Editorial
The summer days are approaching and temperatures are on the rise. Better get the fans in now! Contributions for this weeks issue have provided me with a lot of interest and sometimes looking at and editing the pictures takes me a little closer to places than just hearing about them. I hope this page gives readers a similar experience?
Often new vehicles are arriving around now and the 21 new double deck buses for Stagecoach Witney are expected by August. They will be fully compliant with Euro 6 and offer customers USB, Wi-Fi and next stop announcements (a first for SC Oxfordshire) when they enter service. Further details will be published as they become available.
As readers will see I enjoyed a first look at the new coaches for Oxford Bus last Thursday when nr. 30 BV19YGM had arrived that morning.
Nr. 30 - BV19YGM - C55FLt.
And so, without more a do onto the main articles.
First of the expected Mercedes Benz Tourismo coaches arrives at Oxford
Last Thursday, May 23rd Phil Southall - MD of Oxford Bus invited me to see the first Tourismo which was to be made available for crew training before the main fleet arrives for introduction into service.
Fortunately the day dawned bright and sunny, though my colleague Gavin Francis does not like these days due to "reflections" which was to prove correct later in the morning.
I arrived in good time to be met by Phil who took me to see the coach which had only just arrived from EvoBus, Coventry. Indeed I was not the first local enthusiast to have photographed this coach as Peverel had espied it on the A34 heading to Oxford as the picture below duly shows.
A well done is in order to Peverel for this "scoop"!
However I was delighted to see the new vehicle in "the tin" to coin a phrase and much enjoyed the pleasing sight of a brand new coach sparkling in the mid day sun.
My first view of to be nr 30 in the Oxford fleet and it certainly looked
impressive.
For the technically minded the link below offers an introduction to the Tourismo joining the Oxford fleet. However the coaches are 14 metres long and have MB OM470 Engines and a ZF gearbox. Somewhat different from the specifications described in the link.
https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/mercedes-benz-tourismo-euro6-launch/2/
Oxford asked for a rear destination blind on the coaches and this had to be
fitted as a post manufacture modification.
Internally the coach offers 55 seats with a sunken midcentre sunken loo. The
seats can be adjusted widthwise to give passengers extra room!
Drop down tables are also included.
The screens will give an eta at destination and locations en route.
Wheelchair access is with a lift through the centre door only accessible to w/c
passengers which reduces overall seating to 47+1.
The first picture shows the stowage for the lift. The second picture shows the
main saloon and on the right
seats sliding back or forward to provide room for the wheelchair as seen above.
Gavin will be horrified with the reflections! Locker space is very good as seen
in the second picture.
The driver has an excellent work area with navigation and a ticket machine set
close to hand.
Phil Southall looks very pleased with the new coach!
For the enthusiast I include the full details on these coaches pertaining to registrations, fleet numbers and chassis numbers.
Shown below are the registration numbers with fleet numbers and chassis numbers. Coaches 30-38 are in Airline livery as per pictures. 39 and 40 are in special Ashmolean liveries.
Seating is C55LfT reduced to C47+1LfT when a wheelchair is carried.
| Fleet number & any livery change | Chassis Number | Registration |
| OXFORD BUS 39 Ashmolean Livery | WEB41057523001490 | BV19 YGK |
| OXFORD BUS 40 Ashmolean Livery | WEB41057523001535 | BV19 YGL |
| OXFORD BUS 30 | WEB41057523001536 | BV19 YGM |
| OXFORD BUS 31 | WEB41057523001537 | BV19 YGN |
| OXFORD BUS 32 | WEB41057523001538 | BV19 YGO |
| OXFORD BUS 33 | WEB41057523001539 | BV19 YGP |
| OXFORD BUS 34 | WEB41057523001540 | BV19 YGR |
| OXFORD BUS 35 | WEB41057523001541 | BV19 YGT |
| OXFORD BUS 36 | WEB41057523001542 | BV19 YGU |
| OXFORD BUS 37 | WEB41057523001543 | BV19 YGW |
| OXFORD BUS 38 | WEB41057523001544 | BV19 YGX |
I very much enjoyed this interlude in my retirement and would like to thank Oxford Bus for their hospitality. Also to Luke Marion for other information.
