The project timeline is as follows:
-
April to October 2023 – Botley Road part
closure until end of October for utility
diversion work
-
From April 11, drivers will be advised to use
park and rides and find an alternative route
into the city centre.
-
Buses will turn around just before the rail
bridge, close to the junction with Roger
Dudman Way.
Richard Sharman
provides an update on Oxfordshire changes
Richard Sharman
Sunday, March 5th saw an array of changes to Stagecoach West bus services
in Oxfordshire.
Some of these changes were quite significant:
>Services 2/2A now diverting via Oxford Parkway P&R,
with the new incarnation of the 7, the S7, sticking to the main road, which
means that Kidlington residents will now find the 7 the quickest option if they
are boarding on the main road through Kidlington, in addition to the S4.
>Some fairly major changes to the S3, with a reduction
of buses in the AM peak from 11 to 7 departures between 0600 and 0900hrs, and a
reduction in night service frequency, despite many of the villages on the route
having new houses built at a rapid rate. In addition, the service has been
removed from Gloucester Green bus station, and will now stop at George Street
stop B1, the same stop that the P&R 300 and Witney S1 drop off at. Potential
issue there with large numbers of tourists heading towards Blenheim having no
where to wait, given the narrow width of the path at that stop, mixed with
alighting passengers off the 300 and S1.
>Introduction of service S7 from Oxford to Witney via
Kidlington and Woodstock every 30 minutes, replacing the 7 service and the 233
between Witney and Woodstock. This service is operated by Oxford/ Witney
depots and Chipping Norton outstation. Along the route, Long Hanborough has a
number of new houses built and residents will now benefit from a direct bus
service to Oxford Rail Station, especially handy when trains are not running
because of engineering work from the village.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time a bus
service has operated from Oxford Rail Station to Witney and beyond, with
Wiltshire County Council funding the X64 Fair Rosamund service in the mid-90s
operated by Carterton Coaches and then Heyfordian on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Although this was routed through Yarnton, then Woodstock rather than Kidlington.
The X64 then carried onto Swindon.
>Curtailment of service 233 to Witney, replacement to
Woodstock provided by S7. New variant 234 added, that runs direct between Witney
and Burford, with the 233 serving Brize Norton and Carterton
>Minor changes to the S5
service routing in Bicester, and frequency amended to every 20-minutes
Pictures
Witney Enviro400MMC 11237 is
seen, on the first day of operation, turning in Woodstock town centre and
passing through Long Hanborough,
especially handy for those wishing to visit the
bus Museum. RICHARD SHARMAN
10785
and 10781 are seen passing through Long Hanborough towards Oxford on the new S7.
RICHARD SHARMAN
First Bus began operation of
autonomous service 001 around Milton Park on Thursday 2nd of March. Coach
and Bus Week used the service on Friday 3rd, the second day of operation, to
record a video of the bus in service, so that people can see what it is like in
autonomous mode.
The video can be viewed here from 1830hrs on Thursday, March
9th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGPOXbZcukw
Stagecoach West 47621 remains
in reserve at Witney, but hasn't seen use since 7th of September 2022.
It is
seen parked at Witney depot outstation.
A new addition to Oxford's training fleet is 27554. This has replaced ALX300
22417, which has been purchased by Cavebuss.
22416 and 22418 are still in use. at Oxford.
Interesting Links
Coach impact of any charging Manchester CAZ explored - routeone (route-one.net)
OXFORDSHIRE BUS ENTHUSIASTS SOCIETY
“Public Transport in Budapest – the City that has it all”
A talk by Alan Whitaker about the fascinating buses, trams, trolleybuses, and
metro lines in this beautiful city.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday 21 March in Norman Brown Room 2,
Rose Hill Community Centre,
Carole’s Way, Oxford OX4 4HF.
All very welcome. No entrance fee.
Michael Penn re a bus fire
I saw yesterday, March 8th, that a Stagecoach driver
trainer bus had caught fire on the A14 near Huntingdon. I have not been
able to identify it but I wondered if it was the same one I photographed in
Peterborough last week. I have not been able to find a photograph on the
internet of any other Stagecoach trainers in the area with the same lettering.
Can any readers reveal the identity of this trainer? Ed.
Roger Thompson regarding
Cutteslowe
According to my copy of the COMS City routes map printed
in 1959 – which I have in the back of a Summer 1962 COMS timetable that I found
on the Internet several years back – the No 2 to Cutteslowe travelled via the
Banbury Road and the Northern by pass and did, indeed, turn into Jackson Road,
where it terminated not far into the estate and returned to the City by the
same route.
As far as I recall from my time as a schoolboy in Oxford
from 1954 to 1962, routes and route numbers did not vary greatly over time then,
so I suspect this was the same route that had been followed for several years
before that.
