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

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

News of the local companies – 16th January 2006

Operator news it still somewhat limited after the long break over Christmas but I hope to have better coverage next week.

New 757 coach seen in London

As expected the new Arriva coaches for Green Line service entered service last Wednesday 11th January. One or more had been seen ion the days prior to the 11th but that was the first full day of operation.

Stephen Le Bras writes "I managed to see 4 of them last Saturday - only 4067 missing. I also took a ride up to Luton bus station to see how they run. I travelled as follows - 10.00 Victoria to Luton bus station on 4069, return at 11.50 on old 4368. Only 1 in 3 include Luton town centre on the route so it was quite an achievement to get one. It was a smooth ride with only the DDA door making any noise. We picked up quite a few passengers both there and return (on a regular DAF/Plaxton as noted above), including some at Baker Street for connections at Luton airport.

Someone even asked " is this the easybus?" to which our driver replied "not with Greenline all along both sides".

Stephen adds that "I see Elizabeth Bridge has already been allocated 2 Greenline dolly stops 11 and 12 for the work being undertaken in Bulleid Way."

Both Gavin Francis and myself took pictures of the new coaches during the three days leading up to the weekend. These are included below.
 

   
 Offside, nearside and rear views of the new coaches, the first being taken by Gavin and the other two by me.

 The unusual door arrangement. The wheel chair access is behind the main door.

 DAF coach 4368 as mentioned by Stephen above. Picture by Gavin Francis

I always look out for our Sunday bus here in Stokenchurch and this week the service was being operated by a Bouncy Castle. It is seen below leaving Stokenchurch on the 1215 departure, when three people boarded at The Kings Arms. The first journey at 1015 had only one person on leaving the Stokenchurch boundary.

 A couple of weeks ago Mike Chadwick mentioned that an old friend had returned to Wycombe in the shape of 5826. This bus is seen below on 326 service to Micklefield. Sadly whilst it once possessed a full set of blinds this is not the case since it returned from Aylesbury.

The Bucks Free Press carried an apology to this company relating to a headline story about fare increases in High Wycombe. The article was accompanied by a picture of a Carousel Citaro on the A40 which may have given readers the impression that Carousel had increased their fares as well as those increased by Arriva.

It was clearly indicated in the apology that Carousel had in fact not had more than TWO increases in the past five years. This contrasted starkly to Arriva who had three in ONE year.

 
 One the recently acquired Darts is shown near the depot and an Olympian L563 is seen at Shell Cressex refuelling last Saturday.

R H Transport appear to be still waiting for their new low floor Solos and in the interim the bus pictured below appeared on the 25B last Friday afternoon.

Scania L113/Alexander PS and was a demonstrator when new - F113OMJ.

Temporary road closure diverts routes 10 and U5

Due to resurfacing in Hollow Way Stagecoach have had to reroute their 10 and U5 services by the Eastern By-pass and additionally provide a Shuttle to serve Horspath Road. Today, Monday, this shuttle was Vario 42383 and it is seen below along with a more normal 10 service Dart 33650 and U5 Brookes decker 18055 both of which are seen passing The Slade "Corner House".

The timetable for the Shuttle service.

   
Apart from  the two aforementioned pictures we also see 42383 pulling out of Bulan Road onto Hollow Way southbound to reach Horspath Road.

Some pictures from my album - 1997-1999

Again when looking through those old pictures I found some Stagecoach ones which I thought may appeal to my readers.

   
First we have Dart 3063 R63UFC on a 103 working through Littleworth village on 5th April 1998.
The second picture is of ex London Dart (still in London livery) 729 which is resting in Horspath depot on 7th November 1998.
Lastly we see Mercedes 709D/Reeve Burgess Beaver 300 E433YHL at St Aldates.
This had been new to Loftys of Bridge Trafford near Chester in 1993.

     
This line of pictures shows the M A N s newly delivered for the Blackbird Flyer.
We have 938 (1), 932 (2), 934 (3) and a line of brand new M A N s with nearest the camera 940 (4)
The pictures were taken between November 1998 and April 1999.

   
Bus Points was the subject of a major sales drive by Stagecoach in 1998 and before 912 (1) - Oxford's own Bus Points liveried bus
was delivered Alexander PS 503 (2) & (3) was loaned from Western Buses Kilmarnock depot.
Both buses are seen in Oxford around the time.

 
Double deckers have always been in the minority at Oxford and three examples long since departed are shown above.
An ex Busway (Newcastle Corporation Transport Atlantean 1227 SVK627G) spent a few months at Oxford and is seen here at
Horspath depot on 7th November 1998. The second picture shows another ex Newcastle Atlantean, Stagecoach Busways
551 ex 251 SCN251S which was on loan for the start of the Brookes contract. The date 17th October 1998.
Finally the first batch of Olympians were single door versions delivered in 1997 and based at Witney.
They were 501 to 513 of which 501 is seen above. These buses were sold to SC Manchester in late 1998
and are still in service there now numbered 16501-16513. They are based at Hyde Road or Stockport.

