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Issue 246 |
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Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002
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News Archive Pages from the "Oxford Bus Page"
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/6995/archiveindex/arcindex.html
I regret that the server used to
store the pictures for many of these pages is no longer available.
I hope to restore the pictures at some time in the future.
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Please note that any
comments made in this news page are those of the Editors' and in no way
constitute
any official points of view from the bus companies
mentioned, or indeed any other official body.
As a news page we
reserve the right to make valid comments as seen from an editorial point of
view.
If
you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid-week
news please let me know
malcolmhc@aol.com
To see the pictures full size just click on the thumbnail
A note regarding photographs which show drivers faces.
Following one complaint from a bus driver in Oxford but considering the
fact that the photographs are taken of the vehicle not any person,
I will blank out the face to avoid any discomfort to the individual concerned.
If you are the person involved send me an email to have this action taken.
I am sure people will realise that to ask everyone in advance of publication,
whose face may appear in a picture is wholly impractical in both time and
practice.
I am sorry to have to mention such a matter but we now live in a world of human
rights and political correctness which must be considered.
Editorial
The mail bag has been full once again this week and I must thank all of you who have contributed to this week's page. The flow of stories, memories, reports and pictures never ceases to amaze me.
As we go to press I see a report on the BBC website of fire damage to a Megabus Neoplan - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7074972.stm
....and in this week's Route One a warning story of a driver, who being unable to produce his paper counterpart licence to authorities had his vehicle impounded and the operator had to pay a fine of £105 to have the coach released. Be Warned!
Stagecoach makes headlines with the introduction of Goldline. This provides a high quality service in Perth with Enviro 300s and shortly in Leamington spa with Solos. The buses feature leather coach seats, special flooring and other benefits. There is a new web site devoted to this initiative which can be viewed at the link below.
http://www.stagecoachgoldline.com/
One wonders if Oxford is somewhere in the planning for future routes.
I read that National Express will close Digbeth Coach Station after the 0730 departure on Monday 12th November and the replacement coach station, on the opposite side of the road, will serve passengers until late in 2009 when the rebuilt Digbeth will open again following a £15m rebuild. I remember operating the Ribble X20 Coventry-Glasgow night service through Digbeth in the early '60s with Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard DP coaches. They always announced your service as you arrived - I always thought it very train like !!!
I received a warning about parcels for collection which I think is worth airing
It has been
confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of
the following scam:
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery
Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need
to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number).
DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.
If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already
have been billed £15 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail
Fraud on 020 7239 6655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at
www.icstis.org.uk
Oxford2stansted
A new service to start soon has been seemingly off and on recently. A direct Oxford-Stansted service is advertised at the following link
http://oxford2stansted.com/index.aspx
A guided busway in Oxford - some thoughts from Marcus Lapthorn
Dear Sir,
Guided Busways
In 2000 both Oxfordshire & Cambridgeshire County Councils were each considering the possibility of introducing guided Busways into Oxford and Cambridge. Since then the difference in progress between the two University Cities is interesting. Oxfordshire withdrew its political support for the scheme in 2003 prior to a local election taking place, whilst Cambridgeshire has made very rapid progress. At the present time £116m of dedicated infrastructure is being installed in Cambridgeshire for the exclusive use of rapid transit buses. The first buses will run on the new guideways in 2009 and that County also plans to introduce a peak hour congestion charge in Cambridge as part of an integrated transport policy. Meanwhile Oxfordshire has this year embarked upon another consultative exercise to try and determine how improvements might be made in the future.
Successful guideways have been running in Germany at Essen and in Australia at Adelaide for many years now. In the UK both Bradford & Leeds have also successfully introduced guideways and more recently Edinburgh, Crawley & Ipswich.
Yours faithfully,
Marcus Lapthorn
The flooring in our buses and coaches - did you know?
I read an interesting article in Route One last week about the improvements in flooring used in our buses and some coaches in modern Britain.
Martyn Industries is celebrating its 21st anniversary and sells flooring to many major UK operators including Arriva and Stagecoach.
http://www.martyn-industrials.com/taraflex.htm
You'll enjoy the web link where you can design your own interior.
Colin Richardson says "I write to say tat work on the main part of the Hub is nearing completion. Work should be complete by middle of this Month.