Tony Bungay with a report on recent Redline
arrivals
Redline appear to have acquired 2 former Yellow Buses
Enviro 200 vehicles, seen in Aylesbury past couple of days are YX12 AEW
originally First Capital DMV44225 later Yellow Buses 535, working a service 130
journey to High Wycombe.
And YX12 AXU originally
Centrewest DML 44322 later Yellow Buses 2037 on layover in Great Western Street
Aylesbury, before working local service 2. The vehicle still wears full Yellow
Buses lettering.
These are not the only former
Yellow Buses Enviros in Aylesbury, as another Aylesbury independent Vale Travel
has some.
In a way it is a case of
history repeating its self, as I have seen but so far unable to get a photo of
YX12AXU on service 130. As this as stated has Yellow Buses fleet name, it would
be a case of not for the first time a Yellow Buses fleet name competing on the
Aylesbury – High Wycombe route, as 30 years ago Motts (Yellow Buses) were doing
the same thing initially with Berks Bucks Bus Company (The Beeline) later The
Wycombe Bus Company, again using a variety secondhand vehicles such as MCW
Metrobus, Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopards etc, though later some new Volvo
B6/Northern Counties vehicles were purchased. In 1995 a 3 way deal between City
of Oxford/LDT the shires/Motts saw the cessation of competition and trading of
services and the above Volvo B6’s moved into LDT the shires fleet.
In response to your comments
regarding the Arriva garage closures, predictably it has created a number of
comments on the
www.railforums.co.uk
buses section, with at least one contributor
wondering if High Wycombe could be in the firing line. Though I personally would
have thought that High Wycombe is in a better place now then it was a few years
ago.
Perhaps a rather tongue in cheek view, not really for
publication as it perhaps a bit humorous? is that Arriva have not kept pace with
vehicle replacement, so the only way to lower the age profile of various areas
is to shut garages and cascade the better newer vehicles!
An interesting comment. Ed.
Gavin Francis
Variety of colours in The Eden Bus Station, Wycombe
on March 9th.
Jack Cooper
671 seen in Abingdon on March 1st.
Nigel Peach
To commemorate issue 243, attached are two pictures of
243 looking resplendent as it climbs Blind Lane from Bourne End to Flackwell
Heath, taken on its first day in service for Carousel (ex Brighton and Hove) on
August 25th 2021.
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
David Beynon
Yutongs, Sunsundeguis, time was when these would have
been Park Royals, Willowbrook
or an assortment of other famous British body builders.
This one was taken on March 2nd in St. Giles.
March 3rd.
March 6th.
Three from March 7th. If
you look closely you will see an ABC of coaches in the Centurion pic
as the Apple (23 reg!) is passed by a Barnes and preceded
by the Centurion.
Gavin Francis
Pictures from Oxford on March 4th.
This black midi coach at the start is owned by
Truewal Coaches of Oxford?.??
Assisi Travel's BV22NNB at Redbridge.
This is our first 23 plate pictured. Well done Gavin.
Ed.
Visitor from Germany at Redbridge.
Fleet
News and
developments
Toby France of Arriva
Toby has provided details of recent transfers.
Vehicle moves for Jan and Feb 2023
|
Fleet Number
|
Registration Number
|
Current Operating Depot
|
New
Operating Depot
|
|
2951
|
YJ61MHO
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2952
|
YJ61MHU
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2953
|
YJ61MHV
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2954
|
YJ61MHX
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2955
|
YJ61MHY
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2956
|
YJ61MHZ
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2957
|
YJ11OKD
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
2958
|
YJ11OKC
|
Thurmaston
|
Wycombe
|
|
3024
|
BD12DHM
|
Wycombe
|
Aylesbury
|
|
3038
|
BU06HSN
|
Wycombe
|
Ware
|
|
3042
|
BV58MLF
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
3506
|
YN08HZT
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
3641
|
KX59ACO
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
3916
|
BV58MLL
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
3917
|
BV58MLN
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
3918
|
BV58MKP
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
3921
|
BK58URO
|
Wycombe
|
Ware
|
|
3923
|
BK58URR
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
4748
|
FJ06ZST
|
Wycombe
|
Head Office
|
|
4759
|
FJ06ZSE
|
Aylesbury
|
Head Office
|
Gavin Francis
4400 and 5465 pictured in Oxford on March 4th,
looking very grubby !
Malcolm Crowe
A selection of recent pictures from Cressex depot & Wycombe.
The branding on the backs of the Citaros is interesting.
2328 in The Eden Bus Station on February 25th.
3020 climbs out of Wycombe on its way to Reading.
Andrew Simmonds
In the First depot at Slough today were ex Southampton
Streetlites 47690 SL15RWK, 47692 SL15RWO and 47695 SL15RWW and 47667 SN15ACO
It looks like 47667 and 47688
to 47695 are for Slough.
