Issue nr 303
Thursday June 6th, 2024

Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/ 

From the Editor

The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe.

My memories of this event are limited but staying with my Grandparents who lived on the A56 in Cheshire for a time in preceding days I saw long lines of army trucks, including DUKWs, passing their house heading south from Manchester Docks to the channel ports. As a four year old, I cannot claim that I knew what they were and where they were going. It did however leave a lasting impression in my mind. Added to this is the memory of parachute training over Tatton Park, the aircraft coming from  Ringway, now Manchester Airport.

A busy week from contributors with nearly 300 pictures this week.

The electric buses for Oxford (OBC) continue the process of delivery.

This week local reports  are limited but of interest.

In this issue

A&D High Wycombe Running Day by several contributors

Epsom Ladies Day 2024

Epsom in the 70s and 80s by Gavin Francis

303 by Grahame Wareham & Nigel Peach

A visit to MK with Gavin Francis

Pear Tree update from Richard Sharman

The Routemaster reigns again by Peter Edgar

Oxfordshire private operators by Matthew Bullock

Carousel in the depot by Gavin Francis

Matt Cooper with Centre Circle memories

Fleet News & Developments

Latest list of Oxford Bus Electroliners

Red Rose have acquired E200MMCs for route 328

megabus update from Richard Sharman

London operations from  Andrew Webb

Adrian Small with pictures from Ringwood and South Wales

Matt Cooper in Bury St. Edmunds

I have included many of the pictures and comments contributed by many readers which in total provide a good variety of routes and locations. Thank you to  everyone. Ed.

from Andrew Webb

Sunday 2 June saw sixteen buses converge on High Wycombe for the annual running day organised by the Amersham and District Motor Bus Society.  A variety of routes operated from the town's bus station which was bathed in summer sunshine for the event. 

 

Oldest vehicles in use were two RTs - RT3491 in traditional London Transport green and RT604 which carries the lighter shade of green used by London Country in NBC days.  Both are seen leaving the bus station with good loads of passengers. 

Another half cab decker to carry NBC Green is RMC1513, seen passing All Saint's church.

A large proportion of the GS class survive in preservation and are popular at running days. 

GS13 represented the class and is seen here in Church Street passing a Wright Streetlite picking up passengers for First's X74 service to Slough. 

The RF class was represented by RF280, captured here leaving the bus station. 

Consecutively numbered SNB448 and SNB449 were both operating, recalling operations in the area during the 1970s and 1980s. 
SNB448 is seen passing All Saints church. 

The sight of Arriva buses on High Wycombe's streets will soon be consigned to history as the company closes their operation in the town.  Former Arriva vehicles now privately preserved were in use during the day, giving nostalgic passengers a taste of the operator's first corporate livery after rebranding from British Bus. 

Leyland Olympian G281UMJ was new to London Country North West, which ultimately ended up with Arriva. 

East Lancs Scania N168PUT started life in the Midlands, but similar vehicles worked for Arriva in and around High Wycombe. 
Both are seen leaving the bus station early in the day. 

Chiltern Bus sent this Optare Olympus to operate services.  Now fitted with cherished plate 'S90CBC', the internet is unusually unforthcoming about its original identity. 

It has just arrived back at the bus station on route 27 and is headed for a well earned lunch break.  

and Gavin Francis
the variety and locations are of interest

       
     
     
 

and Nigel Peach

I attended the Wycombe Running Day on Sunday 2nd June. It was our day of summer! Warm sunshine which was very welcome, but it has meant that my pictures are quite poor. (Some people are never satisfied!) 

Organised as always by the Amersham and District Motorbus Society, there were about 16 old buses recreating old routes. The organisers had to deal with the frustrations of a couple of buses not being able to appear, so substitutes were used, an accident on the M40 which meant horrendous traffic jams through High Wycombe and a celebratory march which closed a number of the roads near the bus station for a while. A number of the rostered buses therefore had to be rescheduled and the organisers deserve great credit for managing all these changes without fuss! 

I have sent you nine pictures via we transfer - here's a list of what they are... Apologies again for the poor quality. Don't use them if you get better ones!! 