Stage 4 - Southcourt ~Bridge of 300 metres in length, starts shortly, and will last about one year.
At all super stops, real-time information screen are being introduced. The real-time system should running from early 2008. This will be good news for all bus users.
In Churchill Avenue, a short 100 metre of bus lane is currently under construction, and for completion by the end of November 2007.
I will forward more information in due course.
In High Wycombe - work for giving buses priority at certain traffic lights is well underway."
Mike Penn writes to enclose a picture saying "Here is a photo for your vintage corner. It is South Bucks Coaches EX 6644 which is a Yeates bodied Crossley SD42/7. It was photographed at the owner's premises in Slough in August 1969. It may still exist as it is included in the PSV Circle's 2006 Preserved Buses book but I doubt whether it is currently on the road."
I thought you may be interested in a bit of news from "Down South" for the page.
Cavendish Motor Services Ltd have relaunched their AEC Routemaster RML2324. It was named "David R. Howard" on 29th September after a year out of service.
To celebrate this naming a running day was organised and RML2324 was crewed by Dr. Andrew Pill and myself conducting. We are the only known "HH" crew to drive and conduct an RML in Sussex so that's quite something. RML2324 will be at the Bluebell Railway Bus Rally on 11th November and King Alfred Running Day on 1st January 2008.
Enclosed are a few photos.
Also of note is that the famous Southdown booking office was demolished in September. Luxury apartments are to be built on the site. The Southdown depot and booking office was in Cavendish Place, Eastbourne. The depot was known to all the locals as "Cavendish Place". Shame it's gone, have memories of that.
And Stagecoach Portsmouth Leyland Olympian No.13640 has been on regular Megabus work from Worthing - London.
I was most surprised by the interest and correspondence generated by the picture of Alder Valley's one Dennis Falcon operating the 762 Reading-Brighton service in the last issue.
Mike Penn adds "Further to my comments about the Alder Valley Dennis Falcon on the 762 route at Brighton I have now dug out a timetable for this route. It started on July 23rd 1983 and ran 7 days a week from Reading to Brighton via Bracknell, Aldershot, Guildford and Gatwick Airport. It was jointly operated by Alder Valley, Southdown and Green Line (presumably London Country)."
Les Smith wrote "I would just like to add a couple of comments to the picture on page 245 of your excellent web page. Alder Valley 1001, the Dennis Falcon, was photographed on route 762 to Brighton. This was a regular service operated jointly by Alder Valley Green Line and Southdown. It ran every two hours daily from Reading to Brighton and was sometimes duplicated by Aldershot Depot in very busy times. I have attached a copy of the timetable. Back to the picture and also to the note at the head of your page about bus photography. The driver of 1001 in your pictures face can clearly be seen and I can tell you who it is because it is ME and I am pleased to have my face on your page. Keep up the good work. - (Les Smith Driver, Stagecoach, formerly Alder Valley)"
Les continues "Thank you for your message. Yes I am at Stagecoach in the south. I am at Aldershot Depot where I have worked for the last 42 years. I am attaching to this some pictures I took of 1001. The first one is when we first got it and we took it out for a drive and to pose it for a picture. The other two pictures are of it in service doing what it was bought for, the Aldershot to London Londonlink service. One is leaving Victoria on the X8 and the other is in a heavy traffic jam near Richmond on the X7."
Ed Maun remembers "Service 762 (as referred to in page 245) was a daily Reading to Brighton via Gatwick airport express coach service which was due to commence on13 November 1982. However it did not start until 22 January 1983 due to an objection from British Rail. It was jointly operated by Alder Valley (2 coaches), London Country (Green Line – 2 coaches) and Southdown (1 coach). It was extended to Eastbourne on 30 September 1984. It was heavily revised from 14 April 1985 and renumbered X62 with the London Country share being taken by Alder Valley. From 3 May 1986 it had become a seasonal only service operating on Saturdays Sundays and Bank Holidays with one journey each way operated by Alder Valley."
Mike Stephens wrote "Further information regarding the appearance of Alder Valley 1001 at Brighton.
