From the Editor

The delay to this issue was caused by my domestic commitments but there is plenty for readers to enjoy.

In this issue

Oxford City Sightseeing crowned City Sightseeing Worldwide Operator of the Year

A history of the Arriva the Shires X5 by Tony Bungay - Part 1

Midland Interlude with Keith Briant

Oxford Update – Weds 16^th July 2025

Oxford COMS memories

Hertford Classic Bus Running Day

Cart Marking Ceremony Saturday 19^th July 2025

Alton Bus Rally by David Gray

The travels of Paul Hawkins

... and around the UK with David Ive

Readers Write

Fleet News and developments 

Newman Morgan writes

I’ve just been browsing on my phone and came across the article below.  

At an event in Porto, Portugal Oxford’s City Sightseeing has been crowned City Sightseeing Worldwide Operator of the Year.  

The article includes unrelated advertisements but I thought you may be able to extract the gist of the article for OCBP. 

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25319174.oxford-open-top-bus-company-named-best-world/

Congratulations  

A history of Arriva the Shires X5 by Tony Bungay - Part 1

I have been meaning to do this piece for weeks, ideally to tie in with the withdrawal by Arriva of the X5 service. Unfortunately various factors including a couple of holidays close together meant I was unable to achieve this.

The article should you choose to use it will essentially show a varied selection of vehicles working the X5 service at points along the route to give readers who may not be as familiar an idea of the area the route went through. For this reason the article is split into sections.

 

Less than 10 months after Arriva pulled out of operating services in Aylesbury and High Wycombe and closing their garages in the respective towns. They ceased operating 1 of their remaining 3 routes to Aylesbury. The route latterly numbered from January 2024 X5 had been operating for just over 100 hundred years in one form or other, being numbered in the main 301/501/500 and for the majority of the time running Watford - Hemel Hempstead - Berkhamsted - Tring - Aylesbury. With a number of lettered suffix variants running at points in between.

Becoming part of the London Transport country area when LTPB was formed in 1933 it remained an LT operation until the splitting away of the country operations in 1970 to be operated by the newly created NBC subsidiary London Country Bus Services.

The company was formed with a share capital of £2, and as many older viewers will recall had a fleet of vehicles that were virtually all London Transport spec vehicles, the vast majority of which were the legendary RT double deck and RF single deck which in the main were approaching 20 years old.

These vehicles were the main priority for replacement, and the 301 which was RT worked from then Tring and Hemel Hempstead Garages by 1975 into 1976 started to see the appearance of the NBC bespoke single decker the Leyland National. The initial version being the longer 11.5 metre variant, being joined by the shorter 10.5 metre variant which London Country chose to standardise on.

Though fairly new, both versions of these vehicles with the longer heating pod on the roof had started life on Green Line routes, the 11.5 metre version being infamous for it's spartan interior and seating, not appealing for any passenger wanting to travel longer distances! And the shorter variant while still having Bus seats but with marginally more comfortable material fitted. These Leyland's had incidentally been replaced on the Green Line routes by more Leyland Nationals but with much more upgraded interiors.

As it was the majority of these earlier displaced Leyland Nationals still carried the NBC Dual Purpose half Green/White colour scheme but with Green Line Fleetnames generally removed. It would be a number of years before they were repainted into standard NBC Bus livery, and indeed in the case of the longer variant, not all were as they were disposed of instead.

Vehicle availability in the mid 1970's was not very high on occasion in many NBC companies, and London Country was particularly badly hit in this respect. So in the mid 1970's the 301 also saw the frequent appearance of the AEC Merlin and much less often NBC Bus Liveried RMC vehicles. 

A later variant of the Leyland National that appeared in 1978, was the version known as the series 'B', a more basic version of the National, it was instantly recognisable without the roof mounted heating pod. As it was this version and even the earlier 10.5 metre Nationals could quite often be seen back on Green Line work, and bizarrely at times it was observed, while one of these vehicles was on a Green Line service a little way behind was an AEC Reliance/Plaxton class RS working a 301!    