     

Congestion in the bus station!

East Kent CFN104

SNB312 at Chinnor station

and Tony Bungay

After a rather cold and dull 1^st of flaming June!! The High Wycombe running day the following day, was blessed with blazing at times hot sunshine! 

This while very welcome, did produce problems from some angles of getting photos. 

A feature of this year's running was to include as near as possible in some instances, of recreating former Thames Valley/Alder Valley routes which no longer exist or serve the destination. 

   

Illustrating this perfectly is preserved Arriva Dennis Dart in Aldershot and District Anniversary livery, standing in Henley on Thames, having worked service 37 via very picturesque villages of Frieth, Fingest and Skermitt to name a couple. The actual service as the event programme featured, disappeared in 1980, though from a what could have been perspective, Arriva could possibly have operated the route if it had lasted, though given the narrowness of the roads, a Mini Pointer Dart or slimline Optare Solo would probably have been more suitable.

Which brings me to say a Very Big Well Done to the young driver who drove this route, not only having to contend with narrow roads, getting safely past cyclists, contending with large 4 x 4 sometimes speeding round the bend, squeezing past numbers of parked cars with very little space and what appeared to be a burst water pipe causing a bit of a flood. Even after contending with this both ways and nearing the Eden Centre Bus Station, he found the road blocked by a local community ceremony. Following an Arriva Versa on a local service, which seemed to show an alternative route via the flyover, only for the Versa unable to move as its length could not negotiate the sharp curve to access the main road. As no traffic could move, our driver had to reverse back on the other side of the road until he could reverse off it to turn round, with considerable skill i must add, and if that was not enough, he got out and attempted to wave down another Arriva Versa heading the same way as the first, only for it to go past to get stuck further along!    

   

Other photos are all self-explanatory Malcolm, even the Oxford Tube took part!!!!! Obviously the M40 was shut, these two followed each other. 

 

I took the photo of the Versa as it was showing at times an interesting message in the destination display!

Included the Scania/East Lancs and Citaro, as an illustration of the first and probably last Arriva styles in High Wycombe, if one of the Versa's had appeared as well we could have all three main livery styles!

 

and Thomas Walker-Werth

I'm sure the OCBP will be full of people's photos from Sunday's High Wycombe running day, so I'll avoid duplicating the main attractions and give you a few things that were more unique to my day. These include a feeder service journey down from Aylesbury on excellently preserved all-Leyland Olympian G281UMJ 5111. That is then seen alongside Dart R301CMV 3101 at Eden bus station, recreating some recent Arriva heritage (which is significant given the impending departure of Arriva from High Wycombe). Lastly, we see Aldershot & District liveried Arriva Dart P288FPK 3088 in Henley-on-Thames after covering that route following the unavailability of another vehicle.

My full gallery from the event with captions on every photo is here:
https://mktom.smugmug.com/2024/June-2024/UK-Bus--Other-Transport-June-2024 

 

Epsom Racing – May 30th 2024
 with text from Gavin Francis & pictures from Nigel Eadon-Clarke

Last weekend it was The Derby at Epsom. This event has always attracted many buses and coaches and Nigel Eadon-Clarke was there on Ladies Day on Friday to record some of the arrivals.

       
     
Picture above are RML 888, RT 3435, Southdown 409 and 426, RML 2318, Hams Travel WD17HAM, DMS 1304, Cardinal TA 717, and Edward Thomas LF52ZPG AND R258KRG.

 

Epsom in the late 70s and early 80s from Gavin Francis

I used to go to Epsom regularly in the late 70s and early 80s and looking back through my RT files I found these examples there.

           
         
Above are pictures of RT 2043, RT 2213, RT 2322, RT 2449, RT 2461, RT 2557, RT 3103, RT 3148, RT 4317, RT 4497, RT 4599, RT 4613 AND RT 4782

It’s nice to see that some of these buses still survive.  

303 again by Grahame Wareham

Herewith my input for issue 303 with some help from Gavin 

H303 KFC141 a 1946 AEC Regent II with Park Royal H30/26R body. w.5/57 to Castle Coaches, Birmingham 5/57 then to Superb of Birmingham in 5/58 and finally to Don Everall, Wolverhampton (dealer) in 12/59 where it was resold for scrap.

