent. (see picture under NEx of 59205 on September 6th. Ed.)

Volvo/Plaxtons 52526 (1737 HE, ex Y966 PHL), 52567 (PHE 692, ex Y967 PHL), 53028 (HE 8054 ex YS02 YXR) and 53029 (3030 HE, ex YS02 YXT) to be re-deployed elsewhere in the Group on Megabus work. 

SC South

Andy Gilmour reports "The Stagecoach Dennis Tridents used on the Activ8 service alongside Wilts & Dorset's Scania OmniCitys have all been repainted and rebranded recently. Below is a picture of 18504 and the rear of 18502."

Andy adds that further Tridents are now in the colour scheme for 'The Rivers' - the new branding for the main trunk routes across Hampshire - X64/X65 Winchester - Alton - Guildford, 69 Winchester - Fareham, 76 Andover - Basingstoke and 86 Winchester - Basingstoke. It's been applied to 18510-5/9-21/4-7, all ex 700 Coastliner buses."

SC Yorkshire

Fanofmetros writes regarding the ex Oxford M A Ns now in Yorkshire.

Ex-Oxford ALX300s reported in South Yorkshire now are: 

22203, T203TND, at Ecclesfield Depot, Sheffield.

22205, T205TND, at Ecclesfield Depot, Sheffield.

22207, T207TND, not known as of yet.

22209, T209TND, not known as of yet.

22914, S914CFC, not known as of yet.

22918, S918CFC, not known as of yet.

22927, S927CFC, at Barnsley Depot, believe to be a loan.

22938, S938CFC at Barnsley Depot, believe to be a loan. 

The ones at Ecclesfield are used on services 78 (Chapeltown-Sheffield) and 123 (Crystal Peaks-Walkley) and the ones at Barnsley, anything really. 22927 did have a spell on loan to Shafton as well.

Interesting pictures can be found at the following links:

http://btp.fotopic.net/p66751285.html
http://btp.fotopic.net/p66751771.html
http://btp.fotopic.net/p66752086.html

SC East Kent 

Once an Oxford based bus, Volvo B10M 20542 (P542 ESA) is now at Folkestone from Yorkshire, where it replaces 20637 which has suffered a gear box failure. 

SC Devon

Picture by Steve White, a Trident in Blackpool

SC Midlands

The fleet has been updated with the following changes.

Thamesdown

Jottings

Major news

Coach overturns on M40 Motorway

On Monday 30th August the 01.10 Oxford tube service operated by Van Hool Astromega 50214 left Gloucester Green and after picking up at the various stops along the way to Thornhill set out on its journey to London Victoria. There were twelve passengers on board and the driver thought all had settled down to the 90 minute journey.

Passing junction three of the M40, around 02.00, he was surprised by a male passenger who came down from upstairs demanding to be let off the coach. Naturally the driver asked the man to return to a seat but the man refused and suddenly grabbed the steering wheel. Although the driver started to brake and tried to fend the passenger off, the coach veered to the left mounting the embankment which goes up at that point. The coach then went over at an angle and toppled on to its side blocking part of lane one of the M40. The incident happened just a short way past junction three.

Only one passenger was suspected of having suffered injury and the male had not been wearing a seatbelt. All the others, including the driver had been wearing seat belts which helped reduce any potential injuries.

The passengers had to leave the coach by the roof emergency escape hatches and quite quickly the male passenger who had caused the accident, but seem not to be injured, ran off but was soon apprehended by the police helicopter.

Rebecca Webber, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: “Following the crash one man was arrested."

“He had been a passenger on the coach and was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and assault."

Two lanes on the M40 were shut until 9.45am that morning, causing delays of about ten minutes, according to The Highways Agency.

Firefighters helped South Central Ambulance Service.

Thames Valley Police were also on the scene.

A following service picked up the passengers and took them on to London.

The coach driver was praised for his "brave actions" during the incident.

Stagecoach said although nobody was seriously hurt, its 48-year driver suffered a shoulder injury.

In a statement the bus driver said: "I thought 'Oh my God. This is it.' I was struggling to keep the coach on the road and braking really hard.

"I saw the coach go up the banking and I could feel it was about to topple over.

