Issue nr. 245
Wednesday, March 22nd 2023
Issue nr. 245
Wednesday, March 22nd 2023
Editorial
A somewhat shorter issue this week but still with much to interest readers. Don't forget the clocks go forward on Sunday morning !
Jack Cooper has sent some great pictures and has promised an article on his visit to the Isle of Wight and this week has provided us with pictures from Reading and Cheltenham.
Gavin Francis has provided a nice article regarding his driving an ex London GS with pictures. Nick Ross sends pictures from The Highlands.
Do send me your reports and pictures as this adds much to each issue.
A picture for 245 from Nigel Peach
Carousel's 245 at the depot on 28th February last year,
not long after entering service. Pictured with 242, both ex Brighton and Hove,
you can see the differences in livery - though the sun was not in the right
place to get the best picture!
245 entered service in Sept 2021, so I was wrong to say "not long after entering
service".
https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/clocks-go-forward-2023
Jack Cooper is travelling
On Day 1 Jack caught up with these two, 1589 is
interesting as sisters are still as 251-254 with Thames Travel.
Jack Cooper
I will be on holiday from Monday - Friday, staying in
Sandown on the Isle of Wight from Monday until Thursday, travelling by
hovercraft to the Isle of Wight from Southsea. I am hoping to get a few pictures
from around Portsmouth & Southsea before going over. On Thursday afternoon I
shall return to the mainland on the Yarmouth to Lymington ferry route, before
staying the night in Bournemouth. I am hoping to be able to provide a report for
you, like you had done on the Island a few years ago on the day trip you and
Gavin made!
I had also visited Cheltenham yesterday, where the races
were on. I had got a few photos of local buses as well as the race shuttles and
visiting coaches.
SOME OF THE BUSES JACK SAW IN CHELTENHAM
Gavin Francis records his drive of GS32
Last Thursday I had the chance to drive a real gem of a little bus. GS 32 is a classic from the era of London Transport Country area buses. It has been immaculately restored with all the period features. Probably the biggest surprise was to see a saw above the driver's head. I was told this was to cut the running rails on the sides should anybody fall underneath !! With a 4 speed manual gearbox, no power steering, noisy engine etc it was in stark contrast to The Oxford Tube coaches I was used to driving. It was a lot of fun once you got used to it but not sure I would like to drive it in service all day. Hopefully I will be involved in taking it to some rallies later in the year.
Jack Cooper
Thames Travel's 229 working an X40 service crosses the bridge over the Thames at
Caversham on March 16th.
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
David Beynon
Two from Redbridge
and two from St. Giles this week.
.... as ever some nice coach visitors last week from David. Ed.
James Freeman
Here is my flickr album of the coaches at
Wheatley
services including a few diverts
https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1661trains/albums/72177720306805055
Fleet News and developments
Gavin Francis
Popped into Wycombe to Binders Yard.
Angel Coaches have a 23 plate coach on March 18th.
Gavin Francis
Popped into Wycombe this morning, March 18th.
Unusual to see 5459 in Wycombe, also unusual display on 2790.
Layover time in The Eden Bus Station on March 17th
with 3923 still in MAX livery.
4401 with a 300 working leaves The Eden Bus Station
on March 17th.
~
From Bridge Street with a 35 working on March 17th.
Gavin Francis
Hybrid 69920 seen in The Eden Bus Station on March
18th.
Kevin Fuller
First have wasted no time in putting its newly acquired buses to work; here are
some pictures taken last week in High Wycombe and Uxbridge...
1) Ex-Southampton Cityred StreetLite 47692 departs from High Wycombe bus station
with an X74 service to Slough on 16th March.
2) E400 34386 passes through Church Street in central Wycombe, also with an X74
journey to Slough on 16th March.
The side panels still show signs of the vehicles previous life in Glasgow, but
the nearside has 'Berkshire' fleet-names applied.
3) Having just reached journey's end from Slough on route 3, StreetLite 47689
pauses for a few minutes in Uxbridge
before turning into the bus station to start its return trip, on 18th March.
Gavin Francis
214 and 218 in Wycombe on March 17th.
Jack Cooper
Ex Hybrid 305 is seen with a 5 road service in St
Aldates on March 16th.
672 is seen in Abingdon with an X1 service on
March 18th.
pignbob
On the 13th, 653 works the 400 seen at Park End Street
On the 14th, 687 works the 5 also seen at Park End Street
On the 15th, 690 works the 5X seen near the Rail Station
Jack Cooper
Citaro 867 is seen with an X32 in St Aldates on March
16th.
Ex London 925 and 926 busy with X2 services on March
18th and 16th respectively.
I wish someone would enlighten me as to what is happening with 921, 922 and 928 none of which has been seen in service in recent months?? Ed.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Jack Cooper and a recent visit to Reading on March 16th.
Now over 10 years old these ADL E400's are still
giving reliable service in Reading
Scania K270UB ADL Enviro300SG's giving reliable service on a variety of routes.
An ADL E200 652 seen working the 196.
Scania N280UD ADL Enviro400 City CBG's are the mainstay of the 17.
ADL Enviro400 MMC's also provide daily services in Reading working a variety of
routes.
Scania N94UD OmniDekka 801 is one of several
Scanias which came to Reading from other operators.