H837 at Oxford Station Approach copyright RHG Simpson 

 
303 303KFC a 1961 Dennis Loline II East Lancs H35/28F body. w.10/71 to TPE Macclesfield (dealer) and resold to Spencer, High Wycombe in 12/71.
Acquired by Newton, Dingwall in 8/72 and withdrawn and sold for scrap in 8/73.

903 OFC903H the last of the trio of 1970 Bristol VRT2/ECW H39/31F double deck buses diverted from a Southern Vectis order and allocated to Aylesbury from new .903 migrated to Bicester depot and from 1976 when the 458-459 VRT3's arrived it became a spare vehicle at Oxford Cowley Road depot.In June 1979 903 was renumbered 303. 303 was involved in a head-on collision with coach no.10 on Wallingford Bridge in icy conditions in February 1984 resulting in a bent frame on the VRT, Leopard 10 was rebuilt with a lower front profile as a result. Withdrawn and sold for scrap to Wigley, Carlton (vehicle dismantler) in 12/84.

   
   

303 F558NJM a Leyland Lynx LX112L10ZR1S B49F originally 403 in the Berks, Bucks Bus Co. (B-Line) fleet and numbered 1403 from 1990 when Oxford Bus Company took over the operations of BBBC's High Wycombe depot. Renumbered 303 in 1996. Sold to Arriva Shires as their 3808 in 12/00 passing to Carousel High Wycombe as LX558 in 8/02.

LX558 with Carousel in High Wycombe copyright Gavin Francis 

303 HC11OXF a 2011 ADL Enviro E400H Hybrid with ADL H47/31F body. Delivered in the then new metallic green Park & Ride livery it was repainted and rebranded in 2016 for City 4 services. The route specific branding was removed from 2019 after the vehicles were converted to normal diesel mechanical by East Yorkshire. With the advent of new electric bus deliveries from late 2023 the former Hybrids were sanctioned for transfer to within the Go-Ahead Group. Reregistered OE11YNO prior to dispatch to Go South West Plymouth City Bus in May 2024 303 has now departed the OBC fleet.

     
The last 303 by Gavin Francis and Grahame Wareham. 

and Malcolm Crowe

My only picture of 303 with 302 in the bus station on July 19th 1999.

and Nigel Peach

I'm really enjoying reading Graeme Wareham's Memories section each week 

Back in March 1964 our family moved from where I was born in Chapel Lane to 303 West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe. Before we moved in we had work done and I remember Dad taking us round one lunchtime and while he was checking on the workmen's progress I watched out for the passing buses! A  City of Oxford double decker appeared on the 75 from Wycombe to Oxford, and I noticed its umber was 303 (303 KFC). As a 10 year old I was so excited that this should have the same number as our new house, but I'm not sure that Dad shared that excitement! 303 was my parents' home for many years; we sold it after my mother died in 2020. 

I don't have pictures of any 303s to go with this I'm afraid, but I have discovered some of Wycombe Bus/Arriva's batch of Leyland Lynx. 301 is two weeks too late - you may or may not want to use it. 304 and 305 are sent in readiness for the next issues! (I hope 305 has come through OK. Let me know if not and I'll send it differently!) 

 
Wycombe Bus 301 (F556 NJM) became Arriva 3806, pictured in Lane End at Wycombe Running Day 26th May 2002.  

and reflections by Thomas W W Knowles

I thought that I would follow up Grahame Wareham's 301 and 302 with a couple of disposals. 

Firstly 301 KFC was photographed at the Goldenhill premises of Stoniers on 16th April 1972. 

Secondly I thought readers might like to see what KFC 140 looked like in 1964 parked up at the tight depot yard of  Warners. 

Ah ! Memories are made of this. Ed.

Gavin Francis visited Milton Keynes on May 29th

     
     
     
     

 

     

     
     
   

 

Such variety of types and operators in a short time. Ed. 

Pear Tree update by Richard Sharman

A44 Pear Tree to Wolvercote Roundabout update on June 4th.

