Editorial
Well, as one of my correspondents noted "another week has flown by". How right he is and fir this issue there are more than 150 pictures from 18 contributors all of which are most welcome.
Friends north of the border have provided more pictures of the ex Oxford tube Astromegas now clothed in different hues! One that I liked very much is of our Astromega flag ship 50261.
How well I remember this coach and taking a first trip to London with guests for
afternoon tea.
Looking smart in megabus livery on February 5th by Eddie
Taylor.
In addition to my regular contributors we have pictures from Adam Green, Gobbiner and a historical collection from Thomas Knowles taken in and around Oxford in 1960, indeed more than 60 years ago!
Red Eagle's YX60BZO recently acquired from Metroline is seen in
Hemel Hempstead on February 24th by Adam Green.
Gobbiner writes
"Drivers
at Go North West Queens Rd depot in Manchester which as you probably know have
started an indefinite strike and GNW have drafted in small operators to run a
modified timetable.
Thought this shot of a former Tube Astromega (50214 OU09FNH) now with Mostonian in Manchester as TSU 706 might be of interest for your page. It has been shuttling on Route 17 from Shudehill to Rochdale via Middleton all week it must feel great for the regular traveler having a vehicle like this on normal interurban bus work."
Due to strike action by Go North West staff at Queens Road, private operators
have been hired in to maintain services.
Above is ex tube 50214 working the 17
Manchester-Rochdale service on March 4th by Gobbiner.
I remember travelling to Rochdale on the 17 many years ago when my steed was one
of Rochdale's
AEC Regent V D2RA6G with a Weymann body and fitted with a Gardner engine,
not the usual engine for such a bus.
AEC Regent II with Northern Coachbuilders lowbridge
body, L129, MWL987 delivered late in 1948.
It is seen here in Gloucester Green in early 1960 still looking good for a 12
year old. Picture from T W W Knowles.
Regular contributors have provided some nice scenic shots such as the one below taken in heavy rain.
Stagecoach Gold 10782 is seen heading for Wantage along Lodge Hill on February
3rd by Jack Cooper.
Climbing Lodge Hill in heavy weather, heading for Oxford and Barton with an X3
is repainted and branded 666 the last of four ex Park & Ride StreetDecks
taken on March 3rd by Jack Cooper , the day following its
re-entry into service after the livery change.
Gavin Francis has been busy in the past week during visits to High Wycombe in securing a few interesting pictures.
Arriva 6049 heads for Aylesbury with a 300 working its blind alternately showing
the destination
and a nice display celebrating the life of Cpt. Sir Tom Moore who I am sure you
will all remember.
The third picture shows this bus when working in London on June 24th 2008 !
A change from one of the two link40 branded Citaros, here is 880 arriving in
Wycombe from Thame on March 2nd.
Harold Atkins and Mick Payne write to tell us of significant changes concerning the Milton Keynes area.
From Wednesday, March 31st 2021, the following services will cease to operate. Where there is no alternative bus service they will be replaced by a new Demand Responsive Transport service.
Services 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 37, 80
Services 9, 301
Service 11/12: Will operate
as service 11 only, using the following route - Central Rail Station, Central
Milton Keynes, Oakgrove (Brickhill St), Kingston, Open University, Caldecotte.
Will serve Kents Hill by operating via H8 Standing Way, V11 Tongwell St and H9
Groveway. Revised route in Caldecotte via Heybridge Crescent. Evening journeys
withdrawn.
Service 21: Withdrawn
between Olney and Lavendon, and revised to operate Olney (Aspreys), Olney The
Bull, Newport Pagnell, Central Milton Keynes, Central Rail Station. The
last return journey will be withdrawn. The Saturday service will not serve
MK Central Rail Station and will be revised to operate every 90
minutes. Service 41 will continue to operate between Olney and Lavendon.
Service 33/33A:
Service to be operated by Arriva. Revised timetable to operate every 90
minutes. Off peak journeys will operate via Gloucester Road replacing service
23.
Service 1:
Revised to operate Whitehouse, Central Rail Station, Willen, Green Park, Newport
Pagnell, Renny Lodge. Operates every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday daytime.
Withdrawn between Central Rail Station and Newton Leys. No evening or
Sunday service (see services 2 and F70/F77 for details of partial replacements).
Service 2: Revised
to operate beyond Market Hill to Renny Lodge (Tickford End). Operates every 30
minutes, Monday to Saturday daytime. Operates evenings hourly (until around
9.30pm). Sunday service will operate via Grange Farm, Central Rail
Station, CMK, Willen, Poets Estate, Green Park, Newport Pagnell, Renny Lodge.