47690 is seen in the depot on March 4th.
Interesting moves with these buses shows in Southampton included -
Editorial (oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk)
Issue 241 Ed.
Gavin Francis
... during a short visit to Wycombe, Gavin caught up with
a Trader branded E200 working the X74 on March 9th.
Gavin Francis
This coach was recorded in the last issue as still
being with Ridleys and now in Shearings livery.
Seen in London on August 12th 2021.
Gavin Francis
Sprinter 971 is seen in Uxbridge with a 581 working
on March 7th.
Malcolm Crowe
A selection of recent pictures from the depot at Wycombe.
March 4th.
Gavin Francis with recent pictures in Oxford von March 4th.
221, 308 and 351 in St Aldates and the rear of 351 at
Redbridge.
354, 366, 607 & 608 in St Aldates.
614 and 902 at the junction of St Aldates and
Speedwell Street.
661, 662, 665 and 671 in St Aldates.
677 seen at Redbridge and 680 in Speedwell Street.
682 and 843 in St Aldates..
686 in The High with an X1 service.
Jack Cooper
671 seen at Bagley Wood on March 8th.
Elite 69 seen at Terminal 5 on March 3rd.
8 branded 690 seen in Abingdon with an X3 on March
1st.
Lewis Hawkins
Oxford Bus 514 Formerly Operating With
Carousel Buses working the BV1 at Bicester North.
Luke Marion MD OBC
921-929
These vehicles are gradually entering service however there are quite a few
modifications needed before they can enter. To make them suitable for operation
in Oxfordshire we are having to replace the fuel tank with a suitably larger
one, as well as replacing the ad blue system. Some vehicles also require engine
repairs before they are fit for the road. The vehicles are being pulled back one
by one to get this done, hence why you are seeing them taking a while to enter
service.
Gavin Francis with recent pictures in Oxford von March 4th.
207 and 622 with 854 in St Aldates.
855 and 942 in The High.
861 seen at Redbridge.
Jack Cooper
929 is the latest B9 to enter
service at Thames Travel, its first day in service was the 28th February working
the morning BB1, afternoon BB1A followed by an X40 short working to Wallingford.
929 has also worked the X2 quite a bit this week.
310 has been loaned to Thames
Travel this week, working the X32 and 67 on the 28th February, and the BB1 and
98 on the 1st March, before returning to Oxford Bus for the afternoon 3B and 5X
services.
453 is now allocated to Didcot depot, and 225 has taken
its place on the ST1 following the increased double deck workings on the ST1.
The allocation for the ST1 at Oxford is now 225, 451 and 452.
More of this batch in early days of March.
441, 453 and 454 at Didcot Parkway.
623 and 692 in service.
Carousel buses loaned to Thames Travel.
905, 908 and 914 in service at Didcot and Oxford.
Gavin Francis in Oxford on March 4th.
Only showing ownership by the blind, SK68TWN is seen
in Oxford.
Gavin Francis in Oxford on March 4th.
YG67FZO seen in Beaumont Street.
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/timeline
Gavin Francis
WM 265 BV19XOX is seen in St Giles, Oxford with a 160
service on March 4th.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
New value for money ‘Reading All-Bus’ day fares coming
to buses in Reading
https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/new-value-for-money-reading-all-bus-day-fares-coming-to-buses-in-reading
Lewis Hawkins
Reading Buses 713 On Route 17 Passing Reading Station Bound For Wokingham Road
Reading Buses Emerald 773 At Northumberland Avenue Terminus In Whitley
Wood Awaiting Its Service To Reading Station.
Gavin Francis with recent pictures in Wycombe on March 9th.
YX09FMK in Wycombe Bus Station on March 9th.
Gavin Francis with recent pictures in Wycombe on March 9th.
Working the 130
Ex Bournemouth YX12AEU and YX12AXU also working the
130 in Wycombe.
In fleet livery YX65RGV seen working an X20 in Oxford
on March 4th.
A picture of YX64VRF working the MK 21 on May 1st 2018. This now Red Rose E2RRT
!
Some nice pictures of the changes to Red Rose.
Gavin Francis
Nick's bus YX64VRK became E1RRT and was repainted green for the Croxley
service where it now is.
This bus is pictured under Redline above.
An unfortunate breakdown in Stokenchurch resulted in the appearance of
three buses heading in the same direction on Marlow Road.
It appears E2RRT started as Redline YX 64 VRF then
became Red Rose E1RRT then E 2 RRT.
This bus has become a regular for the 40 as seen in March 6th.
YX11HPL adds to the variety for the 40 as seen on March 5th.
Another different one this morning, ex-Manchester Community Transport.
Graham Mildenhall
Rather surprised to see this E200 on the Red Rose 25 this morning in Upper
Heyford. Must be a recent acquisition as still carrying Yellow Buses fleet name
and number on the front.