Over the last couple of week's contractors have carried out further work and the Park & Ride site now, once again, has an entrance coming from Oxford- although at the time of writing is yet to open as it looks like traffic lights are still being installed.

The new road arrangement means that a bus lane now runs the length of this section of road towards the city, with additional bus stops for the S3 on either side. This should certainly assist swifter journeys for bus users on the 300, S3, X5, NX 160, 210 and the megabus M82.

Curiously, the first section of lane 1 coming off Pear Tree is marked Park & Ride and then Except Buses on the road- possibly relating to non P&R buses previously using the P&R turn to get around the traffic quicker- this has now instead gained a short section of bus lane to cover this section through lane 1.

To add further context, the S3 route now has a bus lane towards the city that runs nearly the full length of the route between Yarnton and St. Giles, with the small exception of going around Pear Tree and Wolvercote roundabouts

       
Taken on June 4th. 

The Routemaster reigns again by Peter Edgar

The Routemaster Reigns, well it did on the evening of June 4th 2024 when sixteen of the class were employed on transporting 600 guests from the Grosvenor House Hotel to The Tower of London and return. 

It must be sometime since this class of vehicle that consisted of RM’s, RML’s and RMA’s have been seen together in Central London and certainly created a lot of interest from those passing by during the evening.

   
Seen in Park Lane outside The Grosvenor House Hotel and near The Tower of London on June 5th. 

Continuing the Oxfordshire Private Operators from Matthew Bullock

In response to Allan James' list of operators, here's some info and pitures:

Abingdon Coaches (Pabst)

Henry William Pabst started Abingdon Coaches before the Second World War. Mr Pabst sold the business to Hubert John Curtis in 1963, and he carried on the Abingdon Coaches name. Gerald Williamson started in December 1972 with the purchase of a Leyland Titan for preservation, which he followed with another identical vehicle in June the following year. He purchased the Abingdon Coaches fleet from Hubert Curtis of Abingdon in August 1973. The company traded from Abingdon & Caldicott Service Station on the Drayton Road, and a new limited company, Abingdon & Caldecott Service Station Limited, was started in May 1976 and the business was transferred to this new company. 

Blunsdon, Bladon

Merlyn Harry Blunsdon had worked for Oxford Bus Company, Slatters Coaches and Black & White Coaches before purchasing his first coach in February 1977, a  Harrington Cavalier-bodied AEC Reliance. operating from his home address in Bladon, near Woodstock.  Merlyn Blunsden retired in 2009, passing the 8-strong fleet to his son Michael. A new licence was granted to Michael Blunsdon at his Bicester address that September, and the eight coaches - two Mercedes, one Duple 425 and five Javelins - were transferred to the new operation. Still trading from Downs Road, Witney.  

Byles, Kidlington

Len Byles began operating a minibus from his home in Wise Avenue, Kidlington, in October 1968. His first vehicle was a 12-seat BMC 250JU, RUD 511G, which he purchased new.  By early 1976 the fleet strength increased to three vehicles with the purchase of the first full-size vehicle, a former Black and White Daimler Roadliner. Vehicles of this type were notoriously unreliable and unpopular, and NAD 293F was no exception, being sold after only seven months and replaced by a simpler and more rugged Ford R192. By 1987 the fleet strength dropped back down to just one vehicle, Bedford UAY 222S. Len continued to operate as an owner-driver, exchanging the Bedford for a newer version in 1990, and then nine years later swapping this for his last coach, a former Wallace Arnold Bova Europa, which he operated until his retirement on 31 January 2002.  

Carpenter, Leafield

C & RO Carpenter began in 1965 with a Bedford SB, and expanded by acquiring the business of Dove, Leafield, the following year. Part of the business passed to Dore, also based in Leafield, in 1967, and the final vehicle passed to Maybury, Souldern, in December 1970. 

Carterton Coaches

This fleet can trace its history back to the original Carterton Coaches company that operated from Black Bourton Road, Carterton, from the early 1950s until sale to Thomas, Cheltenham (Swanbrook) in March 1981. 