Service 3: New service
replacing service 300 and operates Magna Park, Kingston, Brooklands, Coachway,
CMK, Central Rail Station, Westcroft, Snelshall West. Operates every 20 minutes
during Monday to Saturday daytime, hourly Monday to Saturday evenings (Magna
Park to Westcroft). Operates every 30 minutes Sunday daytime and hourly Sunday
evenings (Magna Park to Westcroft).
Service 4/14:
Revised to operate as service 4 throughout and rerouted via Shenley Church End
between CMK and Wolverton and Hodge Lea (served from V5 Gt Monks St).
Operates Monday to Saturday daytime, every 15 minutes Bletchley to CMK, and
every 30 minutes CMK to Wolverton. Operates Monday to Saturday, and Sunday
evenings every 30 minutes Bletchley to CMK to mid evening, then hourly, and
hourly CMK to Wolverton.
Service 5: Extended
to serve Newton Leys (Jersey Drive). Rerouted via Manor Road, Queensway, Princes
Way, instead of via Water Eaton Road (see service F70/F77 for replacement).
Operates every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, hourly Monday to Saturday
evenings, every 30 minutes Sunday daytime, and hourly Sunday evenings.
Service 6: Rerouted
via Manor Road, Queensway and Princes Way instead of Water Eaton Road (see
service F70/F77 for replacement). Operates every 20 minutes Monday
to Saturday daytime, hourly Monday to Saturday evenings, every 30 minutes Sunday
daytime, and hourly Sunday evenings.
Service 7: Withdrawn
between Central Rail Station and Bletchley via Furzton (see service 4 for
details of partial replacement). Operates every 15 minutes Monday to Friday
daytime, every 30 minutes Saturday daytime, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday
evenings (until around 9.00pm), every 30 minutes Sunday daytime and hourly
Sunday evenings (until around 9.00pm).
Service 8: Service
revised to operate Walnut Tree to Westcroft. Journeys will be rerouted via H6
Childs Way to serve Oxley Park, Kingsmead and Tattenhoe Park. Operates every 20
minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, hourly Monday to Saturday evenings and
Sundays.
Service 9: Withdrawn.
Service 300:
Replaced by new service 3.
Service 301: Withdrawn.
Partly replaced by extension of service 1 to Whitehouse Monday to Saturday.
Service F70/F77: F70
rerouted to serve Newton Leys (St Helena Ave) replacing service 1. Both F70/F77
rerouted in Bletchley to serve Water Eaton Road. F77 extended beyond
Stadium MK to CMK and both F70/F77 will operate via Leadenhall and Central Rail
Station. Combined, F70/F77 operates every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime,
hourly evenings (until around 9.00pm). Sunday daytime service operating
every 2 hours.
Service X60: Frequency
revised from every 30 minutes to hourly. Route revised to serve Stony Stratford
and V4 Watling Street.
Demand Responsive
Transport begins in Milton Keynes on April 1st 2021
This new ‘MK Connect’ service will be provided by
Via.
Further information on the new service will be
available soon, including information at bus stops and detailed usage guides on
line.
MK Connect works like a minibus that comes when
you want, where you want — book a ride straight from your phone, get picked up
in minutes, and be dropped within a short walk of your destination.
Passengers with a wheelchair or disability will
always be matched with a fully accessible vehicle and the service is accessible
to passengers with vision, hearing and other requirements.
Service hours: Monday to Saturday 6am-11pm.
Sunday 9am-6pm.
Price: £3.50 during peak hours (7am-9am,
4.30pm-6.30pm), £2.50 at all other times.
Concessionary cards and All-in-One cards will be
accepted on DRT at the same times as on buses.
So to reports and pictures concerning our area plus an Overseas report from Paul Bateson, an answer to a question posed in the last issue.
Thank you to everyone for their support.
I have been advised that the
Oxford tube is to restart on
Monday, March 29th, operating a 20 min service and expresses to Baker Street
using time
https://www.hallmarkbus.com/media/1564/250_080321.pdf
NEWS RELEASE
3rd March 2021
UPLIFTS TO STAGECOACH SERVICES IN OXFORDSHIRE
Fleet news and developments
I am pleased to include the latest fleet allocations for our area courtesy Paul Swann of Arriva.
