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 260
(OBP-473)
Monday 24th March 2008

next update week ending 5th April 2008

 

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

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.

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

Editorial

Having spent a restful weekend off, I thought I would post this latest News Page to include a number of pictures taken by Chris Maxfield at this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup event. This always produces a wide variety of Stagecoach buses drafted in from various operating companies to assist the incumbent operator, Stagecoach in Cheltenham. This year was no exception with buses from Bedford, Chesterfield, Cymru, Devon, Hampshire, Manchester and Oxford amongst others. A special photo section is devoted to this event.

The weather this weekend has been rather strange to say the least, with intermittent snow showers, especially on the Chilterns where I live but it has not settled in any significant way and even as I write this page, the snow is falling but not really settling. It seems many years now since we had a really deep fall and I do remember being stuck in the house for a day due to our road being snow bound. Amusingly one can now say in the last century !!!!

Gavin Francis, who follows Wycombe, spent time in Morecambe and Blackpool and some of his pictures form a piece on his visit. Of especial interest was the return of trams in Blackpool to promenade services after a winter of refurbishment and a service provided by buses. Work still continues on the line from Cabin to Fleetwood and this will reopen in time for high summer.

News reached me over the weekend that two new batches of vehicles had entered service, one being some of the batch of nine new Oxford Airline Volvos and secondly a batch of Mercedes mini coaches for easyBus on route EB3 from Victoria to Gatwick.

I received some very pleasant e-mails about the lack of weekly updates mentioned in issue 259. I would like to thank those of you who wrote and to say this makes the whole business of keeping this page going worthwhile. I hope you won't mind my quoting one from a reader somewhat south of our area, Derek Doling. You may remember Derek provided some super pictures of Thames Valley buses in the '50s.

Malcolm

Just to say I appreciate your updates whenever they appear. It is nice when it is weekly but it is not the end of the world if it is longer than that.

The most important thing is that it is there and it is always a cracking good read!  Keep up the good work and don't fall to the whim of those who complain. 

Ask them if they could maintain a weekly schedule and hold down a "proper job" as well. It is not easy I know.  Web site maintenance is a time consuming activity.

There are other sites for people to look at ( none of them are as good as your of course! ) so they need not be short of their " Bus fix" each week if they look hard enough.

As I say, I enjoy it whenever it appears and you always warn in advance if you know it is going to be delayed, or apologise afterwards if you don't.

Long may you continue.

Regards

Derek Doling.  Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Thank you Derek, your letter is much appreciated.

Heathrow Terminal 5 is due to open next Thursday, March 27th, for business and Gavin Francis, hopefully I can join him, is going to pay a visit to record bus and coach operations in connection with the new terminal. This will form a feature article on the next issue of the OCBP.

I have spent sometime this weekend preparing for my trip to Lands End this coming May, when I will use my Concessionary Pass to travel on around twenty different bus services over three days to reach my goal from home here in Stokenchurch. Planning has been most interesting and I have found the traveline web site of great help. I have only so far been able to plan my trip in outline as the current time tables do not go beyond the winter schedules. So far example to get from St Ives to Newquay is rather long winded as the summer services are not covered. I had hoped to go back up the north east coast of Devon and Cornwall but this would add another day to my schedule, I hope to make the round trip in six days - three down and three back. Interestingly Western Greyhound seems to feature much in my plans for travel in Cornwall. Bed and breakfast establishments seem to charge around £30-£35 per night and I have worked out that I can get from Stokenchurch to Lyme Regis on day 1. I intend to make a full feature of my travels and remember fondly a book by Victor Canning called "Mr Finchley Discovers his England".  However Mr Finchley did not have the benefit of a Concessionary Pass giving him free travel on the buses whereas Mr Crowe does or at least will have.

Interestingly it is not easy to find out what time rules apply, though Devon CC site suggests 09:00 is their start time whereas Cornwall would appear to b 09:30. This can make a significant difference and I don't want to cheat by paying for the any parts of my journey. The idea to go to Lands End and back for free!