JW Whitehead took over from Thomas (Swanbrook) in April 1992. Moved from Black Bourton Road to Brize Norton Road in 1993; the operational premises at Black Bourton Road had been completely cleared by September 1993. A new company, Carterton Coaches (Witney) Limited, was formed in February 1996 and the operations were transferred to this new company. Still trades as Rebound. 

Chandler, Wantage

This business was taken over on 31 December 1972 by City of Oxford Motor Services. No vehicles passed to COMS, all vehicles being sold to Baker, Bordon (dealer). From 1 January 1973 COMS transferred seven fromer South Midland Bedfords and one Bristol to Wantage. Eight Leyland Leopards were loaned by Midland Red to COMS to cover for these vehicles. Some of the contracts passed to Eagle Line, Faringdon, who acquired four of the Chandler vehicles to operate them. 

Charlbury Travel

Still trades, owned by ex-Worth's driver Greg Gilbert, now based in Milton-under-Wychwood. 

Chown, Banbury

Started in 1925 with a 14-seat Ford TT. Some operations taken over by Smith (Heyfordian) Upper Heyford, in May 1973. Finally ceased October 1975. 

Eagle, Faringdon

Eagle Line (Faringdon) Limited was formed in April 1948 as a new limited company to take over the operations of TH Clare of Faringdon. TH Clare was know to be trading from Station Road in 1931 when a new Bedford WHB was purchased. The business moved in February 1983 to Dores Road, Upper Stratton, Swindon, Wiltshire; Eagle Line of Swindon ceased trading in November 1985. 

Florey, Witney

Founded by GA Florey in November 1959 based in Witney. Moved to Hailey in early 1967. Taken over by Worth, Enstone in August 1985. 

Hall, Deddington

Richard Hall was known to be operating vehicles from the 1930s. His licences were taken over by Jarvis, Middle Barton in July 1957 with 4 vehicles. 

Hicks, Chalgrove

S Hicks took over the operations of Alfred Higgs of Chalgrove sometime after the second world war. Taken over by Plastow, Wheatley, in April 1965 

Hughes, Bampton

Leonard Percy James Hughes was formerly the landlord of the Jubilee Inn in Bampton, before leaving this business to farm near Carterton. In 1949, he returned to Bampton and bought the garage on Broad Street previously run by Oliver Onesipherous Collett and began his coach operations from this location. Hughes took over the operations and one vehicle of W Green of Bampton on the death of Mr Green in September 1963. LPJ Hughes himself died in 1969, and the business became a partnership between his son, Percy James and Mrs EM Hughes. The business ceased in June 1975. 

Leavy, Botley

Begun in 1963 as a partnership between Steven Leavy and P Conlon. Mr Conlon left the business in early 1964, so Steven Leavy began trading alone as Southern Coaches. By autumn 1992 only one vehicle was operational, with four coaches withdrawn at the depot. In the early years the company ran a lot of duplicates on behalf of South Midland. 

Matthews, Brailes

Brailes is in Warwickshire so my history does not cover this fleet!  

Reliable (Bryan) , Didcot

Started in 1959, PG Bryan was becamesole proprietor from late 1972, and he sold the business in November 1976 to Tappin, Wallingford. 

Shurey, Nettlebed

Founded 1938. Sold the business in January 1953 to Fleming & McKenzie of Nettlebed who continued the Shurey's Coaches name 

Sims, Chipping Norton

Reginald Sims started the business in Chadlington; it was first recorded in June 1928 when a 14-seater Chevrolet was acquired. Moved to Chipping Norton in 1962. A new company, Cowlishaw & Keane of Chipping Norton, was set up to continue the business, using the Sims Coaches name, in November 1971. 

Spiers, Henley (previously Butler)

Albert Spiers lived in Atworth in Wiltshire before moving to Henley on Thames in 1951 when he purchased the business of Butler, Henley on Thames. Spiers ceased coach operations on 1 November 1985 to concentrate on travel agency work. The majority of the vehicles passed to Horseman, Reading but some older and withdrawn vehicles were retained. The travel agency business in the Market Square closed after 42 years of trading in 2008. 

