Issue 106 

Rail replacement coaches in the 3rd week of July 2017 by various contributors

Oxford Rail Closure and an engineering train hauled by the first of seven additional Class 70 PowerHaul locomotives ordered from GE Transportation by Colas Rail,
70812 was unloaded from the  Atlantic Sail at Liverpool - Seaforth docks on February 25, 2017, making this a very new loco.
A similar loco is seen to the right, behind. Taken on July 24th by Gavin Francis.

General view of the work on the rail station neck taken on July 26th by Gavin Francis.
This precluded trains running between Oxford and Didcot.

During July work took place on lines around and through Oxford resulting in bus/coach replacement services during the period. Some operators came a considerable for this significantly large operation.

Fortunately it had been planned during the school holidays which must have released a lot of the vehicles involved.

A fine general view of the car park on the eastern side of the station provided a holding and loading point for vehicles involved.
David Beynon took this excellent picture on July 25th.

Marcus Lapthorn sent several interesting pictures seen below.

 
Country Lion A8CLN with a second coach W1CLN in Oxford on July 23rd by Marcus Lapthorn.

Harris of High Wycombe sent WNZ2654 often used on such work. This coach was new in February 1998 to Cleaver of Dalmally, a town north west of Loch Lomond.
I think Cleaver is better known as Highland Heritage Coach tours, a firm user of Van Hool coaches in 2017.

Gavin Francis, as ever, sent a number of pictures of vehicles involved on this work.

From Nuneaton, Chapel End's W4CEC on July 26th by Gavin Francis.

 
From near Leicester, Confidence 69 an ex Crosville Leyland Olympian B187BLG and 75 - V110LGC until recently, from new, with London Central's Camberwell depot
both seen on July 23rd by Gavin Francis.

 
Pictures of First - West of England StreetLites taken July 23rd and 24th respectively by Gavin Francis.

An unbranded First West of England Scania L94UB with Wright Solar B43F bodywork new in September 2005 to First Beeline as 65726.
Photo by Gavin Francis on July 24th.

Horseman of Reading were also involved with Volvo/Plaxton RX07KDF seen on July 26th by Gavin Francis.

JD Travel who operate out of Wheatley used M617ORJ, one with Shearings.

All the way from Norwich, Marret's Chariots Volvo Van Hool MX03ACV, once with Shearings, seen on July 24th by Gavin Francis.

 
Earlier in the month of July, on the 9th, quite unusually Oxford Bus provided Airline 24 on Rail Replacement services caught in the lens of Gavin Francis.

Pulhams used VDF365 on the late July closures and here we see the coach coming out of the Rail Station approach on July 23rd taken by Gavin Francis.
VDF 365 is a B12B/Jonckheere Mistral. It was new to Ellis, North Acton, London, as FJ04 ERU in March 2004,
 passing to Cockell, Bootland & Gannon (Abbot Travel), Loanhead, Midlothian in January 2009. It was re-registered 2767 WF in August 2010,
although re-registered again to SN04 XWC in January 2013, before joining Pulham the following month and being given its current mark in April 2013.
Quite a history for a coach only 12 years!!

Well, a great selection of pictures giving a clear impression of what happened. 

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