Likewise, made me go out to have a look when I saw it on there. Was replaced
after a couple more journeys by E7RRT, a more usual suspect!
March 4th, this bus has, I think, gone away for
repaint.
The same bus at Ensign dealers on February 13th by
Gavin Francis
Gavin Francis on March 4th.
10437 seen working the 10.
11238 is seen in Magdalen Street East with an S1.
Now the oldest Hybrid of Stagecoach since 1200 has
now left Oxford.
36111 is seen working the 8 at Queens Lane.
36981 seen in George Street showing the super rear
which adorns this bus now.
James Lambeth
36448 / OU61 AUV has transferred back to Oxford from Stroud over the
weekend. Seen at the rail station on March 6th working the 14.
50268 and 50269 have been sold. 50446 has returned from repaint and air
con work but so far not entered service whilst 50448 is still under repaint.
Gavin Francis
50436 and 50437 seen in Oxford on March 4th.
50447 is now in service though not recording for
www.bustimes.org seen
on March 4th.
Jack Cooper
50444 is seen being recovered at Gloucester Green on
February 28th.
Oxford Bus (The Airline) is now selling through megabus
for the Oxford-Heathrow/Gatwick service.
Richard Sharman
Elite I 70 showing off the
recently applied
megabus.com
branding, allowing passengers to book through their
website, allowing passengers to book through their
website.
London operations
Andrew Webb
Fashion brand Cos has launched another campaign for their Regent Street store
utilising London's buses.
Arriva's LT981 shows off the 'male' advert as it
approaches Sloane Square,
whilst Abellio's LT155 will soon pass the
aforementioned store on route 159. It is seen at Oxford Circus with the
'female' advert.
Grahame Wareham
In reply to Andy Dyers query regarding the original
COMS Cutteslowe Estate terminus I attach an image, copyright
Aerofilms EAW003893
showing Cutteslowe Estate looking South with Banbury Road on the far right.
The red dot represents the 'new' terminus Wren Road which
came into use after the Cutteslowe wall was demolished in March 1959, buses
would access this from Banbury Road turning right into Wentworth Road/Aldrich
Road and exiting via Wolsey Road/Carlton Road. COMS ceased to use this after the
mid eighties as through running to Kidlington was the norm and buses requiring
turning used the Harbord Road roundabout. I can only remember driving Fleetlines
417-430 on this on the few occasions I used the Cutteslowe stop and I seem to
remember we would get moaned at here if we didn't turn the engines off. I can
also remember us having to exit via Jackson Road when they were constructing the
Banbury Road bus lane in the late seventies,
The yellow dot represents the old Jackson Road terminus
where buses would reverse up Aspley Road to the wall which you may just be able
to make out.
The blue dot is the long demolished Friar Bacon pub on
the corner of Jackson Road and the road in the foreground being the A40 Northern
By-pass. Buses would access and exit this terminus from here.
The Friar Bacon was sold by Morrells sat a time when they
were about to cease brewing and the family were cashing in on their fortunes at a time when they
were about to cease brewing and the family were cashing in on their fortunes.
The other image shows Wolsey Road the other side of the
wall where you can just make out the top of a COMS AEC Regent parked at the old
terminus in 1959.
I hope this short piece resurrects some more history of
Oxford's famous past.
Now to 243
Although there was never an
OBC Leyland Olympian numbered 243 I am taking this opportunity to complete the
Olympian story as those that are relevant to this story were numbered in the 9XX
range and Malcolm and I are not quite sure whether will both be able to write
about these when then time comes! There were also two Leyland Olympians
demonstrated to COMS in 1981 and these are worthy of mention as one of them
still exists in preservation.
In fleet number order these
are the 'other' Leyland Olympians that are relevant to these histories.
923 G530VBB Leyland Olympian
ON2R50C13Z NCME H47/27D Acquired with the business of Carousel, High Wycombe
(L530) on 3/3/2012, new to Kentish Bus 2/90
924 G534VBB Leyland Olympian
ON2R50C13Z NCME H47/27D Acquired with the business of Carousel, High Wycombe
(L530) on 3/3/2012, new to Kentish Bus 2/90
925 H554GKX Leyland Olympian
ON2R50C13Z Leyland H47/31F Acquired with the business of Carousel, High Wycombe
(L530) on 3/3/2012, new to Armchair, Brentford 1/91
926 H556GKX Leyland Olympian
ON2R50C13Z Leyland H47/31F Acquired with the business of Carousel, High Wycombe
(L530) on 3/3/2012, new to Armchair, Brentford 1/91
927 H563GKX Leyland Olympian
ON2R50C13Z Leyland H47/31F Acquired with the business of Carousel, High Wycombe
(L530) on 3/3/2012, new to Armchair, Brentford 1/91
928 H564GKX Leyland Olympian ON2R50C13Z Leyland H47/31F
Acquired with the business of Carousel, High Wycombe (L530) on 3/3/2012, new to
Armchair, Brentford 1/91
The above six vehicles were retained at Carousel and
moved to the new premises and 923 and 924 were repainted into The Blue Bus
livery for schools contracts and indeed were supplemented by four further Volvo
Olympians, 929-931, ex. Go-Ahead Northern 3909; 3911, 3912 & 3928,
R267,9,70,87LGH which were new to London General as NV67,9,70 & 87 in 3/98.