The 762 became very popular and it started to overload, forcing Alder Valley to duplicate the 0900 journey ex Reading and the 1740 return from Brighton on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Hols. This duplication started on the May Bank Holiday weekend in 1984, and I travelled to Brighton from Aldershot on the first two days acting as guide for the drivers. The Sunday 6/5/84 coincided with the annual London – Brighton HCVC run and when the driver and I booked on at Aldershot we were able to persuade the duty Inspector to change the allocated vehicle from Leyland Leopard 1101 to the Falcon 1001.
The photo that you have on the web site shows the vehicle leaving Pool Valley after a brief stop on its way to park up at Freshfield Road. The vehicle was driven by Les Smith and I appear sitting on the near side. The 762 number was on a piece of card made up by me on the way to Brighton.
As far as I am aware this was the only occasion the only occasion that the Falcon worked to Brighton as all the time was allocated to Aldershot it was restricted to London Link services X7/X8/X37, although it did appear local bus routes occasionally."
Alan Conway also wrote saying "I always read your excellent site and can update on the comment by Mike Penn on the AV Falcon on the 762.
As this route passed my door and I caught it every day to work (Reigate to Crawley) I had a big interest in it.
It was actually a "Green Line" route jointly worked by London Country, Alder Valley and Southdown and there were around 7-8 return journeys every day (Can't remember about Sundays)
LCBS ran it with PL class (Leopard/Plax Sup 4), AV tended to use their Leopards with ECW B51 bodies and Southdown ran anything they could get which quite often meant Leyland Nationals to National Express coaches.
The route ran: Brighton / Gatwick / Reigate / Dorking / Guildford / Camberley / Bracknell / Reading.
The AV Falcon was quite a rare visitor
This route was aimed in direct competition with the Railway particularly on the Reading to Gatwick stretch and they managed to object to the route so its start date was put back a few months. Can't remember exact dates but was around 1980/1 and it finished around 1984/5. Could dig my old records out if you wanted but am conscious that this is "out of your area" a bit."
Following last weeks story about the Uno 636, Ian Williams sent this interesting piece about the parallel Centrebus route 366.
In 1965 I was living in Hatfield, when the withdrawal of services on the Hatfield to Dunstable branch line was announced in the Beeching Reshaping Report.
This was the last of the three branches from Hatfield to loose their passenger services, both the St Albans and Hertford services succumbing in 1951. At that time the long established (October 1934) bus route 341 was considered to provide adequate replacement for the St Albans to Hertford link but in 1965 there was no existing service from Mid Hertfordshire to South Bedfordshire, so route 366 was introduced on 26th April 1965 between Welwyn Garden City and Luton. I believe it is the only surviving service of those introduced by London Transport in response to the withdrawal of train services under the Beeching plan.
Initially operated from Luton garage it was a limited stop service only calling at points near the closed stations in Wheathampstead, Harpenden and Luton Hoo. Four OMO RFs were required for the service.
Subsequently additional stops were added where services were minimal or non existent (Lemsford, Cromer Hyde) until all stops en route were served from July 1972.
With the closure by London Country of Luton garage in January 1977, operation transferred to Hatfield using Leyland Nationals, with most journeys consequently being extended beyond Welwyn Garden City to their home base.
Post privatization this part of London Country became Sovereign Bus and Coach Co Ltd
with vehicle types ranging from double deck Atlanteans to 23 seat Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes operating this route. Over the years the service was modified with extensions at both ends to serve the respective universities and variations to the route particularly in Welwyn and Hatfield. With journey times increasing and only 2 vehicles in service the timetable showed erratic service intervals with gaps of up to 2 hours by 1993.
In 1997 the service was extended to Potters Bar and an hourly frequency established. At this stage the original railway replacement sprint of less than 30 minutes had become a marathon of over one and a half hours. The following year this was supplemented by a new peak hours 365 between Hatfield and Cockfosters Underground station, the first link between these points. However these improvements proved to be short lived and by 2000 the route reverted to Luton and Hatfield, again worked with irregular intervals. In 2003 the 365 variant was resurrected, this time for peak hour services omitting Welwyn Garden City – this presaged the introduction of Uno’s 636 which took a similar route from June 2004.
Meanwhile Blazefield decided to withdraw from operations in Hertfordshire, Cambridge and Huntingdon and the Sovereign depot in St Albans passed to Centrebus with Hatfield and Stevenage becoming part of Arriva. Centrebus took over operation of the 366 and once again it is operated from the Bedfordshire end. Recently the service was revised to run through to Dunstable, running hourly for most of the day. The journey time between Hatfield and Dunstable of 1 hour 45 minutes is virtually double that enjoyed by passengers in the days of steam!
