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  

News Page
Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles

Issue 273
(OBP-486)
Monday 15th September 2008

(next update week ending 28th September 2008)

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

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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

Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles.

Concessionary Travel

Awareness and use of bus concessionary fares - Published on 28 August 2008 by Transport Statistics as official statistics

This release includes statistics on awareness and take-up of the new national concessionary bus fare arrangements introduced in England from April 2008. Figures show that:

Notes

From 1st of April 2008 the Government extended the concessionary scheme to provide free off-peak travel for those aged 60 or over or with certain disabilities on all local buses anywhere in England. Prior to this and since April 2006 the minimum guaranteed concession was free off-peak bus travel in the local authority area of residence.

The Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey included questions in April, May and June 2008 to estimate awareness and take-up of the new concessionary fare arrangements among people aged 60 or older. The survey included questions in October and November 2007 to assess levels of awareness of the new scheme among older people prior to its launch.

The Omnibus Survey covers a representative sample of around 1,200 adults per month. The total number of people in the sample under the age of 60 who would be eligible for a concessionary pass due to a disability is too small to allow examination of this group.

Other sources of data are also being used to monitor pass take-up. The latest data held by the smart ticketing organisation ITSO suggests that the number of passes in circulation outside London rose substantially between June and July. In July 2008 6.9 million passes were in circulation, compared with 6.5 million in November 2007. The National Travel Survey will also provide additional data on pass take-up in the longer term.

Buses in the Landscape


Bellemy of Nottingham run this Excalibur T322UCH seen in Stamford on 14th August by John Marsh


A dominating feature of high Wycombe is the railway viaduct carrying the Chiltern line northwards.
We can see an Arriva Volvo on the 31 heading for Downley in this picture by the Editor.


Andrew Morgan writes "I could not resist taking this photograph last week (7th August) whilst in Salcombe;
 it is probably a case of spot the bus if you can!
It is Tally Ho ! G179PAO, unless anyone can tell me differently!"


Classic Coaches of County Durham YNO7LHG at the famous Mont St Michel in Brittany 2008 by Tim Hall.
More of Tim's French photos can be found here - http://timstours.fpic.co.uk/


Stamford bus station on 8th September by John Marsh

Rallies & Running Days

Milton Keynes

The MK bus rally on 17th August was covered by David Percy who sent two nice pictures.


A general view of the event which seems dominated by Routemasters.
 


David asks
"
Did United Counties ever have cream roofs, or were just the domes so treated?"
I think this maybe undercoat waiting green paint Ed.

All the above pictures were taken by David Percy.

Amersham 14th Sep.

This event was organised as a heritage day including trains and buses.

It was expected that journeys would be operated by , hopefully, GS13, RF673, RLH48, RML2412 and 2440 on Sunday and I am pleased to have pictures of all these buses plus a few surprises.

LT Museum operated a supplementary schedule with a combined headway of 10 minutes between the Station and Old Town. They were hoping to have RM1 plus two vintage vehicles from the London Bus Co. All journeys were free of charge and proved a most useful opportunity for photographers.

David Percy writes "You may recall me saying I might have a chance to get to the Heritage Day based at Amersham, and indeed After matrimonial permission was granted, I was off like a shot!! Please enjoy a few images attached, taken today, 1409/2008."


GS13, MXX313 on  country route 348 to Buckland Common at Amersham station.

 
RTW75, KGK575 looks superb on an Amersham town service, I think (and this will not sit right with a few purists),
the RT family looks superb with a Leyland radiator!!

 
 Star of the show?  No.12 Sarah Siddons, looking (and performing) well despite of her 85 years!!  

"A good, well organised day out, really enjoyed myself!"

Paul Davis also contributed having spent a short time at the event.


An offside view of RM1 showing the route number fitted when new. Paul Davis.

I suddenly realised that the vent was on late on Saturday and had to rearrange my plans for Sunday. This is the reason that this issue is a day or so late. I took a number of pictures and enjoyed a ride on RM1, an ambition for some years now only possible yesterday.