Enthusiast SR Full Fleet 01 Mar 2021.xlsx
Nigel Peach writes to comment "Thanks as always for sending the latest fleet list. There are a few anomalies on there with some buses listed under Wycombe that we know are now at Aylesbury eg 2479, 3039.
Also 2401 is another now listed as being at Wycombe but according to
www.bustimes.org this is another bus
that is actually now at Aylesbury.
The Amersham and District Motorbus Society Spring
newsletter (personally delivered to me today by Peter Cartwright!) states "MAN
Evolution 3646 (AE56 MDX) is to be downgraded to training
duties joining others of this batch". I had noticed that it disappeared from
bustimes.
Adam Green
Green Line 7214 with a 759 in Hemel Hempstead on February 19th.
Gavin Francis in Wycombe
VDL 2704 working route 33 on March 4th.
Another VDL, 2786 loads for Micklefield in Oxford Street on March 4th.
Citaro 3016, looking somewhat battle scarred with a 1A to Chesham on March 3rd.
3700 is still in service and seen above with a 32 to Micklefield March 2nd.
Wrights 3796 is seen arriving in Wycombe from Aylesbury, now back to normal
route, on March 2nd.
Citaro 3914 is seen working the 32 to Booker still claiming to be working the
150 !!!!!!!! on March 2nd.
Citaro 3926 in happier days first at Duxford in September 2010 when new and then
in Wycombe on September 9th 2017
after transfer, sad that this bus is now laid up in Cressex depot. I wonder why?
Wrights 6043 is seen arriving in Wycombe from Aylesbury, now back to normal
route, on March 4th.
Malcolm Crowe
I took these pictures whilst waiting for the Opticians in Bridge Street on March 2nd. They feature the rears of a number of buses showing the often now very tidy condition and maybe not an advert to car drivers to take the bus!
2704, 3914, 3921, (working the 1A) and 3923 (this bus had been to Milton
Keynes earlier in the day),
Wrights 4018 with a 300 to Aylesbury also rather messy.
Tony Bungay
As a further to some photos I thought may be of use to
you I sent last Saturday, mainly in respect of Arriva vehicles display a tribute
to Captain Sir Tom Moore, which due to a mix of bright sun and rolling display
did not always hit the mark!
I was able to get I think a
better photo of this with 5464 yesterday, March 1st which shows the message to full
effect and again is another Enviro 400 with the addition of another tribute to a
long serving member of staff above passenger door.
Adam Green
Seen on a free hospital service in Hemel, YJ56YOD on February 24th.
Adam Green
StreetLite 611 is seen in Hemel with a service 46 to Luton on February 24th.
Gavin Francis
StreetLite 63316 with an X74 in High Street, Wycombe
on March 4th and for comparison
a picture of SNB 348 taken in the High Street nearly 43 years ago.
The 441 and 443 were of course the precursors of the X74.
If you look at picture 1of 63316 I have tried to take it from the same position,
of course The High Street was still a through route in 1978.
Off the 7's 69924 is seen with an X74 working in Wycombe on March 4th and in the
third picture
when new at Brooklands on April 21st 2013.
Kevin Fuller
On a sunny March 1st, First's Alexander Dennis Enviro
200 44561 departs from Burnham High Street, past a display of daffodils in the
park.
This bus is one of three branded for services 12 and 13 from Slough to
Burnham which run through the large Slough Trading estate.
Phil Southall writes to note as follows:
Carousel
941 was moved from Carousel in error
originally. It was the only Volvo B7TL converted to single door and painted so
Carousel will be keeping it. Not sure if it has happened yet but either 939 or
940 will be moving to TT to replace it.
Seen on March 5th, 941 is looking clean and now has
Carousel legals. Malcolm Crowe.
241 is VOR for safety inspection and has been off for
8 days but it will be back soon. 408, 423 and 856 are also long term VOR but
will be returning.
Thames Travel
You may also be interested to know that we have now
acquired the six ex Brighton Scania deckers so will be renumbered in due course
as follows:
1650 YN05GZJ = 243
1652 YN05GZO = 244
1656 YN55NFO = 245
1657 YN55NFH = 246
1663 YN55NFA = 247
1666 YN55NFG = 248
Oxford Bus
We have also made a start on repainting 351 to 363 and five of these are off the
road for now for repainting into City 13 (351 to 355) or City 2 (359 to 363)
livery. 356 to 358 TBC.
Many thanks to Phil for those very useful notes.
