Issue nr. 214
Wednesday, August 3rd 2022
Editorial
And the weeks roll by with much happening of interest during the past seven days. Contributors have as ever provided some excellent pictures and information for this issue 214.
Gavin Francis visited the two Commonwealth Games depots of Stagecoach Midlands obtaining some very nice pictures from Oldbury and Erdington.
The rail bridge in Botley Road will need to be replaced as part of Network Rail’s plans to increase capacity at Oxford Train Station and details are given below.
Stagecoach have announced plans for the future of megabus and other express services in cooperation with ComfortDelGro.
There are some significant changes to services in Buckinghamshire involving both Arriva and Carousel also reported below.
Sad news is that Bournemouth's Yellow Buses goes into administration with the story highlighted below.
This issue contains much to interest readers and I must thank all my contributors. Ed.
https://www.birmingham2022.com/travel
Steven Knight
...... called this morning to advise he has counted a grand total of 572
vehicles from Stagecoach on services to the games. This includes any megabus or
hired coaches. He believes he might be missing up to 10 vehicles.
Also he advises that some vehicles are based at Heathrow doing a shuttle from
there which may account for the various coaches. The link above gives all the
latest regarding what is happening as of today.
Gavin Francis
....... visited the two Birmingham temporary depots on August 1st.
First pictures are at Oldbury Depot. It's entrance is very narrow and not much of the depot is visible. Had to stand on the opposite side of the road to get pictures many of them against the sun.
At Oldbury 10707, 10720, 10803 (normally on X5) and 10921.
11123, 11136, 11176 and 11192.
11562, 10872 (another off the X5 or 99) 26096 and 26245.
26262, 26322 and a general view of Oldbury depot.
Moved to the north of Birmingham and Erdington Depot. This is much more like The Olympic Games Depots. It is on a large industrial estate with just a barred fence around it. You can see what is inside and take pictures through the fence. Stood by the exit at the end of the road to get most of the pictures.
10417, 10419, 10491 and 10578.
10584, 10755, 10771 and 10808.
Oxford's contribution included 10781 and 10788 plus 10902 which when new was
delivered to Oxford.
10816, 10821, 10868 and 10869.
10955, 11103, 11118 and a less than well 11150, not everything always goes to
plan!!
11152, 11178, 11294 and 11567.
26006, 26014, 26205 and 26210.
26233, 26238, 26279 and 37166.
54287, 59223, BB18WEB and BV17GSO,
I have tried to give an idea of the complexity of operations for the event and the variety to be seen and these pictures from Gavin Francis give provide an excellent report for Stagecoach operations. With the fleet number for each picture readers will be able to see those buses with which they are familiar. Ed.
Martin Sacaloff
........ has provided pictures from Stagecoach Erdington depot on July 29th.
Stagecoach Erdington depot on July 29th 2022
A MAJOR road into Oxford is to close for a ‘significant period of time’ due to work to replace a bridge.
The rail bridge in Botley Road will need to be replaced as part of Network Rail’s plans to increase capacity at Oxford Train Station, with this leading to the complete closure of Botley Road.
While timings on how long the closure will last are unconfirmed, it is believed that it could be approximately three months.
The Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are currently in discussions with Oxfordshire County Council about our programme of work for the station, which is in the process of being finalised by our contractor, Kier.
“The key period for us on Botley Road will be next summer when we need to replace the bridge.
“This will mean the road and station will need to be completely closed. This is due to take place at the end of July or start of August.
“Ahead of that we will need to do preparation work, including the diversion of utility services. We are currently discussing all this with Oxfordshire County Council to establish best way of doing this.”
Lines in and out of Oxford Station are already set to be closed over four weekends in September and October, to facilitate the second phase of works to increase capacity.
This is currently set for the weekends of September 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25, plus October 1-2.
Buses will replace regular train services.