The A41 road that latterly the X5 and it's previous numbers operated on is a mixture of countryside with a number of Towns of varying sizes dotted along it, in addition the route between Watford  to nearly Tring has the Grand Union Canal and West Coast Main Line in fairly close proximity. These days there are probably more built up areas then countryside in places, but even so usage must have been quite good as not only did the 301 provide the service along this road, so did a couple of Green Line services. Undoubtedly the biggest change in the area was the choosing of Hemel Hempstead to become one of the New Towns outside London. The Town in it's early days being used for scenes in a Quatermass Film.

So near the end of the London Transport era the Watford to Aylesbury road had bus routes 301/302 along it, though the latter split off to serve Hemel Hempstead leaving the 301 to avoid serving the New Town but continue on from the Bus Garage at Two Waters past the Railway Station at Boxmoor (which indeed was the stations name for many years) westwards. Alongside were Green Line routes 706/707/708 along all or part of the road. It would be correct to add other services also operated along smaller sections of the road before turning off.

The 707 was incidentally withdrawn less than a year before London Country took over.

Part 2 in the next issue 

Midland Interlude with Keith Briant

For this week's selection, I've taken a delve into very recent history in addition to some taken within the last month to illustrate a London theme in North Warwickshire. I hope you enjoy.  

 

Starting with a rarity, it was 17 November 2022 and I was driving through one of less attractive parts of Nuneaton (many people say Nuneaton doesn't have ANY attractive parts!) and saw a New Routemaster heading towards me. Fortunately there was a wide pavement which I immediately drove onto, leapt out of the car and managed to capture a very lost Abellio LT157 (LTZ 1157), helped by the driver kindly slowing down for me. Local operator Coachleasing had a contract for repair/refurbishment and later in the week I saw another example on suspended tow with a broken windscreen, but was unable to grab a photo. Not advisable at 70mph on a dual carriageway! 

   

A couple of months earlier I captured Stagecoach Midlands RML2738/19938 (SMK 738F) on a wedding hire parked near to Nuneaton Registry Office. Note the London Transport style running number signifying Rugby depot where the bus is allocated and it's year of manufacture, great attention to detail. This bus entered service at Hanwell garage in November 1967. Stagecoach Midlands also have RML2565/19955 (JJD 565D) in a pseudo Stratford Blue livery at Leamington.  

I recently captured preserved RM2208 (CUV 208C) parked in Nuneaton bus station. This bus entered service at Hackney in May 1965 and was one of the Routemasters acquired by the Scottish Bus Group in the early years of deregulation. It saw service with Clydeside Scottish and then Western Sottish before being sold to the then well-known independent Black Prince of Morley. This was one of the last standard length RMs built, with the batch ending at RM2217.  

Arriva Midlands have a number of former London Tridents with Enviro400 bodies in use as driver training buses. T18 (LJ08 CVO) retained London red when captured in Nuneaton bus station in June 2023. In issue 348 I illustrated similar T70 in the current Arriva driver training livery.  

 

On the northern edge of Nuneaton, straddling the border with Leicestershire is The King's Lodge, a youth centre owned by the Christian charity Youth With A Mission. They have visits from a wide range of youth organisations. Last summer, I caught YN08 DHC a Scania N230UD OmniCity new to London United as SP18, later RATP London United SP40018. It is now owned by Leamington based Thrive Youth Ministries and has been converted into a youth activity bus. Half of the nearside downstairs is a flat screen TV.

  

And finally, back to the almost commonplace! I remarked in issue 352 that Stagecoach Midlands have just 2 Enviro200s with 28 seats that were new to Stagecoach London with a photo of 36337. Here is the other bus - 36331 (LX58 CCY), recently photographed in Nuneaton bus station loading for the Atherstone service.  

Oxford Update – Weds 16^th July 2025
by Gavin Francis

It had been at least 6 months since I was last in Oxford City Centre so I decided to go back to my old haunts to see what changes had been made. I know other contributors to this page submit reports regularly so I have tried to pick out changes that were new to me.

