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  

Issue 188
(OBP-403)

Sunday 6th August 2006
next update week ending 19th August 2006

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 small one

Quite a lot is happening in our area this week, most especially the completion of the new bus station at High Wycombe in preparation for the opening next Sunday morning. The last serviced out of Newlands Bus station will be the late  737 from Stansted to Oxford on the 12thy August. The bus station will open on Sunday 13th August. The last service from the old bus station will be the 2359 NatEx 737 to Oxford and the first bus from the new bus station will be the 0215 737 to Stansted.

Any volunteers to record the happy event?

I and others have taken pictures of the old bus station in its last full weekend of use which are a good record of days as they were.


The picture above shows various Arriva buses awaiting their next run of duty on Saturday 5th August 2006.


This picture taken from the second floor of the car park shows Union Street , due to be closed next Monday with two Arriva services
coming and going on Saturday 5th August 2006.


The third picture shows a 31 service Volvo at the temporary stop used for a short period prior to closure. Saturday 5th August 2006.
The notices advise the public of coming events.


This picture by Gavin Francis shows Volvo 3853 leaving the old bus station on Tuesday 1st August 2006.


This picture by Gavin Francis shows the new bus station, lets call it The Eden Bus Station, nearly ready for use.
Taken by Gavin Francis on Tuesday 1st August 2006.

 
My two pictures show the general view of the new bus station on Friday 4th August 2006.


My picture above, taken in May 1996, shows a Wycombe Bus Company National entering the bus station area after preparation in Oxford.
385 and 386 were acquired from Brighton & Hove in 4/96 and were numbered 127 and 128 in their fleet.
They were new to Southdown in 1980 as 52 seat vehicles fleet numbers 127 and 128 and were sold to Brighton & Hove in 1/86.
They were repainted into Wycombe Bus livery before entering service.
They were originally fitted with Leyland 0680 engines but were converted to TL11 units by Brighton & Hove.
With thanks to Graham Wareham for the historical notes.
There are more "historical" pictures under that section below.

Next Saturday Peter Cartwright is intending to run two RMLs,  2412 and 2440 on a variety of services between 1000 and 1600 hrs to commemorate the closure of Newlands Bus Station. This should prove well worth attending and it is hoped a few other vehicles may attend. If I have any additional details they will be sent to my mail list for mid week updates of the OCBP.

Peter writes "Just to confirm that it is proposed that both RML2412 and RML2440 will be operating on a selection of the following routes next Saturday with the earliest departure at 10.15 and the latest during the evening. There might be a very late departure that evening. We shall be departing from Union Street bus shelter - where Park & Ride picks up outside the Bus Stn, All journeys will proceed through the Bus Station on departure for the benefit of photographers.

Routes to be operated:

305 West Wycombe - High Wycombe and High Wycombe - Wooburn Common
326 Mill End Road - HW - Bowerdean Rd/Micklefield
362 High Wycombe - Holmer Green
362a High Wycombe - Widmer End
363 High Wycombe - Totteridge
363 High Wycombe - Penn
455 High Wycombe - Beaconsfield

It is hoped to have a timetable printed for the day together with instructions issued to crews when the bus station was opened in 1970."

Tragic event sees the demise of Thames Travel Dart 155

Whilst operating an X40 service recently, Thames Travel Dart 155 was involved in a head on collision with a motor car which had pulled out to overtake other traffic. The car and bus met head on and sadly the car driver died in the accident. The bus appears now to be write off as the picture from Ben Morroll below shows. Our sympathy goes out to the drivers of both vehicles and also all those other people involved.

There have  been a number of serious accidents in recent weeks including one on the M40 at High Wycombe where a coach was involved in an incident with some cars resulting in the air ambulance landing on the north bound carriageway to casivac a seriously injured person. There was also another serious accident last week on the A34 between Oxford and Bicester which resulted in the A34 being closed and significant diversion of services between Bicester and Oxford. This saw Stagecoach 27 services routing through villages such as Bletchingdon to reach their destination.

Reports in the local press indicate fare rise from local operator

Stagecoach recently increased fares on all its services in Oxfordshire and indeed many other parts of the country. Now reports suggest that Oxford Bus will increase its fare during September following significant increases in fuel prices.

Whilst fare increases always attract adverse comments from users, surely everyone must realise that fuel prices have now risen to such an extent that fare increases are inevitable.

