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

Issue 293
(OBP-505)
This section posted Sunday 16th August 2009
(next update late August 2009)

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:
Oxford discuss possibility of changes to concession passes

The Oxford Castle Street site was actually a Bus Station
New Horizon Travel based at Frating runs ex Thames Travel Darts
Nigel Peach visit the Isles of Scilly
Fleetwood Transport Festival (Tram Sunday) 19th July 2009 by Gavin Francis
Chinnor Steam Day by Peter Edgar
Alton rally by Martin Beckett & Marcus Lapthorn
More from North Weald - July 2009
Matthew Searle reports on Rail Replacement on the Cotswold Line
    `A model of a Neoplan Oxford Tube by David Allen
Steam show success - despite the unpredictable weather!
Buses in the Landscape in Weymouth and other locations

and why not visit the Oxford Bus Museum this summer?

Concessionary Travel

Problems for the funding of the concessionary bus pass scheme in the U.K. continue to rumble on in the background. Funding is a major problem for councils as there is an uneven spread of travel by holders and tourist places get more than their fair share of costs. Oxford comes into this area of problem and an idea to means test passes in the city was floated but has been ruled out.

Oxford City Council has ruled out means testing for over-60s’ bus passes, but admitted the scheme had left council finances in crisis. A national report commissioned by the Local Government Association concluded that free bus passes were an “inefficient” use of public money and should only be available to the less-well-off.

Of course how could Oxford City Council hope to introduce such a measure as they would need to test all holders using the buses regardless of where they come from?

However it does once again raise the issue of funding which needs to be looked at. It does seem that system used in Scotland works much better and as we have a Prime Minister who hails from north of the border why cannot a similar system be used in England?

Matthew Searle reports on Rail Replacement on the Cotswold Line 

The first blockade of the Cotswold railway line (Oxford to Worcester) as part of the project to re-double major sections), from 18 July to 2 August, is bringing a remarkable variety of coach operators to Oxford on First Great Western replacement services.

The operation is being very efficiently managed from the short stay car park at Oxford railway station, with flights of coaches leaving at timetabled intervals, each for a separate destination station.

Operators noted are: Astons (Broomhall), Bakers (Moreton in Marsh), Barnes (South Marston), Commandery Coaches (Worcester), N.N. Cresswell (Evesham), Derwent Travel (Evesham), Dudley's (Radford), Malvernian, Mortons (Basingstoke), Newbury Coaches (Ledbury), Pulham's (Bourton on the Water), RH (Witney), White's (Berinsfield), Weavaway (Thatcham) and Woodstones (Kidderminster).

I attach some pictures of the scene at Oxford station on 24-25 July.


Pictures by Matthew Searle

Buses in the Landscape

John Marsh writes "Thought you might like this taken in Weymouth."


Nice coach in the background !!!!! - Picture by John Marsh.


Well it is in the landscape nearly. !!!!! - Picture by John Marsh.

John also sent some nice pictures taken in Stamford featuring The Delaine, a wonderful bus company which has resisted the temptation to go for an all modern livery.


How does he do it? Nice shot of The Delaine by John Marsh.


Some more shots of The Delaine in Stamford by John Marsh.


Another operator in Stanford with an elderly but well kept Olympian pictured by John Marsh.

John asks a serious question "Have you heard of bus indicator boards being kept blank whilst at termini in order to save electricity or has someone been pulling my leg?" 

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

Running Days

More pictures from North Weald 2009

Peter Edgar sent a few more pictures from this event.


North Weald 2009 - I wonder if one day someone might return to its bus form. Now, that would be nice. Don't you love the semaphore indicator.
 July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.


Indeed I don't think a 55 ever ran in High Wycombe but these buses did.
July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.


This really is immaculate, personally never liked them but it is very well presented.  July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.


These were fine works horses and similar examples served through the British Isles. July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.


In later years some Daimler Fleetlines from Southend served in Oxford. July 5th 2009 by Peter Edgar.

Fleetwood Transport Festival (Tram Sunday) 19th July 2009 by Gavin Francis

Gavin and his wife Lesley went to the Fylde Coast for the weekend of 18th - 19th July to attend Tram Sunday at Fleetwood. Gavin sent this report and a multitude of pictures which evoke many memories for your Editor who once worked in Blackpool. 