A county council spokesperson said: “Oxfordshire County Council, as highways authority, is exploring all options in minimising traffic disruption in connection with work due to be carried out to expand Oxford Station later this year and in 2023.
“No decisions have yet been taken, but the work will inevitably impact on users of Botley Road for a significant period of time.
“We are working with Network Rail, and also with Thames Water, who it is hoped can take advantage of the closure to carry out repairs on Osney Bridge and avoid more disruption at a later date.
“We are also looking at using the closure as an opportunity to complete work on the Botley Road corridor, again to reduce future disruption.
“We will make announcements when arrangements have been made and will be keeping residents and road users informed about the plans as soon as we can.
“This project is necessary to improve Oxford’s rail links and will be welcomed by train users as it will expand Oxford Station, enabling more train services to run, as well as increasing the capacity of Botley Road bridge under the railway for road users, including cyclists.”
This will produce some interesting changes to bus routes and we await with interest full details. Ed.
Parks LSK873 seen operating an M20 service from VCS on August 2nd. Gavin
Francis.
July 29th 2022
Stagecoach confirms future for its inter-city coach retail operations
Stagecoach has today (29 July 2022) confirmed the future of the retailing activities of its inter-city coach businesses, megabus.com and Falcon.
Both megabus.com and Falcon are Stagecoach’s 100%-owned inter-city coach operations. In addition, Stagecoach has a joint venture, Scottish Citylink, with international transport group, ComfortDelGro. The joint venture is responsible for the Scottish Citylink express coach network and megabus.com branded services to, from and within Scotland.In return, Stagecoach's share of the Citylink joint venture will increase from 35% to 37.5%.
Around 30 Stagecoach Group employees are expected to transfer to Scottish Citylink as part of the sale. There is no change to the operation of the inter-city coach services themselves.
Stagecoach Chief Executive, Martin Griffiths, said: "Inter-city coach has a positive future as a greener and better value alternative to the car and as the UK rail network continues to see rising fares and operational challenges. "The agreement we have reached with ComfortDelGro will provide certainty for employees in these businesses, and ensure we can continue to benefit from future growth in the inter-city coach market through our increased share in the Scottish Citylink joint venture."
On behalf of ComfortDelGro, Sean O’Shea, Chief Executive Officer for Metroline, said: “Comfort-DelGro’s 20-year long relationship with Stagecoach in Scotland is set to expand and I look forward to working together to deliver great services for inter-city customers in England and Wales.”
The agreement is subject to certain conditions and completion of the transaction is expected in mid-August 2022.
This should produce some interesting times ahead. Ed.
Local service changes - Buckinghamshire
Bucks Free Press report of changes in September. Arriva
coming off service 1 but replacing Carousel operations on the Bourne End routes,
36 and 37.
As Arriva is the somewhat convoluted direct heir to
London Transport Country area operations of old, this means that link with
Amersham is now virtually severed. Not quite as Arriva will/or now operate
service 336 from Watford, with a handful of journeys still reaching Amersham,
Thanks to Tony Bungay for drawing our attention to this. Ed.
More on this under the two operators headings below. Ed.
Jack Cooper
Here pictures of the model of
601 which I have just had resprayed into red + black cityX3 colours. This was
done by the Model Bus Doctor. Also attached are some other
repainted Oxford Bus models I have had done. 601 in city2 blue, 603 in
BROOKESbus red and 861 in Thames Travel generic.
Bournemouth's Yellow Buses goes into administration
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-62351890
Sad news are problems for Yellow Bus in Bournemouth as above in the BBC link. Also remember the recent report on the rally in Bournemouth covered in issue 211.
My own happy memory of a day driving a Bournemouth Royal Tiger at Dunster on May
29th 2000. (Gosh over 22 years ago !!!)
https://www.keybuses.com/buses-festival
Readers can check which buses and coach are participating at the link above.
Jack Cooper
Sunday, August 7th Buses Festival is being held. This will be at Sywell Aerodrome (Northampton).