Brookes Tridents on holiday - more pictures from Devon

Another picture came from James May showing a Brookes Trident on the X46 in Exeter bus station.


The picture from J. May shows the destination screen fully, not always easy to capture with digital displays.

The Isle of Wight and a picture from Derek Doling

Last week I wondered if the "old girl" was still active and Derek Doling sent the picture below which is a very nice shot of 702 taken last November.

Amersham Running Day 2006

Peter Cartwright writes "Time is passing very quickly and the Amersham Running Day is now less than 2 months away. I know a number of you wish to participate but please can you confirm your attendance please as schedules will need to be compiled this coming week. They are already in draft form. 

Please reply to my new e-mail address: pcartwright@buckscc.gov.uk.

Martin Isles travels from Heathrow to Wycombe

Martin Isles wrote with an interesting tale of getting from Heathrow to Wycombe. He says "Back from my hols and looking at your website already!

My usual access to Heathrow is Carousel's A40 but transportdirect.info suggested an alternative once the A40 turns in for the night, so I found myself on one of those 724 DAFs (no Citaro) to Denham and then Chiltern Trains - worked ok except for having to lug the suitcase into the tunnel under the tracks at Denham!

Interestingly on route to the airport on the A40 on July 22nd, we met a 724 coming the other way in west Uxbridge - a fully liveried Arriva double deck Metrobus!

The Plaxton Bustler bodied Volvo B9M - D303PEV - one of 4 new to Harris Bus of West Thurrock - though I believe it came to RR from a West Midlands operator back in 2002.  Attached photo from when newly acquired.  Now in its second RR livery.  I suspect your photo may have been taken on the new commercial daytime service, which does not require low floor buses.

Thanks for mentioning the looming Showbus - entries have now exceeded 200 already.  Your readers may like to know that Motts will be operating an excursion from Aylesbury as usual.  The Wycombe Wanderers team coach has been used in the past!"

(Gavin Francis notes that the new Citaros for the 724 are imminent and he hopes to have pictures by next weekend. Ed)

Red Rover history in pictures

Martin Isles also mentions Red Rover and says "A few years ago I acquired several pictures from the old Red Rover office.  I scanned them a while ago and at last have put them together into a gallery.  Some of them are "official" shots by either the operator or manufacturer.

I will put them on line in the Showbus Gallery shortly, but if you would like to feed the link to your website viewers, they can not only have a preview, they may be able to offer some more information on some of the pics which are scantily identified.  I will gratefully include any useful information before the gallery goes "public"

http://www.showbus.com/gallery/homeco/redroverarc.htm

If anyone has information on the pictures at the link above please let Martin know at dok@showbus.com

Another request for information on Red Rover

Les Ansell writes "Would it be possible to post a request for information and pictures of days gone by of the bus companies (United counties, Red Rover, Keith Coaches etc)  In Aylesbury. 

This would be published on the website at www.arriva-shires.co.uk/aylesbury please send any information and pictures to bussocialclub@hotmail.co.uk"

A flying Tube

Peter Edgar sent an interesting piece which I could not resist hence the title. Peter writes "I happened to stumble across this major event in London today, new rolling stock being delivered to the Waterloo & City Line. Not everyday this sort of thing takes place. There were 8 new cars delivered today, with another 12 next weekend."

 

Another Tube on diversion but not flying

This weekend has seen significant delays on the M40 at junction 4 due to resurfacing work on the roundabout and subsequent delays on the M40. As a result many coach services between Oxford and London have diverted via the old road and I saw two Tubes, one X90(Sorry coach full) and one X70 all coming through Stokenchurch in convoy around 1945 on Sunday, today.


1945hrs - The sun was in the wrong place but gives atmosphere to two Tubes passing the Kings Arms in Stokenchurch on Sunday 6th August.
The two OBC coaches were just behind making quite a sight but sadly not quite close enough for a quartet on camera.

Andover VR visits Oxford by Richard Sharman

Richard Sharman writes "John Pike Coaches, Andover had this VR on PH in Oxford today (30th July 2006) and I spoke to driver who said he did Winchester to Oxford in just under an hour and a half, she does just under 50mph flat out."

Latest Citaro models revealed

Dave Rogers sent the following press release.

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE 

Mercedes-Benz Citaro - ukbus 5004 Arriva Manchester  -  ukbus 5007 Oxford Bus

 

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.

 

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.

News of an interesting rally

I received news of an interesting rally which would make a nice day out.