 
Two interesting coaches are featured above, one in use by the training school and one on the X50 service from Stratford.
The first is coach nr 75 which joined Midland Red from Sovereign in 1990. C212PPE had been a Green Line coach when new
and they were very fine coaches indeed with low driving positions, unusual for a Leyland Tiger.
The second is 74, C211PPE, by now registered to 4828VC where it is seen in George Street, Oxford.

   
The next three pictures are of more mundane buses in use by Stagecoach Oxford.
The first is an ex London Dart, 715 NDZ3015 which had been DWL15 with East London where it was based at Waterden Road.
It did not last very long with Oxford moving on quite soon to Fife Buses in 1999 where it became 620 based at Aberhill.
The next picture shows an ex Manchester Volvo B6 832 which came from Hyde Road as 332.
The M A N 916 was unbranded and quite new at the time the picture was taken, 10th April 1999.
Finally an ex demonstrator arrived in 1999 from Manchester and I still have its blind from that city.
It suffered a severe front end accident and was rebuilt with an electronic display.
It is seen above in Queen Street on 17th January 1999.
31332 (832) and 31333 (839) are now based at Leamington and Nuneaton.

An interesting demonstrator at the time - 25th October 1998 - was this Volvo B10BLE with Wright Renown bodywork.
It was used on Blackbirds Leys at least and was in service at the time Oxford Bus were taking delivery of their first B10BLEs 801-815.
None were ordered by Stagecoach and so it remained a might have been and  M A N 18.220s ruled the day.

The Oxford Tube had some roadworks problems back in 1998 and some hired coaches helped maintain the schedules. This was also a time of changing liveries prior to the arrival of the  M A N 24.350s and this was all recorded in my lens at the time.

   
First we have a Volvo B10M with I think Caetano bodywork M332GFW seen at Horspath depot. Then we have Volvo 18 L155LBW
crossing the Magdalen Bridge and showing off a revised livery and finally Plaxton Excalibur coach 20, J420HDS with another livery again.

Gloucester Green can always provide and interesting line up and here we have 4 Tubes to one X90.
Again we can see three livery variations. 4th October 1998.

An interesting livery showing lots of 12 s. Can anyone tell me why this livery was used?

Taylor's of Aylesbury

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Seen in High Wycombe on Sunday afternoon by the Wycombe Swan, a Bova from Aylesbury, S 8 0VA.

Weavaway on Rail Replacement

 
Gavin Francis used sometime to catch these two Weavaway coaches on rail replacement work at Oxford Station last Sunday.

History corner

The contributions in the last few weeks have got you all going. Corrections, thoughts, memories and more contributions - they are all there.

John Bristow writes saying "Further to the recent mention of Thames Valley acquisitions from United Welsh I attach a picture of an LS (I think) which I took at Maidenhead on 22 September 1968."

A letter from Derek Doling.

Derek writes "I am a regular reader of your column each week and enjoy it  a great deal and have sent you the odd picture in the past.

I have noted with interest the coverage of Thames Valley buses lately.  I have in my possession an album of some 126 or so black and white photographs of Thames Valley buses taken from the late 50's to mid 60's.  they are obviously taken by a professional photographer as they are stamped on the back  -:   Copyright W.R.Legg.  3 Harbeson Road SW 12. 

I have never heard of this name and have no idea whether he is still with us or not.  The album was given to my by an acquaintance who had no interest in buses.  I am not sure how he acquired it.  I have scanned 3 pics for your perusal.   I was wondering if you or any of your readers could shed any light on Mr Legg.  I would love to share the pics with a wider audience but am not sure of the copyright situation.

The first 4 pictures are of buses in show land use and the rest are buses and coaches in the Thames Valley  and South Midlands  fleet and feature  AEC and Bristol vehicles.  I am not familiar with the fleet and do not know the locations though many of them are depot shots. I will attach one picture with this and send two more in a separate e-mail.  If you can use them on the site that would be great but please contact me if you want any more information."

Well Derek, I have taken a few of those sent to put on this week's page and hopefully we will not be upsetting anyone re copyright as they are so very interesting.

The first is of an ex Thames Valley Leyland TD4, nr 275 JB5854 new in September 1935.
This bus was variously allocated to High Wycombe (1939), Maidenhead (1942 and 1945)
leaving the fleet by September 1953.

An ex South Midland coach MJO665 was new in April 1948 and had left SM by December 1958.

An ex Thames Valley coach which by the time this picture was taken of EJB212, the coach had joined the fleet of R Taylor & Sons
and was working on hire to East Kent on the Victoria-Folkestone route.

Seen in the Desborough Road garage of Thames Valley, probably in the early '60s are two Bristol Ks.
One is an 8ft wide version 652 - HBL54, the other, 513 - EJB235 a 7ft 6in wide version.
Both routes displayed were worked by buses from this depot and not Wycombe Marsh.

I have many more pictures from the same source which will be appearing over the coming weeks.

Peter Cartwright responds in last week's News Page and Thames Valley & London Transport-Country/High Wycombe operations.