Sumner, Hornton

John William Sumner started his haulage and passenger business in the 1920s and began operating a bus service between Hornton and Banbury. His son HV Sumner joined the business and ran the company until his death (at the wheel of a coach) in 1978. John Sumner had died in 1962. After this, his wife took on the two vehicle business, and ran it until 1988. The route to Banbury, which had been operated for over 60 years, last operated on 13 August 1988 and passed to Tanner of Sibford Gower.

Surman, Chinnor (passed to Wingrove)

Richard Charles Surman was a motor engineer and coach proprietor, who began passenger carrying from Chinnor to Thame in 1929. The business was acquired by and merged with another fleet, Jack Wingrove, who moved from Hazlemere to Chinnor, in April 1971. The fleets were then both based at Oakley Road. The Wingrove fleet ceased in 1976 and the Oakley Road site was subsequently redeveloped and was the home of Claremont Automatics, a supplier of pub gaming machines, and the Station Road site is today a motor repair business.

Blunsdon - Dennis Javelin G859 VAY was the only coach bought new by Merlyn Blunsdon in December 1989. 

Bryan - Bedford VAL70/Caetano TJB 68G was new in 1969 and was entered into the Blackpool Coach Rally. It was burnt out when just 3 years old.

 
Byles - MYB 395 was a Bedford YMT/Duple Dominant new as NJT 122W and served the fleet for 9 years. 

Carterton - OBW 138P the first of a trio of Bedford YRQ/Duple new in 1975 and sold in 1978.
Seen in the Royal Well Bus Station in Cheltenham on service from Carterton and Burford. 

Chandler - KBL 174 a Bedford SBG/Duple Vega new to the company in August 1954 and kept for 15 years.
Seen in the company of one of its stable mates and some ice cream vans in Wantage.

Charlbury - GIG 4180 arrived in 2011 and left the following year. 

Chown - operated this Bedford VAL/Plaxton Valiant between 1966 and 1970. 

Eagle Line - UGC 404M was a Bedford YRT/Duple acquired in 1976 and transferred to the Swindon company in 1983. 

Florey - LAO 846W was the last coach acquired by Florey, in 1984, from Yeowart, Whitehaven. Passed to Worths in August 1985. 

Hughes - LTO 71 was a Yeates-bodied Crossley SD42, seen in Bampton in 1956, new in 1949 maybe to Skill of Nottingham?
When it arrived in Bampton, and when it left is unknown. 

Leavy - GKY 777E a Bedford VAM5 that came from White of Little Milton in 1977 and served for 8 years before scrapping. 

Sims - seen in Headington on 5 September 1964 in the livery of its previous owner, M&M of Kidderminster,
FWH 302 was a 1953 AEC Regal/Plaxton Venturer on its first day in service with Sims. It was sold in 1969. 

Spiers - VBW 763 was new in May 1962 and lasted 22 years in use and many more stored afterwards, it is now preserved. 

Spiers - the red and green livery is shown well by AEC Reliance 6MU4R/Duple WUD 995M,
the last vehicle bought new by Spiers in August 1973. 

Sumner - The last vehicle operated by Sumner was this Bedford/Caetano, acquired from Tanner of Sibford Gower in 1980 and sold back to them in 1988.
Seen here with Smith of Alcester, who started out in Oxfordshire in Shenington. 

Surman - DUD 44 was a Maudslay Marathon/Burlingham new in November 1948 and seen in October 1951 in Gloucester Green, Oxford.

Even more of interest on this subject with excellent pictorial memories. Ed. 

Carousel's depot by Gavin Francis

The Carousel Citaros

Last Friday I had the opportunity to look inside the Carousel depot in High Wycombe. They have started to withdraw their ex-London MEC class Citaros. These buses were first introduced in London on routes 507 and 521 from the Red Arrow Garage (RA) at Waterloo to replace the unpopular bendi-buses.

After Covid the passenger numbers declined as more people worked from home rather than go into Central London and the 2 routes were withdrawn with partial replacements by other routes.

The fleet of 50 buses were then put to other uses some going onto other routes, others becoming trainers and eight came to Carousel.

879 BT09GOK

 
879 (MEC 44) in Buckingham Palace Road in 2010 and now being stripped for parts.

