Spottings & Jottings
Issue nr. 7 - 6th October 2009
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Welcome to issue number 7 which is a few days later than planned due to my work patterns. There is a lot to report in this issue and since I will be unable to prepare a full issue of OCBP for another two weeks, again work commitments, I am including a number of interesting items including a brief report on Amersham last Sunday. Now that Gavin Francis has returned from holiday he has resumed his contributions which are most welcome.
The weather has really broken today, Tuesday, with heavy rain on the Chilterns and surrounding areas.
Again a lot has been happening over the past week with the apparent increase in capacity on BCC's Line 40 operated by Arriva, more on the new Citaros for uno at Hatfield etc., the reappearance of the Oxford Bus Q buster Volvos on Brookes services, additional Oxford Tube coaches and the transfer of some Stagecoach Oxford's Tridents from Witney to Stagecoach West and some others to the reserve fleet.
As mentioned above I will be unable to produce full News Issue (295) for a further couple of weeks due to work and will only have some time after 16th October. This means that a number of welcome contributions will have to held over until I can get around to publishing said full issue. I will also be attending Coach & Bus Live on Thursday taking out another rest day.
An amusing note for today from Gavin Francis is that as he was leaving Oxford on the 04:10 Tube service to London, yes the 04:10, someone, dressed in black, was taking photos of the coach on the Magdalen Bridge. I wonder who and why?????
Finally in London this morning Gavin noted a builders truck parked opposite the entrance to Bullied Way. This was going to make a turn into Green Line very difficult. He waited to see how a coach of length would get round. The next minute a Terravision tri-axle coach sped into Bulleid Way showing Gavin it was indeed too tight for the turn and it gave the builders truck a hearty wallop but to Gavin's amazement never stopped. He later looked at the coach to see a significant damage to the rear offside. The builders were less than impressed with their truck. What fun I hear you say!!!!!
Spottings
I notice that one of the Enviro 400s used on the 280 has now appeared with a revised destination display, having the route number on the right. This seems to be happening in several areas of the Arriva in the Shires operation.
Following the transfer of several buses from Stevenage, this week saw one in use on Line 40 between High Wycombe and Thame, a route which suffers from significant overcrowding on daytime services, especially market days in Thame and shopping times in High Wycombe.
These pictures show Dart 3822 and Volvo B6 3298 operating Line 40 on
October 5th 2009 and were taken by Gavin Francis.
Whilst at least one of the ex Birmingham Airport buses has been repainted into livery and converted to single door another has yet to be so treated.
AF53GCZ is seen arriving in Wycombe on a Line 1 service - M Crowe.
Two nice pictures provided by Mark E. Lyons of Citaro MN51 on the
A40 service in Beaconsfield.
Several ex Arriva Midlands buses have arrived with Excel at Stansted for their services taken over from Trustybus. some are plain white and others in an apparent Telling golden Miller livery.
Now down from Manchester and working out of Stansted for subsidiary Flight
Delay Services, this Ayats Bravo is an impressive coach.
Pictures by Malcolm Crowe.
Further problems with the Scania-Levante fleet has obliged Stagecoach Oxford
to hire in a DAF from South Gloucester Bus.
L99SGB, once owned by Birmingham Coach and running on the 777, is seen
leaving Oxford on 2nd October.
Picture by Richard Sharman.
Renumbering is going ahead of the NEx coach fleet and includes even coaches from Kings Ferry now owned by National Express.
A Kings Ferry coach, now C100 running the 025 service from Victoria.
30th September by Gavin Francis.
Another Kings Ferry coach, now C098 and transferred to Gatwick running the
025 today, 6th October. Gavin Francis.
Indeed I am advised by Dave who does the NEx picture site that
the following 5 coaches have
transferred to NEx at Crawley.
C097 (A 14 TKF)
C098 (A 15 TKF)
C099 (H 8 TKF)
C100 (A 19 TKF)
C101 (H 5 KFC)
One of the reactions to the new First Greyhound service can be seen in
Victoria coach Station.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
http://www.luxury-coaches.co.uk/
Gary Seamarks writes "had a trip to On A Mission at Soulbury, Leighton Buzzard, last Thurs and managed to obtain what is believed to be an up to date list. The Volvo YSV934 may have either departed or re-registered but was not present. The colours shown were the liveries worn on the day. Makes interesting reading from last visit when they only had 3 buses as opposed to coaches."