Peter writes "Thames Valley 33 terminated at Middle Way in Castlefield - Cross Road was not served at that time. Early morning journeys were projected to High Wycombe Station and even earlier the route terminated in the forecourt of the King George V pub at Wycombe Marsh. Before the introduction of "LOCAL SERVICE" in the ultimate destination box, the destination was shown there and the combined route number and via boxes showed 33 with "London Road" blacked out.

The 33a having turned left at the Half Moon went straight on turning left into Whitelands Way and then right into Chairborough Road terminating at Link Road, well short of the Jolly Bodger. I can well remember taking my driving test on 31 December 1965 - Chairborough Road had yet to be connected to Castlefield - and doing a 3 point turn on the concrete road as freezing rain fell. I  cautiously drove back to Desborough Ave and further tests were abandoned that day. I passed!

730 and 731 were the mainstays on the 39/40/41 Stokenchurch group of routes for many years and I can recall them coming into the Marsh Garage to pay in. The 42 from Loudwater to West Wycombe had been totally withdrawn before the introduction of the 33a and 81a and 25a. The latter two replacing it on the London Road. The Booker Hill 42 still continued but in a reduced form.

Running numbers on 326 were for many years HE13,HE14 and HE17.The first two were for the main Mill End Road - Woodside Rd service (slightly different a.m. peak with Sands and Happy Wanderer journeys and HE17 was for Woodside Road via Easton St and Happy Wanderer shorts - again slightly different a.m. peak. HE16 was also used for a time in the sixties for further shorts between Micklefield & Wycombe- this was a peak hour only working.

Destination displays for Micklefield were WOODSIDE RD via Totteridge Road, WOODSIDE RD via Easton Street, HERBERT RD via Totteridge Road, HERBERT RD via Easton Street and BUCKINGHAM DRIVE - this without any qualification. There was NEVER a blind showing Woodside Road North or Woodside Road South. Scheduled journeys terminated at all three and unscheduled extras normally terminated at Buckingham Drive.

Route 363 was extended to Penn to replace 362b on 14 May 1958. However, as this was in the middle of the 7 week bus strike the through service did not start until about 21 June. Prior to this the highest frequency was every 9 minutes from Totteridge as route 363 and every 15mins from Penn as 362b. Now the route was every 10 minutes from Totteridge to Wycombe and 20 minutes on to Penn. The service was reduced to 4 an hour from Totteridge and 2 an hour to Penn Mon-Fri mornings after a.m. peak and during the evenings and on Sunday afternoons. In the early sixties there was substantial passenger growth particularly between Hazlemere and Penn with unscheduled extras as far as Coppice Farm Road. Additional scheduled journeys were incorporated into the timetable when the service was extended to Beaconsfield - two afternoon journeys on to Holtspur - to replace route 373. Off -peak a bus was provided every 90 minutes from Wycombe to Beaconsfield via Penn and this later became 373 operated by Merlins. Normally Beaconsfield journeys had only operated to/from Totteridge in peak hours.

At one time 7RTs were needed for this service but 2 were saved when RMLs took over on 20 February 1966.

The service was then progressively reduced and from 1 October 1977 - one month later than planned - the route was split again in Wycombe. The 363 became Wycombe to Penn on a 30 minute headway for much of the day - increased in peaks and the Totteridge leg was rerouted via Totteridge Road - like present 33 - and renumbered 360. SM Swifts NOT Standees were originally allocated and they were fairly quickly replaced by Leyland National following many Swift breakdowns during the cold spell in early 1978.

Now the 363 number is but a memory having been replaced by Green Route 31 in October 2004 and incidentally this was the first time that the Penn terminus has been reached by the Penn Road - previously the 363 AND the 362b turned right at Potters Cross and then left at Barnes Corner when coming from Wycombe.  Today's service to Penn, Totteridge and Micklefield is much more frequent than 30 years ago but passenger numbers have dwindled.

Neil Timberlake writes about last week's News Page.

Neil says "The photographs of Thames Valley buses in High Wycombe, shown on this weeks Oxford & Chiltern Bus Page were not taken at the railway station. 

The 1968 shots were taken at the long-disappeared Frogmore Bus Station, which closed in 1970 upon the opening of the Newlands Bus Station (which itself is due to close shortly, once the new Eden bus station is completed) 

The 1964 shot is a little more difficult to place - I don't believe it is from the railway station forecourt, not least because I don't believe the 33 bus service ever went there.   As an old Wycombiensian like me, who was born and brought up in High Wycombe, I feel I ought to be able to name the location, but I confess to being unsure - it might be Frogmore Bus Station also, although the left-hand background in particular doesn't look right for Frogmoor.   But then much of the centre of High Wycombe was radically changed in the late 60s by then-fashionable redevelopment, and in 1964 I was a little pre-school kid in short trousers, and my memory isn't as good as it once was!"

Newman Morgan is prompted to write re those pictures.

Newman writes "Well, another set of historic Wycombe bus pictures to fire up the memory cells! 

