From the Editor

A shorter issue than usual but one of interest as always plus a little humour.

Chris Huntingford

"Last Friday, I boarded a bus in Oxford, on the day that there was almost total gridlock in and around the city. But the driver's humour was still there. I asked for a 24-hour SmartZone ticket, and the response was, “Sure, but I cannot guarantee it will still be valid by the time we reach the Carfax tower”. 

In this issue

Megabus says good bye to Oxford

History in Oxford from Grahame Wareham

Oxford variety with Graham Mildenhall on November 30th

Thursford Christmas Spectacular by David Bell

Readers Write

Coach Visitors to Oxford

Fleet News & Developments

London Operations

Lichfield from Andy Millwood

 

Barry Pickett records the last Megabus from Oxford to Glasgow on December 5th 2024

Leaving Oxford Coach Station at 1215 on December 5th.

Parks Panorama working one of the last Megabus services through Oxford by Jack Cooper

 

It doesn't 21 years ago since megabus took to the road in Oxford. I was asked to take some pictures of the ex Hong Kong Leyland Olympian in Watlington Road, Cowley to promote the upcoming Oxford-London service.

Olympian tri-axle 136007 seen on August 15th 2003.

by Grahame Wareham

Issue 327. 

H327 MWL961 was a 1948 AEC Regent II with Weymann H30/26R body. In 1952 it was renumbered H861 and lasted until January 1960 when it was withdrawn and sold to PVD, (dealer) Dunchurch before passing to Anderton, Birmingham the same month. It was withdrawn and sold to Richardson, Oldbury in May 1962.

 

327 327NJO was a 1962 AEC Bridgemaster 2B3RA with Park Royal H40/25F forward entrance body. 327 was an Oxford City route bus for its entire working Oxford life being withdrawn in January 1972. It carried an offside illuminated advert for City Motors Vauxhall/Bedford dealer in Oxford its operating life in Oxford.

     

On withdrawal it was sold to TPE (dealer) Macclesfield and later passed to Stoneman, Nanpean in February 1972, Cornwall and later still to neighbour Ede, Par where it lasted until 1979. I purchased 327 from Ede with a view to restoring it and made the journey to Winkleigh in September 1980, where Colin Shears had it towed to, to fit a replacement gearbox which I had previously sourced from East Yorkshire in Hull. Unfortunately on collection, 327 was found to have many missing parts and the rear air suspension system was in very poor shape. Subsequently I decided to dismantle the best parts remaining and use these subsequently on 324NJO which was purchased as a replacement. 327's shell was sold to Joe Sykes (dealer) Barnsley for scrap. in September 1982. 

     

Oxford variety with Graham Mildenhall on November 30th

Whilst in Oxford yesterday, amongst the many new electrics grabbed a couple of more unusual ones which may be of use for the next page. 

Oxford Bus appear to be using what now seems to be ex Thames Travel 926
whose branding has been removed and “city” placed on the front, noted on the 35 to Abingdon.

Strange that with all the electrics they still seem to need to bring in some old timers, also saw one of the ex West Midlands Trident’s on an X3.

However I did note at least six Electroliners were at work earlier on the Bicester Village shuttles. 

Going the other way from Oxford and now a Thames Travel vehicle is 666 which I noted for the first time in Milton Park livery operating an X32 to Didcot.
Also noticed recently that many of these liveried vehicles now carry names – this one being “Monty”. Not sure of the significance but all seem to begin with “M”…….. 

Finally Oxford Bus 752 with an unusual destination set on a short working of a 15 to the Churchill Hospital. 

 

Thursford Christmas Spectacular by David Bell

I thought you might like to see a selection of photographs taken at this year's Thursford Christmas Spectacular. In case you are not familiar with the event it takes place every year from early November until 23rd December in the small village of Thursford which is midway between Fakenham and Holt in North Norfolk. Now in its 47th year there are two shows per day at 2pm and 7pm. The event takes place in Thursford Steam Engine Museum founded by the late George Cushing and began as a small local carol service. Now run by George's son John Cushing and his two sons it is the largest Christmas show in the UK 

It attracts a large number of coaches not just from the local area but from other parts of the country with some of the furthest travelled staying in local hotels for the weekend and including Christmas shopping trips to Norwich. As you can see from the photographs there is a conveniently placed layby a short distance from the museum which is perfect for the sun in the early afternoon.  

The furthest travelled I have photographed so far is Midway Motors of Crymych in Pembrokeshire a round trip of some 700 miles. Others travelling long distances include Cresta Coaches of Bridgend, Thomas of Neath, Arvonia of Caernarvon, Minsterley Motors of Shrewsbury and Crosskeys Coaches of Folkestone. 

This selection of photographs comprises BV18 AYH of Ham of Flimwell; MM23 WAY of Midway Motors of Crymych; DJ65 DJT of Thomas of Neath; FC19 EXC of Farleigh Coaches of Hoo in Kent; CT73 CCT Chandlers of Westbury; OU14 SVC G & G coaches of Melton Mowbray; YT21 LGC of Johnson of Henley in Arden and BU74 YVF of Excelsior. Selection comprises Mannion of Gildersome near Leeds a rare one coach operator; Minsterley Motors of Shrewsbury; Bensons of Whitchurch; Hollywood Coaches of Birmingham; Seawards of Harrogate; M & D Coaches of Stockton-on-Tees (with Santa driving!); Skills of Nottingham and Arvonia of Caernarvon 

     
     
   
   

Keep up the good work with the bus page. I always find something of interest on it

My thanks for the kind comments and thanks for an interesting article. Ed.