601 HYK | Iveco | 391E | Beulas | C51FT | 01/02 | Blueways | Swanage | 11/06 | White | new as FE51 RHF |
A647 BCN | MCW | DR | MCW | H46/31F | 08/84 | Coastal Liner | Wolverhampton | 09/07 | Go-Ahead | |
A707 THV | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/31F | 04/84 | Head | Lutton | 04/09 | Head | |
A978 OST | Leyland | Olympian | Alexander | H45/32F | 12/83 | Stagecoach | Fens | 03/09 | White | d/l |
B153 WUL | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/28D | 01/85 | Head | Lutton | 05/09 | Head | d/l |
B821 AOP | MCW | DR102 | MCW | H43/30F | 11/84 | Head | Lutton | 04/09 | Red | |
B898 UAS | Leyland | Olympian | Alexander | H45/32F | 02/85 | Stagecoach | Fens | 03/09 | White | |
BYX 274V | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/32F | 06/80 | Head | Lutton | 04/09 | White | |
C234 ENE | Leyland | Olympian | Northern Counties | H43/30F | 06/86 | Stagecoach | Manchester | 04/09 | Magic Bus | |
C31 CHM | Leyland | Olympian | ECW | H42/30F | 03/86 | MK Metro | 04/09 | Yellow | ||
C314 BUV | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/28D | 08/85 | Arriva | London N | 09/05 | Leaside Travel | |
C365 BUV | MCW | MCW | H43/30F | 10/85 | Head | Lutton | 03/09 | Head | d/l | |
C635 LFT | Leyland | Olympian | Alexander | H45/31F | 12/86 | Stagecoach | Lincolnshire | 03/09 | Stagecoach | |
C644 LFT | Leyland | Olympian | Alexander | H45/31F | 12/86 | Stagecoach | Lincolnshire | 03/09 | Stagecoach | |
C816 BYY | Leyland | Olympian | ECW | H42/26D | Arriva | The Shires | 03/09 | Arriva | ||
CX03 YHH | Ford | Transit | Ford | M14 | 04/03 | ? | 01/05 | |||
D388 XRS | Leyland | Olympian | Alexander | CH43/27F | 05/87 | Stagecoach | Scotland | 04/09 | Stagecoach | |
EL08 BUS | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C59Ft | 04/08 | New | 04/08 | Eurolines | ||
EU08 BUS | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C59Ft | 04/08 | New | 04/08 | Eurolines | ||
F300 DRJ | Leyland | Olympian | Northern Counties | H43/30F | 01/81 | Stagecoach | Manchester | 04/09 | Magic Bus | |
FJ06 BPU | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 03/06 | New | 03/06 | Select Motor Racing | * | |
FJ06 BPV | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 03/06 | New | 03/06 | * | ||
FJ06 BPX | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 03/06 | New | 03/06 | * | ||
FJ06 BPY | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 03/06 | New | 03/06 | o-a-m | ||
FJ55 DYS | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 11/05 | New | 11/05 | * | ||
FJ55 DYT | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 11/05 | New | 11/05 | o-a-m | ||
FJ55 DYU | Volvo | B12B | Jonckheere | C51FT | 11/05 | New | 11/05 | o-a-m | ||
GYE 534W | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/31F | 05/81 | Head | Lutton | 04/09 | White | |
H806 AHA | Dennis | Dominator | East Lancs | H47/29F | 08/90 | Arriva | Cymru | 05/08 | Arriva | |
KT05 PYG | Scania | K114 | Irizar | C49Ft | 06/05 | Kavanagh | Urlingford | 06/09 | Eurolines | |
KT05 PYJ | Scania | K114 | Irizar | C49Ft | 05/05 | Kavanagh | Urlingford | 06/09 | o-a-m | |
KYV 635X | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/34F | 09/81 | Head | Lutton | 04/09 | Head | |
LMO 190X | MCW | DR | MCW | H45/27F | 05/82 | Mann | Gravesend | 09/07 | white | d/l |
LWS 33Y | Leyland | Olympian | Roe | H47/29F | 09/82 | Mann | Gravesend | 01/07 | White | |
M107 BLE | Dennis | Dart | Plaxton | B39F | 10/94 | Click | Skelmersdale | 05/09 | Metroline | |