"It was in August 2003 that my wife and I went to Blackpool to watch our local side Wycombe Wanderers play against Blackpool in a league game. We stayed overnight intending to return home on the Sunday. It was while we were in the area of the Tower on the Sunday morning that I noticed some old trams running and carrying passengers. Upon investigation I found that this was known as Tram Sunday, an annual event when old trams were taken out of storage for the day and put into service. 

We decided that we would like to go back on another occasion and spend more time at the event but because most of my weekends are spent working we have had to wait until this year for my rest days to coincide with the event date.

Saturday in and around St Annes and Blackpool


The promenade at St. Annes.


Blackpool garbs its buses in differing liveries for routes serving the coast and towns.


Leyland and Volvo Olympians feature in the fleet with some being second hand like 409.
The Palatine II bodied Olympians are now used on service 11 which runs from Blackpool to Lytham via the coast road and St. Annes.
Some buses are painted yellow and black and are common user buses.


The Blackpool fleet features some rather elderly DAF Optares which continue to give good service.
One could once ride to Mereside on a pre war Leyland Tiger TS8.


Shearings are seen here in St. Annes with one of their Grand Tourer coaches.


Stagecoach run a number of services in this area and have a variety of buses to use on the work.


Included in buses seen by Gavin was this ex Preston Bus Trident which still carries its old livery.
Work on repainting the fleet is on hold pending the outcome of a takeover investigation.


Gavin and Lesley saw many trans whilst in Blackpool and a selection are shown above.
 

We stayed in Lytham St. Annes over Saturday night and on Sunday morning drove to the Gynn Square just north of the town centre and waited for a suitable tram to come along. Into the distance came 717 and we decided to board it and travel on the top deck. The journey takes about 45mins to Fleetwood and the fare was 2.60 pounds single each which we thought was very reasonable considering what we were travelling on and the distance. At times there was a convoy of trams making its way to Fleetwood. For a tram of that age the ride was very smooth and rattle free.


Now this is how Blackpool's trams should look. Isn't 717 magnificent?

Because the Festival takes up most of the streets in Fleetwood it was not possible to go right through to the quayside instead stopping at the edge of town at a turning point. 

We had no idea what to expect. I thought it would be a display of buses and trams around the streets but instead it is a major event covering all aspects of transport. It is all a free event and most of the streets are closed and the exhibits are parked along the kerbs making it very easy to have a close look over them. 

Types of transport shown there included:

Steam lorries

Military vehicles

Emergency vehicles

Agricultural vehicles

Motor bikes

Buses and Coaches

Cars

In addition lots of Fairground rides and stalls. 

At Fleetwood on Sunday


Dancing troupes entertained the crowds.


Cars, lorries and even a horse drawn fire engine were on show at Fleetwood.


Buses were well represented and included some from Stagecoach, one from Arriva and representatives from the old Lancashire municipals.


Memories were doubtless evoked by the coach in Yelloway colours, once so familiar in Lancashire and further afield.

I have no idea how many people were there but it definitely ran into 10’s of 1000s. 

Considering this is a free event it represents an excellent day out. Although the bus and coach side is not vast, for anybody generally interested in all forms of transport it must be as comprehensive general display as you will see anywhere in the country.

In addition to the displays most of the shops and cafes are open and the quality and prices represent very good value. 

All too soon it was time to leave and we were lucky that Car 147 was about to leave so we jumped on board and again rode upstairs back to Blackpool. Not quite such a comfortable ride on the slatted seats but none the less an enjoyable experience.

Overall then an excellent weekend which I would recommend to anybody interested in the broad spectrum of transport."

When Gavin and Lesley were travelling north on the M40 they came across the bus pictured below and wondered what on earth it was doing so far south from its normal haunts?


Picture by Lesley Francis.

Chinnor Steam Day 

Peter Edgar sent some lovely pictures of the above vent saying "Attached are pictures taken on August 2nd 2009 at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Association's Gala Day. 

RF 538 was used to provide a shuttle service between Princes Risborough Station and Chinnor Station. 

Although the Gala Day is an annual event 2009 is also a celebration of the formation of the C&PRRA formation."


RF538 in two locations, one of which qualifies for "Buses in the Landscape".