926 was being used as a spares donor and all six
were withdrawn in 12/2013 and sold for scrap to PVS, Carlton, Barnsley as they
were in poor condition.
976 TPD108X Leyland Olympian
ONTL11/1R Roe H43/29F Purchased from Arriva Croydon & North Surrey (LR8) in
12/98, new to London Country as LR8 in 4/82
977 TPD113X Leyland Olympian
ONTL11/1R Roe H43/29F Purchased from Arriva Crawley & West Sussex (LR13) in
12/98, new to London Country as LR13 in 5/82
978 TPD118X Leyland Olympian
ONTL11/1R Roe H43/29F Purchased from Arriva Crawley & West Sussex (LR18) in
12/98, new to London Country as LR18 in 5/82
979 TPD121X Leyland Olympian
ONTL11/1R Roe H43/29F Purchased from Arriva Croydon & North Surrey (LR21) in
12/98, new to London Country as LR21 in 6/82
980 TPD124X Leyland Olympian ONTL11/1R Roe H43/29F
Purchased from Arriva Croydon & North Surrey (LR24) in 12/98, new to London
Country as LR24 in 6/82
The above five vehicles were quickly purchased
from Arriva to cover for the late delivery of Oxford's Dennis Tridents 101-120
and pending the release and door conversions of 225-229 from their Oxford Park &
Ride duties for transfer to Wycombe Bus. All five were eventually withdrawn in
August1999 from High Wycombe
999 PWL999W Leyland Olympian B45TL11/2R Alexander H50/32D
Purchased from Dobson, Widnes ex. Leyland Bus Singapore Demonstrator in March
1987 (Singapore registration number SBS5396B new in September 1980.
This unique vehicle started
life as a Leyland Bus far east Leyland Olympian prototype built to Singapore Bus
Services specification. New in 1980 and exhibited at the 1980 Commercial Motor
Show at the NEC it featured the prototype Alexander R type body. After
demonstration in Singapore it was shipped back to the UK via Alexandria, Egypt
where it stayed for a period of time. It was sold in 1986 by Leyland Bus to
Dobson's Coaches, Widnes who then put the vehicle up for sale via
J.Sykes, Carlton, Barnsley acting as dealer. I spotted it there whilst returning
with 202 from the South Yorkshire Rally and it was collected in September 1986
for inspection at Oxford but then stored at the Oxford Bus Museum, Long
Hanborough pending a decision, as NBC wouldn't approve its purchase. In March 87
it was purchased by the newly privatised Oxford Bus Company, refurbished to UK
specification, including the provision of a heating system, the replacement of
the tropical windows with conventional units and the fitting of a standard ECW
style front end complete with BET windscreens (As a result of this Alexander's
were then persuaded to fit BET windscreens to the 1988 batch of Olympians
225-229…reluctantly! . 999 was then given a UK matching registration number and
painted into Park & Ride white blue and red livery. It received exclusive
advertising for Elmer Cotton, a local sports supplier to the university, and was
to spend the remainder of its life in Oxford on the north-south Park & Ride
service, being too high to pass under Oxford Station Bridge. In 1989 however,
999 received a new advertising sponsor in the form of Fox FM, a new local radio
station, the new livery being allover white, black skirt with red and black
lettering. Following the Go-Ahead takeover all Park & Ride vehicles were to
appear in a new livery using the Nipper green displaced from minibuses, with a
sapphire blue skirt separated by a two inch white band The roof down to below
the upper-deck windows remained white and large blue and red Park & Ride logo’s
adorned the body sides. At this time a destination box was reinstated and the
route renumbered to 300. It was also at this time that 999 was used on contracts
in the summer months, due to its high seating capacity, to transport the many
foreign students from outlying districts to the city language schools. In 1997
however due to capacity problems in High Wycombe, it was repainted into red
Wycombe Bus livery and departed east on 28/10/97 where its high capacity became
an asset to the newly won school contracts there. Unfortunately its high rear
axle ratio deemed unsuitable for the hilly routes in Wycombe so 999 returned to
Oxford in July 1999 rebranded as a Cityline ‘Q buster’ vehicle and was used on
these duties until the beginning of September when it was then put into storage
pending sale to myself for preservation. A very unique vehicle and awaits its
turn in the restoration queue with Cherwell Bus Preservation Group.