Also it is not totally clear as top which services qualify for "CT" (Concessionary Travel) though in one case it is stated that this will be made clear. In conclusion I must wait until each area publishes its timetables before final planning can be completed.

This year's Cheltenham Gold Cup - bus services in pictures by Chris Maxfield

I have been aware that The Cheltenham Gold Cup brings many visiting buses to the town providing transport for race goers during the three day event. This year Chris Maxfield accompanied by Ben Morroll spent Friday 14th March capturing the wide variety of buses in use and I include a number of those which he took and which I think gives a flavour of this event. My excuse for going outside our area is that five SC Oxford Olympians were in use for the three days.

Cheltenham Town Centre


SC Hampshire's Bristol VR was hard at work when pictured by Chris. It was the only SC bus in the old stripey livery.


Three of the ex Hong Kong Olympians were in service, seen in the town,  including an old friend, now in Devon, 13601. This bus started Megabus services between Oxford & London.
13627 is I think now in Devon and 13646 is from Winchester - albeit in south West Trains livery.


A few older Leyland Olympians were on hand represented by an Swindon example and one from Bedford.
 


Volvo Olympians were well represented with examples from Winchester, Oxford, Doncaster and Bedford.


One of Cheltenham's Darts was also pressed into service making its mark amongst the predominance of double decks.

At the racecourse


More ex Hong Kong Olympians were to be found at the racecourse. 13611 is, I think, from Devon and 13629 from Winchester.


Another Oxford Olympian, 16522, is seen at the racecourse.


A Manchester Trident/Enviro 400 is seen at the racecourse.


Cheltenham's own Trident, ex Manchester, shows off its advertising livery.

At the Rail Station


Three more ex Hong Kong Olympians all from Winchester in south West Trains livery. 13620, 13640 and 13652 which once worked Oxford Tube services.


More Olympians, Welsh 16445, Chesterfield 16454 and Oxford's 16520 and 16524.


Two Tridents, one from Cheltenham, 18085 and Manchester's 19014 with Enviro 400 bodywork.

Other involved operators.


Astons had a Scania operating and Thamesdown had this ex Lothian Olympian.

A big thank you to Chris for these excellent pictures, which also make a good record of the event.

Wycombe play Morecambe and win 1-0 giving Gavin Francis time to visit Blackpool for some pictures


A chilly day at Blackpool and the wreck of a ship still there. Gavin Francis.

Gavin writes "Just got back from Morecambe. Another good result. Away form has been good all season. Looks more and more like the play-offs. Got some tram pics in Blackpool this morning. This whole system has been shut down since November and only reopened yesterday. Currently it is only running from Starr Gate to Cabin while repairs continue up to Fleetwood."

Blackpool Trams


Some of the oldest trams in Blackpool are still running, albeit heavily rebuilt.
In the first picture one can still make out the 1934 design which has stood the test of time so very well.
Both the decker and saloon were from the same era.

In the second picture a much more cent tram is seen at the end of the current operating section at CABIN.

The third picture shows decker 707, heavily rebuilt but surely one of the oldest surviving modes of public transport in the U.K.

The fourth picture shows a maintenance tram on new track near CABIN.

Replacement bus services


Blackpool is a very colourful place and Line 1 is the current service between Blackpool and Fleetwood.
The black and yellow Olympian is in a common user livery but on the same service.

Wycombe's new Eden Centre and a report from Mike Chadwick

The following extract from a news item on the Wycombe District Council website (about how the town's traffic coped with the first weekend of Eden) sheds light on Nigel Peach's observation of Green Route vehicles on Park-and-Ride, and vv:

"Park and Ride proved a popular fast route into town for many, with larger capacity buses being provided at peak times and it reporting its best ever weekend."

Mike then goes on to comment on Arriva's activities.

More perplexingly, in the late afternoon of Thursday 20th, I saw 3138 operating on the 100!