D31, working the 25 road to Flackwell Heath (Green Dragon) was one of a number of the 18 strong D-reg.FLFs allocated to Wycombe. The batch was D29-D46 (GRX129-146D) and they were the standard 70-seaters, with 38 seats upstairs and 32 seats downstairs. Those at Wycombe from new were D29, D32, D36 and D42 with D31 coming a later from Maidenhead. The 25 used to run every 20 minutes with an hourly 25A to Flackwell Heath (Rugwood Road). A few 25's extended beyond the Green Dragon down Blind Lane into Bourne End. 

D42 was to disgrace itself by overturning one Saturday whilst descending Combe Lane from Naphill to Hughenden Valley whilst working a 31 back to Wycombe. I was told its steering idler fell off but whether that is true or not who knows. 30+ people were injured and the vehicle was repaired and re-entered service at Wycombe.

These FLF's were followed by D47-D53 (LBL 847-853E) and D54-D60 (PBL54-60F).

D31 was later to become 631 in the revised numbering series that was in force by the time 684 (the next photo) arrived from Brighton. Note that 684 was working the 31 which had been double decked to take account of service reductions brought about by the persistent chronic staff shortages the 60's and 70's and the resultant large numbers of cancelled journeys each day. 684 looks like it has either had a wash or a new coat of paint in the photograph. 

VR 888 was an exile from the Western SMT Company in Scotland in exchange for FLF's. There were 3 Scottish Series 1 VR's at Wycombe, these being in exchange for FLF's D51, D52, D56. 884 (NGM 164G) was an ex Central SMT example and 887/8 (OCS 595/6H) were ex-Western SMT.  888 appears to be showing Route No. 29 (now 329) so this would have been after the creating of the 29 road which effectively merged the old 8 road between Reading and Henley via Binfield Heath and Shiplake with the 28 section between Henley and Wycombe to create the 29. Previously all Wycombe - Reading journeys were 28's via Wargrave, hourly on Mondays to Fridays and half hourly on Saturdays. One of the Saturday extras, which was usually FLF worked, then ran on to the 39 on Saturday nights and did two Wycombe-Watlington runs returning from Watlington at about 10.25pm in service to Wycombe Marsh. This roster used car number 39. 

The dual doored Bristol RESL's, of which I believe there were seven, weren't allocated to Wycombe and the one in the photo was used on the MAP project that saw the eventual birth of the Chilternlink network in 1980. This MAP project also involved London Country and one of the more interesting products was the linking of Alder Valley 26/26A,38,42 and London Country 326 to create the present 326 between Micklefield and Booker, on which London Country used to use AN-class Atlanteans from Amersham garage whilst Alder Valley generally used Leyland Nationals. 

471 and its sister 474 (DRX 625K) were the only 2 Bristol RELLs to be allocated to Wycombe on a long term basis. I used to like these machines! They had an air of charm and robustness about them that the Leyland Nationals never seemed to acquire. In the photo, 471 is on the 36 to Cadmore End and I bet it was a beast of a machine to reverse into the little angled lane opposite the school to turn round, this being the terminus of the 36. 

The Leyland National, 163, was the first of the M-reg batch to be delivered, and was allocated to Wycombe from new, along with 165. I was actually in Wycombe on the afternoon that the Leyland Nationals were introduced into service, they were put into service at approx 2pm one weekday afternoon. Wycombe received 101-105 (LMO 223-227L), which were the 5 ordered by Thames Valley and delivered to Alder Valley. 127 (KCG 627L) soon followed which was the last of the 21 ordered by Aldershot & District and delivered to Alder Valley, the batch being 106-127 (KCG 106-127L). Later on, both 123 and 126 were transferred to Wycombe. The next batch was 128-162 (NRD 128-162M) of which 128 came to Wycombe as a new bus and then came 163-177 (TBL 163-177M). Alder Valley went on to operate just short of 200 of these machines. 

In the photo, 163 is working a 36 journey to Frieth. For many years Frieth was only served by the 37, journeying out of Wycombe via West Wycombe, Piddington, Wheeler End, Bolter End to Lane End, thence to Frieth, Fingest, Turville/Henley, although one if not both the first runs out of Fingest outstation to Wycombe in the early morning worked as 36's. Service changes brought about regular 36's to Frieth and this entailed position additional bus stops just down the Frieth road in Lane End village centre as these journeys could not serve the main village bus stop which was (and still is) situated a short distance along Stokenchurch Road in Lane End village. 

In earlier times, the Bristol LL's and LWL's that used to work the 36/37 service would show either FRIETH HORSE POND or FRIETH (SCHOOL) as their destination. The Horse Pond was always without brackets and was a technically incorrect display as the Horse Pond was at the junction where the main 37 turned right to descend to Fingest whilst the terminus in the village was The Village School. 

The later National, 230, was, I think, a Maidenhead bus and would be working a Maidenhead duty on the 20 service. Note that 230 and 283 in the next photo have a shorted roof pod to 163. 283 was at Wycombe from new and seems to have done its fair share of kerb bashing and hedgerow hugging judging by the damaged side panels in the picture! 