"My right shoulder went through the side window and I was convinced I was going to get thrown out. I was absolutely petrified."

The driver said the passengers "were absolutely brilliant".

'Very calm' passengers

"There was no screaming or shouting... I was amazed everyone walked out of there. I still can't believe it", he said.

A statement from Stagecoach said: "We understand one passenger was taken to hospital as a precaution for a possible spinal injury, but was discharged later the same day.

"We would like to commend the driver for his brave actions in minimising what could have been a far more serious accident.

"Despite his injuries, he followed our procedures and made sure everyone was in a safe location outside the coach."

The company went on to say the "passengers remained very calm throughout the incident" and it had provided police with "on-board CCTV footage to assist their investigation".

Coach recovered

The coach was towed back to Oxford by Kardos followed by a second Kardos with a long jib needed to upright the coach. The damage on the offside was by the drivers cab - not extensive.

Bus blaze caused Handy Cross delays - 4:50pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

THE A404 was closed in both directions following a bus fire on the Handy Cross roundabout which caused traffic delays on September 2nd.

The fire on board the Arriva bus started at about 4.10pm on the northbound carriageway of the A404.

The emergency services raced to the scene and cordoned off the A404 in both directions while firefighters tackled the blaze. All lanes re-opened at 5pm.

No-one was injured in the fire, which watch manager John Franklin of High Wycombe fire station said started at the engine-end of the bus.

He said: “By the time we battled through the traffic, the fire was going very well by then.

"The driver, who looked like he was a mechanic by the way he was dressed, was well out of the way.”

An out of service Arriva bus burst into flames in almost the same spot on the High Wycombe roundabout in June (see link).

http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/8204117.UPDATE__Huge_bus_blaze_at_Handy_Cross/

http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/8369325.UPDATE__Bus_blaze_causing_Handy_Cross_delays/?ref=mr

The bus involved was a Scania/East Lancs 3204 seen here in the V O R bus line at Arriva's Cressex depot on September 5th.
Also sent are pictures of 3204 in happy times.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

More pictures were received from other readers including this one taken by Nigel Peach. This shows the total destruction of the interior.

Finally, my  picture shows the rear of the bus alongside a withdrawn Volvo B10B, 3843, originally with Oxford Bus.

Another London Bendi goes up in smoke 

Glenn Knight writes "At 08:40 this morning (Saturday 4th Sep) a Mercedes Benz Bendy Bus BX55 FVZ  MA122 caught fire at Victoria Bus Station on route 73. Cause of fire was electrical. pictures are attached. I arrived at Victoria 5minutes after fire broke out then returned again at 1800 with pictures of the aftermath."

Citaro 530G MA 122 seen at the height of the blaze and later when it was being made safe. Pictures all from Glenn Knight.

Stephen Le Bras writes "Victoria Bus station: MA122 on the 73 caught fire around 8.40am this morning (Sat 4/9/10) while I was standing outside VCS. The black plume of smoke was huge and I waited for the fire engine and police car go by before I caught an 11 bus to see what was going on. It is very badly damaged and is unlikely to run again.

MA122 was parked in the 73 bay, whilst DW248 was in the 38 bay. As the latter was driven away, I checked to see if there was any damage but it seemed OK.

Two wreckers, a low loader parked nearby and even an Evobus van were parked nearby.

Both bays remained out of use while I was in the area." 

Richard Sharman was on hand also to take pictures and I thought this example was a good one for London.

One had believe that the fire problems had been resolved by Mercedes Benz, apparently not!

I attach a photo of the unit taken outside the Rigby Road depot in Blackpool some time ago. It may have been rejected on the grounds that it represented old technology, but I bet it would have been cheaper than the new Bombardier units. Anyway, some of the most reliable cars in Blackpool have been the 1930s very conventional English Electric and Brush cars - is there a moral there?

53704 was on the 444 this afternoon inbound and parked in Bulleid Way. It had a slip of paper in the screen which attracted my attention.
The coach is seen in this picture parked up in Bulleid Way.

David Mant writes "Surely one of the most interesting participants this year was newly restored pre-war Albion LJ9501 which was fitted with a new Harrington body in 1947."

Trips & Running Days