David Gray records visit to Isle of Wight in May 2019 for Rydabus
https://www.iwbusmuseum.org.uk
I attended last Saturday's event at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum, Rydabus.
As usual a very well organised event with a good variety
of buses of various routes. It is also ideal to have the buses lined up awaiting
their next service to give an unobstructed view.
I finally managed to get a decent shot of ex Oxford K125
BUD. Also of note was the first rally appearance of the Leyland National since
acquisition by the museum.
Once with Oxford Bus and now with the IoW Bus Museum.
Two original Southern Vectis open toppers including "The Olde Girl" with
customers enjoying the sunny weather.
Now, from days gone, 565 a Bristol FS6G and 563 an LD6G bring back memories of
childhood holidays.
A little Bristol, an LHLS when our photographer gets a cheery wave from the
driver. 202 makes a left turn after a short hill climb.
880 is a Leyland National popular with National bus company operations and
looking like new on the day.
Not quite Southern Vectis but from that company 806 - FDL927D looks trim for its
age. This is an MW6G, powerful for the island services.
A visitor from Bournemouth, JLJ403, a Leyland PS2 with Burlingham bodywork and
the summery livery looks well and full.
Another visitor from the mainland, 279 - EMW284, from Wilts & Dorset makes a
grand sight for a Bristol L6B with Beadle bodywork dating from 1947.
Gosh that makes it 72 years young!!!!!
Many thanks to David Gray for the look into The Rydabus day on the Isle of Wight.
Michael Wadman shares memories of May 2013
I thought you might be interested in these photos
from an old film that I’ve just had printed. Although it’s only six years ago,
they’re already quite historic. All were taken on May 18th 2013.
Whites Coaches’ bus operations
are much reduced from their previous levels.
Optare Solo YJ57 EHP is in Wantage
on service 38, now worked by Thames Travel.
I
don’t think the Stanford-in-the-Vale Community Bus is still around, or if it is
it certainly no longer runs section 22 services,
which came off in September
2016. CE12 CKG is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter / Treka in Wantage on service 83 or
84
(unfortunately it’s fitted with the type of destination display that doesn’t
photograph).
Following the collapse of RH Transport in October 2012, the X47 service was
operated by Ridgeways Coaches of Wantage
until taken over by Thames Travel in
June 2013.
VKZ 2292, a Scania L94IB / Irizar new to Holmeswood Coaches as
S4 HWD, on layover in Wantage. The X47 was withdrawn in June 2015.
Heyfordian no longer operate bus
services. Optare Solo YJ11 EJU is in Oxford on service 103, which was withdrawn
in December 2016.
Gavin Francis asks are
ERMs to
reappear in London???
In 1986 London Transport decided it wanted a larger share of the London tour market and transferred 50 RMs into their sightseeing fleet. Of these 20 were converted to open top. By 1990 it was decided that larger buses with more capacity were needed and with their modular construction the buses were split in half and a full-length window section added. With the RML only having a half length window this made the newly classified ERM the longest Routemaster to have been produced at 32ft. The top deck capacity was increased from 36 to 44.
Pictures of ERM 84 and 94 taken in Edinburgh on
September 2nd 2009 by Paul Bateson.
Those selected were RMs 80/84/90/94/143/163/235/237/242 and 281. They carried on in service until 2002 when they were withdrawn and sold to Mac Tours in Edinburgh. They were mechanically modified with Cummins engines and Allison gearboxes and continued in service until 2016 being withdrawn a few months before The Disability Discrimination Act came into effect when they were withdrawn.
Lothian Buses have taken 8 of them and have rebuilt them back to very nearly original condition.
Premium Tours operate many day tours from London covering many attractions in South East England, they also run some London day trips using a small fleet of Routemasters. They intend to start operating some new services based at The London Eye again using Routemasters.
Premium Tours ERM 84 and 94 taken by Gavin
Francis on May 21st 2019.
Whilst recently in Lewisham I saw former ERMs 84 and 94 passing through in plain red but with Premium Tours legal lettering. Thus it would appear that after a gap of 17 years the ERM class is about to be seen on the streets of London again!