New Routes

 
Oxford have started new route 500, and 80779 is in St. Aldates and 80746 in Queen Street.

 
Stagecoach now run route 600 and both 80010 and 80012 are seen at Redbridge Park & Ride

X2

   
The X2 now has double deck operation with a new livery, it looks like this might have seen off the last of Citaro operation in Oxford

X32

 
Another route to have received an upgrade is the X32 and 80665 and 80662 are seen at Redbridge Park & Ride

Red livery

   
It looks like a red basic standard livery is being applied with no route branding. 80655 is seen at The Railway Station.

Old Buses

   
There are still some buses from a former generation to be seen. Thames Travel 80923 is seen in St. Aldates and 80924 on Botley Road.
These buses are in excellent condition and bely  their 16 year age.
 Also they are running 80962 the former West Midlands and Carousel E400 seen at Redbridge Park & Ride.

Super Rear Ads

 
There are a number of Thames Travel Buses with Super Rear Ads, 80667 for Brand the Bus and 80909 for Young Carers.

Staff Bus

 
When I was at Stagecoach the staff transport was a Ford Transit Minibus but they seem to be using a full size bus now,
80006 is in Speedwell Street and 80008 at Redbridge Park & Ride.

Misc

       
There are a lot of buses that were formerly used on City and Park and Ride routes which are still in original livery and used on a mixture of routes.
80673 branded for X1 and X15 on Rte 35, 80658 branded for City 5 on X15, 80677 branded for Park & Ride on X15, 80686 Orange Rte 8 on X2,

    
80669 branded for Rte 6 on X1, 80681 branded for Park & Ride on X3, 80677 branded for Park & Ride on X1 and 80688 Orange Rte 8 on X2.

     
Finally whilst I was outside The Police Station, 3  Aldermaston Coaches Volvo B8LMCV EvoSeti  98 seaters arrived,
BU25ZDZ, BU25ZDX and BV73MHL and off loaded probably about 280 pax.

A nice piece from Gavin. Ed. 

Grahame Wareham for O&CBP Issue 357 

L357 MWL991  1948 AEC Regent III with NCB L27/26R low-bridge body, renumbered L133 in 1952. Withdrawn December 1962 and sold direct to Holder, Charlton on Otmoor the same month. It ran for two years with Charlton and was withdrawn in December 1964 and sold for scrap by December 1965. . 

     

357 CFC357C  1965 AEC Renown 3B3RA with Park Royal H37/28F low-height forward entrance body. 357 was allocated to Thame depot from new transferring to Aylesbury upon Thame's closure.It was converted to OMO in 1970 bur unfortunately was beset with mechanical issues prompting its temporary withdrawal until being recertified in 1972. It was transferred to Oxford depot in 1975 and was withdrawn in July 1978 and sold to Ensign Bus (dealer), Grays the same month It was resold for export to Indigo Golf Holiday Resort Daytona Beach Florida USA November 1978. I noted it was still there whilst on my honeymoon in 1991....................strange I should see that .....!! After that it was sold to a dealer at Ormond Beach.

     
     

I did try and rescue it but the transportation costs were prohibitive to get it back to the UK as it didn't run. 

357 R7OXF (OE62ZRL) 2013 Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini Eclipse 2 H45/27F low-height body was a parallel electric hybrid bus powered by a Volvo D5 four cylinder diesel engine. This powered a conventional manual gearbox actuated by servo operated clutch contolled by Volvo I shift which also charged batteries to enable 1st gear motion on battery electric power, when available which once at maximum would the 'bump start' the engine for normal road speed operation. The system was not without its issues but the buses performed reasonably well in Oxford's traffic. In 2023 the buses were to be replaced by new generation battery electric EV buses and were cascaded originally planned to be Go North West in Manchester but boundary changes within the new Transport for Manchester franchised agreement meant that Stagecoach Manchester became the recipients of the Oxford Volvo B5LH's and 357 departed to Wigan depot after being reregistered OE62ZRL at Oxford  and became 18180 with Stagecoach Manchester on 9th March 2024. It operated in OBC red for a few months until dipped in the standard TfM canary yellow which it now sports.  