949 was one of a number of Series 3 Bristol VR's that served Wycombe. Of this batch, 947-950 (TPE 153-156S) were all at Wycombe. By the date that the picture was taken, the 28/29 had become one person operated which necessitated the revised routing in Marlow where terminating buses would travel through the town, along West Street to turn right to stand at Quoiting Square and then depart up the Marlow Common road, right into what I think is Queens Road and right into the Lane End road to re-join their route back to Wycombe. I believe this routeing still applies today. In the days of crew operation, Marlow terminating journeys reversed into a bus stand at Quoiting Square and after laying over would depart back along West Street.  

That's my contribution for the minute - I haven't moved on to the London Country pictures yet!"

Newman Morgan writes

I was intrigued with the photos of the Thames Valley vehicles in the mid-1960s, reminds me of my childhood! 

The Bristol LL6B 574 on the Castlefield Service 33 was, I believe, photographed in Newland Street, High Wycombe. This would be before the building of the Octagon shopping centre and the bus station. From memory, the Octagon opened in 1969 or maybe early 1970 with the bus station following on later in 1970. The 33 was Wycombe's most frequent service with a timetable of buses every 7 to 10 minutes during the daytime, the evening service was at least every 30 minutes. 574 appears to be on lay over as the rear door is open. The 33 ran from Newland Street to Desborough Castle Estate (or Castlefield as everyone knew it) along Desborough Road and Dashwood Avenue to the Half Moon pub, as the present Arriva 33 does. The 33 went left at the Half Moon (no traffic lights in those days!) and then did a right turn into Rutland Avenue. The route went up the steep climb of Rutland Avenue and along Rutland Avenue to turn right and stand at Cross Road, by the school. Buses would then run down Spearing Road to re-join Rutland Avenue at the top of the hill, and then descend the hill back to the Half Moon and the town. The Castlefield leg was a kind of a circular route in the shape of the letter D and passengers for Spearing Road would stay on board during the short layover at Cross Road. 

I note that 574 is on Car No. 56, this would be prefixed by a small embossed letter D to denote Desborough Road garage. The four buses used on the 33 ran on Nos. 55 to 58. In those days 1 to 41 were double deck workings, 51 to 70 were crewed single deck workings and 81 to 85 were one man workings on the 32, 34 and 80 services. Of the single deck crewed workings, 51-54 were duties on the 31 to Walters Ash and Lacey Green, 55-58 were Castlefields, 59-62 were Downleys (35) and 63-68 were used on the 36 Lane End/Cadmore End and 37 Lane End/Frieth/Turville/Henley which were interworked often using Bristol LWL's like 629 in another photograph. 69 and 70 were Relief duties on certain routes. 

From the photo of 574, the bridge adjacent to the rear door is the bridge over the River Wye (now subterranean), the rectangular building in the back ground is the Trustee Savings Bank and is positioned in part of the department store Murray's building. The car park on the left provided a walkway through to Oxford Street where West Wycombe Road services departing from the Railway Station would pick up. The building with the chimneys behind the rear of the bus would most likely be the Bull public house (now the Robert Dyas hardware store?). The buildings to the rear of the bus would be in Queens Square, High Wycombe. There used to be another pub just out of vision in Queens Square called the Globe. In those days pubs closed at 2.30pm after the lunch period and I always remember witnessing a fight involving Teddy Boys spilling out of the Globe into the serenity of Queens Square! 

Out of vision in the photo, but outside Murrays ( a rather fine department store now closed I think. Ed.) and the Bull were the bus stops for the other Desborough Road services, the cross town Thames Valley 26 / 26A and London Transport 326. 

The photo of 629 brings back memories as these used to pass my bedroom window at Lane End Road, Sands working the 36 to Lane End and Cadmore End. Quite a fair number of this batch was allocated to the Wycombe depots. From memory, 616 - GJB 254 - spent more time than the rest working on Fingest outstation duties. 629 in the photo shows the T-shaped route number and destination layout. All these vehicles originally had three piece layouts with third layout listing intermediate places served en route. The bus is parked in Frogmoor Bus Station.

The KSW 730 is also in Frogmoor and shows the lazy blind layout often used when the 'via' displays were removed either by simply applying red paint to the glass or by replacing with the T-shape layout as on 629. 33A LOCAL SERVICE doesn't really help anyone especially as the bus laid over in Frogmoor but started its route from Newland Street! The 33A was an hourly service supplement to the 33 and ran from Newland Street to Chairborough Road. The route was the same as the 33 until just past the Half Moon, and as the 33 went right into Rutland Avenue, the 33A went left, then right into Chairborough Road. The bus turned into a road (its name eludes me) just before the Jolly Bodger pub and then returned to the Half Moon by making another right turn and running parallel to Chairborough Road. The route was double deck worked and the bus did one trip on the 33A and one trip on the 81 each hour. The 81 went from Frogmoor via Oxford Street, Oxford Road, Desborough Avenue, Marlow Road, Cressex Road to Booker (Turnpike). A second journey each hour was numbered 81A and ran through from Wycombe Marsh. 