James Webb writes "Wonder if your readers might be interested in the Avon Valley Railway/Bristol Vintage Bus Group's rally and running day at Brislington Park and Ride in Bristol on August 13? I know it's a bit outside the area but still an easy day trip.

I believe there are over 50 vehicles entered at the time of writing this, some of which will be operating services to and from the Railway itself, the BVBG's depot at Flowers Hill and possibly either Temple Meads or Bath Spa stations (not 100% sure on this one but they have in the past) which would make getting to the event by public transport easier.

More information from
http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org or info@avonvalleyrailway.org who will be able to give you more complete details if you're interested - with a bit of luck they might respond a bit quicker if you let them know I sent you.

And I'd better declare a vested interest...despite living in Oxford I'm a volunteer conductor/stationmaster on the railway!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Model Buses for Sale

I have a new Deal on Models for your readers...

Each of the following models are available in the following price structure: 

1 Model = £13.00

2 Models = £24.00

3 Models = £35.00

4 Models = £41.00 

Postage is £2.70 for the first models and 40p per model after that.

UKBUS 1014 - CREATIVE MASTER OXFORD P&R TRIDENT

UKBUS 5002 - CREATIVE MASTER OXFORD P&R CITARO

 

UKBUS 2012 - CREATIVE MASTER BROOKES BUS TRIDENT

 

CORGI ORIGINAL OMNIBUS OXFORD ESPRESS EXCALIBUR

Once again this offer is only available by emailing me direct at modelsmk@aol.com

More models are for sale on my eBay store, http://www.modelsmk.co.uk/shop

Thanks!    James

Would readers who respond to the above please quote my site when doing so.


Again my thanks to all my contributors, both old and new.

Malcolm Crowe - Sunday 6th August 2006

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

News of the local companies – 6th August 2006

Of significant interest is the opening of the new bus station at High Wycombe next Sunday. This is covered in the editorial above.

I also understand that in some further timetable changes the 326 service, once operated London Transport and partnered by Thames Valley as their 26, will be renumbered 32 in a move to have all Wycombe services numbered in the 30 series.


As mentioned above the 326 has not long for this world. Last Saturday Olympian 5120 is seen near Frogmoor on the 326 service.


West Wycombe is a pretty village which has not really changed in the 50 years.
Here Volvo B6 3116 picks up on an inbound 342 service last Friday, 4th August.


Frogmoor was once a major terminus for service operating into and out of High Wycombe.
Here a new Volvo 3866 is seen operating a 31 service into High Wycombe from Downley last Saturday.
The old bus station was to the left of the clock tower and buses often loaded in the area off picture to the right.
This is now a pedestrian area.

Carousel continues to grow ever daily taking on the big bus company image. Newly gained services see buses appearing in other liveries including the County Rider green.


Dart DPL479 along with DPL423 has gained green County Rider livery and is seen here at the depot last Friday.


Dart DPL480 is seen here on Line 1 in the centre of high Wycombe last Saturday.


A line up of deckers at the depot shows off the recently repainted Trident 411.


Busy times for Carousel in High Wycombe town centre last Saturday.


Another picture of Agoraline AL1 on Line 4 in the town centre last Saturday.


Gavin Francis caught the Thames Valley liveried Olympian in service last week.


Another Gavin Francis picture, this time of a later Olympian on the 339 with full livery.

One reader asked for lots of pictures of Carousel and so I hope Karen is pleased with this week's contribution?

As mentioned above it seems that OBC will increase fares from September.


Volvo 619 is seen here at Didcot Parkway on 35A working - picture by Ben Morroll. Saturday 5th August 2006.


Irizar PB seen leaving Newlands Bus Station last week in  this picture by Gavin Francis.
This service is set to be the last out of the old bus station and the first out of the new one.

Oxford International, Culham

Ben Morroll took two pictures of members of this fleet , yesterday Saturday 5th August.

 
They do look very smart and I like the registrations.

A quiet week for Stagecoach locally but one for interesting pictures from other quarters.


J May took this nice shot of one time Thames Transit-Stagecoach 801 which worked when new in Oxford.
Seen here in Exeter bus station last week.
http://southhantsbus.fotopic.net

Steve Annells writes "Returning from holiday this Saturday (29 July) we stopped off in Axminster for a cup of tea - as we stepped back out onto the street in pouring rain I snapped this familiar Stagecoach Dart, 32164 (R64UFC), new as Thames Transit 3064."


