From the Editor

A number of domestic issues required my attention over past few days restricting my time in preparing this issue.

So, apologies and I hope to get back to normal by the next issue.

This week I have included the first part of a presentation I made regarding my background with buses.

Here are a number of interesting articles including a YOU TUBE video showing the Oxford tube.

In this issue

Oxford tube media

Carousel's route 275 by Gavin Francis

Grahame reflect on fleet nr. 331 with Oxford Bus

The Editor reflects on 80 years with buses

New Loop in M K

Brigits Afternoon Tea bus

Tony Bungay updates us regarding buses in Bucks

Wisconsin with Thomas Walker-Werth

Coach Visitors to Oxford

Fleet News and developments

London operations

West Midlands and Scotland

Oxford tube media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9ZZiI23WTE&t=620s

 

Matt Cooper writes "A video on You Tube which is well worth a watch. I've seen the chap's railway-themed videos which are equally interesting. It has to be said the facilities on board the coaches and the quality of the seating etc is excellent. Nice to see a bit of the depot too, Harry Blundred would be chuffed if he was still with us! "

I have to agree, it is an interesting video. well produced. £d. 

Carousel Route 275 

Back in August 2023 Carousel took over the operation of Route 275 from Red Rose who had operated it for many years. Initially it operated from High Wycombe to Oxford all day but during 2024 changes were made so that apart from the first trip out of High Wycombe in the morning and the last trip back at night the service now terminates at Chinnor alongside the preserved railway. It is a one bus service and only operates Monday to Friday.

 
The first buses to operate the service were 531 and 532 which had been transferred in from Go-Ahead South-West and are shown here at Stokenchurch.
3 buses at Carousel of the 531-534 batch are off for gearbox conversion, from the AS Lite model to normal auto boxes.

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Over time larger buses were use and the pictures show Streetlite 407, E200 514 and Citaros 878, 882 and 883 also shown in Stokenchurch.

In late 2024 the normal buses used were back to the smaller E200 buses this time 520 and 521 being the most common ones used. 520 is pictured in Tetsworth.

When Carousel took over many of the High Wycombe routes from Arriva it introduced a large number of buses sourced from all over the country
including loaned Ensign Bus 710 seen in Chinnor which stayed a short time before being returned.

     
At the start of 2025 the E200s were required for school routes newly won and the ex-First Glasgow MMCs started to appear on the route
showing various branding from plain red to Wycombe Bus livery.

Also 80476 is shown when still in First livery in August 2024.

   
Then on 14^th January 80480 appeared on the 275 in full High Wycombe local bus livery and is pictured in Oxford High Street. 

A fascinating story from Gavin. Ed. 

by Grahame Wareham

 

H331 MWL965  1948 AEC Regent II / Weymann H30/26R body. In 1952 it was renumbered H865 in the new double deck high-bridge series and lasted in the Oxford fleet until January 1960 when it was withdrawn and sold to PVD (dealer) Dunchurch. It was then resold to Wheldon Castle, Donnington in February 1960.In March 1965 it was withdrawn and sold to Langley Mill Commercials and presumably scrapped.  

     

     

331  331RJO 1963 AEC Renown 3B3RA / Park Royal H38/27F forward entrance body. I was withdrawn in August 1976 passing to Paul Sykes (dealer) Barnsley and later scrapped by A.Barraclough (dealer) Carlton in September 1976. 

A bit of a reduced story this week Malcolm as many of the COMS AEC Renowns were disposed of for scrap, despite them being in very good order, some being recently retrimmed and repainted. This was the policy at the time dictated by the NBC hierarchy to prevent good vehicles falling into the hands of competitors but all it did was to reduce residual values as there were plenty of more suitable vehicles appearing on the open market and of course the 1970's bus grant made new stage carriage vehicles more affordable!

80 years of buses!
A lifetime of bus enthusiasm
by your Editor.

Part 1 to 1945

ade a presentation some five years ago and felt this would interest readers i8n my memories over now 85 years as a bus enthusiast.

From the Cradle!!

The 1940’s

The Manchester Blitz and I was not yet one ! 

Manchester Corporation 

   

The Manchester before my time and during the early days of my life !

 

The variety of colours and styles must have made it a bright scene

The livery before 1940 was as seen below

 

but in wartime featured a dark grey roof
and white trimmed mudguards and now here is one!

1940-1945

 
A conductress under training and one working on her own.

Trams were not where I lived but I have memories during a visit to further afield.

 
The trams were withdrawn in 1949.

Here is 4287, working the 49 route to Sale Moor, passing Sale Station.
Later after the war it would pass our house in Derbyshire Rd South

This will be continnued from time as space permits. Let me know what ypu think ?

Arriva Loop in M K

Thomas Walker-Werth

UK Bus & Other Transport January 2025 - MK Tom's Transport Photography

As you're probably aware, Arriva launched its new Loop service in Milton Keynes on Monday, effectively restoring large portions of routes 7, 11, 17, and 24/25, all of which succumbed when most MK subsidised services were cut in April 2021, as well as the Woburn Sands leg of the 3. The two-hour circular route operates in both directions from CMK via Shenley Church End, Westcroft, Furzton, Bletchley, the stadium, the hospital, Bow Brickhill, Woburn Sands, Kingston, and Oakgrove. I attach two photos from my journey around the whole route on Saturday 11th January, and readers can find more on my site here: https://mktom.smugmug.com/2025/January-2025/UK-Bus--Other-Transport-January-2025/i-QSsLMxH (Disappointingly, the route does not yet appear on either Google Maps or BusTimes).