 880 BT09GOP

   
880 (MEC 45) on Waterloo Bridge in 2016 and again currently withdrawn. 

A most interesting piece. Ed.

Matt Cooper with Centre Circle memories

A bit closer to home a blast from the past. Recently you featured a picture of a bus stop with Chiltern Rover markings. This 'Centre Circle' Sticker appears on one of the many 'porte cocheres' located in Central MK. It applied to a service offered by MK Citybus circa 1986 which linked central locations via some of  the 'service roads' along Midsummer Boulevard. A similar free bus service operates today during the middle of the day for employees of such businesses as Network Rail and Santander. The picture (from my collection) shows Mercedes-Benz 608D 0076 (D176 VRP) one of the 92 such vehicles to take over the city services from de-regulation. It is branded for the Centre Circle with most other 'Street Shuttles' carrying straplines such as 'the next bus is around the corner' or 'there's another one in a few minutes'  The location is CBS (Central Bus Station) now referred to and decorated as 'The old bus station' with the surrounding area now more greatly built upon.  

Having grown up in High Wycombe and attended school in Aylesbury back in the early 1990s I read the news about Arriva with great sadness. I'll get around to sending you a report on happier days in the area very soon.  

 
2325 and 6144 on June 2nd.

   
5467 working the X7 in Thame on May 29th.

3730 seen in Aylesbury on May 29th with an X5 service. 

 
Citaro old and "new" in Wycombe on May 29th and June 2nd. 883 and 893.

Carousel Sprinter 978 at rest 

 
StreetLites 406 and 407
406 with Chiltern Hundreds branding, but no fleet number displayed!
407 in standard livery (used to be blue Park and Ride). 

 
Citaro 893 in its first week of service with Carousel.
It says it's part of the Intalink network. I discovered that the Intalink website shows the latest bus travel information in Hertfordshire. (The One terminates in Hemel, which is in Herts.) er - 859

The old order - 859

Flightline 102 liveried 609.  

521, now with Carousel on the 583 to Richings Park on May30th.

     
The white Scania is now in a Pulham’s training livery today, June 5th.
Also pictured with Oxford's 964 which stopped by today for a break. 

LZ08CZT working the 62

BV73MLR with an X20 in Aylesbury.

BV73MTE with an X20 in Thame.

YX12AEW in the bus station at Aylesbury on May 29th. 

Now with Red Rose, BU05HFX has had the fleet names removed.

     
Single deck variety in Aylesbury.

     
and double decks plus a final single deck all in Aylesbury on My 29th or 30th. 

 
Red Rose ex ex (Vectare) Central Connect - Galleon,Great Hallingbury - via Mistral - YX22OKA and OKB working  the 328 in Watford on June 5th.

Oxford depot is now following Banbury depot's lead by starting to display its running card numbers, first up appears to be Kilo's (Kidlington's) with a few examples seen on 02/06.

11760 is seen joining the Woodstock Road on a S1 towards Carterton with the green trees on St.Giles in full bloom.
Will the railway bridge be reopened in October? If so the S1 will be moving back to its original route- probably to the delight of its regular passengers!.

 
Banbury's E200 36764 put in a rare turn on the S4 into Oxford on 02/06,
sporting a tribute to former Banbury depot driver Tony Ford who sadly passed away a few years ago, RIP.

 
Seen in weather that Scania 15992, having come from the South Coast, is probably used to, it is seen being passed by Panorama 50438,
sporting a large number of dead flies on the top windscreen that no doubt met their demise after impacting the coach as it was doing 63.5mph on the M40!.

A closure of the eastbound M40 on June 2nd led to Oxford Tube services passing through High Wycombe en route to London, providing a reminder of how express coaches linked the two cities in pre motorway days. 

50444 is seen passing Sainsbury's in the town centre.

A number of months back the long-standing M34 service was renumbered the M82 now being operated by Stagecoach North East from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sheffield-based Linburg, so its was a luckily timed opportunity to catch a Linburg liveried Tourismo- that has seen use on the M82 many times before- parked up on a Private Hire on Woodstock Road as the afternoon Portsmouth-bound 54289 passed, with the destination seemingly not working and replace by a piece of paper. 

