The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  

News Page
Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles

Now in our 11th year

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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

Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape,
Running Days plus Interests outside our area and Historical articles

including:
North Weald by Peter Edgar
Glastonbury 2009 report
Warwickshire trip reported by Gez
Malta 2009 by Marcus Lapthorn
The 2009 Epsom Derby
Royal Blue Run 2009
Buses in the Landscape in Weymouth, East London and Wimbledon
News from Stagecoach Chichester by Jonathan Doran
and why not visit the Oxford Bus Museum this summer?

Concessionary Travel

I read in one of today's Sunday papers that changes to council taxes paid by home owners may be in the pipeline and part of the increases may be used to meet the cost of improvements to local bus services. This to me means that we may find ourselves meeting the costs between what the Government pay to operators and the shortfall being met by local councils and bus operators.

A report from Stephen Le Bras (Stephen is a regular user of his Concession Pass.)

"On a recent outing, instead of going straight into London from Slough I noted a late running 74 (64005) and so headed towards High Wycombe. On arrival there, two Carousel EVLs were leaving- EVL6 on the 4 and EVL7 on the A40. When I was taking some photographs a driver on the Carousel 27 route held his duty sheet in front of his face- oh dear! 

Arriva 3332, a very spritely M registered Volvo/Alexander, took me on the 850 to Reading through roads which I have travelled for quite a while. Noted in Reading was an 09 Versa of Countrywide (67) and 801-3/61 on the 17- where were the Omnicity DDs? 

I left on a 190 to Bracknell to pick up the 702 to Victoria- traffic was well congested by the time we reached Hyde Park Corner and my departure back to Hammersmith was on a 211; however, not before I had snapped one of the latest Scania Omniexpress operated by Clarkes of London. It was fairly easy to get off the no 11 bus and walk back up Victoria Street and catch up with it by Grosvenor Gardens."

This report from a Reading correspondent may answer the question posed above by Stephen.

"The Ethanols have been confined to the depot for the last two Saturdays we think as a summer cost cutting exercise. I’m calling them Silver Saturdays with the 17 in the hands of the generic liveried fleet (see the Bus Zone Forum for full observations of the vehicles in use). Silver Saturdays will probably become rarer once the football season restarts, but it will be interesting to see what happens Monday-Friday during the school holidays. Reductions are also planned to most ordinary services for the start of the summer holidays, with an unspecified number of Tridents and low floor Spectras recently advertised for sale."

Buses in the Landscape

Buses in the Landscape - First 34336 on the Quayside at Weymouth, Dorset on 29th June 2009 by John Marsh.

Buses in the Landscape - GMV Coaches Plaxton in Pancras Way, Bow, East London. 24th June 2009 by john Marsh.

Buses in the Landscape - Wimbledon 2009 with RML2318 on bus duty at the event - on 24th June 2009 by John Marsh.

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Running Days

North Weald 2009

Both Peter Edgar and Richard Sharman sent pictures from this event which as ever was well attended and took place on 5th July 2009.

May I refer readers to Jimmy Sheng's photo page giving coverage of the vehicles attending. http://jimmyshengukbuses2.fotopic.net/c1722257.html

Our pictures from North Weald.

North Weald 2009 - RML 2516 making its way to North Weald through the Essex countryside with the rally in the far distance. July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.

Timebus Travel's RCL 2221 first public appearance as a mobile exhibition unit and is seen above with the same company's RM 29.
July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.

Daves Buses High Wycombe RM848 at North Weald provides a more local interest for OCBP readers on 5th July 2009 taken by Richard Sharman.

R H Buses Optare Solo 406 at North Weald provides a more local interest for OCBP readers on 5th July 2009 taken by Richard Sharman.

The same Solo with a most interesting backdrop of a Spitfire, a type once based at this Battle of Britain airfield on 5th July 2009 taken by Richard Sharman.

Glastonbury 2009 report by John Hammond

With the annual Glastonbury festival taking place during late June, a large number of buses and coaches are drafted in to provide bus and coach services. 

The Castle Cary station shuttle is arranged by ABus of Bristol with local vehicles hired in from other operators including Bath Bus Company, Centurion Coaches, Berkeley Travel and the Chepstow Classic bus fleet of VR’s. Additionally a Bristol to Pilton shuttle was provided by Go South Coast using a selection of buses from combined fleets.

Wednesday was rather chaotic with an accident on the M4 and heavier than predicted traffic causing long queues. I was caught in a queue for nearly 7 hours to cover a distance of 13 miles. Some of the Go South Coast buses on the Bristol shuttle were taking 9-10 hours to cover the journey.  This caused significant delays in the shuttle service and as a result lengthy queues of people formed at Castle Cary station waiting for the limited number of buses to transport them to the Pilton site. Reinforcements were called in from other operators and included two open topped Ayats Volvo’s from the Bath Bus Company City Sightseeing fleet which did a round trip on the shuttle service with a full load of passengers and luggage. When I eventually got to Castle Cary, I soon joined in the efforts to shift people down to Pilton with the queues not dying down until nearly 10pm.