I should have liked a ride on the 1938 Tube stock but £20 did seem rather a lot. I did enjoy seeing and hearing it arriving at Amersham.


I think the pictures above capture the ambience of the day


The two green RMLs put in sterling work and looked superb.

 
A regular at Amersham is RLH48 which as ever looked wonderful.


Steve Warwick is seen driving the RF which sounded very throaty when climbing Amersham Hill.


Not quite what you'd expect but in the background you can make out RM2412.

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon and met quite a few people I know. Getting pictures on the public overbridge at Amersham was fun as it has high sides and there were some trees blocking the sun but it all seemed so right. Most enjoyable!

Open Doors in Oxford on Saturday 13th September by Mike Bennett

I came to Oxford on Saturday 13th to visit the new (ish) OBC depot for the first time. Alighting from Man / Enviro300 22621 on Route 66 at Oxford Railway Station, I quickly found my next ride to the OBC depot as it was the only bus around that looked the part.  It was the COMS AEC Reliance 756 from the Oxford Bus Museum, and it took the long way round, eventually arriving at the depot at 1225. 

Everyone transferred to OBC Citaro 870 for a ride around the depot and through the bus wash - much to the delight of the young children on the bus. We were then split into two small parties and shown around the admin part of the building, including the very interesting radio room, followed by the maintenance area. 

The tour finished all too quickly and we travelled back into Oxford on COMS AEC Regent L166.

Getting off the bus at Queen's Lane seemed the best thing to do, as it gave a great opportunity for some more photos of the old buses, some of which appear below.  A few more photos were taken at the junction of St Aldate's and Speedwell Street later in the day.

    

Phil Ashworth for the company adds "The Oxford Bus Company and the Bus Museum worked in partnership on Saturday as part of the Open Doors weekend. The Museum provided three of their classic fleet to transport visitors to the Bus Company's Headquarters in Cowley House where they were given a tour of the depot. After they arrived they changed from old to new and were treated to a trio through the bus wash."


In this picture the Bus Museum team are heading back to Oxford and the OBC Citaro is about to go through the wash!

 

 

Heritage Day at the Northamptonshire village of Harpole.

David Percy writes "Today, I am a happy man, I achieved a lifetime ambition, and drove a Routemaster in service. 

The vehicle was used as part of the UK heritage day workings, and was working a circular service around the Northamptonshire village of Harpole."

Worcester Park - more pictures

Mark Lyons wrote saying "I attach a couple of shots taken at this event, held on 10 August.

Although there were clearly many more vehicles (including a T, two STLs, a Q and a pre war RT plus Quantock Motor Services wartime Daimler masquerading as LT D130) I have stuck to images showing buses recreating routes that stared in "our" area.  With that in mind we have a modernised RF (complete with roofboards) and an RT (recreating the summer relief journeys) both on route 725.   Of course until the railway bridge at Worcester Park was rebuilt the only double deckers on the 725 would have been RLHs."


See http://www.red-rf.com for more on this well run event.

Upcoming events

Amersham 5th October 2008

http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/

The programmes for the 20th Amersham Running Day are now printed and can be obtained from by post now from - Peter Cartwright, 54 Guinions Road, HIGH WYCOMBE, HP13 7NX - a £5 cheque or Postal Order payable to Amersham & District Motorbus Society.  Some 28 vehicles are required to operate the scheduled service.

Toddington Steam Rally taking place on 12th October 2008.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Steam and Vintage Rally

Gloucestershire's best steam and old vehicle event proved so popular last year that it has moved to a new, larger venue for 2008 – Cheltenham Racecourse. Taking place over the weekend of 11 and 12 October, the GWR Steam and Vintage Rally has abundant attractions for all the family. There will be traction engines, showman's engines and steam engines; classic cars, buses and motorcycles; vintage lorries, tractors and a fun fair; military vehicles, emergency vehicles and caravans.