Secondly, could you or your readers help with a query about wheelchair accessibility, especially on the Solos. I know they kneel, but this is insufficient for a solo wheelchair-user. Can they also deploy a ramp?
Indeed, is this a requirement for all buses nowadays? If they do have a ramp, do you envisage problems in practice, like drivers not knowing how to use them, chronic unreliability, those bollards in the bus station?

Not sure that I can answer this question but as you say maybe one of our readers can?

[Incidentally, I concur that 2496/7 have "better" performance than 2491/2, but I don't view it as a good thing: performance was perfectly adequate on the older ones, enhanced performance is presumably at the expense of worse fuel consumption, and worst of all it facilitates the boy-racing tendencies of certain drivers! Bring back those D-registered Olympians we had a while back, they were nice and sedate!]

I would agree that the newer Solos have good performance having taken the bus into Wycombe last Thursday, riding on 2497. It positively flew, indeed quite exhilarating.

By the way 2491 and 2492 have reportedly now moved to Aylesbury.

Best wishes, and thanks for your super site - fortnightly suits me just fine in terms of finding time to read it!


A report from Stephen Le Bras relating to easyBus route EB3 to Gatwick and bus photography

Stephen writes "Blue 62 on the X90. Plus the following (Sat March 22nd)

A bit of an odd day, what with the weather and everything. I stayed around VCS long enough to see four 08 reg Siroccos and a Temsa Opalin - YJ08EBA - working for Easyjet EB2 (Stansted - London Vic) and on EB3 to Gatwick 0311-4 YJ08AOD/E/F/G.

Arriva 0411 and 0412, 4050 and a Wright bodied bus on the 757. 

Then on to Southall Town Hall where I photographed an SP at the 482 terminus, before getting on it. This where things got a bit strange. First the other passenger asked the driver if the 482 has a night service but he couldn't tell her!  Then I went upstairs to  the nearside upstairs seat. The bus moved off but stopped after about 100 yards. The driver climbed out of his cab and came upstairs to speak to me! I looked up ... "You can't take photos inside the bus. It is company policy."

I said "Well, I wasn't going to", pointing to my pad where I was taking notes. He returned to his cab and we were off. The iBus worked intermittently referring to the bus going to T5 or Cargo Centre. I left at Hatton Cross.

About the "company policy", is it just Transdev or TfL? I can only presume it is to stop people using camera phones to film "incidents" on board!

(Stephen, I can't answer this but am sure someone can and will. Ed.)

I caught a U3 to West Drayton, forgetting that it turns off just before WD. However, it did involve the driver stopping to pick up a passenger who hailed him from the other side of the road! Oh and the driver on the 702 home from Slough was asked if he was going to Slough. The reply "Er... try that 191 coming the other way."

I asked Stephen about the EB3 and gave my thoughts on bus photography - if it's on the open road and not on private land they can't stop you.  Ed. 

Yes the 0311-4 Siroccos were running the EB3 Gatwick service. It was difficult to track them in and out as some vehicles now stand in Bulleid Way where the Megabus also stand. The EB3 does at least leave straight on down Buckingham Palace Road - i.e. not via Elizabeth Bridge/Bulleid Way like EB2.

As for the 482 driver, I agree that he could not stop you taking a photograph but it does highlight a new trend where company property of any sort is a no go area for photography.

I am sure readers will have comments on this one. Ed.

Glenn Knight visits Red Line at Aylesbury

Glenn visited this operator last week and found quite a mixed fleet some of which now have rather professional fleet names.

Glenn writes "REDLINE BUSES of Aylesbury are to take over service 164 Aylesbury - Leighton from April 21st. T506 or T507 TOL to be used due to Low-floor requirement on this route.

Taken on 22.03.2008 photos attached: P558RNE, H534RKG, KIW8606, LIL9666, T506TOL & T507TOL, G638BPH, H557GKH & M65HHB."