The blind layout on 730 typifies the problem I used to have as a 6 year old coming home from school! These vehicles were used on the 42 service, but there were two 42's! The 42 ran every half hour from Loudwater, Station Road (turning in the station forecourt just up Treadaway Hill) to West Wycombe Swan (turning at the junction where Chorley Road meets the main A40). The 42 also ran every half hour from Wycombe Marsh to Booker Hill Estate. The two services paralleled each other from the Marsh to the West Wycombe Road/Chapel Lane junction by the Downley Turn bus stop. The Booker Hill 42 turned left down through Sands and up New Road to turn right at the top end of Booker Hill Road. I attended a small school on the West Wycombe Road and thanks to late running 42's showing just 42 LOCAL SERVICE, I dread to think of the number of times I ended up in West Wycombe instead of alighting at Sands Hour Glass! 

856 is quite interesting as a small number of one-man Bristol MW's were based at Wycombe. In those days about 50% of the 32 ran through to Chinnor and the remaining 50% turned at Routs Green, Bledlow Ridge. The photo was taken at Frogmoor bus station and in the background there is a former South Midland coach demoted to one-man bus duties. They had white window surrounds and roof. 

The photo of Bristol LD 778 also brings memories! This was one of a sizeable number of double deck Bristol LD's plus some FS's and I believe a couple of the short FSF's that came to Thames Valley from United Welsh in Swansea. This particular bus, when first at Wycombe, regularly performed the 8.24am 38 Relief bus from Booker (Turnpike) to Hearns Corner, the main bus being the 8.21am from Limmer Lane, Booker to the Railway Station. I recall that for many months 778 carried internal advertisements for all things Swansea, such as the previous year's Swansea Eisteddfod! United Welsh livery was also red and so transferred buses could enter service with Thames Valley without having to be re-painted. 794 and 632 were 2 other ex-United Welsh LD's that spent time at Wycombe. The conductor on that particular roster had some sense, as he/she is showing 26A MILL END ROAD, rather than the more usual 26A LOCAL SERVICE! The 26A ran from the Happy Wanderer in Bowerdean to Mill End Road via Bowerdean Cross Roads, Totteridge Road, Castle Street, Newland Street, Desborough Road, Desborough Park Road, Abercrombie Avenue and Eaton Avenue to Mill End Road. Peak hour and lunch time journeys extended to Sands Industrial Estate which was known as Sherwoods Corner on the destination. London Transport ran short workings on their 326 from the Happy Wanderer to Rutland Street each hour. These followed the same route as the 26A to the stop after Newland Street which is the request stop by the Job centre at the town end of Desborough Road. The LT buses then went left into Rutland Street and turned and stood at the Rutland Street/Wendover Road junction. 

26/26A and LT 326 buses used to reverse from Mill End Road into Dashwood Avenue to turn and then stand in Mill End Road. This was eventually stopped as being dangerous and the revised route of running from Desborough Road straight along Dashwood Avenue to Mill End Road was introduced, returning to Desborough Road via the old route along Eaton Avenue, Abercrombie Avenue and Desborough Park Road. Oddly, the Sherwoods Corner journeys continued to reverse from Lane End Road into Hillbottom Road to stand. It was some years before this too was stopped and the revised terminus of Roundwood Road was introduced.

The FLF D52 was one of a number of D-prefixed FLF's at Wycombe. It was indeed sent to Central SMT Co along with at least D51 and D56 from Wycombe. Series 1 VR's were received in return. D52 is working the 21 service to Aylesbury via West Wycombe Pedestal, Bradenham, Saunderton to Princes Risborough. This route was originally the 30 and was then linked with the 20/20A Wycombe-Maidenhead-Windsor routes to form the 20/20A Aylesbury-Wycombe-Maidenhead-Windsor, worked by Wycombe and Maidenhead depots. Eventually the route was re-split and the Wycombe-Aylesbury section became 21/21A. Route No. 30 was allocated to a then new town service to the Plomer Hill Estate via Hughenden Road, Hughenden Avenue returning via Telford Way to Hughenden Avenue.

The RF on Green Line 724 had just left the LT (later LCBS) depot at the foot of Marlow Hill (now Staples store) for its long journey to Romford. The route was worked by HE High Wycombe and RE Romford garages, I believe. The route was 'express' rather than 'limited stop' as I am sure the only stop between High Wycombe Garage and Amersham Garage was Hazlemere Cross Roads.

The RT on the 326 would eventually succumb to RML Routemasters. Note its running number HE9. 9, 10, 11 were used on the 326 with two journeys and hour from Micklefield Estate to Mill End Road via Micklefield Road, London Road, Gordon Road, Bowerdean X Roads, Totteridge Road, then as the 26A to Mill End Road. A third journey ran hourly from Micklefield to the LT Garage and this omitted Gordon Road but continued along London Road to Easton Street then left into Queen Victoria Road down to the Garage. The same bus would then run from the Garage to Bowerdean Happy Wanderer, back to Rutland Street then from Rutland Street to Micklefield each hour, this latter journey turning right from Castle Street into Crendon Street, left into Easton Street and along the London Road. From memory, HE9 and HE10 did the Mill End Road journeys and HE11 did the Micklefield/Bowerdean shorts. Some 326's also extended to Sands Industrial Estate but rather than showing SHERWOODS CORNER as Thames Valley did, LT showed SANDS. Destination displays for Micklefield included WOODSIDE ROAD NTH via Totteridge Road, WOODSIDE ROAD NTH via Easton St., WOODSIDE ROAD STH via Totteridge Road, HERBERT ROAD via Totteridge Road. Woodside Road South and Herbert Road stops were used as terminals for Relief journeys.