M503 ALP | Dennis | Dart | Plaxton | B40F | 03/95 | Click | Skelmersdale | 05/09 | Metroline | |
M504 ALP | Dennis | Dart | Plaxton | B40F | 03/95 | Click | Skelmersdale | 05/09 | Metroline | |
MJI 7855 | MCW | DR101 | MCW | H43/28D | 06/81 | Arriva | London N | 09/05 | Red | new as GYE537W |
MK56 DON | Ayats | AE3 | Ayats | CH42/17Ft | 09/06 | New | 09/06 | o-a-m Silver | ||
N980 ODS | LDV | Convoy | M16 | 06/96 | Bentley | Leighton Buzzard | 08/05 | |||
P299 MLD | Dennis | Dart | Plaxton | B39F | 08/96 | Click | Skelmersdale | 05/09 | Metroline | |
P417 KSX | Volvo | Olympian | Alexander | H51/30F | 10/96 | Lothian | 08/09 | Lothian | ||
P421 KSX | Volvo | Olympian | Alexander | H51/30F | 10/96 | Lothian | 08/09 | Lothian | ||
P423 KSX | Volvo | Olympian | Alexander | H51/30F | 10/96 | Lothian | 08/09 | Lothian | ||
PUI 3844 | Iveco | 391E | Beulas | C49FT | 02/01 | Blueways | Swanage | 11/06 | college express | new as X638 GJU |
YN06 RVE | Volvo | B7R | Plaxton | C70F | 06/06 | New | 06/06 | o-a-m | ||
YN07 LGY | Scania | K114 | Irizar | C57Ft | 06/07 | New | 06/07 | Eurolines | ||
YSV 934 | Volvo | B10M | Berkhof | C49FT | 08/97 | Abbey | Hitchin | 06/05 | left the fleet | |
YSV 934 | LDV | Convoy | LDV | M16 | 10/03 | New | 10/03 | new as AE53 ZKC |
Oxford Bus have introduced the acquired Volvo B10BLEs from Brighton into service last week.
The buses, including 794, 796 and
797 have been mainly on the 8 or 9. Picture by
Malcolm Crowe.
As advised Oxford Bus are now running their Volvo B10Bs on the U1 to provide
additional capacity at the start of the Michaelmas term.
642 by Gavin Francis.
At least one of the ex North East Tridents is for sale on the Nigel McCree web site:- http://nigelmccree.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=11&Itemid=44
I recently saw Trident 119 on the 300 with a scrolling destination blind. I wonder if this was an experiment or a fault with the screen?
Gavin Francis reports that single door 799 was on 5 road today, is this a first?
Fleet movements in Oxford and Rugby are recorded for interest. We note that 18198 and 18199 have now been branded as an S Series buses.
18198 in Gloucester Green last Sunday - Picture by Gavin Francis.
Oxford fleet movements |
||||||
15533 |
VX59 JCU |
Scania E400 - new to Witney |
||||
15534 |
VX59 JCY |
Scania E400 - new to Witney |
||||
15535 |
VX59 JCZ |
Scania E400 - new to Witney |
||||
15536 |
VX59 JDF |
Scania E400 - new to Witney |
||||
15537 |
VX59 JDJ |
Scania E400 - new to Witney |
||||
|
|
|||||
18127 |
KN04 XJB |
Dennis Trident - Witney to West |
||||
18128 |
KN04 XJC |
Dennis Trident - Witney to West |
||||
|
|
|||||
18129 |
KN04 XJD |
Dennis Trident - Witney to Reserve |
||||
18130 |
KN04 XJE |
Dennis Trident - Witney to Reserve |
||||
|
|
|||||
47236 |
KX55 RBV |
Optare Solo - Banbury to Wales |
||||
Oxford vehicles in reserve |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|||
31361 |
P361 DSA |
Volvo B6LE - ALX200 |
BY |
|||
31362 |
P362 DSA |
Volvo B6LE - ALX200 |
BY |
|||
31365 |
P365 DSA |
Volvo B6LE - ALX200 |
BY |
|||
|
|
|||||
18129 |
KN04 XJD |
Dennis Trident |
BY |
|||
18130 |
KN04 XJE |
Dennis Trident |
BY |
Rugby Megabus
54057 |
KX59 DLJ |
Volvo B12B Exp - New Vehicle |
RY |
54058 |
KX59 DLK |
Volvo B12B Exp - New Vehicle |
RY |
54059 |
KX59 DLN |
Volvo B12B Exp - New Vehicle |
RY |
The brand new Megabus Plaxton tri-axle based at Rugby, 54059 is seen above - Picture by Richard Sharman.