The Thursday was much quieter in terms of passengers and traffic with many buses idle for large parts of the day.

On the Sunday, many local buses shuttled people from nearby towns into the site for the day. There is a large morning and late night peak requirement with buses idle during the daytime.

The home time on Monday sees and intensive shuttle operating again with additional vehicles drafted in to the operation.

Glastonbury with no floods and even blue skies! John Hammond

Vehicles I got to drive were:

Wednesday – Bath Bus Co preserved Ex Bristol Omnibus Olympian A954 SAE

Thursday – Bath  Bus ex EnsignBus MCW Metrobus A441UUV (M1441)

Sunday – Bath Bus Routemaster RML2665 and a brief empty working drive of EnsignBus heritage RM25 VLT25 (on loan to Bath Bus Co)

Monday – Bath Bus Routemaster RML 2665 again.

More photographs of buses can be found on http://johnhammond.fotopic.net/c1719545.html 

Derby Day 2009 by Gary Seamarks who also took the pictures

EGP33J an Ensignbus former London DMS, its had to believe the DMS is almost 40 years old. 

Attached are some pictures from Epsom Derby Day 2009, the weather being the worst we have had in the past five years but still a good day out. The number of buses was well down on previous years, we were on the hill and unable to access all areas so this is not a full picture of what was there.

200APB by far the oldest single decker seen this Safeguard vehicle was on the Rails at the 1 furlong post.
(I remember driving this bus when it was with Quantock in Somerset. Editor.)

A112KFX new 25 years ago as a National Express Rapide coach looks every inch a true open topper in this shot.

CUV260C former Green Line RCL2260 looks smart in its green livery and races on the blind.

KMW175P a former Thamesdown Fleetline ECW.

LJ58GCF of Burtons proves what a good vehicle these are for short distance private hires.

LYR854 - former London RT3435, the oldest bus seen on the day.

M645RCP a Wilts and Dorset DAF/NC open topper one of many from that fleet on the racecourse.

Other buses and coaches seen included VPR491S, a former Hants and Dorset VR; H12FWM of Marshalls Leighton Buzzard that was parked alongside us on the Hill at the 2 furlong post; MLH304L of Red Route, I believe this was the first open top DMS back in 1979 (30 years ago now); F126PHM a Former Grey Green Citybus; MK56DON was our transport for the day, were we the only football team coach there? and H829AHS one of quite a few older coaches seen on the Hill.

2nd Uxbridge Running Day by Peter Cartwright

Sunday 21 June is also the 2nd Uxbridge Running Day based on York Road, Uxbridge - just north of Bakers Road off Belmont Road opposite Sainsbury's. Departures every 7-8 minutes between 10.09 and 17.39.

Feeder from Marlow (Quoiting Square) 09.00 High Wycombe Bus Stn Bay 18 at 09.17 then all stops as required on route 455 to Uxbridge arriving 10.07. Programmes £5 before the day from the TIC in Pauls Row, High Wycombe or on the feeder service from Marlow & Wycombe and £6 on the day from the gazebo at York Road, Uxbridge,

Picture by Steve Bunce.

More on the HCVS Ridgeway run

Dave Stewart writes "We got got to Henley a bit earlier than expected. By 0930. no-one seemed to be in much of a hurry to leave, so we decided to go.  This was partly decided by the photographer in our group, as the entry road at Quainton Road is right for the sun on the railway bridge there.  By being first (one brick lorry apart which went direct to QRd) we were able to see everything else arrive and park up for the day.   By the way, Fraser Clayton's Blue Motors Leyland Cheetah (which was behind us) won the bus class - deservedly and the Thames Valley K DBL154 an award for being the bus that had been in the 1st run as well as the 25th!

What surprised me that, other than yourself (at Stokenchurch) and one guy near Marlow, I did not see a single photographer anywhere on the route. A few "interested passers-by" but that was about it. A cavalcade of old vehicles and fine weather - and still they don't go out!"

Royal Blue Run

Royal Blue 1410, 759MDV heads off for Weymouth on 20th June 2009.
Photographs courtesy Carl Berry.

Malta 2009 by Marcus Lapthorn

My 6th trip to Malta was just as wonderful as the first in 1982 - what a great country this is and there are still some of the older buses around thank goodness. I went to Ashaq hoping to be able to visit the Garden of Eden garage where the ex Oxford Olympians are being converted to open top. Unfortunately on the day I chose to go I was not allowed to visit the garage as senior managers were at the depot! Your directions Chris' were excellent so thanks anyway. I took about 50 bus photographs whilst on the island but have chosen just 10 to send to you today in 2 e-mails. Let me know if you want to see more please. Thanks.