Following my visit to Bedford, Tony Bungay treats us to the same place in the 1980s
Although a bit out of the area, as you did a bit on
Bedford the other week, thought these may be of interest in showing the Bedford
scene in the 1980s
Bristol VRT 808 is scene working a school service near
Bedford town centre
wearing United Counties then new livery with NBC liveried Olympians in
background summer 1986.
AEC Routemaster 701 and behind Olympian 610 working
Town Services in Bedford March 1988
Bristol VRT 770 in then new livery with
Alexander/Leopard 225 wearing later style NBC dual purpose livery
in Bedford Bus Station summer 1986
Leyland Tiger/Plaxton 102 leaves Bedford Bus Station on
a recently introduced ‘Coachlinks’ Service in Coachlinks livery summer 1986
In Bedford Town Centre on a Town
service spring 1988 is Leyland National 526.
If you use any of these copyright is with the Bus
Archive, I have their permission to use some of the pictures on your webpage
Line up in Bedford Bus station various liveries
including the fairly new owners Stagecoach November 1988
AEC Routemaster 707 in Bedford Town Centre on Town
Service 101 Summer 1988
Olympian/ECW 601 wearing ‘Coachlinks’ Livery comes into
Bedford Bus Station November 1988,
Still wearing Devon General Livery Bristol VRT now
numbered 740
A fairly new Volvo/Plaxton 133 wearing Stagecoach livery with ‘Coachlinks’
fleet name November 1988
And lastly Bristol RE/ECW . Purpose 284 leaves Bus
Station on Service 180 to Biggleswade Summer 1986
Again copyright is with the Bus Archive
Final selection Malcolm, taken in NBC days, General view
of Bedford Bus Station summer 1984, and in Stagecoach era summer 1997.
Bristol RE/ECW DP 215 seems to have acquired a Bristol
VR radiator panel! November 1985.
Recently formed from split of Eastern Counties
Ambassador Travel Tiger/Plaxton November 1984.
July 1980 Bristol FS/ECW 709 leaves Bedford Town
Centre, the fleet number being shown in the route blind box!
Not a local Service number! Ironically eight or so years later rear platform
double deckers would be working local routes in Bedford with fleet numbers in
the low 700 series!
A general view of the Bus Station July 1980 with some
more Bristol FS vehicles present, operation of these vehicles by United Counties
would finish within a couple of months.
Lastly Bristol VRT/ECW 756 leaves Bedford Bus Station
summer 1984, the Bristol VR behind with the between Decks advert,
was an Aylesbury based vehicle which was working Service 141 Aylesbury –
Leighton Buzzard – Ampthill – Bedford,
At one time this Service continued on some journeys beyond Bedford to St Ives
via Huntingdon.
A couple of months after this photo the 141 was cut back to Leighton Buzzard on a two hourly frequency.
A weekend in Scotland by Gary Seamarks
Gary Seamarks
27549 This was in Glasgow, had worked through from Fife
coast !.
1141 is a new arrival from London, fully refurbished
inside and out but retains the centre exit doors.
LX59 is in Edinburgh working for Borders Buses,
it looked its age and showed signs of its London Red days at the rear, was a SC in London bus.
LX59CPY is ex Stagecoach London
Ulsterbus 141 SFZ6141 leaves Glasgow.
WRP767J is a long term Lathalmond resident, awaiting the
finish of a major restoration, its been there 10 years
and is now looking as
good as new, was a UC vehicle from new
Perhaps some of the best last,
The White Lady made it to the Ribble event
on Sat 25/5.
MSF750P is a Seddon with a rather large stick in the cab
and fitted with a trusted Gardner
engine !
Highland BCS256C at Lathalmond.
Fife represented at Lathalmond by Bristol FS BXA464B.
A real "oldie" with Stagecoach and its heritage fleet is HGM335E. The livery is the
original SC livery.
As stated before the quantity of 18/68/19 plate vehicles
in the area is amazing, and spread across most fleets, Lothian have more on order
as well !
I have managed to photograph some of the routes taken over by their new operators, giving a taster of the mixed circumstances being experienced by operators who suddenly were called upon the task of replacing the routes. Note that even Arriva Midlands got in on the action, using their Sprinter minibuses in North Birmingham from Cannock depot, though I didn’t picture any - reminiscent of 2012 when they got a batch of 10 new E200s for contracted routes they won, only to sell up to Diamond eventually.