The main arena will host non-stop demonstrations and parades and there will be ploughing, stonemasonry and farriery. In addition, the GWR Steam and Vintage Rally will have craft and trade stalls, a model tent and a refreshments marquee. Visitors can even arrive at and depart from the rally by steam train, as the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR) will be operating a special service departing from and returning to Toddington (see www.gwsr.com for timetable).

This will be the 23rd GWR Steam and Vintage Rally. After a break of four years, it ran in 2007 and was such a success that the organisers chose the larger venue of Cheltenham Racecourse for 2008. The Racecourse has many advantages – there is plenty of space, excellent facilities (whatever the weather), lots of parking and the adjoining fields can be used for working demonstrations.

Although the GWR Steam and Vintage Rally encompasses a wide range of interests, the steam vehicles are the main attraction of the event. Steam section leaders, Matt and Rachel Shipton, say: "As engine owners ourselves, we want to educate people to take an interest in the steam movement, to ensure it survives through generations to come. The fun, informal atmosphere shows off the owners' personalities! The sense of humour and enjoyment of the custodians rubs off on the public, which is what a steam rally should be about.”

Among the many historic traction engines will be Pride of the Walk, a Robey vehicle which will be 100 years old. It is the only single-cylinder, of this make in England. Steamrollers will include an 1899 Aveling & Porter, which was purchased as scrap and has taken 33 years to restore.

Other highlights among display vehicles will include Bedford coaches and Bristol buses (2008 is the 100th anniversary of when the first Bristol bus entered service), a collection of vintage caravans dating from 1940 and a fantastic array of classic cars including a 1936 Lanchester 18 - one of only two known, the other being built for King George VI. Fitted with Lanchester sports saloon coachwork, and powered by a 6 cylinder 2500cc engine. Also of special interest is a 1975 BLMC Mini 1000, originally used as publicity car for the BLMC, and bought by the current owner’s father in 1976 when it featured in a television advert.

Members of the public can judge the display vehicles for themselves and influence who wins the Kath Greening Memorial Trophy for the Best in Show and the winners of prizes for Best in Section.

Admission information

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Steam and Vintage Rally at Cheltenham Racecourse on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October.

Opening times: 9.30am – 4.30pm each day

Admission:

Adults £6.00, Senior Citizens £5.00

Children between 5 & 15 years £3.00 (2 adults and up to 3 children) £15.00

Steam trains to and from Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse (timetable available at www.gwsr.com)

Adult combined ticket with return GWR Steam train to and from Toddington and the Racecourse £17.00

Disabled car park access

Camping available

 for editors:

The GWR is an all-volunteer steam and diesel heritage railway in the English Cotswolds. Since 1981, the volunteers have restored more than 10 miles of line, together with platforms, buildings, steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock. In addition to a scheduled service, the GWR hosts a number of galas, enthusiasts’ events and events for all the family throughout the year, including its popular Santa Specials, Paddington Bear, Fish and Chips specials and dining trains.

Bianca Knight, Publicity Assistant, Eventageous PR, Tel: 01452 886502, Email: bianca@eventspr.co.uk

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

John Bristow writes "....having viewed your latest web page I thought that you may like to see the attached pics, taken in Uxbridge in 1960 (RT1383) and 1970.

Strangely enough, although I was born and brought up in Wycombe I never managed to take many bus photos in Uxbridge."

These should please Chris Bush who wrote in the last issue.

More on XAN431T - once with AERE Harwell

Which was mentioned last week when it in it's last week of service before going to a dealer, who has sold it on to the States. It will leave these shores approx 30th Aug.

Julian Wells writes "XAN434T - The above VR is still in this country according to Rob Sly's VR page, but I will check further.

It is reported with an operator in Wales, think it would be quite pleasant to see one restored to full Atomic Energy livery and on the rally circuit but my bank manager says no!"

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