Nigel Peach notes
"Re Carousel, The Amersham and District Motorbus Society Spring newsletter
states "Orange MAN E200 423 (RX60 DMF) suffered accident damage in January and
would appear to be withdrawn. AD E200 Darts 502/3 (OU57 FGV/X) have been sold
(to a GA operator in East Anglia?)".
"I've just spotted that Carousel's 502 is back on bustimes from today - maybe not withdrawn after all - but perhaps a ticket machine error!"
Adam Green
858 is working THE ONE on February 24th seen in Hemel.
Scanias 214 and 219 in Wycombe on March 2nd.
StreetLite 407 is seen working the 8 on March 2nd. 408 has been out of service
for many days now!
Branded for THE OPNE, 857, 858 and 859 also seen in Wycombe on March 2nd.
Ex Oxford 869 is seen working the 36 on March 2nd.
878 is seen with a 103 service on March 2nd.
Some of the roads are lethal for low floor buses but 884 seems to be missing a
scraping! Seen on March 4th.
Some of the days in Stokenchurch have seen a misty start. 886 is seen shrouded
on March 3rd.
Malcolm Crowe at the Opticians
As a comparison with the rear ends of Arriva above, 860 looks very smart and
business like on March 2nd.
Still reasonable but the small fleet number was a good test for my eyesight when
880 was working the 40 on March 2nd.
Various deckers at the Wycombe depot on March 5th.
Jack Cooper writes to include several interesting pictures from the past week around Abingdon and Lodge Hill.
222 is seen in Stratton Way with a 356 road service on March 4th.
StreetDecks 662, 663 and 666 are seen with X3 services around Abingdon and Lodge
Hill.
A nice spring view of 668 with an X3 service on March 2nd. Seeing these Park &
Ride branded buses may now be a rarity.
"I have just seen on Facebook that former OBC 63 has
been bought from Procters Coach & Bus Sales (Northallerton) by Portsmouth City
Coaches.
Seen prior to departure from Cowley House on December 16th 2020.
Seen in George Street on July 15th 2019 in Airline colours.
David Beynon remarked that Oxford Station was host to all Wright bodied buses when he took this picture of 621 working the X2 on March 5th.
Jack Cooper
Scania 227 is now in connector
colours and seen working an X2 on March 1st.
622 is seen climbing Lodge Hill with an X2 making its
way to the train station on March 3rd.
Citaro 844 is seen in Abingdon with a 33 road service
on March 1st.
Ex Carousel's 874 and 875 have been out of service
recently but are seen here on March 4th and the 3rd.
906 and 907 seen working the X2 on February 28th.
Gavin Francis
Seemingly a recent addition to the fleet on March 6th V3BOY takes a cherished
registration last seen with a Volvo Jonckheere on June 1st 2012.
A reduced coach network is available for travel from Monday, March 29th. Book your journey with complete peace of mind. If your plans change our increased flexibility covers free amends on all ticket types and a full refund should we need to cancel your service.
Take a look at our interactive Route Map or Digital Timetables to see where you can travel to from your local stop.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Kevin Fuller
Seen running along Gore Road, Burnham on 23rd
February is Courtney Buses 672, an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC,
on its way from Wexham Park Hospital near Slough to Bracknell on route 53. There
are 3 buses in this livery bought for the route in 2017.
Adam Green
Working its branded route in Hemel, MV59ASX on February 24th.
Adam Green
Red Rose E6RRT seen on local service in Hemel on February 24th.
Bill Brown
Ex Oxford used on National Express 737 service, 53704 is now in Fife working the
X55 on March 4th.
Frazer Peddle records the progress of the 3A now running to The Kassam Stadium for NHS jabs.
MMC 10678 and E200 36984 seen on January 14th 2021 working the old route.
36769 and 36933 seen with 3A services to The Kassam on March 6th.
Jack Cooper
Gold 10788 is seen working the 34 in Stratton Way, Abingdon on March 1st.
Theo Freeman reports on developments in Banbury.
Not too many unusual allocations at Banbury this week,
the two notable ones being 36330 on 488s on Monday and 37630 on S4s. On Tuesday
36330 was put out in 500s, so has been well travelled!
34882 was out on 488s today too so a bit of variety on
the Chippies this week.
Three of the gold E300s, 28743/5/6, are off the road again with various issues, so they are certainly not being very reliable!
All the legals were changed on Sunday morning, however
some of the buses were reluctant to change as seen in the pic below (that bus
was 36764)
A week ago all Banbury based buses had their legals changed to Thames Transit.