A question concerning Milton Keynes from Harold Aitkins answered by Harold himself

Last issue I published some questions from Harold Aitkins which he has in many ways answered himself.

From Harold Atkins 

I think I’ve got the answer to my own question about the light green liveried bus operating on MK Metro route 23. 

Yesterday, I received a “Transport Briefing Note” from Milton Keynes Council giving advance notice of the new timetable to take effect on 20 April 2008. 

It includes a new north – south route number 7 which will completely take over the 23 north of Central Milton Keynes and the 14/14A to the south, except for Fishermead. This livery must be to launch this service the Monday to Friday daytime frequency of which is increased from 30 to 20 minutes over the present 23 and 14/A. 

So the route of the 7 will be Wolverton (Agora) – Stantonbury – Conniburrow – Central Milton Keynes – Oldbrook (for Woughton Campus) – Coffee Hall – Hospital – Stadium : MK – Bletchley Bus Station then splitting to operate alternately Fenny Stratford / Lakes Estate / Newton Longville. A Monday – Saturday evening service will operate Wolverton – Fenny Stratford hourly as service 7E. 

Other changes for April 20/21 are: 

3 cut back to operate Wolverton – Central Milton Keynes (evening and Sunday 3E still operates to Westcroft Centre)

8 no longer serves the Shenley Wood loop due to Abbey (bank) withdrawing funding for this diversion.

14 truncated to operate Deanshanger – Stony Stratford – Central Milton Keynes. 14A withdrawn because of the 7.

15 / 16 Westcroft – Bletchley will no longer serve the Stadium complex as the new 7 will. 16 re-routed via Emerson Valley (White Horse Drive)

23 withdrawn, replaced by new 7

28 (early morning service) withdrawn replaced by an additional 4A journey and slight extension of one journey on the 8

29 Bletchley – West Bletchley – Oldbrook – CMK and 39 Bletchley – Far Bletchley – Oldbrook – CMK. Will both be rerouted to provide a half hourly service to Fishermead, replacing the 14/14A, and extended beyond MK Central rail station to Crownhill and Shenley Church End replacing that section of the 3 Monday – Saturday daytimes.

Arriva (Aylesbury) 150 – Sunday contracted journeys rerouted to serve Little Brickhill off the A5.

Maybe readers can add to this informative discourse?

A question on who operates MUH283X

In the last issue Gavin Francis wondered who was operating Olympian MUH283X.

From Richard Kane (weekly reader) 

Olympian MUH283X as seen by Gavin Francis belongs to Walters Limousines of Oxford. It is used for school run from Horton-Cum-Studley to Aylesbury Schools.

Buses in the Landscape

From Keith Shayshutt


Another special from Keith Shayshutt, this time of a Trent Barton Solo in Matlock. Hope its got a 6 cyl engine?

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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

Let me have your contributions

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In Reading - more interesting buses

From Marcus Lapthorn 


Ex Aldershot & District Dennis Loline in Reading. circa 1975 I believe.


A very nice pairing of Reading Corporation no's 1 & 100 in Broad Street in June 1975.

Also from Marcus is this lovely picture of a Fife bus way back in 1976. The picture was taken in Kirkcaldy depot. 

From Paul Davis 

Malcolm, we seem to have had quite a few old pics from Reading recently, so here's a contribution from me, of a Bristol RE at Reading station Dec79.

Question about a 1936 picture by Ed Maun

From Ed Maun

In today’s (Tuesday 11 April) edition of the Mid Week Free Press there is a pullout supplement to detail the opening of the new Eden shopping centre in High Wycombe. On page 2 there is a series of photos taken 1890 and 2008. One photo taken in 1936 in Oxford Road shows the back view of a bus squeezing past a lorry. The question is who owns the bus and what make is it? The rear destination says it is travelling to West Wycombe. I don’t think it is one of the Wycombe area independents as by 1936 most had been absorbed into either Thames Valley or London Transport. It could be an ex independent vehicle still operating for the absorbing company. I think it is either Thames Valley working route 32 to West Wycombe which had been taken over from Penn Bus Company in 1935 or London Transport working a service 455 or 455A (I am not sure when in the mid 1930’s the 455 from Uxbridge was truncated to terminate in High Wycombe, the High Wycombe to West Wycombe leg becoming the 455A. I couldn’t even hazard a guess at the make of the bus!