2112 JFR12W Leyland Olympian ONLXB/1R ECW H45/32F Loaned
from Ribble Motor Services, Preston 9/81 direct from ECW for Centenary
Celebrations for two weeks.
I collected this vehicle from Lowestoft and it was
a revelation from what we had been used to, just like driving a large car! It
still lives on today in the care of Cherwell Bus Preservation Group awaiting its
turn in the restoration queue. I couldn't see this one scrapped!
3594 JTY394X Leyland Olympian ONLXB/1R (ECW H45/32F)
Loaned from BCV en. route to ECW for bodying for Northern General, Gateshead.
This was a chassis only and delivered to Cowley
Road Garage by BCV driver........ I had the
pleasure of its onward journey to Lowestoft at 40mph!....to be fair I wouldn't
of wanted to go any faster!
Finally, continuing along the Olympian theme, what may
not have been generally known is that COMS had ordered five Leyland Olympian
double deck coaches based on the successful trials with National Travel South
West's ADD50Y,
images attached. They were allocated ECW body numbers 25812-25816
and had registration numbers B901-905XJO reserved against completed vehicles
901-905, so numbered because at the time of placing the order ECW were only
building the 14ft 6in (4.46m) version of the coach body, however Eastern
National had asked for a lower height version based on 13ft 8in (4.2m) bus
framework and this was the option COMS were going to receive but still numbered
901-5 because of opening roof lights. Before chassis building commenced for
these vehicles our Regional General Manager, John Hargreaves announced that this
order had been cancelled and COMS would receive five MCW Metroliners which were
in an advanced state of build for Midland Red Coaches, a subsidiary of Midland
Red that was about to be disbanded, and that was that.
I was despatched to MCW's works in Birmingham to discuss
after sales spares and warranty matters and the vehicles arrived about two weeks
later to MCW's works in Birmingham to discuss
after sales spares and warranty matters and the vehicles arrived about two weeks
later.
I will not comment any further regarding the operation of
these coaches only to say that a lot of happy people watched them leave Cowley
Road Garage for the last time in August 1992 after only seven years!
What a very informative piece from Grahame which makes
interesting reading. Ed.
Neil GowNeil Gow
Just to complete the “242” story, D824 UTF is recorded by
the PSV Circle as withdrawn by Western Greyhound in February 2006 and scrapped
in February 2008.
Gary Seamarks with memories of Ensign in
days past
Put together a batch of old
images from/linked to Ensignbus for you, with attached notes.
Have avoided putting in much London Tour ones, but a few
gems from our visits between 1983-9.
Ensignbus
pictures from 1983-approx 1995.
A selection of
images that were either taken in the yard at Purfleet, on one of about 8
authorised visits that I made to the massive Purfleet site, or Vehicles that
Ensign had seen through the site.
The Purfleet site
was on the old A13 about a mile to the London side of the Dartford Tunnel, with
very limited public transport, our route was to meet up at Victoria about 08.30
and then grab a breakfast, often in the drivers canteen at the coach station,
before getting the 09.30 Eastern National service 402 that was heading for
Southend via Dartford and the Tunnel (no Bridge then) and as my mate had his NBC
jacket ask the driver to be dropped off on the Tunnel/A13 roundabout than walk
the mile up to the site. On arrival it first stop was the gatehouse for
authorisation, with perhaps the most fierce guard-dogs you would come across,
luckily in a large fenced off kennel. Once clear we were free to roam the
storage areas, but not the workshops, you would never know what would be on site
except for about 400 plus ex London DMS. A full walk round would take about 3
hours and often needing wellies or careful planning round the vast lakes of
standing water. Most times we would see Mr Ensign, Peter Newman, who would
always stop for a quick chat. The return route was via the large housing estate
behind the site for a London Country National to Grays for us to get the 17.30
back to London , in time for our connections home.
For those who were
not around in this era it’s worth knowing that Ensignbus also were UK agents for
a few overseas coachbuilders, including Padane, Befkhof and the Famos brands. It
was the deal to dispose of the DMS class of London Transport that perhaps made
Ensignbus one of the largest dealers of secondhand buses, with a worldwide
customer base for the bus that London rejected.
During this period
they offered a complete package of conversions to the DMS some simple some very
complex but all decent looking conversions, it must not be overlooked that a lot
of Bristol Single-deckers and secondhand coaches also found new owners both in
the UK and beyond. Most other types were seen on our visits, from fairly modern
Leyland Nationals, Bristol VRs back to RT’s and FLF’s, not every bus was so
lucky and many would be used to source spares from before a one way trip to
South Yorkshire.
These photos show a
selection of buses on site and also with new owners in both the UK and one in
Hong Kong. I have tried to keep the London Sightseeing element to a minimum as
these have been well covered elsewhere.
