Editorial
A quieter week but still much of interest has been happening. This issue has been somewhat delayed again and I won't bore readers with the detail, suffice to say the end result is good.
One point of significance is that Oxford tube 50237 has now been fully branded and but for the red roof and different lighting arrangements looks almost just like the current tube fleet. Gavin Francis has, as ever, provided a number of pictures taken when he was working and enjoyed the pleasure of this coach from London to Oxford and August 6th. He commented that it ran beautifully and the run was very pleasant.
I have at last managed to get a picture of the loaned minibus in use by Carousel J&J contract. This will be replaced by one of the expected new minibuses due for the PMU services in Oxford.
I had the opportunity to visit Reading during this week and a few pictures are included under the Reading Bus heading. Once again another picture of a Newbury & District decker on the 701 has been recorded.
Botley Road has suffered significant delays due to new gas pipes are being installed to link Ferry Hinksey Road to main pipes beneath Botley Road. This resulted in the closure of part of Botley Road as shown in the picture from Jack Cooper below.
I also have two interesting items for next week's issue being a visit to Switzerland by Marcus Lapthorn and some pictures from David Allen of a Gloucestershire Vintage Show near Cirencester on August 2nd.
Following the article on the Arriva AYLESBURY 60 in the last issue:
Two mails arrived following the article by Tony Bungay in issue 67 which I am sure will interest readers.
Martin Isles
Just been reading about the
60/X60 changes bringing back happy memories of my Red Rover days. Have dug
out an old scanned slide image of ex Nottingham 135 (DAU435C) in the yard with
blinds set for Buckingham on route 2. There was a short working beyond
Winslow to the Horwoods as route 6 – one journey in the morning and another in
the early evening.
Picture taken in the '70s as by the end of the decade
the bus had been painted in fleet livery.
The Atlantean was bought to
one man the early morning run on route 2 into Aylesbury for schools. It
was usually a packed Nottingham Renown and Mrs Foot was the conductress for many
years. The Atlantean, being the same vintage as the Renowns, was nowhere
near reliable. It got the nickname “Wonderbus” rather than “One man bus”
as it was a wonder it ever worked. So Mrs Foot continued to conduct the
bus and she stayed with it after arriving in Aylesbury as it worked on to the 9
from Stoke Mandeville Hospital to Haydon Hill at 0830 and loadings were such
that Mrs F helped to keep it on time.
The Atlantean stayed in Nottingham livery for a while, which is why I put the huge Red Rover fleetname on the front to differentiate it from the green United Counties 365 buses. It got used on other routes besides the 2, but the Renowns outlived it at Red Rover.
Peter Crabb
I have just read the piece on route 60. I have a 1968
London Transport local timetable for Aylesbury which gives the route number for
the Red Rover service as 2.
These answered the question regarding the number for the Red Rover Aylesbury-Buckingham route which was number 2.
Upcoming Showbus 2019 organiser's request
Martin Isles writes
"Just
had a thought. We are looking for a few “car park volunteers” at Showbus
at the Herts Showground on Sep 29th.
They would be required from 0900 until roughly noon to direct cars in the
parking area. The volunteers would then have the afternoon free to enjoy
the display. Would be obliged if you could mention it on the site and ask
those interested to email me at
rally@showbus.com
Isle of Wight holiday by Jack Cooper
Between Saturday 20th and Saturday 27th August I was away on the Isle of Wight.
I had taken some pictures that would interest the readers.
Southern Vectis Enviro 400mmc 1664 leaves the bus stand to go on layover in the
parking bays. It had completed route 8 from Ryde to Newport via Seaview, St.
Helens, Bembridge, Sandown and Robin Hill
Southern Vectis Scania N230UD Omnicity 1152 about to start route 5 from Newport
to East Cowes via Whippingham and Osborne House.
Southern Vectis Scania N230UD Omnicity 1111 on layover at Newport bus Station,
being used in the Isle of Wight Pride even happening in Newport Some readers may
remember that this bus was originally a closed top bus. It had suffered a fire
and was brought back to life by engineers as an open top bus for the Needles
Breezer and Downs Breezer services.