I have scanned the picture but it’s quite fuzzy as it is only a small in the paper.

Can anyone shed any light on this picture?

Routes in COMS days?

From Aaron Borbora

As an avid reader of the OCBP and someone with an interest in the history of Oxford’s buses I’m looking for some information about routes that were operated by the company but are no more.  I understand that following a bus price war in the 1990s with Thames Transit/ Stagecoach, that the COMS/OBC abandoned some (unprofitable) routes.  While I’ve tried to get information on what numbers these routes were and where they ran I have had no luck on the internet.  I was wondering if you might be so kind as to point me the right direction?  I’d also be interested in any resources about re-numbering of routes (e.g. I understand that at one time the route to Wood Farm was the number 7!).

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Future dates for your diary from Peter Cartwright 

You may know that there are some alterations planned for 10 March with Carousel becoming the operator serving Flackwell Heath. I am still waiting for all the details.

Amersham & District Running Days for 2008 are:

4th Slough/Windsor Running Day Sunday 11 May based on Slough Bus Station with a number of alterations this year.

Uxbridge/Northwood Running Day Sunday 1 June which, it is intended, will cover routes 309 309A 347 158 220 223 & 225. Details are still to be finalised.

3rd Hemel Hempstead Running Day Sunday 22 June based on Hemel Bus Station. Marking 60 years since the first Country RTs came into service. These were allocated to Tring and Hemel Hempstead (Two Waters) garages for the 301 and 302 routes. It is hoped that a number of RTs will be operating on these routes on 22 June.

20th Amersham Running Day Sunday 5 October based on car park adjoining Amersham MET Station. This has become a very popular event and no doubt it will still attract many after 20 years when again there will be some alteration to routes operated.

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Thanks to all my contributors who help to make this page what it is.

Malcolm Crowe - Monday 24th March 2008

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

 News of the local companies – 24th March 2008

Not so much news in the last couple of day but as mentioned above Solos 2491 and 2492 have moved to Aylesbury leaving 2496 and 2497 to handle the Line 40. however this does not always happen as last Thursday 3208 was on the 1435 to Thame and 2496 on the 45 to Great Missenden.

It was nice to see a little bit of artistic effort on the blind of Volvo 3864 as can be seen in the picture below.

Pictures by your Editor

Your reports follow.

From Glenn Knight 

Arriva 3607 KE55CTF worked the 20.20 from MK - Luton T/C 70 display with Luton Town Centre Via Hatters Way on 19th March 2008.

First Berkshire 

From Colin Grafham

Needn't tell you that today saw major changes to services in the Heathrow area. 

One of the changes involved First Berkshire's routes 41 & 43 (Staines-Slough via Straight Road (41) or Village Road (43), the last remnants of the old LT route 441 (Staines Central Station-High Wycombe). The changes made today saw these two routes become route 71 and the section via Village Road at Old Windsor withdrawn. 

Attached are two photographs taken at the 'Fox & Castle', Village Road, Old Windsor on 28 February 2008, the first shows the then current usual vehicles (60756) and the second a taste of the vehicle that were to come (ES64030).


Pictures by Colin Grafham

Motts Travel, Aylesbury


These two coaches were used for supporters of Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday last, winning 1-0 at Morecambe where the coaches are seen.
Pictures by Gavin Francis

http://www.nationalexpress.com/

A few interesting pictures this week but no further reports of additional Levantes, 4 or 6 wheel.