Tex Banbury
"Pictured are two buses of the three used by Tex Cars & Coaches, Banbury who have recently started Stage work on routes 499/508 and the Brackley Town Services, 499/508. These were latterly operated by SMS at Towcester and the Brackley Town Service was operated by Langston & Tasker."
Pictures and report by Richard Sharman.
Andrew Morgan sent some more pictures of the new Citaros which now show three examples of the rear branding. Mr Stenning has been busy?
314 BF59 NHV
315 BF59 NHX
An interesting picture is to hand of an ex Woottens Lynx.
Ex-Woottens C63HOM Leyland Lynx converted into Education Training Bus - picture
by Glenn Knight.
Jottings
I learn that in the case of the 38 some 50 plus bendis will be replaced by 80 deckers running every 1½ minutes at peak. Whilst I can appreciate the sentiment behind the move to remove the bendis, I fear that somewhat like the trams before them, albeit years ago, the bendis were real crowd shifters. Now we seem to be creating a banana situation for these routes as keeping schedules will be a nightmare.
I hasten to add this is a personal opinion and one which may not be supported by the operators or of course the Mayor of London.
Oxford - roadworks on The High
Work continues on The High renewing the surface and other work. However the single line traffic system seem to go into chaos in the early evening when the lights seem to get out of phase. Last week on one evening this caused a tailback of waiting eastbound traffic to tail back down St. Aldates. This would have destroyed any form of timetable for east side bus services as many buses were stuck on the wrong side of the lights.
Cyclists in Oxford
Yet again I am regularly made aware of the often complete disregard for the law displayed by very many cyclists in our fair city. They ignore traffic lights, ride on the pavements, ride down Queen Street despite the signs forbidding this practice between certain hours, do not wear any protection and very often wear dark clothing, which without lights, seemingly the norm rather than the exception, is frankly suicidal. Finally and worst of all they ride up the inside of buses and coaches which if the poor drivers so much as get too close, often inevitable, then the aforesaid drivers are to blame. Oh and what about their use of mobile phones and loud music on headphones, the list seems endless.
I realise we should not criticise the cyclist, they have all the rights and we none but ........................
Amersham 2009
Last Sunday saw the annual pilgrimage to Amersham for many elderly buses,
mostly of the London variety. A few pictures are shown below to capture the
atmosphere of the event blessed this year by reasonable weather.
What bliss, seemingly originally based in our area.
Thames Valley was represented with these two fine Bristols.
Sunday in Wycombe - somewhat deserted save for an RF.
Pictures by Nigel Peach.
Paul Davis writes "I just got back from Peter Cartwright's Amersham Day - another great event. Some more pictures to follow in due course, but the day did yield this Bus In The Landscape shot of RML2412 returning from West Wycombe along the A40."
Canvey Island - 11 October 2009
Don't forget this interesting event next weekend.
Blackpool and
autumn approaches.
An update from Geoff Cunliffe
Apologies to those who don't like trams and may not even like Blackpool but I found this article from Geoff most interesting and would like to share it with those who are also interested.
"Now the summer season is almost over, work on the £100m upgrade is gathering pace again. You have already missed your chance for a last ride between the Pleasure Beach and Starr Gate at the south end of the system which is now closed for upgrading.
South of the Tower where the trams will not run this winter.
At the north end of the system, November 8th (the end of the illuminations) is the last chance to ride the end section of the track between Ash Street Fleetwood and the Ferry. This section is to be closed then for the upgrading of Lord Street and the whole length of the Fleetwood street tramway.
A bus service runs in parallel with the Fleetwood tramway.
The oldest cars in regular use date back to the mid to late 1930s. The new work and fleet may see these cars retired.
There are some newer cars but somehow Blackpool will not be the same without
the older trams.
Pictures by Malcolm Crowe.
THIS MAY WELL BE THE LAST CHANCE TO RIDE ON A PROPER BLACKPOOL TRAM TO FLEETWOOD FERRY.
Once the line reopens, it is unlikely the “heritage” trams (the few that remain) will mix with the new-style Bombardier cars and reach Fleetwood in normal service, probably terminating no further north than Thornton Gate (at best). Of course there is always the possibility of private charters but I don’t think they will be too welcome as it has yet to be sorted out how heritage and new cars can be intermixed."