Issue nr 297
Thursday April 18th, 2024
Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/
From the Editor
Interesting developments in Oxford with ever increasing numbers of Electroliners entering service. Also reports of recent events including this year's LBM Brooklands.
There are various visits and shows that readers have been to with plenty of pictures.
There much to read and again some items are held over to the next issue.
In this issue
LBM Spring Gathering in pictures
My travels around by Andrew Simmonds
Martin Dowling introduces us to Priscilla
Oxford - A moment in time with Richard Sharman on April 17th
Readers Write
Buses in the Landscape
Coach visitors to Oxford
Fleet News & Developments
Oxford's diesel converted Hybrids start moving the Plymouth
Manchester's ex Oxford Hybrids in service
Stagecoach Oxford Hybrids still giving good service in Manchester
Grahame Wareham takes us back 55 years
Visits to Durham and Glasgow
Spring Gathering 2024 ~ April 14th with pictures from Jack Cooper
The South-East's biggest and best bus show ~ fun and entertainment for families and enthusiasts. Pictures of this season's traditional curtain-opener!
Jack has provided an excellent review on the vehicles present. Ed.
Other contributors
Andrew Webb
The annual London Bus Museum Spring Gathering
at Brooklands Museum took place on 14 April.
Both local operators sent vehicles to the event for
static display.
Stagecoach's Enviro 400EV 80004 proved a very popular
attraction to visitors.
Go Ahead sent this recently acquired Citaro which has
been turned out in an updated livery for route one.
As these buses are not
compliant with London emissions regulations they will not see use on the
services to Uxbridge and Heathrow.
Evoking memories an earlier generation of buses which served the Chilterns were
consecutively numbered National Bus SNB448 and SNB449.
Peter Edgar
A couple of classic vehicles that attended the London Bus Museum at Brooklands
last Sunday.
My travels around by Andrew Simmonds
Arriva in Tamworth on April 13th
A bit out of area - Arriva buses in Tamworth plus one Stagecoach. The old Midland Red garage still in use by Arriva and a Citaro in Midland Red livery.
Wales
Llew Jones Coaches to run TrawsCymru T22 with battery-electrics - routeone (route-one.net)
New electric buses serving route T22 between Blaenau
Ffestiniog and Caernarfon seen in March 2024 seen in BF.
A very interesting piece from Andy. Ed.
Martin Dowling introduces us to Priscilla
This is well out of our area
but hopefully will be of interest to your readers. The 1994 film Priscilla
Queen of the Desert was a low budget production filmed in Australia which has
since become something of a classic. Priscilla is the star of the film and
is a 1970s Hino RC320 bus.
It was originally bought by a
Sydney travel company and used for tours. At the end of its working life a
couple bought it and leased it to the production company for their film.
The couple subsequently divorced and the bus disappeared from view.
When the film started to
become better known, several buses surfaced claiming to be Priscilla, but no-one
was certain which, if any, was the real one. Several people including some
from the National Motor Museum were looking out in the hope of finding her.
In 2019 a man from a small
settlement called Ewingar in NSW called to say that he thought he might have the
bus which was on some land he had bought. The museum was sceptical but
went to have a look. The registration, destination blind and other details
looked correct. During the film Priscilla was painted pink. Because
of the low budget and filming being out of sequence only one side was repainted
so the other could be shot with the original silver. The bus was later
repainted, but the museum found traces of pink paint that had not been entirely
removed and are certain that after 30 years they now have found Priscilla.
The bus has been transported
to Queensland where it will be restored.
The full story and more photos are here
Oxford - A moment in time with Richard Sharman on April 17th
For the first time since National Bus Company days, Oxford Bus Company has released a timetable booklet, rather than individual leaflets for each service. The booklet is very well designed and should be well received by passengers looking for details on services operating on the SmartZone network.
One would assume services that are not part of the SmartZone network
will continue to be separate.
CSS 192 is seen catching the sun whilst operating a late evening tour as
it departs the St. Giles stop.
Two Cotswolds operators pass in Oxford city centre, with the
EVM-converted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter being a recent addition to the
Bakers fleet.
Bakers was, of course, originally based at Enstone Airfield before
moving across the border to Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire some years
ago now.
Former Nottingham City Transport ADL Enviro200 YX13 BNV looks smart
as it turns at Frideswide Square into Park End Street for home on the
X20.
Network Rail work continues on the Botley Road bridge, with some
progress being made.
One thing is for sure, passengers will be relieved when it is all over,
in October if it all goes to plan!.
Electroliner 190 is seen making its way out of the city as its returns
back to the depot for an overnight charge.