Incidentally there is a connection between Oxford and the Hertfordshire villages of Lemsford and Cromer Hyde served by the 366. An episode of Morse included scenes shot at Brocket Hall, Lemsford with the inevitable pints being enjoyed in the Crooked Chimney at Cromer Hyde.
This link will take you to the current 366 timetable - http://www.intalink.org.uk/
Matt
Robinson adds
"Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the 366 at the moment. Centrebus
operate the route currently and I have a feeling that they have a Dart branded
for it (in the old orange/navy blue InMotion livery) but I can't remember which
bus it is.
The route passed to Centrebus when they acquired Sovereign's St. Albans garage.
Leyland Nationals and Lynxes were the mainstays of the 366 until the mid-90s,
when Sovereign purchased two batches of L-reg Mercedes 811s with Plaxton Beaver
bodies (two of which still work for Centrebus).
Nationals, Lynxes and even the odd Roe-bodied Olympian made odd appearances on
the route after that."
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/portal/publicsite/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKL94039HcCSZnFO8WHOepHogtZIoR8PfJzU_WDgFKR5kAhY3Mf_aic1PTE5Er9YH1v_QD9gtzQiHJvR0cAhVVPFg!!/delta/base64xml/L0lJSk03dWlDU1lBIS9JTGpBQU15QUJFUkVSRUlrLzRGR2dkWW5LSjBGUm9YZnJDRUEhLzdfTV8zN0wvMjQ!?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_M_37L_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=http://apps.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Council+services/Roads+and+transport/Public+transport/Bus+services/RT+-+PT+-+Bus+Service+Review
I look forward to pictures of the new operators in action at the earliest
possible date.
Buses in cityscape and landscape
A bit quiet on this subject but one of interest is this birds eye view of Luton by Glenn Knight.
Gavin Francis notes an interesting web site for video
or
James Smith writes "I can let your readers know that I have a few of the Creative Master, UKBUS 2015 Oxford Bus Plaxton President model left at a reduced price."
It's been reduced to £20.50
I'm hoping to
offer your readers a permanent discount in the very near future.
www.modelsmk.co.uk
- Low cost Bus models
A photo disc for your collection
This week I can bring details of a really super new photo disc from Vics cliix. The disc contains pictures taken in the early 1970s by Vic Zealey and copies can be obtained through Malcolm Hyland's web site http://www.cliix.co.uk.
Here are some samples of the 158 pictures on this disc.
The quality is good and they are all at high resolution.
Malcolm Crowe -
Monday, 05 November 2007
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date
News of the local companies – 2nd November 2007
Glenn Knight writes
"First I finally managed to catch the elusive Scania 3202 in my lens at lunchtime today as it was leaving the airport on the 100. I wonder what the purpose of its summer vacation at Wycombe was?
Picture by Matt
Robinson
3201 and 3202 did a brief loan stint at Luton around this time last year when LU
had some duties on the 100. 3143 joined them when they went back to Stevenage.
Good news is that repair work on fire damaged Volvo B10BLE 3267 (V267HBH) has
begun. The rear seats and remains of the engine have been removed.
Unfortunately
Mercedes mini 2129 (N909ETM) and Volvo B6 3121 (M721OMJ) are both long term out
of use at Luton with mechanical failures.
Volvo B6 3131 (M711OMJ) has received an LED destination display, whilst Leyland
Olympians 5087/91/8 (F637/41LMJ, G648UPP) have had their troublesome power
blinds rectified.
Matt Robinson writes
"Luton-based museum piece Olympian 5381 (MUH281X) broke down again today (further to the Telford Way breakdown photographed by Glenn a couple of weeks ago).
picture by
Matt Robinson
I see that Arriva's Luton-based Dart 3283 (V283HBH) appeared today with an LED
destination display. I know that they were having trouble with the winders on
the old roller blinds in it last week.
Peter Cabin wrote
Just a quick remark W482.YGS has been messed about with again its electronic blinds have been removed and replaced with good old fashion blinds probably something to do with the U9 route.