Southern Vectis Enviro 400mmc 1669 on stand before
starting a route 9 service to Ryde via Wootton and Binstead with an Enviro 400
behind which was also working a route 9 service to Ryde. One of these buses
would have gone via Medina and the other via Staplers, both then running via
Wootton and Binstead to Ryde.
Monday 22nd July.
I had visited the
beach at Shanklin. Southern Vectis ’Vectis Blue’ Enviro 400 1522 on a Shanklin
Shuttle service to Shanklin bus Station via Shanklin Rail Station, Shanklin
Esplanade and Shanklin Old Village. These buses are used on School services
around the Island.
Thursday 25th July.
The hottest day on record for those back in Oxford, but a much cooler day on the Isle of Wight, with a lovely breeze blowing throughout the day, especially noticeable at Ryde Pier Head Station.
One
bus familiar with readers, former Southern Vectis 5625, K125 BUD, aka former
Oxford bus Company 651. This bus was used on the Shanklin Shuttle which now uses
closed top vehicles, mainly double deck. This bus is now at the Isle of Wight
bus museum in Ryde.
Southern Vectis, ‘Vectis blue’ buses and coaches
parked up in the Southern Vectis yard located at the bottom of the bus museum
car park.
At Ryde Seafront the vantage point of the bridge
over the Railway line gives you a view of buses, trains and hovercraft. Here we
see train and bus together. Ex London 1938 stock trains still operate on the
Island Line owned by South Western Railway (SWR). The line runs from Ryde Pier
Head to Shanklin, with the bus being an open top bus being on a Downs Breezer.
The Isle of Wight is home to the world’s only passenger
Hovercraft service. The service is run by Hovertravel by a fleet of 2 Hovercraft
bought in 2016, called the Island Flyer and Solent Flyer. The crossing takes
only 10 minutes between Ryde and Southsea. Pictured above is the Island Flyer
about to leave Ryde for Southsea. It is fascinating watching these Hovercraft
leave their terminals, and it takes approximately 2 minutes from doors closing
to hitting the water.
Later on in the day I got the train to Shanklin, where 1519, another Vectis Blue
Enviro 400 working the Shanklin Shuttle service.
Friday 25th July.
After going out for dinner in Ryde I had returned to my favorite spot, with
trains, buses and hovercraft.
Southern Vectis Enviro 400mmc 1667 broken down in the entrance to Ryde bus Station. The location of the break down meant that no buses could enter the bus station and had to use the taxi rank or tourist coach stop to terminate and pick up passengers.
This really mu8st have been an inconvenient
In my opinion Southern Vectis is a great operator, with their buses being well
presented and in great condition inside and out. Very few buses had dents and
scratches on them, and inside the seats were in great condition, and the
vehicles don’t rattle at all, which is good considering they run on country
roads, which are not often in great condition. You can tell that the fleet is
well maintained, although sometimes buses do break down.
North of the Border with Gordon Scott
Taken at Alexander Dennis Falkirk factory 010819
New Stagecoach Cumbria &
North Lancashire Morecambe depot based 11202 - SK19EVT
11202 | SK19EVT | AD E40D SFD938HR4KGX31004 | AD K401/1 | H??/??F | 8/2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11203 | SK19EVU | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11204 | SK19EVV | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11205 | SK19EVW | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11206 | SK19EVX | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11207 | SK19EVY | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11208 | SK19EWA | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11209 | SK19EWB | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11210 | SK19EWC | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11211 | SK19EWD | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11212 | SK19EWE | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11213 | SK19EWF | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11214 | SK19EWG | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
11215 | SK19EWH | AD E40D | AD | H??/??F | /2019 | Stagecoach (North West) |
The delivery of the new buses for Witney is now close with the first expected in early September. There are are presently 17 for Northampton - SC Midlands and then the 21 for SC Oxford Witney.
New Volvo B8L Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 XLB on their first day in service on the Airport 100 Link.
Taken August 6th which was a rather wet day - Lothian
Buses Edinburgh Airport route 100 service.
Edinburgh Airport 1138 - SB19GNF.
Maybury Edinburgh 1135 - SB19GMX.