Route 38 between Northfield and Selly Oak runs hourly, using just one bus. Green Bus of Hockley have taken over, often using a former London, dual door Trident. This is 117 YN51KUY arriving at Northfield terminus. Their contract on the route is not due to last much longer as I write this, for it was only temporary
Another shot of the 38 here, this time former NX Dundee President 4112, now numbered 312 in the fleet. It carries the Transdev crowd-funding based livery for Vamooz , as pictured passing along the Bristol Road, Selly Oak, with a Northfield bound service.
Route 145 from Droitwich and Wychbold to Longbridge Station and Rubery, is now operated by Diamond from Kidderminster. The three former Central Buses Optares are regulars, though Scania Omnilinks and Solos are making appearances. This is 30972 at Longbridge.
Igos allocation was arguably a better one, there versions always being smartly presented. Turning around just a few minutes from the above of 30972, YJ18DKY heads back to Droitwich Spa. Igo also has YJ67FYV and YJ68FTO - I haven’t seen any news of their new owners yet.
Route 39 has arguably seen the biggest upgrade, with Bromsgrove based KEV’S bringing in three new MMC200s for the contract. Pictured at Weoley Castle is YX19OTY, the others being OTW and OTZ. The firm has round a dozen service buses, the others being Enterprise Primos and Solos.
Not on the 39, but YY64GVZ was one of three Enviros leased new for the 39 routes. Pictured at Merry Hill, it was operating the 208 from Dudley, a route now withdrawn though did see a short spell under NXWM. The others with suitable 39 lettering were YY64GWA/C, though at the end of Igo, they were often on other routes.
The two Dennis Tridents operated by Igo on schools have been sighted at the Barnsley Scrapyards, and occasionally did Rail Replacements for London Midland. Pictured in 2016 at Sandwell & Dudley was LT02ZZG. One of these buses has since been scrapped in a Barnsley scrapyard.
And finally, YD63UZW one of 4 Solo SRs that Igo bought new for route 19 around South Birmingham, which was I believe the route with the highest PVR from Igo (5 buses at a half hourly frequency) These have been sighted at EnsignBus, and were the first new buses that Igo purchased.
Some final photos on the 31st of March, the day after Igo services were supposed to have finished for the last time. Here are KX14FJY KU52RXR KX15BLF and YK05CDU outside the firms main depot in South Birmingham, at Tay Road, Frankley
And my last photo of Igo was this one of all three of their Metrocitys together outside the depot. These are YJ68FTO YJ18DKY YJ67FYV, and were arguably the most valuable buses in the fleet, but used on a route which simply didn't sustain their investment. The 145 continued with Igo into April for around a week.
Nick Ross shows us three from Norwich
Three from Norwich for you all taken May 15th
Norwich School 's Olympian R331lhk (former Dublin bus) at the Cathedral bus stop
First 33060 awaits her next turn at the bus station
First
33244 arrives at the bus station with the 21 to Old Catton
North of the Border with Gordon Scott
Lothian Country 9206 - SB19GKL Volvo B8R
on Edinburgh to Linlithgow and Edinburgh to Bathgate
Shades of Eastern Scottish or SMT
Stagecoach Rennies 54204 - SF62CPU Volvo B11RT
First Glasgow 32657 - LK55ACO Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini
Dennis factory, looking out for new route X35 Falkirk to Glasgow
has two Enviro 300
with gold
Caught up with three buses in
Falkirk listed below.
Wright Streetlite Max Wright
Demo DRZ9713 on route 5.
Do you think this needs a repaint and some TLC. Volvo B7TL Plaxton President 32225 - LT52WUK.
Taken 23/5 at Halbeath Park & Ride
Lothian Motorcoaches started Citylink route
Replacement coach from Sheill's did the
Also
on a private hire at Alexander Dennis Falkirk
Three shots shown Lothian
Motorcoaches returning to
Van Hool 9056 - GSJ795, Panther 9005 - SN18CVX also Volvo Caetano
Levante FJ11GLY.
Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 847 - MXZ1757.
Thanks to Gordon for the excellent pictures.
Fleet news and developments
Tony Bungay
3579 a new type of vehicle to been seen in Aylesbury,
again as a result of Milton Keynes working most 150 services,
seen today 25/5/19 in Aylesbury High Street.