_small.jpg)
A fascinating picture selection with some real one
offs ! Ed.
After 51 years as
Omnibus suppliers to the world may I wish the Newman family well in future
ventures, and those moving with the business to First Group all the best also.
Image notes.
G100JNV is Showbus
89
A565 TYD had been
recovered off the A13 that morning after breaking down
C1—SPB unsure which
but one of the London Country BTLs
CJ5696 is in Hong
Kong was DMS660
HHA157L was later with Redline Milton Keynes (1986)
KJD96P became China
Motor Bus XF206
? Was RSD736J one
that Oxford had on loan ??
Ross Newman
Purfleet in February as follows :
VEHICLES IN.
From Go Ahead London : Citaro
BD09ZPT
Volvo B9TL LK59FEH / LX59CNZ
E200 LX09AYO
From First Eastern Counties : Volvo B7TLs AU53HJK / HJY
/ HKH / HKJ / HKD / HJJ
From First Essex : Darts
WA56OAV / SN05DZS / SN05DZT / MX56HXZ
Volvo B7RLEs PL05UBR / UBS / MX05CCJ / CDK /
KX05MJV
Volvo B7TL’s LT52WWF / KP51VZS / KP51WBZ.
From First Potteries : Volvo B7TL KP51VZO
From Lothian Buses : E400s SN11EES / HY61BUS / LB61HYB /
LB61BUS / SN61BBF / BBJ / BBK / BBO / BBU / BBV / BBX / BBZ / BCE / BCF / BCK.
From Stagecoach West : Van Hool Astromegas YJ14LFD /
LFE. ex oxford tube
From Metroline
: E400s LK59DZA / DZH / DZL / DZN / DZO / DZP
From RATP London : E400s YX62BFU / BKO / BBO / BFL / BMY
/ BNO
VEHICLES OUT.
Trident LV52HFH : Howard Snaith Coaches, Newcastle.
Enviro 200 GV63HXP : Oddball Trucks, Bristol.
Volvo B9R YN10FZW : Hire Your Transport , Kingswood,
Surrey.
E400 LX08DXZ : Axe Valley, Seaton, Devon.
E400s SN11EES / HY61BUS / LB61HYB / LB61BUS / SN61BBF /
BBJ / BBK / BBO / BBU / BBV / BBX / BBZ / BCE / BCF / BCK : Trent Barton, Heanor,
Derbyshire.
Scania’s YT09ZCO / YR59FZC /
YT59RYF
E400s SN12EHD / EHF / EHJ / EHK / EHR / EHT /
EHW / EGY / EGZ : Top View Sightseeing London.
E400s SN12EHG / EHH : City Direct, Galway, Eire.
E400 SN12EHP : PeoplesBus, Liverpool.
Volvo B9TL HF11HCV : Sharpes Coaches, Nottingham.
Volvo B9TL BX12CVO : Moffat and Williamson, Fort
William.
Scania YN63BYO : Select Bus, Stafford.
E200 YX59BZL : A2B, Luton.
E200 YX59BZN : NBM Hire, Penrith.
RM1971 : London Bus Company, Northfleet.
Van Hool Astromegas YJ14LFD / LFE : Young's
Coaches, Cambridge. 50268/9
Scania CN57FGA : Empress Coaches, Upminster.
Scania CN57FGD : Finestyle Coaches, Wellingborough,
Northants.
The following all to Shelton Motors for scrap :
Darts / E200s
WA56OAV / SN05DZS / SN05DZT / MX56HXZ /
LX09AYO
Volvo B7RLEs PL05UBR / UBS /
MX05CCJ / KX05MJV
Volvo B7/9TL’s LT52WWF /
KP51VZS / KP51WBZ / YJ54XUV / AU53HJK / HJY / YN53EOB / LK59FEH
Tridents / E400s : WA05MGU /
MGV / SN06BNY / LX58CXF.
Citaro BD09ZPT
ENSIGN FLEET.
BC1 141 sold to Aintree Coachlines.
RMC1513 sold from the Heritage Fleet to London Bus
Company, Northfleet.
As I am sure most of you are aware Ensign will pass to
First Group from Thursday 9th March. Therefore this will be my final update. So
best wishes to one and all and I am sure you will be glad to know that Karl
Griffin, my loyal Bus Sales Manager here at Purfleet, will be taking over the
monthly update. He is well known to most in the enthusiast community as a
“founding father” of the Bromley Bus Preservation Group and a thoroughly decent
bloke.
Thanks for all your interest over the years and I hope
these updates have been useful, I will still be around as a consultant for First
and will hopefully have more time to enjoy our heritage buses at various events,
so I am sure a lot of our paths will continue to cross.