Thames Travel 906 is seen at Oxford Station on July 29th by Jack Cooper.
I like the composition of this picture. Ed.
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
Gavin Francis
Golden Tours LF19FYD outside The Ashmolean Museum in
Oxford on July 30th.
Pulhams PU21HAM in St Giles on July 28th.
Off Piste
Gavin Francis
A nice item from Gavin for animal lovers !
The Muntjacks were in the BMW factory and had the sense not to run
out in front of me!
Thank goodness. Ed.
Fleet News and developments
Malcolm Crowe
Wrights 3818 is seen in West Wycombe Road on July 30th working the X30 from
Aylesbury.
Dear old 6000 would still appear to be in service at Wycombe, this picture taken
on July 30th.
Peter Edgar
Following on from the two photographs that you published this week of
ARRIVA
HERTS & ESSEX Platinum Jubilee vehicle 6524 here is an offside view taken in
Exchange Street, Aylesbury. This appears to be the same nearside as all ARRIVA
vehicles that I have seen in the Jubilee livery.
Tony Bungay
Managed to get a few more photos of the Arriva Platinum
Enviro. I know this vehicle has now featured a few times on the news page. As
one contributor pointed out this week, the nearside of the vehicle is slightly
different.
Hence I was able to get a reasonable view of this side of
the vehicle, with Aylesbury theatre behind on 28/7/22 Taken this evening 29/7/22.
Gavin Francis
airsym's YD22BZN branded for BlaBlaCar services seen on July 29th near VCS.
AirSym express YD22BZL, a Yutong also in London with a 1334 service to France on
July 30th.
The two coaches are not yet recorded on www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk but other similar coaches are now recorded from May 2022.
Gavin Francis
Solo 20738 is seen by the Stagecoach depot in Oldbury working route 21 on August
1st.
Gavin Francis
Now working the Scottish service, Loch Lomond's Tourismo BV71HYL seen in
Elizabeth Street on July 26th.
Luke Marion - Interim Managing Director
Yes, a demonstrator is on the 11X on August 1st. It
is a "new generation"
Mercedes eCitaro demonstrator MB21BUS
with larger batteries than the last one we trialled. We should have it for a
couple of weeks so will be using it on a few of our routes.
Fleet changes at Carousel will be minimal although there will be 971-975
transferred in for the PickMeUp service.
1st - 9th Aug
From Wednesday 3rd until Tuesday 9th August, the
Cumnor Hill Bottom stop on Cumnor Hill will be suspended due to Thames Water
works.
This will affect your services travelling towards Cumnor.
During the time of this closure, passengers are
advised to use the Elms Parade or Arnolds Way stops as alternatives.
The company apologises for any inconvenience caused.
https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-4th-september-2022
Gavin Francis
Ex Carousel and now Ipswich Buses- ScaniaN94UD
OmniDekka/East Lancs OU54PGZ.
CAROUSEL's OU54PGZ seen in OXFORD Rd HIGH WYCOMBE on September 25th 2014 by
Gavin Francis.
Jack Cooper
As mentioned last week the late Sunday journeys on the 102 are covered by Oxford. This week 603 is operating the Oxford Bus based running board.
Malcolm Crowe
Scania 214 is back in
service at Wycombe on August 3rd.
Scania 216 seen at Wycombe depot on July 30th.
A gathering outside the Wycombe depot and another
picture of the overflow yard both on July 30th.
As noted above by Luke Marion this eCitaro 899 now has larger batteries. Ed.
Gavin Francis
Scania 223 is seen with an X40 service in High Street on July 30th.
355 is also in High Street with a 3 road service on the same day with 601 just
behind.
603 is working 8 road whilst 608 is handling the X3 both in High Street on July
30th.
667 has now gained a super rear for The Ashmolean Museum which is off to the
right of picture on July 28th.
Jack Cooper
667 has gained a super rear for the Ashmolean Museum.