Also seen today in Aylesbury is 4018 on Service 500,
a rather standard type on this service.
Did not have much time to get this rather snatched shot
of newly repainted 5468,
which was further affected by lowish light levels, hence it is not quite as
sharp as it could be! On 24/5/19
5463 heading into Aylesbury on the X8 23/5/19
And lastly Solo 2493 passes the White Swan in
Whitchurch on the 60 on 22/5/19
Various comments recently about Carousel's ex LG double decks having their centre doors removed. Here is a picture of 941 with work under way at Oxford.
Pictures by Malcolm Crowe.
Andrew Webb has just noted that the loaned StreetLite SK17HHL was heading up the M1 Leicestershire late this afternoon. He advised within 5 minutes of seeing the bus.
Full details of the eleven Tourismo coaches due shortly are covered in the special article above.
Richard Sharman
Coach 2 heads for Oxford after leaving Heathrow Central
Coach 46 is seen exiting Heathrow Central Bus Station tunnel towards Oxford.
Workshops at Oxford on May 23rd by Malcolm Crowe.
General view of yard towards Watlington Road on May
23rd by Malcolm Crowe.
Various fleet members in the yard on May 23rd by
Malcolm Crowe.
Richard Sharman
Connector liveried 862 is seen along way from the routes that it is branded for whilst operating the 250 to Bicester. It is travelling along Camp Road in Upper Heyford. The former USAF airbase is currently undergoing a major regeneration.
Richard Sharman
This image of new NX Levante Caetano 58 illustrates how tall they are when compared to a double decker.
Gavin Francis
NEx Edwards Coaches BV17GVA at GG with super rear
for Boom on May 25th.
NEx Travelstar European of Walsall's NX17TSE with
super rear for Space Invader on May 25th.
Reading Buses Newbury & District unit seem to be helping out on the Bicester Village Park & Ride service again. This was a few Sunday's ago, only one Rotala decker was in use. It would appear a rapid repaint programme has been used on the Newbury fleet as four of the former Weavaway E400MMCs have been treated so far.
Pictures taken on May 5th at Bicester Village - Park
& Ride.
We understand that the 2019/20 orders do not include any Gold-specification vehicles, although some are expected to replace existing Gold vehicles. Does this mean the end of the Stagecoach Gold brand?
Look out for Dart SLF 34471 being stood down into the Reserve Fleet at Banbury and its replacement with Enviro 200 36760 being transferred from Witney.
Stagecoach in Oxfordshire hope that the 21 new buses for Witney replacing the present Gold Fleet will start to enter service in August.
Richard Sharman
Former Oxford E200 36453 is now with Hull depot,
where it is seen parked up.
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter from Stagecoach West Scotland now here is 44009. It joins 44005/06 which are at Cambridge from Stagecoach South Wales.
Previously unreported by us is the naming of the two Bedford-allocated Volvo
B10M training coaches. 52437 is now ‘Buttercup’ whilst 52485 is ‘Daisy’
Bedford-allocated Dart SLF 34424 has been receiving attention at Peterborough. We await confirmation on whether it is a transfer or merely at Peterborough for maintenance.
We understand that former Wessex Bus Enviro 200 36078 has visited Bulwark Engineering for component recovery and was returned to Stagecoach West on May 20thfor disposal.
Three generations of tubes on Wantage Oxford route
Skyliner
50209 again in Grove during 2012 by David Allen.
This was after the X30 had become the S9 and the tube working with 50263 had
become the X9, once a day service only by David Allen.
Smaller operators and London developments
Richard Sharman
One of two recent Sunsundegui to join the Cheney
fleet. Seen on the A44 near Peartree.
Three Cheney Coaches are seen waiting to pick up workers from a food factory on
Brackley industrial estate.
It should be noted that Cheney have just placed two
brand new Mercedes-Benz tri-axle Tourismos in to service in the last couple of
weeks,
the first brand new coaches here for some years
Gavin Francis notes promotion in Oxford for Gay Pride.
Lloyds Bank with a window dressing!
tube 50267 waits to cross the Gay Pride pedestrian
crossing in New Road.
Oxford Bus 367 which has promoted Gay Pride for about
one year now.
And I just realised my spacer bars link with the colours!