Wright StreetDeck 904 is one of a few representing this type which provide
continuity for routes 13 and 14 to Woodley.
Thames Valley run into Reading with 128 from
Wokingham
Gavin Francis
Carrying the striking red eagle livery when seen in
High Wycombe, WX08LNN is laying over between duties on March
17th.
Gavin Francis on March 17th.
Still awaiting repaint into Redline livery when seen
in High Wycombe, YX63LJE working the 130 is
still in Nottingham's colours.
pignbob
On the 16th, a former Yellow Buses Enviro 200, YX12AEW, makes an
appearance on the X20 seen at St Aldates
Gavin Francis
E7RRT makes an appearance working the 275 from
Wycombe to Oxford on March 17th.
A regular working the 40 is SF66ARV leaving Wycombe
for Thame also on March 17th.
Graham Mildenhall on March 18th.
Rather pleased that Red Rose have taken on the 25! Another Saturday, another
different vehicle - and today it's not yellow. This time an E200MMC, was a
Redline bus, not sure if still is though. May get a chance to get a near side
look later....
180323
The first Saturday of Red
Rose on the service, after taking pictures at Bicester Village Station, I got
chatting to the driver who turned out to be one of the bosses/managers. One of
the things I said was it’s a shame it’s been the same bus all week, albeit a
standard Red Rose liveried one as would be expected.
It was him driving again
today so I said nice to see another different vehicle, was getting fed up with
the yellow ones, to which he replied that “he wasn’t sure what to put out today
but thought I might like this one” as it seems I have a bit of a reputation for
taking pictures!
He said he was going to
bring a Dart but the one he wanted that’s in a special 30th
anniversary livery was in the workshop but maybe on the route next Saturday.
I had a ride up to Aylesbury later on, plenty of strangely coloured ones there – Vale Travel for example operating ex Yellow Buses per attached amongst others. Wasn’t there long and not the best of places for taking photos either.
See above some West buses in Cheltenham on March 18th
It appears that the base plates on some ticket machines are not sending a signal hence the fact that some buses are not reporting on www.bustimes.org examples being 36448 and 50447 both of which we have recorded in these pages but as of tonight at publication are still not working. Ed.
Andrew Webb
Still carrying Scottish Citylink livery, but minus any branding, Plaxton
Panorama 50447 prepares for another Oxford Tube service at
Victoria on 18 March.
Graham Mildenhall on March 18th.
I had a ride up to Aylesbury later on, plenty of strangely coloured ones there,
Vale Travel for
example operating ex Yellow Buses per attached amongst others.
Wasn’t there long
and not the best of places for taking photos either.
London operations
Andrew Webb
Another exile from Scotland is this Neoplan Tourliner which spent time with MacDonald Coaches of Cumbernauld. After spending times with Walters Limousines in Oxfordshire it is now with Llynfi Coaches in Wales.
It is with this operator that is seen arriving in Parliament Square on 18 March.
Route 25 welcomed Ensign's venerable RT8. It is
seen arriving in Stratford trailing Stagecoach's 11355, an example of the
modern-day allocation to the route. Proving that the bus is a match for
its successor 80 years younger, the same two buses are seen arriving at Aldgate.
Whilst the modern day 25 continues to City Thameslink, RT8 was curtailed to
Aldgate where it took a layover in the bus station. This provided the
opportunity to compare RT8 with a 21st century take on a bespoke
London bus in the form of LT345. Will fund raisers in the 2090s turn out a
New Routemaster as a heritage vehicle on route 25?
Kevin Fuller
Whilst in Uxbridge, I noticed that Abellio are using new electric buses in use
on route U5 (Uxbridge - Hayes & Harlington Station). They are Wright Streetdeck
Electroliners, and some pictures are attached. all taken on a wet 18th March:
1) 3026 has already reset its blind for its next working whilst unloading
outside Uxbridge bus station.
2) 3024 at the end of its journey in Uxbridge.
3) 3022 turns into Baker Street in Uxbridge to commence its journey from the bus
station.
Grahame Wareham
...........reminds me that he co.vered 999 in previous issues in some detail ! Ed.
Neil Gow
There is a final COMS Leyland Olympian that I don’t think has been mentioned so far – the former Singapore demonstrator 999 (PWL 999W) which I don’t think ever strayed from Park and Ride duties during its career with COMS. It was a long wheelbase model with a full height Alexander R type body, but was fitted with ECW front panel and windscreen before entering service. The large sliding windows were also replaced by conventional hoppers for service in the UK.
It’s pictured passing Christ Church
College in June 1987, fairly soon after it entered service.
Also possibly worthy of mention was the hiring on summer Saturdays in 1987 of one or two coach seated Olympians from Midland Red South – which coincidentally also had fleet numbers beginning with 9 (from the 961-964 batch).
Midland Red South 961 is pictured running light to Gloucester Green for its next
departure to London in August 1987.
Unlike ADD 50Y this had the standard ECW
body shell.
The Highlands
With enviro400s behind, Enviro 300s at Aviemore garage with 27103, 27102, 27104
and 27916 on a quiet Sunday, March 19th
27101 at Aviemore with the 0922 37 to Cairngorm on March 18th
Enviro 400 19219 at the snowy Cairngorm base station after the long climb from
Aviemore on March 16th