BrookesBus City 100-liveried 608 puts in a relatively rare turn in on
the 300 service.
6 day old Electroliner 742 looks like it could be getting a quick
recharge by wind power
as it layovers at the temporary bus turning area next to Botley Road
bridge.
ADL Enviro400MMC 11760 is seen departing the bus turning area on Botley
Road for Eynsham on the E1 service.
743 is seen operating its final trip of the day on its first day on the
road, 17th of April 24.
741 is seen heading for the George Street stop on the 300 service as it
catches the evening sun, showing off its bright livery.
744 is seen operating service 300 on George Street during its third day
in revenue earning service.
On loan to Oxford from Swindon depot is Scania 15858, seen heading for
Bicester on the S5.
Andrew Dyer or
Grumpy of Auckland!!
Greetings from NZ where the
clocks have just gone back and it’s starting to feel rather autumnal.
Thanks for another great
issue and I was interested to see that Oxfordshire County Council is going to
run some of their own services.
My local interest meant
that I homed in on new route 107 from Oddington to Bicester and it made me
realise that someone at OCC has just planned this from a map rather than
understanding the local area.
There is a timing point at
“Boarstall, Panshill Farm” which would make most people think that the bus
serves Boarstall village which it does not. Panshill Farm is about 100 yards
over the county boundary into Boarstall parish, but Boarstall village is about
two miles further away! So, whilst technically correct that the stop is in
Boarstall Parish it’s just confusing to describe it as such.
It’s a bit like in the old
days before 1974 reorganisation, getting COMS to describe Abingdon Road as
Berkshire, not Oxford, which technically it was!
There’s nothing like driving a route and using local knowledge!
Tony Bungay
Regarding the Arriva section of last weeks news page, i think a minor glitch occurred, in as much that you credited me with somebody else's post, while i certainly echoed similar thoughts, it was not me who provided the vehicle numbers
Tony Bungay was Gary Seamarks - my error in the last issue
Looking at the revisions at Arriva Aylesbury, and more reductions, makes sad reading looks like the PVR on a weekday will be X5 =5, X7 =6 and X9 =5 total 16 buses. with the possibility of working both the Wycombe and Hemel from the other end, in theory only leaves a 6 vehicle allocation to Aylesbury for the Oxford that cannot be easily covered from elsewhere, it looks like either a relocation could be happening or worse.... its also worth remembering that in the days of Aylesbury Bus both Red Rover and Motts service work was acquired into the depot, I seem to think at one time Aylesbury's allocation was about 65 buses.
Nick Ross
At the end of Mill Lane near Wing, Arriva Enviro 400 4400 heads North with the
X4 0815 Aylesbury - M.Keynes on April 8th 2024
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
David Beynon
Visitors at The Kassam on April 13th, which are the same pair as
were here on Boxing Day last year.
Fleet News and developments
Michael Penn
Two recent arrivals with Arriva The Shires at Luton are
Enviro 200 2151 (CX 08 DJJ), new to Arriva Cymru
Scania OmniLink 3505 (YN 08
HZS), new to Arriva Midlands North.
The latter is the only one of
this model with Arriva The Shires although they did have similar 3506 (YN 08
HZT) at Aylesbury for a short time a year or so ago.
Nigel Peach
Two pictures attached from Cressex on 11th April.
Citaros 3007 and 3029. Behind them are 4212 (out of service since 1st March) and
withdrawn 4749.
ADL Enviro 400 5457 in the workshop.
Tony Bungay
Making this slightly more topical, on UK Rail Forum Buses and Coaches, a posting
from Arriva Matt, who I think posts from time to time on your webpage, and
indeed probably has sent you this info.
New Electric buses at Leicester have released Volvo
B9/East Lancs Olympus vehicles for Milton Keynes, at the same time 2 Enviro 400
vehicles will go the other way. One assumes therefore that 4400 maybe heading
back to the part
of the world it come from.
Former Derby and Aylesbury Enviro 400 4400, now based at Milton Keynes
since the reallocation of formally Service 150 now X4, seen in Aylesbury
yesterday 13/4/24 on an X4 journey, which has certain journeys worked by Enviro
400 vehicles.
Also enclosed as a reminder to readers, is a photo of
4400 wearing 38 branding when received at Aylesbury from Derby, as shown in the
news page at the time, both 4400 and 4401 wore this branding working the 280
service!
I asked Luke about several buses which seem no long around. Ed.
Luke Marion
599 is still around.
305, 313 and 317 have now been cascaded to Plymouth City Bus.
Malcolm Crowe
877 displays its rear branding and I wonder if Chiltern Hundreds is not to
continue? April 6th.