667 seen from the front is working 35 road on July
31st.
Neil Bridges
Some different vehicles on 1's & 5's on July 27th.
I think this is the first time I have
pictures of 225 and 372 working 5 road. Ed.
Jack Cooper
Frideswide Square in the location for this picture of
205 on July 31st.
In Magdalen Street East 631 is enjoying a good load
on July 30th.
Jack Cooper
Tourismo 30 seen arriving in Gloucester Green and
then ready for its next run on July 31st.
The elite I Interdeckers are busy with Airline
services as seen above by 67 and 69 on July 31st.
Jack Cooper
Once the pride of Carousel, 875 is now resplendent in Thames Travel livery
working the recently acquired route 63 on July 26th.
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/timeline
Gavin Francis
Variety for the A6 Stansted service with Levante III
315 and JG Travel's BG65VWX on July 29th.
Again on July 29th, Edwards new BV22VTT and BV66WPN
working contracted services for National Express.
Another J G Travel BD18TLO is also working the A6
seen here in Buckingham Palace Road on July 26th.
Clarkes BF67WJN seen in Gloucester Green working a
C29 on July 30th.
Kings Ferry appeared to be running to service from
Heathrow via Oxford for the games ???
BF68ZFH is seen in Gloucester Green on July 28th.
A smart midi coach, Kings Ferry YG68TKF is seen by
VCS on July 29th.
Seems this coach is from Neasden with another NEx
working by VCS on July 29th.
Jack Cooper
Levante NX68TSE is seen working the 160 to Birmingham
from Gloucester Green on July 31st.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Robert Williams - CEO
CLIMATE STRIPES BUS – REMINDING PEOPLE THEY CAN
HELP CUT EMISSIONS
A bio methane powered single deck bus has been
transformed into a climate stripes bus.
For several months Reading Buses has been working closely
with the University of Reading whose Professor Ed Hawkins, a world-leading
climate scientist, created ‘warming stripes’.
The ‘warming stripes’ are a means of visually
communicating rising temperatures and the threat of global warming for all of
our futures and have already been displayed nationally and internationally.
And now they will be on one of Reading Buses vehicles
which Chief Executive Officer Robert Williams said would ‘help
to highlight the environmental benefits of travelling by bus.’
He said today: “We are delighted to partner with the
University of Reading to help highlight climate change. By covering a bus
powered by biomethane gas with the climate stripes we are able to offer an
extremely low carbon reminder of the climate emergency.
“This is also a reminder to people that using public
transport is one of the easiest ways that they can help to cut emissions.
“We have even worked with our suppliers to source a new recyclable vinyl to keep the carbon impact of this project as low as possible for as long as possible.”
From Notices & Proceedings
REDLINE BUSES LTD, INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, 3 GRIFFIN LANE, AYLESBURY, HP19 8BP
From: Monks Risborough To: Marlow Hill Via: Princes Risborough, Walters Ash, Naphill. Cryers Hill, Hazelmere Name or No.: 814 Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 05 September 2022
Other details: Monday to Friday (Buckinghamshire school days)
Gavin Francis
Ex Whitelaws E19RRT (GW65GSW) seen at
Stokenchurch with a route 40 service on July 27th.
Ex Whitelaws SF66ARW seen at
Stokenchurch with a route 40 service heading for Thame on July 27th.
Malcolm Crowe
... with a different view !
The same bus as above but this time turning into New Road on July 28th.
I think ARV does not have the rear display working?
The service is currently running well with two of the MMCs allocated each day but www.bustimes.org has as yet not been updated. I see the 275 heading for Oxford each morning when I walk the dog and so far this has been YX10BGK, The only journeys to operate via Stokenchurch are the first oen from High Wycombe and the last one from Oxford. This bus is not an MMC just an E200 and is ex Metroline West ex DE1814 and ex First London ex DML44160.