The Great Western lives on at Chinnor.
Pictures by Peter Edgar.

The Alton Bus Rally & Running Day 2009 organised in association with the Mid-Hants Railway.

Alton by Martin Beckett 

"Here are some photographs from last Sunday's rally at Alton - despite the showery weather, the rain did not cause too many problems and there were a number of interesting vehicles making trips around Alton and further afield."

AXM 693 is Cobham Bus Museum's 1934 AEC-Regent 661 with LPTB H56R body - STL441 - seen turning in the yard at Medstead and Four Marks station on the Watercress line before returning to Alton with a full load NKN 650 is the former Maidstone and District directors' coach - a 1951 Commer Avenger 1 with luxurious Harrington C16F body.


MDL 954 is the former Southern Vectis 1956 Bristol LD6G with ECW O60R body.


LSU 857 is the former Jersey Motor Transport 57 (J 6986), a 1947 Bedford OB with Mulliner 28 seat bus bodywork.


There were a number of LT RTL and RTW types at the rally including these four.


GOU 845 is former Aldershot and District 145, a 1950 Dennis Lance III with East Lancs L51R body also pictured in the yard at Medstead and Four Marks station.


CDL 899 was one of two open top Bristol K5G's with ECW bodywork in Southern Vectis livery.
This one, dating from 1939, is still operated by the company as fleet number 602 and is the oldest bus in Britain still in service with its original owner.


POR428 is still undergoing restoration in the purpose built garage at Medstead and is former Aldershot and District 282, a 1956 Dennis Falcon II with Strachan B30F coachwork.
Pictures above by Martin Beckett.

Alton by Marcus Lapthorn 

This was a brilliant event! Superb numbers of buses present and very well organised.

Photo 653: AGX 520 - Originally a LT 60 seat STL class bus. Sustained major damage due to enemy action during World War 2. Re-built as a mobile workshop/breakdown tender in 1950 by Chalmers of Redhill. Withdrawn from service in the early 1970's. Nearly destroyed by an arson attack in the 1980's, it has now been restored  to road use.


STL with the best dressed driver at the rally!
Picture by Marcus Lapthorn.


The only surviving LTB Guy. Absolutely superb restoration.
Picture by Marcus Lapthorn.

JIL 2157 - This vehicle was originally a Leyland National  built in 1973 for London Country Bus Services. In the early 1990's it was decided to rebuild some Nationals from all over the country with new bodies and this vehicle was one of those selected. Everything was removed leaving a bare frame before the vehicles were rewired, re-panelled, re-engined and new interiors added. When rebuilt this vehicle was then allocated to Midland Fox.


A selection of Aldershot & District buses.


An ex Reading Dennis Loline.


A Swindon Daimler with Manchester style bonnet.


A Thames Valley Bristol K.


Perhaps the most unusual bus at Alton was this American Bluebird school bus.
Pictures above by Marcus Lapthorn.

Hemel Hempstead Running Day - Sunday 16 August 2009

Your Editor with Gavin Francis attended this event and the weather was kinder than of late. The variety of London buses was magnificent and we enjoyed the event very much indeed,

Gavin and I spent Sunday at this event which we both enjoyed immensely. There were a great number of ex LT buses in use and a comprehensive timetable of routes running was priced at £6.00.

A small selection of pictures is included below and a much more comprehensive report will follow in issue 294.


Routemasters were well represented and RM1699 looked absolutely magnificent.

 
The single deck fleet was represented one MB and a numbers of RFs.


The GS was represented by GS13 and one other. GS13 ran the route to Chesham and this involves quite a climb out of Boxmoor.
Our Sanai/Levantes make short work of the hills but GS13 toiled up to Bovingdon like a good un.
Gavin, pictured,. tells me this is the first time in thirty years that he has ridden on a GS.


Finally some nice shots of various participants at Hemel.

All pictures by Malcolm Crowe.

More details of this and other events organised by the same association can be found at:  http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk

Nigel Peach visit the Isles of Scilly

Nigel writes "Firstly, I realise I've not congratulated you on the excellent "Busman's Holiday" feature last month. It was very interesting to read and much appreciated."