Variety at Carousel with amongst others 975 here as a loan from Oxford on April
6th.
The overflo/w yard on April 13th with 2204 (534) which has now re-entered
service after a long break.
890 seen on April 13th which did not at the time carry route one branding.
Jack Cooper
After a spell working 6 road (8 nand 9 April) the Electrics are this week
back working 11X services.
663 is seen working a late X3 service on April 14th.
735 and 748 in service on April 8th and 13th.The destination has come out
well on 748.
308 is seen in service on April 9th.
607 and 608 working the 3A in Watlington Rd,
Cowley on April 14th.
Ex Oxford Hybrids now is service with SC
Manchester !
313 passes 305 on April 12th.
Seen on April 15th 514 now appears to be allocated to the 3X but 599 is
still at Oxford.
742 and 743 have entered service in the past few days as seen above on
April 12th and 17th.
744 had also entered service by April 15th.
196 is seen by St Giles working sightseeing duties on April 8th.
CSS 194 seen in Oxford on April 11th.
Charles Powell
GL54PUL which was taken to Ensign on April 12th for work to be carried out.
I have heard that the ST2 has moved to Oxford depot with 520 and 521 losing their TT branding. Ed
Hazel Richardson
248 seen working a 1A in Chesham on April 17th.
248 is currently allocated to Wycombe. Ed
Jack Cooper
224, 513, 923 and 929 seen in Oxford in recent days.
Lewis Anthony
942 on the X34 at Vodafone HQ, Newbury on April 11th.
928 seen in Wootton working the 44 on April 16th.
941 seen leaving Didcot Parkway with a 33A on April 16th.
Jack Cooper
Double deck variety, 10070, 10669 and 15837
10779 recently repainted seen working the 2 on April 8th.
27719 with an S4 service on April 8th.
Richard Sharman
The 2A seems to have a fairly regular
Enviro200 working at the moment, or Oxford are short of deckers. 36926
is seen operating an evening peak journey.
It effectively means any
passengers still wishing to travel to or from Woodstock face a long walk to or
from Bladon after 2000hrs.
Details of the changes and the
reason are listed here:
Matty James Downes
Look what I’ve just found hiding at the back of Oldham. No idea what it’s doing
here but definitely a strange looker!
April 15th.
Ex SC Oxford Hybrids still in service in
Manchester.
Other SC buses.
Changing liveries.
Now working Tranche 2 services under SC much
variety.
24 plates and one ex First bus.
Jack Cooper
The X5 no longer sees coaches and above 19892
is seen in George Street on April 8th.
Andrew Webb
On April 11th Stagecoach Oxford 50454 is seen at
Victoria, still in unbranded Scottish Citylink livery.
The following day, also at Victoria, another former Scottish,
50447 shows off its new
identity in spring sunshine.
In the background is a set of roadworks which
reduced the approach to Victoria from 3 to 1 lane and made for a very tight
'chicane' through the traffic lights.
Jack Cooper
50447 seen inb St Aldates having come from
London via High Wycombe on April 9th.
London operations
Andrew Webb
Stagecoach's LT374 is one of several buses treated to this wrap advertising the BBC's 'Miss Me?' podcast featuring Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver.
On 11 April it is seen approaching Tottenham Court Road at the start of another journey on route 55 to Walthamstow.
Grahame Wareham
I thought I would send you
these two images, one of 55 years ago and the other I took today in Godstow
Road, Wolvercote.
The b&w picture shows COMS 968 968CWL, a Weymann bodied
AEC Regent V on a 4 to Wolvercote nearing the end of its journey to Home Close
on 29th. March 1969
Yesterday's picture is Wright Electroliner Kite 494
BJ73WXG on a 6 to Wolvercote in the same place approaching the traffic lights
which were introduced on the bridge in 2004.
The terminus is now in Watermark
Way, a new housing complex built on the site of the former Wolvercote Paper
Mill.
It's amazing to think that
today's single decker is almost one and a half times heavier than the 1958
double decker which has almost double the seating capacity. The bridge was built
in 1897 and is of showing signs of fatigue, hence the single line traffic
control until it gets rebuilt, which is planned.
I will have a look at trying to continue this before and after theme from my archives.
A snapshot in time. Ed.
James Allum in Durham
Durham recently of an Ex Arriva Manchester vehicle plying its trade for Arriva
Durham recently.
This vehicle has now joined the Darlington fleet
since, it is CX58EVR 1353
First 34396 seen working service X3 on March 31st.
McGills SN66WGV with an X36 on March 31st.
Ulsterbus 1100 XUI2900 with a 923 to Belfast on March 31st.