Dave & Deric
Here is a summary of the changes on the Stagecoach West
Period 3 Fleet Card dated July 23rd:
On Loan
54265
Loan to Stagecoach East Midlands (Hull)
to North
Bristol
Transfers
10686/87 Swindon
to
Stagecoach Oxford (Witney)
28687/88 Cheltenham
to Swindon
Vehicles to Reserve
15349
Swindon
to Reserve
(RTA)
28744
Stagecoach Oxford (Banbury)
to Reserve
(Gloucester) – Confirmation
For Disposal
47455/555 Reserve
to
Disposal
Sold/Gone
18445
Disposal
to Gone
(Stagecoach South for spares)
Additionally, we’ve picked up
the following change to the Stagecoach Oxford
fleet additional to those shown above:
Vehicle to Reserve
15830
Oxford
to Reserve
(RTA)
Operation of Service 853 (Cheltenham to Oxford via
Witney) transferred from Cheltenham depot to Witney depot on July 24th. As a
result, Cheltenham’s 28687/88 have moved to Swindon allowing 10686/87 to
transfer to Witney for their operation of Service 853.
Currently at Oxford, 15736 is seen above with a 66
working from Oxford on July 17th 2015.
Ciaran Bird
I come bearing photos for you! Not as many this time as I haven't been out and
about as much but at least there's something.
Of note, the Scania N230UD/Enviro400s on loan from Bristol to Oxford and Witney
respectively. 15835 on a Nocturne Live day and also the rather ill fated 47550
and 47621, its replacement, both seen in Woodstock. As promised, the photo of
15833 on Cornish Road is from my very first driving day at Stagecoach (18th
July) on duty 1804. A nice long duty to get the Stagecoach ball rolling for me!
This week and next, I'm on night duties before heading back to days the week
after.
Scanias 15753 and Gold 15836 at Wootton Turn on June 16th.
On loan from West, Solo 47550 is seen working the 233 in Woodstock on June
17th.
MMC 10441 is seen at Chippy outstation on June 18th.
At Wootton Turn, Gold 15833 is seen ready to work an S3 to Oxford on June 20th.
Loaned from West, 10686 now transferred to Witney and 15768 both in George
Street on July 28th.
MMCs 11244 with a 233 and 11253 with an S2 both on July 29th.
West loans 15765 and 15766 in service in Oxford on July 28th.
Ex Gold seat belted 15966 on July 28th.
E200 37017 working route 8 in Castle Street on July 28th.
Many thanks to Ciaran, who is now driving for Stagecoach and whose pictures show the Oxford operations in good order. Ed.
Seen in St Giles by The Ashmolean is 11237 working
the 853 on July 28th.
I wonder if the 853 will move its terminus to Gloucester Green ??
Ex Gold 15752 seen after repaint into local colours
at Horspath depot on July 28th.
Gold 15760 somewhat off route for the S5 is seen in
George Street with 14A on July 26th.
Loan ex Gold 15765 seen in St Giles with an S1
service on July 28th.
Seen in George Street working the S1 is 15768 on July
28th.
Ex Gold 15966 was at the depot on July 30th and so
far www.bustimes.org
does record it having worked since its move from
Bristol.
Loaned Welsh E200s 36401, 37017, 37021 with 36403 and
37025 working or ready to work in the last days of July 2022.
Loaned to Witney, West Solo 47910 is seen in
Gloucester Green with an S2 on July 28th.
MMC 10437 is seen with an S3 service on July 31st.
E200 37025 is receive a helping hand from a recovery
truck in Gloucester Green on July 26th.
37027 was at Bicester outstation this week with 37021 to cover the routes that
Stagecoach provide
37027 surprisingly is fitted with seat belts but is not fitted with a digital tachograph and is also limited to 50mph like the other single deck buses.
So quite baffled why it has had seat belts fitted ?
Photos taken July 29th.