     

The registration number R7OXF originally adorned  1998 Volvo B10M / Plaxton Excalibur coach 7 and upon its withdrawal was transferred to Dennis Dart SLF / Wright Crusader 407 in November 2003.It was then transferred to 907 a Dennis Trident / Plaxton President registered NK51UCW originally delivered to Go Ahead North East in 2001 lasting with OBC from July 2007 until October 2009. 

As ever I will try and keep on top of this pattern of history.

COMS HIRED BUSES OF THE 1969-70

Barry Hollman

Photos were recently posted on Facebook "Friends of the East Kent" page which I think  I might be of interest.  During 1969/70 COMS had a maintenance crisis and hired four AEC Regents from East Kent and Dennis Lolines from Aldershot and District.

The pictures show EK Regent YJG826 in Cornmarket Street and A&D Loline 492KOT in Iffley Road.  Unusually East Kent didn't allocate fleet numbers to its vehicles, relying only on registration numbers for identification.  COMS' temporary fleet number E3 can be seen beneath the windscreen.

Grahame has provided full details

E1	GJG750D	AEC Regent V	2D3RA1829	Park Royal	H40/32F	B54168	East Kent,Canterbury.   11/11/68-28/2/69
E2	GJG755D	AEC Regent V	2D3RA1834	Park Royal	H40/32F	B54173	East Kent,Canterbury.   11/11/68-28/2/69
E3	YJG826	AEC Regent V	2D3RA1130	Park Royal	H40/32F	B48739	East Kent,Canterbury.   11/11/68-28/2/69
E4	WFN836	AEC Regent V	2D3RA996	Park Royal	H40/32F	B45731	East Kent,Canterbury.   11/11/68-28/2/69

These four vehicles ran with fixed destination blinds on service 3 displaying Kingston Road-Rose Hill

     
 

 and these 

A1	492KOT	Dennis Loline lll	1125L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/28F	M1354	Aldershot & District 492.  11/11/68-3/69.
A2	AAA508C	Dennis Loline lll	1141L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/28F	M1380	Aldershot & District 508.  11/11/68-3/69
A3	AAA518C	Dennis Loline lll	1151L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/28F	M1390	Aldershot & District 518.  11/11/68-3/69
A4	AAA519C	Dennis Loline lll	1152L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/28F	M1391	Aldershot & District 519.  11/11/68-4/69
A5	AAA527C	Dennis Loline lll	1160L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/28F	M1399	Aldershot & District 527.  11/11/68-4/69

These five vehicles ran with fixed destination blinds on service 4 displaying Westbury Crescent & Wolvercote

    

This batch arrived the year after together with buses from Bournemouth, Red & White, Rhondda, Southdown, Swindon, Timpsons, Stratford Blue & Eastern Counties