Corstorphine Edinburgh 1134 - SB19GMV.
Taken
in Kirkcaldy on August 6th, Stagecoach East Scotland
Lothian 1000 MA - LX11CVM Volvo B9TL
The same bus when in service with London General on
March 3rd 2018 by Paul Bateson.
Fleet news and developments
The latest Arriva Midlands and The Shires fleet list with allocations can be accessed at this link.
Arriva Enthusiast Fleet August 2nd 2019.xlsx
Also, with thanks to Paul Swann of Arriva, I can advise the following news items for the area.
Aylesbury vehicles on the 280 are now being fitted with
Eminox to make Euro 6 compliant
Also the following on Loan:
From |
Vehicle Type |
Car/Van etc |
Registration |
Arrival Date |
Departure Date |
Depot |
Fleet No |
Pelican UK Ltd
|
Yutong E10 Electric
|
Bus |
YG18CVS |
09/07/2019 |
|
Shrewsbury
|
10 |
Arriva Bus & Coach |
VDL SB180 Evolution |
Bus |
YJ62JWF |
23/07/2019 |
|
Thurmaston |
5985 |
Wrightbus |
Streetlite DF |
Bus |
DRZ9713 |
23/07/2019 |
|
Luton |
5984 |
The Legal address carried by the Shires vehicles has changed to:
ARRIVA THE SHIRES LIMITED
4
WESTMORELAND AVENUE
LEICESTER
Additionally Hinckley vehicles will carry the following legals from the end of this week:
ARRIVA MIDLANDS LTD
4 WESTMORELAND AVENUE
LEICESTER
The Shires change was mentioned in issue 67.
Nigel Peach
Thanks as always Malcolm. The only differences at Wycombe
since 3 months ago are that 2746 has gone to MK (must be recent - maybe because
route 34 has ceased?) and 3617 which it says has also gone to MK. But this is
not the case!! I followed it along London Road this afternoon, resplendent in
its new livery ..... but not sounding that healthy!
I've not seen 3646 for some months - I guess it must be
VOR. It's the last survivor of that batch of MCV Evolutions - the rest are all
driver trainers.
The lack of changes in the last year or so reflect the fact that Arriva have not bought any new buses for a long time! Indeed I calculate that 10 of Wycombe's allocation are over 16 years old!
David Hillas
You may remember a few weeks ago I sent you an E-Mail
note enclosing a photo of a broken down bus in Prestwood. Well believe or not,
another bus has broken down this morning on route 41 between High Wycombe and
Great Missenden! This time it is Arriva Midlands 2479 (YJ07 VRD) in Spurlands
End Road and I enclose photos of this bus.
With all these breakdowns occurring on route 41, I do wonder whether the time has come for another bus operator such as Carousel to take over the running of route 41. It is very upsetting for any passenger having to wait over an hour for a bus because one breaks down. Arriva needs to do better than that! The alternative is to go back pre-1980 when Thames Valley then Alder Valley ran route 27/A between GM and HW via Prestwood and Cryers Hill. You may wish to mention this again in your Oxford and Chilterns Bus website page.
Nigel Peach
A picture of Carousel's 709 resting in Beaconsfield with the 580 service on
3rd August.
As you know, this bus flits between Carousel, Thames Travel and Oxford. I notice that its legal ownership panel says it belongs to Carousel.
Theo Freeman
New OBC airline coach (No. 30) on the Park End Street stop today. It was there
for about 15 minutes while the driver had a break.
Graham Mildenhall
Oxford August 2nd and I found a 6
road Citaro (841) on the 13 to JR Hospital. Shame the blind didn’t come out
properly!
Daryl Major
A nice selection of pictures from Daryl taken on July 29th in the city.
Tourismo 31 loading for LHR at Queens Lane.
Quite often 33 seems to work the X90 along with 39 and 40. Here it is leaving
Gloucester Green.
In nearly the same spot, fairly new Caetano III nr 58 leaves for Stansted.
What a superb backdrop the tower of Magdalen College makes as 369 heads to turn
round ready for its next jurney on the X3.
Phil Southall
2902 has now been scrapped.