37027 was taken at Bicester outstation for the first run on the H5 route to the
JR Hospital from Bicester
37021 was taken at Kingsmere housing estate Bicester
36403 working the H5 in Bicester on August 2nd ready to depart
JR Hospital back to Bicester.
I think there are two of these 2011 buses on loan from wales the other being 36401.
SKM
On the Stagecoach East
website, Saturday, July 30th....
Included in today's long list of cancellations...
So that means on a 30 min frequency there will be a
13:55 from Bedford to Oxford and the next one will be at 15:55 and then at 16:55
On the return from Oxford there will be a 16:20 and
the next one at 18:20 then 19:20.
Whatever happened to Controllers and service
regulation?
Surely the Traffic Commissioners should be looking
into this, which is being repeated around the country?
X5 |
14:25 |
Bedford Bus Station |
Oxford |
X5 |
14:55 |
Bedford Bus Station |
Oxford |
X5 |
15:25 |
Bedford Bus Station |
Oxford |
X5 |
16:25 |
Bedford Bus Station |
Oxford |
X5 |
16:50 |
Oxford |
Bedford Bus Station |
X5 |
17:20 |
Oxford |
Bedford Bus Station |
X5 |
17:50 |
Oxford |
Bedford Bus Station |
X5 |
18:50 |
Oxford |
Bedford Bus Station |
Gavin Francis
.... showing how the loss of buses to Birmingham CG has resulted in some unusual visitors from Bedford.
Scania E400s 15989, 15988 and E400 19582 plus 19889
are seen with X5s in Oxford on July 28th.
Local livery 19590 is seen in Gloucester Green on
July 29th with an X5.
19573 and 19888 are both working the X5 on July 30th.
Quire a change from the usual retainers for this route ! Ed.
Quite a variety of liveries seen at Horspath Road on
July 29th.
Jack Cooper
As if to defy the current allocations, 10879 appeared in Gloucester Green with
an X5 on July 31st !!!!!
More in line is 19568 seen in George Street on July 31st.
Stagecoach Midlands have a special operating licence for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Gavin Francis's picture shows the legal lettering applied to
all SC vehicles involved.
Some odd stop name changes have taken place in London for the tube.
This is on Marylebone Road, the town hall is some way away.
Gavin Francis
Astromega 50272 made a foray to London on July 29th.
This coach has seen very little service sine its return to Oxford !!
Jack Cooper
50428 and 50434 seen ready for service in Gloucester
Green on July 27th and 31st.
One has to once again compliment the cleaning staff at Oxford for
excellent presentation of these Panoramas. Ed.
Gavin Francis
....... seemingly now a multitude of contracting operators.
Interdecker 54218 appears allocated to Plymouth as it
crosses out of Elizabeth Street to the bridge on July 29th.
New Adventure run this Interdecker, PH17 (B11PLX)
working the M7 on July 29th.
Another contractor is ACE TRAVEL who are operating
some Scottish services as seen on July 26th.
JB Travel GB20JBT are operating the M12 to Leeds on
July 29th.
Once withh Flixbus, Linburg now operate for megabus
as above with L28URG on July 30th.
McLean's now work the M20 as seen by NX21MCL on July
26th.
On presumes that the NX registration was for operating National Express services
?
London operations
Gavin Francis
Wraps are now appearing covering tour buses as seen
above by Big Bus DA227 for viator, London. July 26th at Marble Arch.
The extra length of the RML can be seen in this
picture of www.b-bakery.com
RML2686 on July 29th.
Crawley Luxury are seen in Elizabeth Street with
Tourismo 789CLC on July 29th.
Ellis of Perivale Tourismo BV19YGY on July 26th in
Elizabeth Street.
Another EvanEvans Tourismo EE9938 also in Elizabeth
Street on July 26th.
Well travelled GAL EN6 is seen on August 6th 2012 but
is now a driver trainer
as seen in Stokenchurch on July 27th !!!!!!!!!