Michael Penn
I have just returned from a weekend trip to King’s Lynn,
Hunstanton and Wisbech with a stop on the way at Peterborough.
Photographs
taken at Peterborough are as follows:
First Eastern Counties 36919 (YN69XZZ) is an Alexander
Dennis boded Scania N250UD.
It is seen on the long service to King’s Lynn
and Norwich. Unfortunately the sun wasn’t to last all weekend.
Cambus 10867 (YX67VDC) is an Alexander Dennis E40D
which retains its Platinum Jubilee commemorative livery
despite many of those in
a similar livery having been repainted shortly after the death of Her Majesty.
Cambus 36011 (AE07KYS) is an Alexander E200 in driver
training livery.
Fowler of Holbeach Drove V85Drove V85MOA is a Plaxton bodied
Volvo B7TL recently acquired from Dews of Somersham whose livery it still
carries. It was new to West Midlands Travel.
whose livery it still
carries. It was new to West Midlands Travel. It was new to West Midlands Travel.
Delaine of Bourne 174 (AD72DBL) is an Alexander Dennis
E20D.
Photographs at King’s Lynn, Hunstanton and Wisbech are as follows:
Coastal Red, trading as Lynx commenced operations in
2014, a year or so after Norfolk Green had been taken over by Stagecoach.
They expanded after Stagecoach pulled out of the area in 2018. Today most
of the fleet is single deck, most, if not all being Optare Tempos acquired from
various sources.
Coastal Red 19 (FD54JYF)
is an Optare Tempo
acquired from Trent and photographed at King’s Lynn.
Coastal Red 29 (T29KLN ex R17TYB) is an Optare Tempo acquired from Bournemouth Transport, photographed at
Hunstanton.
Coastal Red 25 (YJ60KAU) is an Optare Tempo acquired
from Lancashire United and photographed at Hunstanton.
Coastal Red have some double deckers including 52 (LJ53BFU),
one of a few Wright bodied DAF DB250s acquired from Reading and
photographed at King’s Lynn.
This, and at least one other, retain their
Reading liveries.
Coastal Red also have a few Alexander Dennis E40D MMCs
bought new.
63 (YX22OLN) was photographed at Hunstanton.
WNCT formerly West Norfolk Community Transport run a
large number of non-PSVs
but also a few PSV licensed Wright StreetLites .
3703 (SK68TNE) was photographed at King’s Lynn.
Coach
Services of Thetford have a service into King’s Lynn.
CS21BUS is an MCV
bodied Volvo B8RLE and
was photograph at King’s Lynn.
Lincolnshire 15615 (OU10BGK) is an Alexander bodied
Scania N230UD which was new to Thames Transit and was photograph at King’s Lynn.
The livery is described as “2014 Interconnect” but I don’t know what that means.
Lincolnshire 21258 (YJ09FWF) is a Wright bodied Volvo
B7RLE acquired from Ribble last year. It was photographed a Wisbech.
Further notes :
Photographs at King’s Lynn, Hunstanton and Wisbech are
as follows:
Coastal Red, trading as Lynx commenced operations in
2014, a year or so after Norfolk Green had been taken over by Stagecoach.
They expanded after Stagecoach pulled out of the area in 2018. Today most
of the fleet is single deck, most, if not all being Optare Tempos acquired from
various sources.
Coastal Red 19 (FD 54 JYF)
is an Optare Tempo
acquired from Trent and photographed at King’s Lynn.
Coastal Red 29 (T29 KLN ex R17
TYB) is an Optare Tempo acquired from Bournemouth Transport
and photographed at
Hunstanton.
Coastal Red 25 (YJ 60 KAU) is an Optare Tempo acquired
from Lancashire United and photographed at Hunstanton.
Coastal Red have some double deckers including 52 (LJ 53
BFU), one of a few Wright bodied DAF DB250s acquired from Reading and
photographed at King’s Lynn. This, and at least one other, retain their
Reading liveries.
Coastal Red also have a few Alexander Dennis E40D MMCs
bought new. 63 (YX 22 OLN) was photographed at Hunstanton.
WNCT formerly West Norfolk Community Transport run a
large number of non-PSVs but also a few PSV licensed Wright StreetLites .
3703 (SK 68 TNE) was photographed at King’s Lynn.
Coach Services of Thetford have a service into King’s
Lynn. CS 21 BUS is an MCV bodied Volvo B8RLE and
was photograph at King’s Lynn.
Lincolnshire 15615 (OU 10
BGK) is an Alexander bodied Scania N230UD which was new to Thames Transit and
was photograph at King’s Lynn. The livery is described as “2014
Interconnect” but I don’t know what that means.
Lincolnshire 21258 (YJ 09 FWF) is a Wright bodied Volvo
B7RLE acquired from Ribble last year. It was photographed a Wisbech.
I am much indebted to Michael for an excellent article. Ed.