Seen in High Wycombe today Wednesday 3217 S217.XPP on service 32 to Booker with Wycombe blinds installed and also 3208 R208.GMJ.parked up in bus station with electronic blinds installed."
Kevin Smith writes "I attach a shot of 3497 taken on Saturday. 3485 & 3486 were also in service in red. There are some other Aylesbury shots at http://kevin-smith.fotopic.net/c1397074.html
Imagine my surprise - Easybus Vario 2171 is often
used in passenger service from Stansted to London.
All the drivers for this service are ferried in from Luton each day - by 2171.
Russell Young sent this nice shot of 2402 in service on the 39. These buses are
sometimes used on the 74 in the evenings.
Piddington is a link between the Line 40 and the taxibus service to surrounding
villages.
Alexander PS 3330 is seen on a 102 working in this picture by Glenn Knight.
Normally operated by modern buses the 510
sometimes sees some elderly buses at weekends.
Hemel uses its coach allocation on bus routes from time to time as seen here
with one operating the 46. Picture by Glenn Knight.
R450
SKX 4050 Greenline coach on the 46 (25/10/2007)
We need drivers - picture by Glenn Knight.
Russell Young sent this
nice picture of AL1 on the A40 to Heathrow.
Peter Cabin writes "regular bus on Carousel 27 Cock Lane service RK07.BNF has not been seen on this service for several weeks now. In its place today R706.MEW.broke down on its inward trip to the hospital and was replaced with older dart J301.WHJ.this stayed on for the rest of the day."
Glenn Knight writes
"I have attached a photo of Scania L170 EKG now in Centrebus livery."
Secondly I caught up with another one of Centrebus's former Thames Transit Darts, L710JUD. This bus still carries the old InMotion livery and fleet names which were used prior to Centrebus taking over.
Picture by Matt
Robinson
Glenn Knight writes "Some pictures for the next page being :-
L712 JUD Centrebus taken from the top of "The Mall" Luton you can still see the
original Stagecoach livery,
Centrebus KUI 6564 Fleet no. 503 on 10s (25/10/2007)
I have also attached the Centrebus fleet list
26.10.2007
Dunstable & Woodside Depot
UNIT 34, HUMPHRYS ROAD, WOODSIDE IND ESTATE, DUNSTABLE, LU5 4TP
WD: 103 J103 DUV Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR103
DB: 110 L710 JUD Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3035 Plaxton Pointer B37D Ex-MK Metro 710
DB: 112 L712 JUD Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3035 Plaxton Pointer B40D Ex-M K Metro 712
DB: 113 L713 JUD Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3035 Plaxton Pointer B38D Ex-M K Metro 713
WD: 181 XIL 6081 Ex-K860 LGN Dennis Dart 929HMN1080 Plaxton B34F Ex-London Buses Ltd DRL60
DB: 118 XIL 8418 Ex-K866 LGN Dennis Dart 9SDL3016 Plaxton Pointer B34F Ex-London General
WD: 121 M821 RCP Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3040 Plaxton Pointer B40F Ex-Centrebus Leicester
WD: 124 J374 GKH Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR74
WD: 125 J125 DUV Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR125
WD: 126 J126 DUV Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR126
WD: 128 K828 NKH Dennis Dart 9SDL3016 Plaxton B34F Ex-London Buses Ltd CRL28
DB: 129 M829 RCP Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3054 Northern Counties B39F Ex-Country Hopper, Ibstock
WD: 130 K863 PCN Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3017 Wright Handybus B40F Ex-Sunderland & District 8063
DB: 134 J134 DUV Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR134
DB: 148 KUI 8148 Ex-H118 THE Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3003 Reeve Burgess B28F Ex-Roberts, Coalville
WD: 158 P158 MLE Dennis Dart Plaxton B37F Ex-Centrebus Leicester & Armchair, Brentford
WD: 160 P160 MLE Dennis Dart Plaxton B37F Ex-Centrebus Leicester & Armchair, Brentford
WD: 170 J370 GKH Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR70
DB: 189 M389 KVR Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3054 Northern Counties B37F Ex-Country Hopper, Ibstock
WD: 201 M210 EGF Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer B35F Ex-London General DPL10