 


SC 20012 was caught on camera by Ben Morroll at Harwell outstation yesterday.

We have already pictured the Tube that turned gold and now I have received two more pictures of the coach in question from Hugh.

 
A rather splendid looking Jonckheere M A N - photo by Hugh

More pictures of the new Darts have arrived and 506 is shown below.


Ben Morroll caught 506  KX06 LXN in Wallingford on service 130 last Saturday.


Later in the day I took my own picture of the same bus outside the depot.


Ben Morroll also took this very nice picture of one of the new Scanias in Wallingford in full livery.

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


Newbury Buses Solo 108 on route 6 at Didcot Parkway last Saturday - picture by Ben Morroll.
For regular updates on this operator please check the following link -
http://www.buszone.co.uk


Unusually this Bluebird school bus was captured on camera in Green Line last week by Gavin Francis.

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

Oxford & High Wycombe from my library of pictures.

I thought you might all enjoy a few more pictures from my library of local buses and coaches from the late '80s and '90s most of which are now long gone.


One year separates these two pictures of Atlanteans taken at Amersham garage.


The Kings Arms, Stokenchurch again, this time on 13th November 1989 with AEC Reliance/Plaxton TP13 on the 291 to London.


I know many of my readers like
Nationals, well they have to be liked by someone, and this shot at Amersham depot in the mid '90s has an awful lot of them.


Yes, they were new once and this pre entry into service picture shows a line up of new Metroriders at the now gone Cowley Road garage of OBC/COMS.


Guide Friday in all its glory and the date, 11th November 1989, not quite open top weather maybe.

 
The ECW bodied Leopards were a familiar sight on the London "road" in the '90s and Brian sent these two pictures
of 31 and 32 from the 190 service and a later picture of 32 when in service with Kelvin Central


14 years ago this National was a regular on the Stokenchurch service. Seen here in West Wycombe on 1/8/92.


One last National for this week was THX177S being prepared for service in High Wycombe, 9th October 1993.
1377 was purchased as a replacement for accident damaged 1378. It was new to London Buses as LS177 in 5/78 and was latterly operated by East London.
It was converted to DP41F before entry into service in 1993 and painted into standard Wycombe Bus Company livery. It was later renumbered 377in 1996

Coming events

Duxford - Showbus - 24th September 2006.  http://www.showbus.co.uk/

Running Day as advised by Peter Cartwright, Running Day Organiser  Amersham & District Motorbus Society 

Sunday 1 October 2006 - the 18th Running Day at Amersham.

As route 724 is 40 years old this year, apart from the feeders, I want to schedule a service between Watford and High Wycombe via Amersham - the original route south of Watford. This will be 29 years to the day since MA Garage took over duties from HE - High Wycombe Garage which closed the previous day, 30 September 1977.

This year should see the brand new bus station at High Wycombe open by this date and this would be the ideal place to terminate. More on this Running Day in due course.

It is hoped to celebrate 40 years since RMLs took over route 363 Totteridge - Holtspur in February 1966. Weather permitting it is hoped to have RML/RMLs running over the route on Sunday 19 February. Likewise a month later to run over the full length of Route 347 Hemel - Uxbridge which received RMLs on 20 March 1966. Anyone else interested in joining us?

Please feel free to contact me by phone 01494 437750 or by e-mail - Peter_Cartwright@wycombe.gov.uk - or post at 54 Guinions Road, HIGH WYCOMBE, HP13 7NX. 

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news & when each News Page is posted
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 three most interesting sites which I do recommend

Bus Zone Logo (2421 bytes)

Mike Penn's photo page with much from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire

Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK

The Oxford Bus Museum


Ray Jackson Art

A web site which has paintings of buses.
Nice present for a Christmas or Birthday wish list !!

http://www.rayjacksonart.co.uk/index.htm
 

 


Stagecoach Handbook for 2006
from British Bus Publishing

http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/

The latest handbook from BBF was on sale at Cobham and was the ever popular Stagecoach edition now in its 13th year.
It includes all the latest takeovers and as ever is invaluable
in keeping track of this now very large fleet.

As in earlier editions it includes the 2006 new bus orders.

Links

Bus Services in Buckinghamshire

Bus services in Oxfordshire

Where are the Chilterns?

Visit this informative site through the link below.

back to home page
Map showing the Chilterns Hills beginning in Oxfordshire in the Thames Valley and stretching north-east through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. The highest points are over 250m. There are various water courses running from the Chilterns to the South East.

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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