Luqa airport bus terminal and shows a beautifully polished AEC still giving very good service.

 
Valetta bus terminal. RMF588 looking very good. 

Rabat bus terminal. The interior of a well worn older bus!

Rabat bus terminal and shows a selection of the new, the old and the middle aged buses used on the island these days.

Paramount bus garage in Mosta.

DBY381 at Melleiha Bay Hotel.


Sandy Millikin took this shot of the veteran Dodge on 14 April 2009.

Thanks to Marcus for an interesting report with some excellent pictures.

Warwickshire trip by Gez

In earlier issues of the OCBP we advertised a trip around Warwickshire organised by Gez. Here is his report.

A few notes from our Warwickshire trip  on June 6th with a nice selection of photographs.  

Around twenty of us joined up at Coventry Railway Station to await the arrival, just after 10am, of the Stratford Blue Routemaster that was to be our transport for the day.

We headed out of Coventry, past Pool Meadow bus station via the 48 then 56 routes through Bedworth to arrive in Nuneaton by 1045 a short stop at the bus station allowed a handful of buses to be recorded including a pair of A Line Optare Solos in County Links yellow and green livery YJ58CFD and YJ08CFF along with a Mercedes of the same company, M744MVL operating the Tesco shuttle. Also present were a De Courcey MCV, these sure get around, and an Arriva 2473.

Various Stagecoach were noted but sadly non of the Omnicitys. 

Thence around the corner to the garage only seven were in residence including Volvo B10M 20215 (N215TDU) whilst it is down as a trainer, whether it sees such duties I am unsure, as also parked up was dedicated trainer Berkhof 52031 (N41MJO).

After 20 minutes or so being free to wander, we re-boarded the Routemaster and headed of through the country towards Rugby, It is just a shame that the weather was not really up to scratch so we were unable to appreciate the countryside we were riding through.

It was around a fifty minute jaunt down to Rugby where the garage was the first stop, Nice, for me at least were the allocation of Leyland Olympians tucked up in there usual spot 14025, 026, 027, 028 032 and 034. A handful of Megabus were resting up along with 52622 which is currently out of service with a dead engine. Leamington's trainer 52358 was also here.

Tucked away in a corner is Mercedes Benz 709D 40147, I wasn't aware this still existed, it didn't carry a registration plate and I can't say why it is still there.

A lunch stop was taken in town and a suitable pub with a view found, Only Worthington's to drink though, so lucky we only had a half hour or so.

Various members of the Rugby fleet were noted with a good number being branded for either the 3 or 4 service, also noted in service is Rugby trainer B10M 20213, so I have to assume they are only used as trainers when needed.

A new one for Centrebus noted was R152 UAL still in Arriva livery new fleet number being 435, A Vario in County links livery was YN54DCF, not sure who this belongs to.

A Geoff Amos MAN /MCV Evolution AM05 JDS was also seen along with the obligatory De Courcey.

The bus came back to pick us up just after 1300 and then we headed out through yet more country heading towards Stratford on Avon.

The rain really was not letting up and when we rolled up at the garage it was teaming down, having never been, since the Midland Red South days, many years ago I was expecting just a yard an was pleasantly surprised to find a shed capable of holding quite a fleet, there is a yard to the side, which held quite a bit of the reserve fleet, and also a pair of Olympians that no longer appear on the fleet list 14516 and 14517, Here also was Volvo Olympian 16085 freshly transferred down from Manchester.

Also parked in the yard is M-B Vario R184TKU kitted out as a non psv for CSWP Ltd.

Johnsons operate the Park and Ride here with Optare Solos YN53YHA, YHB and YJ55 BMO, we were hoping to catch the X20 departure but just missed it.

Had the weather been kinder it would have been a nice spot for a few piccys as there were plenty of coaches about.

Leamington was next on the agenda, which I was looking forward to as you never know what it tucked away around the back.

Onwards through Warwick and onto Leamington, quite an array of vehicles parked up in the yard, which included the remaining Leyland Olympian we hadn't seen 14023, several Gold Line Solos and a handful of Unibus liveried Olympians, no Versa however, so the 68 must need all five. again a few of the reserve fleet were here. Around the back we found four ex Manchester B10Ms 20803, 20804, 20823 and 20824, another Olympian 14515, Indigenous B10M 20214 and Darts 32001, 32629 and 32630.

The rear of the depot as well have having the Stagecoach Sign attached, still visible are the G & G Travel names along with that of Midland Red.