A1	492KOT	Dennis Loline lll	1125L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/28F	M1354	Aldershot & District 492.  25/10/69-25/3/70.
A6	AAA509C	Dennis Loline lll	1142L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/29F	M1381	Aldershot & District 509.  (replaced A2 AAA508C for a short period in 1/69)
A7	SOU444	Dennis Loline l	101YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5426	Aldershot & District 336.  3/69-18/7/69
A8	SOU446	Dennis Loline l	103YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5442	Aldershot & District 338.  3/69-19/2/70
A9	SOU445	Dennis Loline l	102YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5440	Aldershot & District 337.  3/69-31/10/69
A10	SOU474	Dennis Loline l	131YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5470	Aldershot & District 366.  4/69-18/7/69
A11	SOU453	Dennis Loline l	110YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5447	Aldershot & District 345.  4/69-30/6/69. 11/8/69-28/10/69
A12	SOU449	Dennis Loline l	106YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5444	Aldershot & District 341 .  30/6/69-21/8/69
A13	SOU452	Dennis Loline l	109YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5446	Aldershot & District 344.  18/7/69-25/10/69
A14	SOU455	Dennis Loline l	112YF1	East Lancs	H37/31RD	5454	Aldershot & District 347.  18/7/69-24/10/69
A15	493EOT	Dennis Loline lll	1126L3AF1A1	Weymann	H39/29F	M1364	Aldershot & District 493.  24/10/69-9/4/70
A16	457EOT	Dennis Loline lll	1095L3AF1A1	Alexander	H39/32F	6722	Aldershot & District 457.  28/10/69-25/4/70
A17	462EOT	Dennis Loline lll	1100L3AF1A1	Alexander	H39/32F	6726	Aldershot & District 462.  31/10/69-1/4/70
AS1	425DHO	AEC Reliance	2MU3RV4002	Park Royal	DP41F	B48696	Aldershot & District 425.  10/9/69-purchased 12/69. 609
AS2	426DHO	AEC Reliance	2MU3RV4003	Park Royal	DP41F	B48697	Aldershot & District 426.  10/9/69-purchased 12/69. 610

 Wolvercote-Westbury Crescent 

     
 

I am grateful to Grahame for providing these most interesting pictures. Ed.

Hertford Classic Bus Running Day
with Gavin Francis 

On Sunday 20^th July The Hertford Classic Bus Running Day was held, as in previous years it was based at Claud Hamilton Way alongside Hertford East Railway Station. Including feeder services 14 different routes were operated using a wide variety of buses.

Along with another driver and conductor I took RT 2083 and the drive from Aylesbury to Hertford was through heavy rain but as we arrived it cleared up and the rest of the day was sunshine with the odd shower.

Between 10.00 and 17.20 there were 58 departures with one about every 8 mins.

We operated 2 services, the 395 to Fanshawe Crescent, Ware and the 331. The full service runs through to Buntingford but we did short workings to be Braughing Station and connected with STL 2692 which was doing the Braughing Station to Buntingford Section.

     
 
At Braughing Station STL 2692 was waiting to carry our pax, whilst we took theirs back to Hertford. The station is a preserved disused station.
The line opened in 1863 and closed just over a 100 years later in 1964.
The station has been preserved by the last Station Master’s son and grandson. It is now closed but was opened especially for the running day.

As always there a lot of interesting buses to see but a newly painted bus on the scene was RT 4188. This was one of the batch which went to Prince Edward Island, Canada for sightseeing work. The whole batch has been repatriated back to the UK.

   
     
The pictures show RT 4188 at Hertford East Station, when in service in P.E.I. in 2004 (Paul Bateson),
and Nigel Eadon-Clarkes picture in red livery at the Rte 175 Running Day on 25^th March 2023
and finally from nearly 50 years ago at Greenford Broadway on 20^th March 1976.

RT 4188 was new in July 1951 and commenced service from the old Watford Garage (WA) and over the following years moved around various Country Area garages. In July 1967 it was overhauled and reappeared as a red bus and was allocated to Stockwell Garage and was eventually withdrawn in July 1979 and in May the following year exported to P.E.I. It stayed there for over 30 years before coming back to the U.K. April 2010.

 As always there was a good variety of buses in service.

     
     
     
Shown in the pictures are NV 164, RML 2456, RF 136, RF 281, RF 636, RT 2083, BS 4, V1, BL 88, RF 406 and RF 600.

Overall a very enjoyable day for everybody and mercifully it was a drive home in bright sunshine. 

Cart Marking Ceremony Saturday 19^th July 2025

Last Saturday saw the 750 year old ceremony of Cart Marking held at The Guildhall in London. This was a way of marking every form of transport so it was licensed to carry goods or passengers. It is done by branding a number, letter or symbol onto a wooden block which is attached to the vehicle, in the effect making this the earliest form of vehicle taxation.

       
     
     

Nigel Eadon-Clarke spent a very wet morning at the ceremony but still managed to get pictures of the buses and coaches involved.

A very interesting selection of buses. Ed.