I thought you might be interested in getting a shot of
2904 before it goes. We have loaned it to Creation Theatre for their production
of The Tempest until August 15th. You will find it on the car park of The Kings
Centre on Osney Mead in a ‘graffiti’ livery. When the show finishes it will go
for scrap.
A shot at twilight!
David Gray
I attach a photo taken at Eastleigh today of the two of
the vehicles inside the Hants and Dorset Trim workshop.
Go Ahead 1610 HF 65 AYO is alongside what I believe is
Oxford Bus Company 204 DF09OXF undergoing conversion to open top for
sightseeing duties.
I understand that withdrawn Oxford Bus Company 307 was
used to assist in repairs to 1610 which was damaged by a falling tree. 307 was
later sent for scrap (judging from the photos I have seen there wasn't much of
it left)
Daryl Major
Daryl tok the very nice picture below of two of the current fleet of City Sightseeing buses loading at Queen's Lane.
Ironically both buses are ex Oxford Bus local deckers although 2058 is ex OBC
110 Park & Ride.
Daryl Major
A lucky catch taken of Carousel's 406 in "chiltern hundreds" livery on loan to
Thames Travel for the new ST1 service.
Richard Sharman
An additional E200 MMC at COMS is 597, SK68LZN.
Newbury's 787is seen in Buckingham Palace Road
on August 2nd by Gavin Francis.
Your Editor had occasion to visit Reading on Monday August 5th and the chance was taken to get some pictures by the Railway Station in Central Reading.
Reading's 809 Claret works the 21 to Lower Early.
There is certainly variety in Reading and the blue decker in the distance is
from Thames Travel on the X40!
204 is working the 26 to Calcot.
greenwave 401 is seen working a 50a service to the Madejski Stadium with 410
following on a 60 to Mereoak P&R.
With a number 3 to Aborfield, 428 is seen in leopard livery being one of the
large number of gas powered buses in Reading.
Ex Stagecoach, Reading's 536 is seen on a 10 service to Spencer's Wood, looking
very smart in Readings dual grey livery.
From a different angle, MMC 705 is seen on the 33 to Turnham's Farm.
With an orange route 13 to Woodley 904 certainly brightens up the evening in
central Reading.
Another grey Scania, 1108 is working the 500 to Winnersh Triangle.
A few weeks ago I published a picture of the three new National Express
Caetanos, just delivered.
On August 5th I was luck to see 1412 with the rear branding now applied.
A picture provided by Dennis Goodwin from August 3rd of freshly repainted
Newbury E200, 657. The livery does look very nice.
Theo Freeman
August 3rd
37401 has finally began to be stripped of paint and re-paneled for it to
re-painted in pre-1969 Midland Red livery.
I am also advised that it will have
adverts for Banbury depot open day and celebrations.
All buses at Banbury will
have the 100 years logo displayed next to the doors and it should be going to Cassingdon on Tuesday for repaint.
15732, `5733 and 15734 all seen at Horspath depot on August 4th.
An unusual performer on the 900 service was caught by Gavin Francis on August
1st at Thornhill. It is Hybrid 12007.
MMC 10440 arrives in Oxford from Harwell with the infrequent 34 service on
August 2nd by Graham Mildenhall.
More pictures of 50237 by Gavin Francis taken on August 6th in London and Oxford.
50237 seen on August 6th by Gavin Francis. Apart from the lights and red front
roof it is almost identical to the later 14 plate fleet.
Richard Sharman
South Gloucestershire's LHD Elite i SG31 is seen making a
rare sight in Oxford on a Private Hire to Bicester Village a few weekends ago.
Smaller operators and London developments
Richard Sharman
Former China Light and Power. Cedar Coaches, Talisman and
Herberts Travel J605 CEV,
is now resident in Oxfordshire with P. Whitehead,
Bampton.
Theo Freeman
3/8
Not much to report this week apart from a newish 9.5 meter Enviro 200MMC on the
3A operated by Johnsons coaches.
The vehicle has no fleet number but has the
registration YW68 OVY and I have only started to notice such bus on this route
in the last 2 weeks or so.