Issue nr 280
Thursday December 14th, 2023
From the Editor
Well, we are now approaching the Christmas break and so that next issue, nr 281 to be published for December 21st will be the last for 2023 and 282 the first for 2024 on January 4th.
Very sad news this week regarding a fire at Friends of King Alfred Buses, Winchester.
We also have a detailed report of SC Oxford staff visiting the new ADL EV facility in Scotland, with photos of the build process and the trip up using tube 50426.
Joel Forey records a visit to Swindon
Oxford's Park & Ride heads for its 50th Anniversary
Amersham & District upcoming events in 2024
Readers Write from Gavin Francis and Peter Edgar
David Beynon records coach visitors to Oxford
Fleet News and Developments including an E200MMC on loan to Thames Travel
London Operations including Christmas lights buses from Andrew Webb
Southend Fleetline history in next week's issue
FIRE DESTROYS EIGHT HISTORIC VEHICLES
via Paul Bateson
Eight historic vehicles have been destroyed by
a fire in Hampshire at an industrial unit which was home to many
vehicles in the care of the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB). The
fire appears to have started elsewhere but spread quickly to FoKAB’s
building.
JAA708 is seen on the right.
Eight irreplaceable historic vehicles are
reported to have been destroyed, including 1950 Leyland Olympic JAA 708,
Hampshire’s first underfloor engine bus. It was rescued from Ireland and
lovingly restored over many years before its relaunch in 2012. This was
the only King Alfred bus that was in the building at the time, and is
also the only bus to remain even partly recognisable in the wreckage of
the building.
The other seven buses belonged to FoKAB’s
members and fellow preservationists and included four Hants & Dorset
buses and a luxury coach. All are reported to be almost certainly beyond
recovery.
Chairman of FoKAB, James Freeman said: “This is
an appalling disaster and only underlines the importance of FoKAB’s
never-ending quest to find a long-term safe home for its collection.
“The fire appears to have started elsewhere in
another unit and was well alight by 0130hrs this morning. By the time I
arrived on site there was little left but the walls and roof structure.
The intensity of the fire was such that people living several miles away
were woken by exploding fuel tanks and the like. Fire crews attended
from all across Hampshire and from Wiltshire.
“Whilst it is fortunate that no-one was hurt,
we now must come to terms with the loss of so many valuable,
irreplaceable buses and coaches. We send our heartfelt sympathies to the
owners who have lost their prized vehicles.”
Paul comments
"JAA 708 was the first
bus that started FoKAB, initially purchased by James Freeman
I conducted on this bus back on 1
January 2014 (photos attached).
I really feel for the bus owners with
such terrible losses.
These pictures by Paul Bateson on January 1st 2014.
The new ADL E400EV is unveiled to Oxford staff.
with comments and pictures from Adam H.
The latest news is that an EV prototype is at Oxford Horspath Road Depot between the 11th and 18th December 2023 an example of the new EV fleet that will be delivered in SPRING 2024 and these will feature Button press handbrake and Electronic display wing mirrors and a Digital Dashboard and a all new interior layout.
A party of staff from Oxford and Gloucester went up to Falkirk and Larbert ADL factory in Volvo / Plaxton Panorama 50426 on 4/12/23 to see how things were progressing.
We travelled up to the ADL EV facility on Tube coach 50426.
These were taken on 5th December 2023, when members of staff from Oxford depot travelled to the new Alexander Dennis factory for a presentation of the forthcoming Enviro400 EV buses due to be delivered to depot between January and March/April 2024.
The final photograph in the album (marked
body number N453/1) was 90% finished at the time of the photo
and will be the first vehicle off the production line at this new site.
This should therefore be the first to arrive at depot in January, for
type training duties. It should be noted that the vehicle that is
currently on show at Oxford depot is a prototype, and will not form part
of the order for Oxford.
You will see from
the first photo that two drivers were invited to join us, and the
engineering department also did something similar with one engineer and
one cleaner coming on the trip too. This was in addition to various
managers at Oxford depot, from Traffic, Engineering and Tube.
Spruced up and ready to head north on
December 4th.
Tube bears will
appear on coaches soon, but maybe not looking as festive as the ones
seen in the Commercial office. Each Tube driver/supervisor will get one
too. Public will be able to get their hands on them from next year, as
prizes during Marketing events.
Photos of 50426 are at Tebay Services on the north bound journey, our
hotel car park, and at Alexander Dennis.
More pictures of this bus appear under the Stagecoach Oxford heading below.
Joel Forey visits Swindon
Photos from last Saturday, December 9th at Swindon bus station,
I went there to find the newly restarted 64 route to Witney.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
http://www.coachstyle.uk/scheduled-services.htm
.jpg)
50th Anniversary
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23970289.special-anniversary-oxford-park-ride-celebrated/
OBM 756KFC and Oxford Bus 704 celebrating the 50th Anniversary of
Oxford's Park & Ride by David Beynon
Events Calendar for 2024 - click to see full size.
Gavin Francis
...... had occasion to pass through Buckingham Services and took a few pictures whilst there.
Marshall were there as seen with YN08MSV
which is ex-Nottingham 947
Seen in Buckingham was Langston & Tasker's
L50LNT ex Lothian 918
Peter Edgar
Not too sure what it was doing Chinnor this morning, no one around to ask, still
has Hedingham legal ownership.
Peter later added "it would appear from comments that the bus is owned by someone on Chinnor. Peter Cartwright confirmed it has been withdrawn from Hedingham for about 10 years."