Passing back though town, we finally came across a Versa working in off the 68. and when heading out, heading on was a Travel Coventry Metrobus, it did look out of place and apparently quite a rare working

Our last stop of the day was to be at Mike De Courcey Travel by Coventry Airport. The depot here has expanded somewhat over the years, but contains plenty of hard standing for the fleet noted were the following:

MCW Metrobuses

NOA 462X (preserved in WM Travel livery)

POG 508Y

POG 513Y (spares use)

POG 536Y

POG 567Y

ROX 630Y

ROX 656Y

ROX 663Y

ROX 666Y

A101 WVP

A107 WVP

A671 UOE

A684 UOE

A706 UOE

A712 UOE (spares use)

A740 WVP

A748 WVP 

(Won't be anymore as West Midlands say they will no longer sell any to them!!)

Scania 113 / Eats Lancs Cityzen

P861 VFG

P862 VFG

P863 VFG

P863 VFG

Volvo Citybus / Northern Counties

G110 NGN

G113 NGN

G114 NGN

G122 NGN 

Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL

MJI 3751 (ex G369 YUR)

MJI 3752 (ex G364 YUR) 

Leyland Olympian / Alexander RH

F360 WSC

F363 WSC 

Volvo B10B / Plaxton Verde

MJI 2365 (ex N604FJO)

MJI 2366 (ex N607FJO)

Note the ex OBC Volvo saloon.

Mercedes-Benz 709D

N453 VOD

N464 VOD 

MAN / MCV Evolution

AE54 NUH

AE05 EVD

AE06 OPK

Coaches in were

MJI 3529    Mercedes Touro

MJI 7681    Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee

MJI 7682    Mercedes Touro

MJI 7863    Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere

MJI 2364    Volvo B12M /Jonckherre Mistral

MJI 2367    Mercedes Touro

MJI 2370    Volvo B!0M / Plaxton Premiere

MJI 7472    Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee

DC07 MDC    MAN / Marcopolo Viaggio 

Also tucked away in the yard were Metrobus GOG 176W, ex Midland Red Leopard JHA 246L ( a restoration project), TVP 249S a Leyland National (kept here for the Warwickshire Fir Brigade and a fully restored Daimler CVG6 VWK 239 in Coventry Corporation livery.

Altogether, in spite of the weather a most interesting was enjoyed by all.

History

A request for help.

David Kemp asks "Can you help me, please? I recently used TT 125 from Watlington to Wallingford and was curious to know who "originally" operated this route (or something like it). My guess is that it would have been House or Chiltern Queens or just possibly COMS. Would you happen to know the answer? 

For the record, I'm a former editor of London Bus Magazine (LBM) and live in Southend - so my knowledge of your area is a bit limited!"

Keith Shayshutt writes "I  recently acquired the attached photo. It is of COMS Oxford, Castle Street depot taken during the 1960s. I can find no reference to there being a depot here. Is this one for the website perhaps? I'm sure someone can shed some light on to this piece of COMS history."

Oxford Bus Museum

Over 40 vehicles are on display.  Most are buses in the ownership of the Museum.  Some are privately owned buses on long-term loan for display to the public. In addition there are various other exhibits on loan, from fire engines to bicycles, to add a period feel to the core collection. For reasons of safety, and to preserve the more fragile exhibits, visitors cannot enter all the vehicles on display, but access to a number of them is possible.

There are extensive displays of photographs, tickets, uniforms and other memorabilia.

As a special attraction, the Museum offers a free bus ride from the collection on the first Sunday of the month from March to October inclusive.

Click Here

New Thames Valley history from Paul Lacey

Paul's latest volume in his comprehensive work on Thames Valley will soon be available.

Paul Lacey is pleased to announce the completion of his latest and long-awaited book:

A HISTORY OF THE THAMES VALLEY TRACTION CO. LTD., 1946 ~ 1960

224 A4 pages, perfect bound in laminated covers, with 544 half-tone illustrations, full fleet list, service fleet list, route map, and appendices covering livery details, background to Newbury & District and South Midland, as well as allocations of vehicles, working arrangements and premises. A highly detailed and evocative account of all aspects of the Thames Valley activities, with the experience of over 40 years of research, fully illustrated with almost all unpublished photos

Retail Price: £25  Order your copy NOW direct for just £20!

Please quote the OCBP when ordering

Other titles currently available: 

A History of the Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd., 1920 – 1930

Retail Price: £15                                                     Special Offer Price: £5

A History of the Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd., 1931 – 1945

Retail Price: £25                                                     Special Offer Price: £5

Thackray’s Way – A Family in Road Transport

Retail Price: £10                                                     Special Offer Price: £5

50 Years of South Midland, 1921 – 1970           Written by David Flitton

Retail Price: £11                                                      Special Offer Price: £5 

Offer prices apply to orders placed with the new volume only. Send to:

Paul Lacey, 17 Sparrow Close, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 3HT, cheque payable to Paul Lacey  -(post & packing inclusive). 

If you live locally and prefer to collect, please call on 0118 979 4097 to arrange a mutually convenient time to visit (please do not just turn up!).