Secondly, you have been advertising the latest "Thames Valley" book 1946-60 for some time now. On seeing your advert I purchased a copy of Paul Lacey's book and found it extremely interesting and informative, bringing back memories of my childhood days when I first started getting interested in buses. Although I don't go as far back as 1948, I can vividly remember the buses that were built then - they were very much still in service when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s. The book really took me back and filled in many gaps in my knowledge. (Incidentally, you still say it "will soon be available"!)

We have just returned from a lovely holiday on the Isles of Scilly. It's well outside your area, so I quite understand if you don't think it appropriate for inclusion on the page. St Mary's is the largest of the islands and the only one with any buses on it. I saw four buses (photos attached) and one coach while we were there, as follows:

Island Rover operate this 1948 Austin K2 (therefore named Katie) VVS913 with Barnard bodywork. I understand this saw service in Guernsey (hence the destination blind) before moving to the Isles of Scilly. It does a guided tour of the island with a very amusing commentary from the driver called Fred.

Island Rover also run this open top Leyland PD2 128DTD which started life with Lancaster City Transport. (It says "London Transport" on the side which grates with me somewhat, but nevertheless, it's good to see a bus over 50 years old still working!)

A rather poor picture (apologies!) of NCME bodied Dennis Dart L103HHV which runs the airport shuttle. The destination of Lakeside SW1 seems a bit bizarre, but this bus was originally London Northern DNL103 and later with Kings Ferry of Gillingham where it was fleet number B6. (This fleet number is still shown which almost made me wonder if in fact it was a Volvo B6!). Sister L109HHV was recently withdrawn by Carousel.

N257 DUR is a Mercedes 709D and is used as a community bus. It too has an unusual route number of 667. It still shows advertising for its previous area of Burnley! (I hadn't noticed the young lady when I took the photo - honest!)


Do we have a competitor for John Marsh?

Another view of N257DUR between the palm trees!

The fifth vehicle (also operated by Island Rover) is WIL 3639 "Wilma", a 1986 Bedford YMP coach, but I only saw it once and didn't get a photo!

Many thanks to Nigel for a most interesting piece. It is nice to hear of buses in far flung areas of our islands.

History

Some answers to readers questions.

Ed Maun always seems to come up with the answers and this time is no exception. He writes "In issue 292 Keith Shayshutt asks about COMS Oxford Castle Street depot and includes a photo.    The Castle Street site was actually a Bus Station which opened in August 1930. This site was closed in July 1935 when the Gloucester Green Bus Station opened." 

"Regarding the query by David Kemp in the same issue, as far as I am aware COMS never ran a Watlington to Wallingford service."

Marcus Lapthorn writes "Re' Keith Shayshutt's query, I am not aware that there was ever a COMS depot in Castle St. as the tram depot was in Cowley Road. There would therefore not have been a need for another depot in Castle St. as the replacement motor bus depot simply replaced the tram shed I suspect.

The photograph, IF it is Oxford, may have been the transport depot for Post Office Telephones whose headquarters was just around the corner in Paradise St."

Well, there we have two answers and I suspect that the one from Ed Maun is correct. I certainly had never read anything about such a site.

A bus stop in Flitwick.

Gary Seamarks writes "Was out today  and found this bus stop in Flitwick, to complete the story Buffalo  has ceased, Who's Luton and District. Route 142 has ceased, Stagecoach no longer serve this stop (a time table below was almost 2 years out of date) and don't phone that number for enquires its out of date. But for good luck there was not a queue waiting a bus."

A bus company in South Oxfordshire?

Richard Hall writes "I'm an ex bus driver myself and have just found out that a relative of mine once owned a small bus company in South Oxfordshire in or near Woodcote or Checkendon. His name was Albert (Bert) Hall and I am told he sold his company to Kemps Buses. I wonder would any one have any information or pictures? I am not sure of dates but think somewhere between 1920 to 1950."

Well readers, any answers for Mr Hall?

Two finds at Binders Yard, High Wycombe.

Whilst Gavin and I were on our way to Hemel today, 16th August, we stopped off at Binders Yard and had two surprise finds, see below. Can anyone shed anymore light on these two buses, especially the double decker.

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!).  

Menu for News Page Issue 28th July 2009

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Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner

Company and Fleet News

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

Special issue to mark introduction of new Oxford tube fleet