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
David Beynon
Visitor variety on December 7th.
Star Wars ex Shearings on December 11th - BK11CPO !!
Barnes presence in St Giles on December 12th.
Blakes in Beaumont Street on December 13th.
Fleet News and developments
Gavin Francis
at Wycombe on December 9th.
Lastly a stranger in
the camp !!
6149 has still not appeared on
www.bustimes.com and maybe Maidstone also don't
know where it is ???
Tony Bungay
3741, working a service 500 duty. Taken on
December 9th, this
route number will be changed to X5 in just under a month.
This vehicle appears
to mainly work service 300, and 500 slightly less so.
Gavin Francis
A small difference working the X74 with 69401
in Bridge Street.
£1 Sunday fares within Oxfordshire - Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel
Gavin Francis
Seemingly hors de combat at
Stokenchurch with the 28 on December 11th. 409 was there for a long
time.
881 and 979 in The Eden Bus Station on
December 11th.
Malcolm Crowe
I liked the Staff Bus destination on 982.
980 was tucked away with 218 and the "visiting" E200 in the overflow
yard on December 11th.
An interesting development is the hire of three Go Ahead buses.
Picture by Jack Cooper
Jack Cooper
251 now in plain blue works the 5A in St Aldates on December 4th.
Branded for the 8, 689 works the 5 in St Aldates on December 4th.
Branded for Brookes, 705 works the U5 in St
Aldates on December 2nd.
|
Citaro 842 works the 35 in St Aldates on December 4th.
DOE3 works the 15 in St Aldates on December 4th.
Luke Marion - MD Oxford Bus
599
is currently on loan from Dawsons, we have it on hire for a short term trial
contract that will be beginning early in the new year.
pignbob have provided pictures of this bus.....
Working the ST2 on December 12th.
This bus was new to White Bus. Ed.
Jack Cooper
Even though its a dull day 692 looks striking in
its Milton Park livery whilst working the X2 in St Aldates on December 4th.
854's Driver is on break when the Citaro was seen
in Westgate on December 2nd.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Jack Cooper
Gavin Francis
BV73MTE is back from repaint when seen in Wycombe on December 9th.
MTF appears away for repaint and MTJ is red but has not seen service since December 4th. Ed.
Gavin Francis
Y29RRT has been working the 40 in recent days
normally with Y23RRT. Seen above on December 11th.
Ciaran Bird
Ciaran provides us with another "ex Oxford" picture with 15762 in
Bristol on December 12th.
Readers will find much on Swindon's West allocation in the opening section of this page.Ed
Andy Churchill
ADL E400EV at the depot this week and is fitted with cameras and has two wheelchair spaces on its lower deck and the first to front seats that were opposite the driver have been replaced with a new luggage space. This is a London spec bus Ed.
Pictures taken on December 12th.
Gavin Francis on the 13th.
Jim Wright
One of the Prototype Alexander
Dennis Electric buses at Horspath depot, on
trade plates.
Jim was first off the blocks with these pictures taken on December 11th. Ed.
David Beynon
10784 was parked at The Swan when I went to the
doctors this morning.
Whatever happened was obviously well before I passed
there.
More Horspath pictures from Gavin Francis on the 13th.
10788 being recovered from Horspath for
repair and 12012, the type not seeing regular service these days.
Training vehicle variety at Oxford in
December 2023.
Also not so many of these E200s at Oxford
now.
Jack Cooper
10673 with the 1 and 11247 working the 10 in St Aldates on December 4th.
11749 working the S2 from Gloucester Green on a
wet December 3rd.
Witney's 11754 is seen in George Street on December 4th.
Nick Ross
Stagecoach South Trident 18439 leaves the stop at Camberley Atrium
on a service
1 from Aldershot to Old Dean on December 10th 2023
Gavin Francis
Once a Scottish coach now in tube livery,
50446 at Horspath on December 13th.
Jack Cooper
50422 seen in Buckingham Palace Road on November 27th.
Peter Edgar
A rather sad looking tube.
I guess the reason it has been off the road for a few days is apparent now looking at the nearside front wheel arch panel. Let’s hope it will eventually be restored to the correct colour.
London operations
Andrew Webb
The latest Superloop route to start operation is SL1 which began on 9 December linking Walthamstow with North Finchley via just seven stops. Arriva operate the route with members of the HA class displaced from route 78.
Arriva HA007 leaves Walthamstow in the gloomy conditions of the first day.
Tours of the capital's Christmas lights are an increasingly popular and lucrative market for open top sightseeing operators. The Classic Tour are using this pair of extended Routemasters, bedecked with a light display of their own.
JSJ748 is ERM80 whilst JSJ746 is ERM90 and are seen awaiting
departure from Embankment.
Londoner Buses are running their own tour of the lights, advertised as being operated by former Devon General MCW Atlantean 724XUW.
On 9 December, however, it was operated by
this Enviro 400 which started life as TE879 with Metroline.
It is seen on Embankment after arriving 15 minutes late to
collect a full load of passengers.
Pictures taken in Fenny Stratford of RML 2754 and an in service picture in 2004.
On the way back I passed a new I think Wright Kiteliner
?? single decker for Abellio 1709.
Jack Cooper
Pictures
from last week in Orpington, Stratford and Victoria.
Here East - Get
Here
This looks to be an interesting operation. Ed
Stratford
Orpington
In next week's issue we have several items regarding the ex Southend Fleetlines which came to Oxford. Ed