DB: 214 M214 EGF Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer B35F Ex-London General DPL14
WD: 228 K628 YPL Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3025 Plaxton Pointer B40F Ex-Safeguard,Guildford
WD: 248 J648 XHL Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3004 Plaxton B40F Ex-Plaxton,Scarborough
WD: 351 Y451 TBF Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F (new)
WD: 410 K510 FYN Mercedes Benz 811D Wright Nimbus B28F Ex-MK Metro
DB: 411 L811 CJF Mercedes Benz 709D Marshall B27F Ex-South Lancs Transport
DB: 412 L812 CJF Mercedes Benz 709D Marshall B27F Ex-South Lancs Transport
DB: 431 Y131 TBF Mercedes-Benz 814D Plaxton Beaver B31F (new)
DW: 448 R248 XDA Mercedes Benz 814D Alexander B27F Ex-West Midlands 248
DB: 454 L954 MBH Mercedes Benz 811D Plaxton B31F Ex-Sovereign 454
DB: 463 L663 MYG Mercedes Benz 811D Plaxton DP31F Ex-Keighley & District 124
DB: 464 L664 MYG Mercedes Benz 811D Plaxton B31F Ex-Keighley & District 125
WD: 470 M70 TGM Mercedes 814D B23F Ex-Tellings-Golden Miller,Byfleet
DB: 502 S502 APP Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B39F Ex-Sovereign 502
WD: 522 W922 JNF Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F Ex-Connex DP22
DB: 566 W566 XRO Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B40F Ex-Sovereign 566
WD: 601 FH06 KGK VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
WD: 602 KE06 NZW VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
WD: 603 KE06 NZX VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
WD: 604 KE06 RXL VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
DB: 611 T411 LGP Dennis Dart SLF SCC B30D Ex-Independent Way,Battersea
DB: 619 T419 LGP Dennis Dart SLF SCC B30D Ex-Independent Way,Battersea
WD: 503 KUI 6564 Ex-S782 RNE & 98-D-70567 Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton B38F Ex-K-Line, Huddersfield
WD: 670 L170 EKG Scania N113CRBAA Alexander B48F Ex-Newport Transport 70
Pin Green Depot
UNIT 6, SENATE PLACE, WHITWORTH ROAD, STEVENAGE SG1 4QS
132 N132 XND Dennis Dart Plaxton B27F Ex-Stuart,Dunkinfield 132
323 R823 MJU Mercedes Benz 814D B32F Ex-Kinch,Barrow
362 S462 LGN Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F Ex-Centrebus Leicester
383 MX53 FEH Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-Winson,Leicester 92
382 MX53 FEG Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-Winson,Leicester 91
501 P501 VRO Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B39F Ex-Sovereign 501
555 SN55 DVC Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B38F (new)
605 FJ56 YBV VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
607 FJ56 ZWC VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
608 YJ56 JYB VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
387 MX03 YCM Optare Solo B29F Ex-Cumfybus,Churchtown
388 Y38 HBT Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-First Somerset & Avon 53039
389 Y39 HBT Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-First Somerset & Avon 53038
390 MX03 YDA Optare Solo M850 B26F Ex-Ex-Even,Birkenhead
391 VU02 TSV Optare Solo M920 B29F Ex-Ex-Irvine,Law
392 VU02 TSX Optare Solo M920 B29F Ex-Ex-Irvine,Law
393 MX07 JNL Optare Solo M780SL B23F (new)
394 MX07 JNN Optare Solo M780SL B23F (new)
395 MX07 BCF Optare Solo M920 B33F (new)
444 R244 XDA Mercedes Benz 814D Alexander B27F Ex-West Midlands 244
Charlton Services
Still giving good service -
picture by Chris Maxfield.
Peter Cabin writes "First bus were running double decker P174.TGD. today on service 74 to Slough."
Alexander writes "The 6xxs, Tridents and 35/A/B branded Tridents seem to be out of service on Suns from 35/A/B resulting in Citaros including X3/13/X13 branded buses on 35/B."
N603 FJO today, out by Chelmsley Wood by Ben Morroll
One from Gavin Francis - not an ex COMS bus but Stagecoach for Go West Midlands
Surprise use
of Volvo 81 on the X90 last week resulted from heavy traffic problems on the
M40.
Seemingly 21 was on local bus
routes when this picture was taken by
Chris Maxfield
The latest coaches are hard at work as seen in these pictures by (1&3)
Chris Maxfield and (2) by Richard Griffin.