RF612 is on what was then a fairly new service, the 442 which was the first route to my knowledge to serve Hatters Lane, Hicks Farm Rise and Roebuck Avenue. The Hicks Farm area of Micklefield/Totteridge was pretty new housing in those days.

RML2416 is on a short working of the 363 from the LT Garage to Totteridge. The 363 ran every 12 minutes from Totteridge (Tyzack Rd) down Totteridge Road to Bowerdean X Roads, then along Gordon Road to the Cricket Ground right into London Road to Easton Street. Journeys terminating at LT Garage would turn left into Queen Victoria Road. Through journeys turned right into Crendon Street. Note that Penn is shown as an intermediate point as this service ran regularly through to Beaconsfield. From Crendon Street the 363 ran up Amersham Hill, past the RGS to Terriers, then Hazlemere Cross Roads. It turned right into Penn road and straight down the main road to Penn as the housing on the right where the William Ramsay school is wasn't built. The Beaconsfield journeys continued along the main road from Penn through Knotty Green to Beaconsfield Station and then up to Beaconsfield Old Town. I think mainly for school children purposes, a couple of afternoon journeys then continued down the A40 to Holtspur and these would show 363 HOLTSPUR as their destination.

From memory the Wycombe-Penn section was half hourly with the Penn-Beaconsfield section being hourly. Eventually, the Totteridge section was split from the Penn section to become the 360 and then became worked by standee Merlins/Swifts from the MBS/SMS classes.  

MB95 could have been either a HE or MA (Amersham) garage bus as both worked the 305. SM451 was an Amersham bus and Amersham worked the lions share of the 362 which in those days didn't go to Pond Park Estate in Chesham but ran instead to the Nashleigh Arms which was shown as Nash Arms on blinds. 

Think I've got a little carried away in this e-mail but hopefully some of the information will clarify the photos and provide some background information, if only for debate in coming issues!!!! 

With regard to the 724, I do believe there still exists need for a Wycombe - Watford service but probably via Amersham, Chesham, Hemel Hempstead rather than Amersham and Rickmansworth as the 724 used to run. (In fact one could take the bus to Amersham and then the 336 from there to Watford. Actually quite a pleasant trip. Ed)

A letter from John Bristow with some old Oxford pictures.

John writes "I attach photos taken in the 1960's in Oxford for possible inclusion in your forthcoming special feature."

A wonderful and evocative shot of an ex LT RT LUC104 in service with Charlton-on-Otmoor Services at Gloucester Green.

Another excellent period piece of a Worth's ex Scout Leyland PD2 delivered new in 1951.
It used to run the Preston-Blackpool service of Scout and is seen here at Gloucester Green.

An interesting comparison of two almost identical buses, one highbridge and one lowbridge in service with COMS at Gloucester Green.

John finishes by saying "I enjoyed last week's nostalgia re. High Wycombe and was especially interested in the paragraph on route 442 as I was married at St. Andrew's Church on Hatters  Lane in 1971.  My brother made a cine film of the wedding and, knowing my bus interest, included a shot of an RF passing the church!"

More on Gloucester Green

Talking of Gloucester Green last week I ;published a picture of a Thames Valley Bristol L on the service 5 to Reading. I show this again below and beside it the location as it is today.

and in 1999

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

Interesting London by Gavin Francis

Gavin hadn't seen this advertising livery before for the NSPCC.
It looks quite nice and doesn't detract from the fact that it is a bus and not a truck.

Is London the only place with illuminated side adverts. This one changes messages - quite good really.

WA Shearings

 
Dave Godley took these two pictures which shows the latest WA Shearings liveries.
It appears that the first coach GT02 WAM was or is a Grand Tourer, hence the GT registration.
The second one definitely is - GT02 WAY. Both were pictured in Torquay last week.

http://www.washearings.com/washearings/

Coming events

Running Days advised by Peter Cartwright, Running Day Organiser  Amersham & District Motorbus Society 

At last I'm able to officially notify everyone of the Running Days for 2006.

Sunday 14 May 2006 is the date for the second Slough/Windsor Running Day based on Slough Bus Station. Since last year a huge new Tesco store has been built adjacent and is now fully operational. Due to traffic delays experienced last year in Windsor an extra 5 minutes each way is being added to running times between Slough and Windsor.

There is no St George's Day parade to hold us up this year and the Queen's official birthday is 2 weeks plus later when her 80th birthday is marked. I know of no Royal Wedding planned for Windsor this year and, hopefully, timekeeping will be better on the Windsor routes.