Whilst we already knew that the megabus M11 service travel's through Oxfordshire on the M40 between Glasgow and London with it's new Volvo coaches- which last week saw the first Scottish CityLink example head south. It is probably lesser known that at least one M11 diverts via Reading and Heathrow to London and runs through Oxfordshire on the M40 and A34. This M11 journey is operated by McLeans Coaches with a recent Yutong GT12 coach in Scottish CityLink livery. It leaves Birmingham at 1100hrs.

Also of note is that the megabus M17 service between Glasgow and Southampton via Oxford Parkway, although normally operated by Volvo 9700 KSK 979, has been known for a CityLink-livered Panorama to operate the service when loading is heavy during the summer. This service is operated by Park's of Hamilton.

Another route that has some trips operating via the M40/A34 is the M66, ironically passing its former home is Mighty Travels-operated former Oxford Bus Company Elite i OW15 WKC. 

An example of the normal coach allocated to the Linburg Touring duty on the M82 that passes through Oxford is Van Hool L29 URG, seen waiting time in Birmingham.

South African-born American evangelist, Rodney Morgan Howard-Browne is hosting 9 events at London's Excel centre early next month. 

Arriva's HV343 has been wrapped to advertise his visit and is seen at London Bridge on 31 May making a rare appearance on route 149.

Stagecoach's LT260 is the first to carry this wrap for Patene, seen taking on passengers at Liverpool Street on 1 June. 

On the opposite side of the road was this Trident unloading a group who had just toured some of the criminal hotspots of the East End. 

The 'Educational Tour' on offer is undoubtedly very different to the educational establishments it toured whilst in Oxford, as depicted here on 16 August 2018. 

Fed Ex are a company well known for moving parcels.  This Tourismo, pictured outside the Hilton Metropole at Edgware Road on 1 June represents neither a touch of luxury for boxes or a diversification into carrying passengers.  Operated by Grange Travel, it carries Fed Ex branding as one of the sponsors of the Champions League Final between Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley.  It was almost certainly carrying guests to the event.

 I thought I'd send a couple of shots before I go away of the new X3 E40D's of Morebus that entered service yesterday and today.  

1786 (HJ24 RCO) on the X3 in Ringwood.

1787 (HJ24 TCU) on the X3 also in Ringwood.

1788 (HJ24 RCV) on the X6 (!!) in Longham. Already a branded bus on the wrong route!

1787 again on the X3, but in Salisbury this time. 

They all have a slightly revised X3 livery compared to the original batch.  

1648 (HF66 CFY) attached for comparison. 

444 (CK24 AVG) - Yutong E12 in 44/45 route colours - this is the only one of the new batch that has these colours.

438 (CK24 AVZ) - Yutong E12 in standard Cardiff Bus Orange livery.

454 (CK24 AVJ) - Yutong E12 in 17/18 route colours.

343 (YT59 PBV) - Scania N230UD Omnicity D/D, Ex London United SP40128

I hope that you are well. I'm on my break between trips to the Metropolis so thought I'd send you some pictures of a recent stop off I had in Bury St. Edmunds.  

If you like Scania products from the mid to late 00s this is the town for you! I'd not visited for many years and despite the incredibly wet weather grabbed a few shots at the town' s bus station. I'm sure First Eastern Counties were once quite visible in this area but it was Go-Ahead owned Chambers/Hedingham and several independents who were running the show.  

Chambers/Hedingham 870 (PN09 ELO) is an Optare Olympus-bodied Scania
new to London General and had operated the service 753 from nearby Sudbury.  

From the same operator Scania Omnidekka 804 (YN55 PZF) was new to Metrobus as number 904
and had also operated with Anglian, also owned by Go-Ahead.
Behind can be seen some single deck offerings with Mulleys Buses running a number of second hand Scanias from various sources.  

From the same batch as previously mentioned (YN55 PZJ) is numbered 807 and was new to Metrobus as 907.
This had operated a journey on route 374 from Clare to Bury St Edmunds.  

Moving away from Scanias to feature Simonds Volvo B7RLE (BT13 YWF) with MCV Evolution bodywork.