Red Trident 105 works the 300 service recently -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
One wonders if there maybe a revised livery in the pipeline for the Park & Ride?
-
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Little Dart 408 on its regular route 6 road -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Volvo B10BLE 808 on a 5 road working in St Aldates -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
636 is one of the latest repaints into the new livery
A stalwart performer on the 500, Citaro 824 carries my initials -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Citaro 848 works a 2B in Oxford centre -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Citaro 850 looks pristine when working an X13 service -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Pearces of Berinsfield
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Reading-Newbury
Dart 604 seen
at Harwell last week -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Solos on routes passing by Harwell -
Pictures by Chris Maxfield
501 is the
first of its type with Reading. Picture by Russell Young.
Russell Young sent this picture of an ex Pete's Travel Trident now with Reading.
The first of a new batch of Volvos taken at Fleetwood by Alistair Liddle last
week.
En route to Reading having arrived on the overnight ferry.
RH Transport Services
Richard Sharman has sent details of the fleet and a new website which you can access:- http://www.rhtransportservices.co.uk
Solo 302
- Picture by Chris Maxfield
Solo 501 -
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Coach 701 looking resplendent in this picture by Chris Maxfield
Volvo 52644 seen in Bedford on the X5 by Glenn
Knight
Nominally a spare bus Trident 18393 is seen on a 20 working in this shot by
Chris Maxfield
Bicester Bure Place is the setting for 18397 on a
27A working. Picture by Chris Maxfield
Bicester outstation at the start of the day - Picture by Chris Maxfield
Bicester out station buses and 18394 ready for
service - Picture by Chris Maxfield
Volvo 20012 seen at Harwell Bus Station - Picture by Chris Maxfield
20822 seen on the 32 - Picture by Chris Maxfield
A very infrequent service, the 34 - Picture by Chris Maxfield at Harwell.
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Picture by Chris Maxfield
Gavin Francis found this picture of a
London Dart until recently based at Witney depot.
Adrian T writes "thought these photos of T36 DFC might be of interest to you and for your website. The coach is now with Sussex Coaches and was on the Rail Replacement between Portsmouth and Fareham today 25th October."
This coach passed Horspath during last week. I wonder if the driver had to stop
it turning left into our road?
Picture by Bodensee
Worth's of Enstone
An older Volvo/Plaxton
pictured by Chris Maxfield
Another older
Volvo/Plaxton pictured by Chris Maxfield
The Dart pictured by Chris
Maxfield
Z & S Aylesbury
Z&S's green
Optare Spectra on the 65 in Leighton Buzzard.- Glenn Knight
Z&S on rail replacement at Stansted last Sunday
PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish to submit photos for
this page please send them to the me at
malcolmhc@aol.com
HISTORY IN PICTURES AND WORDS
If you have any pictures or historical memories and wish to submit them for this page please send them to the me at malcolmhc@aol.com
Coming events, models and useful links
PSV Circle publishes latest issue of the fleet list for Berkshire and Oxfordshire
Ken MacKenzie writes to note that the new PSV Circle fleet list for Berkshire/Oxfordshire (G432) is now available.
Those readers wishing to buy a copy should write to: PSV Circle, 59 Palmer Avenue, Cheam SM3 8EF - Cost id £7.00 plus 50p P & P and it will also be available at the PSV Circle sales stand at Showbus 2007.
This will be a most useful reference for all those interested in the local scene.
Editors review - I have now had chance to review this book and it is indeed very useful, giving details of all known fleets in Berks and Oxon. Whilst some information is not totally up to date it allows the readers to have a comprehensive view of the local fleets and up dates can be gained by joining the PSV Circle. At £7.00 this represents value for money as it also includes a number of good photographs.
Britbus
A new casting with a local flavour has been released by Britbus as a picture from Mark Lyons shows. It is a nice model but as Mark says, a little pricey at £33.
Model News of an Oxford bus
Guy writes to send a picture of the latest offering on the model front related to Oxford.
A photo disc for your collection
This week I can bring details of a really super new photo disc from Vics cliix. The disc contains pictures taken in the early 1970s by Vic Zealey and copies can be obtained through Malcolm Hyland's web site http://www.cliix.co.uk.
Here are some samples of the 158 pictures on this disc.