GAL LT506 showing off the Wizz Air wrap whilst
working the 11 on July 26th.
Grahame Wareham
Herewith images of ex. NWRCC Daimler Fleetline 214
JDB246F which arrived at COMS in July 1972 . As with all of this batch of four
vehicles they started off working City routes but soon migrated to Country
depots to replace the remaining AEC Renown's that were not OMO converted and
could be used in the City with the last of the remaining conductors. After their
COF overhauls had all been completed by Midland Red's Carlyle Works they
received NBC poppy red livery and the later style lower front detachable panel
incorporating two fog lamps, similar to that fitted to the 397-416 batch of 1971
Alexander Fleetline's. 214 was finally withdrawn in October 1979 and sold to
Ensign Bus who resold it on to Eagle Taxi's of Tunbridge Wells, who were later
taken over by Shearings. At that time 214 was then sold for scrap to PVS,
Carlton, Barnsley.
Initially the fleet name was changed as seen in August 1972.
Quite quickly it was painted into the 1970's Oxford livery.
Then as National Bus took hold it gained their fleet name style and then all
over poppy red by 1975.
Its final days are seen above in the scrap yard.
COMS Leyland Olympian 214 was delivered along with
213 in October 1982 and was used on mainly routes requiring a more comfortable
vehicle such as Aylesbury, Reading, Wallingford and routes west of the City
along the Botley Road. From September 1884 its poppy red livery was altered by
the addition of a unibus advert for Buckell & Ballard Oxford Estate agents
followed in September 1986 by a short lived Eagle Star offside advert
incorporating a giant eagle vinyl on the offside.............which
turned out to be on the wrong bus! It was
subsequently hastily removed when reliveried into the new OBC livery in January
1987. The livery was modified to become Cityline in 1994 after the Go-Ahead
buyout and in January 1996 a Morrell's Brewery unibus advert was applied
identical to that on 202. In September 1998 214 was transferred to Wycombe Bus
along with 202 but with a local Oxford advertising contract in place, Morrell's,
both were returned and replaced by 220 and 222. By 1999 214 had become a surplus
vehicle but had great value in the summer months as a Q-Buster for moving the
large influx of English language students to the various schools and colleges
along the Banbury Road corridor. During the quieter periods along with a number
of other Olympians 214 was hired out to Wilts & Dorset from 7/3/00 to 29/4/00
and again on 16/10/00 to 30/3/01. It then spent a spell at Metrobus at Godstone
from 10/8/02 until 20/11/02 where it received fleet number 883. 214 was finally
withdrawn in March 2003 and repainted white prior for sale to Wootten's Coaches
of Chesham. It wasn't kept by them for very long and was swapped with the Oxford
Bus Museum's Leyland Titan 975 which turned out to be in far superior condition
than 214. Subsequently 214 has been sold to a Bromley Bus Preservation Group
member for future restoration into OBC privatisation livery once some of the
chassis welding has been completed .........although
it appears nowhere near as bad as one of mine, 239!
Brand new at Cowley Road in August 1983.
It gained advertising wraps in August 1984, July 1999 and August 2001.
Latterly it moved to Woottens Coaches as seen afterwards at Bicester MOD by July
25th 2021.
Gavin Francis
Seen in Gloucester Green on February 12th 1984.
Picture by Paul Bateson.
The current 214 arrived in 2010 and is seen then and in 2013 and lastly on April
16th 2022.
Today, August 3rd 214 has returned to Carousel at High Wycombe where it had been previously.
Michael Wadman
Circle Line no 1159 (H159 EJU)
with an unlikely destination
Circle Line no 1845 (A845 SUL)
Leyland Titan
officially route 120A although this
doesn’t seem to have been displayed on the vehicles often if at all.