E200 36330 is seen working the 488 on March 1st.
New MMC 37630 is unusually seen working the S4 on the same day. This bus is
normally on the 505.
On March 2nd 36330 had moved to the 500 seen above heading for Brackley.
On March 6th 34882 is seen leaving Banbury with a 488 service.
(Interesting combination of numbers!)
No further news on the combining of Oxford and West, dates etc.
Service restart as mentioned above on March 29th.
Continuing our reports on coaches now in a different location and livery some more this week.
50283 now seen in Kilmarnock in its new livery for the X76 from Chucky
on March 5th.
It used to be 50214 but is now with Mostonian Manchester as TSU706 on March 3rd
by Martyn Sacaloff.
As mentioned in the Editorial with another picture of the same coach it
is working the 17 to Rochdale.
50264 and 50265 in citylink now working in Fife taken
by Bill Brown on March 7th.
Chucky Shaw
Once 50242 was with megabus, this coach is seen at Kilmarnock having been
prepared for sale on March 5th.
Loo out for this turns up please?
Michael Wadman
An unusual acquisition by Red Rose in 1998 was
F49 ENF, a Leyland Tiger with Alexander (Belfast) body new to Smiths-Shearings.
Here are some shots of it in Leighton Buzzard on June 9th 1998 – despite the
blind display I think this was actually service 59 as from what I can tell the
52 didn’t going to Leighton Buzzard at the time; Central Milton Keynes on the
same date – this may have really been on service 52; and at the old Bure Place
bus station in Bicester on service 16 on March 16th 1999 after repainting into
fleet livery. It was scrapped in September 2011.
June 9th 1998 in Leighton Buzzard.
As we remember this bus after repaint, it even worked
through Stokenchurch!
Seen in Bure Place, Bicester on
March 16th 1999.
Nick Ross
As the "Beast from the East" howls down Leighton High street Red Kite Olympian
prepares to battle through the snow with the 162 to Dagnall.
Driver Brian's last turn that day with P262 was running dead from Milton Keynes
to Tilsworth after working a schools from Aylesbury.
The snow was bad by then and heavy traffic saw Brian opting to return via
Leighton, Eggington and the back road to Slapton.
Brian was shocked on leaving Eggington with drifting snow covering the road with
drifts, the steep climb to Slapton saw P262 slip once
and "cough" but she made it through the drifts, a quality machine!
Thomas W W Knowles
A small number of photographs I took in
Oxford over 60 years ago when I attended an event for a few days in Jesus
College? Taken
in Gloucester Green during April 1960. There may well be a reference to this
visit in the letters page of the next Classic Bus.
Six sets of three COMS vehicles in April 1960
One scan of three Bristol Omnibus company's vehicles in
Oxford in April 1960.
One scan of two South Midland coaches in Oxford in
April 1960. Shame about the clarity of the Guy.
One scan of three vehicles in Oxford in April 1960.
Charlton-on-Otmoor, Slatter and Thames Valley
One further scan of vehicles taken on 1960. The Worth's
Bristol was taken later in the year. The Worth's Regent is not sharp I am sorry
to say and the United Counties Bristol LS is on layover at Gloucester Green on
what I believe was a Sunday only service from Kettering; both taken April 1960.
A scan of vehicles of possible interest taken in Newbury
1959 - 2 COMS and a South Midland. which was seen of a different day from the
deckers.
Finally for interest. An acquired negative of JWL 730 on hire to Hebble (Between 12/56 and 4/57)
Many thanks to those contributors for a most interesting memory of times past.
PAUL BATESON FINDS A LEYLAND ATLANTEAN IN NEW YORK CITY AND LATER IN
VICTORIA, CANADA.
In 1976 a fleet of 8 Park Royal-bodied Leyland
Atlanteans crossed the Atlantic for experimental service in New York City.
These buses were left-hand drive with a
distinct similarity to the Mancunian Atlanteans that had been introduced in
Manchester.
Unfortunately for various reasons the buses
proved to be
problematic.
It seems that their height made them
unsuitable for use on Fifth Avenue, heavily potholed roads took their toll and
the air-conditioning system could not be operated in the height of summer.
The Atlanteans spent a lot of time out of
service under repair and were quietly withdrawn in 1980.
I managed a day in New York City on 29 May 1979
specifically looking for the Atlanteans.
I knew that they were operating on route M1
and after a long wait outside the New York Library fleet number D6 eventually
showed up.