The quality is good and they are all at high resolution.
Oxford Bus 125 commemorative book
In last week's issue I mentioned that Oxford Bus were publishing a book to commemorate the 125 years of public transport in Oxford. Thanks to Phil Ashworth I have had a review copy and hereunder give my thoughts on this book.
The book is well presented and includes a number of historical pictures of interest including some I had not seen before. The modern pictures have received a nice treatment reflecting the modern fleet against a background of typical Oxford architecture. The Botley Road rail bridge gets a mention and a picture of an AEC pre war decker which has done battle with said bridge and come off worse from its encounter is included.
The book, whilst rather small to reflect the 125 years in detail is nevertheless a must for all who love Oxford, historians and enthusiasts alike.
Copies of the book can be bought from the Oxford Bus Company, Cowley House, Watlington Rd, Oxford OX4 6GA. The cost is £5.95 including postage. Cheques should be made payable to "Oxford Bus Company", it is also available in person from the Oxford Bus Museum during normal opening hours.
Robin sent me a copy of his latest DVD to review. "Today's buses - Oxfordshire" is the compelling title which includes Henley, Wallingford and Didcot before the viewer is taken onto Wantage, Witney, Banbury and finally Bicester. Each of these locations is covered in2 to 5 minutes and each shows the current selection of buses and coaches to be found. Finally over 37 minutes is devoted to Oxford with filming in a variety of locations in the city.
On another subject the road sense and behaviour of cyclists in Oxford has to be seen to be believed!!!!
The quality of the DVD is excellent and one can really see clearly the details of each vehicle, something which older video always seemed unable to do. All the latest developments are shown in this September 2007 DVD, including workings from Broad Street during the St Giles Fair weekend.
The DVD provides a unique record of events in Oxfordshire during this period and at £10 is not a very large outlay.
Robin Clare
Transport Video
74 Polruan Place, Fishermead,
Milton Keynes MK6 2EA
The full details of DVDs available from Robin Clare may be found at his web site :- http://www.robinclare.co.uk/
Citaro models
Dave Rogers sent the following press release.
CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-Benz Citaro - ukbus 5004 Arriva Manchester - ukbus 5007 Oxford Bus
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Creative Master Northcord Limited is proud to release two brand new liveries on its well known Mercedes-Benz Citaro casting. Both models have received significant, yet different, modifications to the tooling in order to represent, as close to 100% accuracy as possible, the real buses on the roads.
ukbus 5004 represents fleet number Arriva North West’s 2851 (CX55 EAA). This Mercedes Citaro is one of three such vehicles with dedicated route branding for service 700 and with the destination set to Manchester. The model features a redesigned interior layout that includes the reduced seating capacity and luggage racks.
Starting on 29th October 2005, Arriva North West’s service 700 runs from Manchester’s Piccadilly Railway Station to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport. For the service, 3 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were purchased and numbered 2851-3. They were painted in the same style and colours as the Scania OmniCity buses that already operated between John Lennon and Liverpool city centre.
ukbus 5007 represents fleet number 830 (X13 OXF) of Oxford Bus Company. 830 entered service in December 2003, to upgrade the X3 & X13 Oxford – Abingdon services. The bus was painted in a new and distinctive livery designed by Best Impressions.
ukbus 5007 features the smooth, curved windscreen with the destination display set behind the windscreen glass rather than the protruding destination found on the Park & Ride Citaros in the fleet. This feature is one of the standard specifications on other Citaros that the Go-Ahead Group has purchased.
Mercedes-Benz Citaro ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are each a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, double-glazed windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on both models is the extensive portrayal of handrails. The headlight / indicator units at the front and indicator / tail light units at the rear are made of individual components to look more realistic.
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The brand new single-door Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are limited to 1700 pieces worldwide respectively.
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If you wish to be included on a mailing list where
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please let me know on malcolmhc@aol.com
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date
Links
These are nine most interesting sites which I do recommend
Mike Penn's photo page with much from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire
Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK
John Marsh's pictures with a difference
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A web site which has paintings of buses.
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Arriva Handbook for 2006-2007 http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/
The latest handbooks are now
on sale, the ever |
Links
Bus Services in Buckinghamshire
Bus services in Hertfordshire
Where are the Chilterns?
Visit this informative site through the link below.
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002