Circle Line no 1397 (WAO 397Y)
an area where they had not
previously operated. 712 was a WF service from Blakeney
Circle Line no 1352 (DHW 352W)
Circle Line no 1682 (G682 AAD)
Ex-Cheltenham & Gloucester MB 709D / PMT
Circle Line no 232 “Redwood”
(HAH 237V)
The name “Redwood” appears to have
been left over from its time with Cambus.
commercial service 31 that Stagecoach subsidiary Red &
White ran in the Forest was transferred to them, presumably for operational
convenience.
Gloucester bus station July
14th 1999
Matt Cooper
I hope that you are well,
it's been some time since I have sent you an email or any contribution for the
Oxford and Chilterns page for which I must apologise. I still very much enjoy
catching up in events every week and have to say that the time and effort you
put in is certainly appreciated. The archive of information built up has to be
one of the best and I often find myself jumping back a year or two (or further!)
to see what events had happened at that time.
We are just back from our summer holiday which this year was again in the UK. I just wasn't convinced the problems at airports and ports would have all ended. North Devon it was, Combe Martin to be exact and I'd not explored that area for some 20 years! Great taking my own children to places I had been taken to as a child! Funny how we do that! I think my kids find it equally funny I was actually once a child! My annual leave started a few days before we left and I greatly enjoyed reading the editions on the trip from Stokenchurch to Land's End you made all those years ago.
I attach a couple of
pictures of First's vehicles operating around Lynton and Lynmouth. Apologies for
the quality as they were taken on my phone, couldn't take the camera out of the
bag quickly enough!
First Group in the area wear very different coats to the standard national liveries applied across the UK (as with the GWR services they provide)
Volvo B7L 37058 departs Lynmouth for Minehead and is roughly on the site of the original Lyndale Hotel which was badly damaged in the famous 1952 flood disaster.
Its great to see the use of
open toppers across the country has increased in recent years as they always
prove to be popular. I remember travelling on a Grayline open topper in New York
in 2006, mid-winter, and the top deck was made up of Brits! The guide thought we
were all quite mad but it's an unwritten rule to sit upstairs on such vehicles!
I think this vehicle was de-roofed whilst at Bradford others seen had been
converted 'less dramatically'
The other picture is from the top of the hill at Lynton and is perhaps more standard for First. The 'Sunseeker' route is usually operated by this type but with rear section windows removed and painted in a bright yellow and orange livery. A substitution had been made and passes carefully through the town on its way to Ilfracombe.
On an entirely different subject I will post you a copy of my 'Oxford and South
Midlands Buses' book which is due to be released in the next couple of weeks.
Published by Amberley I had previously compiled one on the Final Years of First
Northampton. There is also a Berks Bucks area one in the pipeline too. It's a
snapshot of buses around Oxford and the South Midlands (out as far as the
Warwickshire / West Mids boundary. I still fondly remember my summer in 2001
working for COMS and sharing a company rented house off Cowley Road! Long hours,
hard work but met some great people and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
I forgot to add the Enviro-200 is 44509 and I've also included two pictures of
the Lynton to Lynmouth cliff railway which is a fascinating piece of
engineering. No delays experienced on those iron roads that day!
The area has some nice memories for me too. Ed.
Gavin Francis
Pictures are at Oldbury of the
West Midlands buses which pass through.
Now at Erdington
Quite a few WM buses have names which is a nice touch.
David Allen
Just back from Isle of Man. Lots of trains and teams and found a good little transport museum with some interesting buses I though you might like!
These don't seem have changed in the past 76 years !
Ed.
On my holiday visit in 1948 this bus was at the back
of Port Erin depot. Ed.
I remember when the double deckers first came in
47/48 the front rows of seats upstairs were roped off as the licence was not for
56 passengers. Ed.
A current member of the IoM fleet.
The link below is a delightful memory of a north east city many years ago. Ed.
https://twitter.com/TyneFlashback/status/1553678902660399104
Dave has provided an excellent glimpse of the Isle of Man today and it looks well worth a visit. Ed