I managed some views as it pulled up to my bus
stop and I was successful in boarding this bus for a relatively short ride.
At least I could say that I had ridden one of
the Atlanteans in service!
Upon withdrawal the Atlanteans were sold to Grosvenor
Bus Lines, San Francisco for sightseeing service.
I did not see the buses there but a few years
later the buses were bought by Gray Line in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
I believe that 7 buses moved north, one bus
having been scrapped.
It wasn’t until 2005 that I visited Victoria
and discovered most of the Atlanteans parked at Gray Line’s garage.
The buses were later sold to Paul Tremblay and
parked with many other older British-built buses in a field at Parksville.
One Atlantean had survived as an information bus when
seen on 8 June 2017 parked at the Cruise Terminal at Ogden Point, Victoria.
It was previously Gray Line fleet number 407
but I do not know its New York number.
A small promotional double-decker was also in
use promoting the Gray Line tours.
The Leyland Atlanteans in New York City were
operated by Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit with fleet numbers D1 to D8.
The only Atlantean seen during my visit on 29 May 1979 was D6.
An interesting comparison in bus styles as Atlantean
D6 passes Flxble 4722 and parked at the kerb a GM “fishbowl” 8708.
Passengers boarding D6 had to deposit their fares in
a farebox but progress appeared to be rather slow.
A rear view of D6 at East 42nd Street.
The bumper was rather battered which did not
add to the appearance of the double-decker.
The Atlanteans were parked at the Gray Line garage
when I visited Victoria on 20 November 2005.
This front view of 401 shows the modifications
made to the upper deck including a bar across the top of the bus to avoid
potential roof damage from low trees.
405 received a special livery promoting the Victoria
Clipper.
A close-up view of 406 at the Gray Line garage in
Victoria.
It would appear that 406 was under repair
judging by the opened engine compartment.
-and-407---Victoria---20-Nov-2005.jpg)
The Atlanteans were out of service when I visited the
garage.
407 was parked next to a Daimler Fleetline that had been new to Derby
Corporation Transport as number 173.
The only Atlantean remaining in Victoria on 8
June 2017 was 407.
This bus had been converted to an information
unit and was parked at the Cruise Terminal at Ogden Point.
It looked more like a Dinky Supertoy when
pictured with the cruise ship Explorer of the
Seas docked behind the bus.
A miniature double-deck was on display at the
Cruise Terminal promoting the Gray Line sightseeing tours of Victoria on 8 June
2017.
Photographs by
PAUL BATESON
Tony Bungay
In response to a couple of
questions posed in your latest news letter, though you may have already had a
number of responses! The Reading London Line coach got me thinking as I had
travelled both the possible routes mentioned. Going onto street view I am fairly
certain the location is Broad Street East Ilsey, as the large house behind and
the barn conversions in the background seem to match up fairly well. I have to
be honest I always thought the X34 finished just before deregulation day in
October 1986, but whether one of the original operators kept part of it going I
am unsure.
Regarding Bus service to Maids Moreton, your writer is
correct in that more recent years the village was served by Arriva on extensions
of Service 60 and possibly originally certain short workings on X60. Before
Arriva modified the Service and withdrew altogether from the 60.
Prior to that if it is of some help although only a mile
or so outside Buckingham, I think it was served by one of Bucks County Council’s
County Rider services possibly operated by Redline. The council when they
launched these routes originally called it Easy bus if I recall correctly but
were soon required to alter the name and colour for obvious reasons!
If it is of any additional help although outside the
10-20 years stated Maids Moreton was served for some years by a couple of
journeys a day extension of Luton and District Service 66 which went onto
Akeley, although this ceased sometime in the early 1990’s. The destination
having come about with the cutting back of formally United Counties Aylesbury –
Northampton Service in September 1980
Mike Stone with a correction to the last issue.
766 on the Banbury 496 is with National Express
Accessible Transport not National Express West Midlands.
Ian Hardy regarding a location
A quick 5 minute check of Google Streetview and I have
discovered whereabouts the photo of Reading 784 was taken.
It was in East Ilsey,
Berkshire at the junction of Broad Street & High Street(Grid Reference
SU492811).
East Ilsey is just east of the
A34 between the M4 junction & Didcot.
The front door of the cottage
on the right hand side has been repainted as is in the Google photo from October
2011 it is now black with white detailing rather than white with black
detailing.
Sorry I cannot help with the date it was taken though.
Many thanks to those three contributors who have answered or corrected recent news.