During the week leading up to Easter short working 737 service to Luton Airport were run from Oxford at 03:00 Monday thru' Thursday.
The service on 20th March is seen on arrival at Luton Airport around 04:45. Your Editor was the "lucky" driver. The coach SCO 59214.


Chris Maxfield caught this Levante in Cheltenham on the 413 service. I see it is Levante 66. The Oxford ones were 57-61.

News of the week is that some of the new Volvo coaches have entered service.


Three of the new coaches on Plaxton's finishing line at Scarborough before delivery.


Coach 93 seen front and back at Gloucester Green on Sunday 23rd March. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

School Bus Company

From Matt Bullock 

Excellent issue as always.

On the subject of School Bus Company, the two Volvo/Van Hool are L800BUL , new to Bullock, Cheadle but acquired from Lainton, Gorton 6/07 and M39 HSU came from Mullany, Watford in 11/06.

The new Scanias entered service on Monday 10th March and several contributors covered the launch in the following days.


Scania 15437 seen at Stonesfield by Richard Sharman


18395 following removal of its 27 branding. The day after, 21st March this bus was reallocated to Witney. Picture MC.

Thames Travel

Where do the old buses go?

From Chris at Nu-Venture

Recently acquired for new contracts in Kent by NU-VENTURE of Aylesford is (once Thames Travel) Dennis Dart MPD/Plaxton Pointer [V270BNV], due to enter service early next week.

The photo as promised, fresh in Nu-Venture livery, the vehicle has yet to enter service here and is currently delicenced. It was acquired for use on new contracts from 7 April 2008.

Z & S Aylesbury

From Glenn Knight


Visited Milton Keynes yesterday 23.03.2008. And spotted Z&S International N760VUP Volvo B6-50 Alexander B40F Ex-Go North East, Sunderland.
 It was on the 18E Bletchley - CMK Via Woburn Sands & Kingston. Photo taken Lower Ninth Street Nr Midsummer Boulevard.

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.

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


Gavin Francis
saw this bus at Luton working for NCP. I think it is one of The Millennium Dome buses ?

Coming events, models and useful links

New Trident model with an Oxford flavour

ukbus 1036 Alexander Dennis ALX400-bodied Trident

 Stagecoach in Oxfordshire

Creative Master Northcord is proud to release a brand new livery on its well-known casting – the Alexander Dennis ALX400-bodied Trident. This is ukbus 1036 carrying standard Stagecoach livery but with special route branding livery.

This model represents Stagecoach in Oxfordshire 18394 (KX55 TLN). This is the second Stagecoach in Oxfordshire ADL ALX400-bodied Trident model that CMNL produced. The previous one is ukbus 1026 with Brookes bus colours. 

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire 18394 is one of a fleet of seven Tridents introduced onto route 27 in March 2006 to replace Volvo B10M single deckers. Route 27 operates between Oxford and Bicester up to every 15 minutes at busy times with three main route variants around Bicester – 27A to Glory Farm and Launton, 27B to Glory Farm and Langford and 27C to Ambrosden and Arncott. 

18394 is one of three vehicles which carry supplementary branding for the Bicester Duo ticket which was introduced during 2007. The ticket allows two people to travel from Bicester to Oxford for the price of one.

 

The replica features excellent detailing, inside and out, including an opening engine door, engine detail and the representation of LED lights at the rear. This is a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the windows and livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. The model has no unnecessary metal poles to hold it together.  

It will be a good opportunity to make a twin Stagecoach in Oxfordshire bus model set with ukbus 1036 and ukbus 1025 representing the common street scene in Oxford.

 

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. 

New DVD by Robin Clare - http://www.robinclare.co.uk

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

 

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. 

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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

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

John Marsh's pictures with a difference

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

Arriva Handbook for 2006-2007
from British Bus Publishing

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

The latest handbooks are now on sale, the ever
popular Stagecoach edition now in its 13th year.

Links

Bus Services in Buckinghamshire

Bus services in Oxfordshire

Bus services in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Logo/link

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