An enhancement to the Burnham Beeches service is envisaged with the opposite way round the loop. There is also the chance to have double deck workings but terminating on the eastern fringe of the Beeches.

Another new route for this year will be a service through Windsor Great Park. Crown Estates are happy with this and I have a meeting arranged  with them on Tuesday 10 January. White Bus Services currently operate a restricted service here but not on Sundays & on only certain days of the week. Operation is likely to be by non-LT single-deck vehicles. A large number of vehicles is required including at least 16 double-deckers.

Some 40 years earlier on 15 May 1966 RMLs were allocated to Windsor Garage to work several routes in the area. RMC coaches had already been there for some time.

WR Garage operated many other types of vehicle including RT,RF,RC,RCL,RB,RS,GS,SMA,SNB,STL, T and of course some of these only operated in the London Country period. Additionally in the summer months Central area red vehicles were commonplace as green vehicles were reassigned to Green Line relief duties so any red-liveried vehicle would be welcome. At least 30 vehicles (including 5 non-LT/LCBS vehicles will be needed to maintain the schedules. 

As 1966 is the 40th anniversary of route 724 it is hoped to have a feeder to/from the Northern areas and to run the route from Slough through Windsor, Old Windsor, Runnymede to Staines. Via Runnymede, by the river Thames was the original routeing when it was extended from Staines to Windsor Castle. It did not serve Windsor Garage nor will it in 2006. The coach link to Staines will therefore be 724 this year in place of 718.

Anyone offering to operate a 725 from at least Kingston will be welcomed. Please let me know.

At the moment there is not an area for display vehicles  but every effort will be made to find one. Can I please ask anyone who came last year and was allocated blinds and who will/cannot come this year, to contact me urgently so I can collect them for re-issue to others. These are expensive and will be needed on the day.

Sunday 25 June 2006

This date in mid-Summer is for the first Hemel Hempstead Running Day to be based on the Bus Station. Arriva the Shires and Essex have given permission for us to use the bus station that day but like Slough this is an operational bus station and we will not interfere with their operations which are anyway much reduced on Sundays.

This is the normal date for North Weald which will not take place this year and the NLTS have no plans for a replacement event that day.

Discussions have also taken place with Dacorum Borough Council, Herts County Council and the police who have all been most helpful. I have also spoken to the Market Superintendent and am able to book and pay for stall space on the day. For those who don't know Hemel, the covered market is situated behind the bus station - an excellent location.

The market will have a hot food stall that day and another stallholder sells confectionery, soft drinks, ice cream etc. Ample toilet facilities are at the bus station.

Peter Gomm and I visited Hemel on Fri 6 January and, with advice from the police, have identified an area nearby for display vehicles in Dacorum Way and vehicles on long breaks can park in Queensway (formerly Bury Road) between Leighton Buzzard Road and Marlow's, the railway station on one unused bay on Sundays and the bus station itself can be used for shorter breaks without disturbing its smooth operation. Health & Safety issues have to be borne in mind. A requirement of at least 10 double decks and 11 single decks are needed. This excludes any duplication which will be needed.

A number of rural and inter-urban routes have been chosen for operation - 302, 307 ,312.316. 317.317a,318,319 ,320,330, 337 ,347,706,708, 724. The 724 is for a feeder service to/from Watford from the North and then a 708 to/from Hemel. At the moment I have nothing from the South - any suggestions/offers?  (THOSE IN BOLD HAVE TO BE SINGLE-DECK OPERATED). 

Certain places such as Berkhamsted Station provide good interchanges with rtes 317/a and 312 connecting there and also in central Watford with the 302 and 347 connecting.

The biggest interchange of all, of course, is the bus station.

Again in Hemel a wide range of vehicles have been operated e.g. GS,RF, T, RB,RT,RMC, RML,SNB,SNC plus several others. Like Windsor, Central Area used to loan their vehicles for weekend and bank holiday duplication. 

If anyone has blinds for any or part of these areas please let me know urgently.

Please respond as quickly as you can as I want to finalise timetables/duties etc asap.

I am paying a visit to Hemel this morning to see what it's like between 11.00 and 12.00

Sunday 1 October 2006 - the 18th Running Day at Amersham.

As route 724 is 40 years old this year, apart from the feeders, I want to schedule a service between Watford and High Wycombe via Amersham - the original route south of Watford. This will be 29 years to the day since MA Garage took over duties from HE - High Wycombe Garage which closed the previous day, 30 September 1977.

This year should see the brand new bus station at High Wycombe open by this date and this would be the ideal place to terminate. More on this Running Day in due course.

It is hoped to celebrate 40 years since RMLs took over route 363 Totteridge - Holtspur in February 1966. Weather permitting it is hoped to have RML/RMLs running over the route on Sunday 19 February. Likewise a month later to run over the full length of Route 347 Hemel - Uxbridge which received RMLs on 20 March 1966. Anyone else interested in joining us?

Please feel free to contact me by phone 01494 437750 or by e-mail - Peter_Cartwright@wycombe.gov.uk - or post at 54 Guinions Road, HIGH WYCOMBE, HP13 7NX. 

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

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