sybuses notes (28 March 2010):

Noted at TM Travel's Halfway depot yesterday were:

Volvo B10Bs:
117 - L117 LRA (Asda livery)
127 - L127 LRA (Notts & Derby livery)
and one other Notts & Derby vehicle.

Optare Excel:
214 - W214 PRB (sat in painting section of Halfway).

Ben Goodman notes (28 March 2010):

Photograph of TM Travel 214, W214 PRB at Halfway Depot being prepared for repaint into TM livery:

Tony Wilson writes: (26 March 2010):

The Volvo B10M single-decks that operate predominantly on the 727 route, are in my humble opinion starting to show their age a bit. But that said they continue to provide sterling service between Chesterfield and Sheffield city centre and their rider comfort can be compared favourably with some more modern vehicles. However, they are high floored and one can noticeably observe passenger's difficulties upon boarding and alighting and whilst not the oldest in the local fleet, must have clocked up some quite high mileage over the years, especially as they are hardly ever seen on anything but their assigned route.

Seen today within minutes of one another 52631 departed the coach station in service, whilst 52630 now operates as a driver training vehicle and sports the fleet livery for such duties.

Oliver Foreman writes (26 March 2010):

Having driven Volvo B58 and B10M coaches on private hires and tours both within the UK and abroad, as well as on the now withdrawn Stagecoach 747 and 757 express bus services, I have to say that I found them the most satisfying drivers' vehicle of all by a wide margin. The Stagecoach B10M buses reinforced that view. On such vehicles I gained much satisfaction from beating the boy racers away from the traffic lights on Mansfield ring road, moving off as soon as the lights changed while the poseurs were still messing about with their CD's! Happy days.

Stephen Crossland observes (18 March 2010):

New Coach for Johnson Bros Tours seen at Plaxton, South Anston YN10 AAE. A Irisbus/Plaxton in Coach Holidays.com livery

Duncan Bingham (with thanks to Scott Johnson) adds (21 March 2010):

Further to Stephen Crossland's sighting, three new coaches are here:

PN10 AHD Iris.bus/Beulas
YN10 AAE Iris.bus/Plaxton
YN10 AAF Iris.bus/Plaxton
All three are in white with Coach Holiday Warehouse branding

Also, a number of coaches have been re-registered:

P1 JBT (Volvo Van Hool) back to P311 VWR
P3 JBT (Neoplan) back to YR02 UNZ and sold to Goodfellow, Thorne
YS02 XED ('David Urquhart' Scania/Irizar) to Y3 JBT
FJ04 ETT (Volvo/Berkhof) to Y2 JBT
YN05 UUJ (Iris.bus/Plaxton) to T4 JBT
YN06 OPJ (Iris.bus/Plaxton) to P3 JBT
SF07 XNU (the ex Parks Volvo/Jonckheere) to N1 JBT
PN09 CXR (Iris.bus/Beulas) to P1 JBT
PN09 CXS (Iris.bus/Beulas) to 71 RT
YN59 EYW (Ayats decker) to 8 JBT

Richard Lomas writes (17 March 2010): The route branding for the YourBus service 36Y from Nottingham to Beeston has been reduced. The bus below is the same bus that had an orange imitation NCT front when I photographed it in Beeston on 25th February (HERE). I wonder if THIS has something to do with it.

I also saw one of these buses in Crich yesterday. Please see my BLOG.

See also our website forum HERE.

Duncan Bingham replies (17 March 2010): Andrew's mystery coach in Matlock Bus Station was a Bedford YMT new as DJF 633T (according to BLOTW new to Wilder, Feltham) operating for Barry Brown {Ambassador Executive} of Carsington from 1997 until 1999. I think he parked his vehicles at Longcliffe.
Ambassador Executive should not be confused with Pat Brown's former 'Express Motors' operation, which regularly ran into Matlock on the 411 group of services.

John Hargreaves replies (17 March 2010): Mystery coach : MIL8641 Bedford YMT c/n JW452884 Plaxton 7911TC119 C53F new 5/79
Operated by Ambassador Executive' B.A. Brown of Carsington. In service 1/97 and still current at 6/00. Reregistered from DJF 633T 1/97. Previous owner was Horrocks, Brockton.

Andrew Bagshaw expresses his thanks and asks another question (18 March 2010): Many thanks to Duncan and John for solving the mystery coach query. I can now add this information to my photograph records - much appreciated. I must say as an expert in Derbyshire Independents I have never heard of Ambassador of Carsington! How many buses/coaches did the company run in those two years is my next question?

Duncan Bingham replies (20 March 2010):
The vehicles I have recorded with Ambassador Executive were:
KIW 7811 (Bedford YLQ/Duple 35-seater, originally registered CTM 85T)
MIL 8641 (Bedford YMT/Plaxton)
SXI 2403 (Fright Rover Sherpa/Crystal Conversions 16-seater, of unknown provenance)
A91 NRY (DAF SB2300/Jonckheere, originally registered A258 UHY)
E190 XWG (Renault S56/Reeve Burgess)
Operations had certainly ceased by late 2000 (and probably somewhat earlier) although his operators licence remained current until November 2002. I recall his vehicles passing through Ripley fairly regularly heading towards Codnor, so assume he must have had a contract in that area.

John Hargreaves adds (21 March 2010): Ambassador -
SXI 2403 was current by 5/97, ex Fletcher, Offerton.
A91 NRY was acquired 12/96 from Clarke, Burbage as TJI 4028.
E190 XWG was current by 10/97, ex Mainline 190.
GWY 165Y Leyland PSU3F/4R Plaxton C53F. In 1/97 from Holmeswood, Rufford. Originally PNW 310W with Wallace Arnold. Date of disposal not known - but before 2000.
Operating centre was 2 Woodside, Carsington with 4 discs on PC4180/I.

Duncan Bingham adds (22 March 2010): Further to John Hargreaves' comments, I understand that GWY 165Y was not purchased by Ambassador - apparently it had been the intention to do so but completion didn't occur.
2 Woodside, Carsington was the contact address (presumably Brown's residential address) but the nominated operating centre was at Longcliffe.

You are probably aware of most things but a brief resume is:

L109 LRA on loan from Notts and Derby to replace L122 LRA

R924/928 RAU acquired from Disposal Pool at Langley Mill

R211 DKG/P505 OUG withdrawn leaving R374 DJN as last Excel

Tiger A111 TRP is withdrawn.

R93 LHK/T455 HNH repainted, LA02 WMZ in paintshop now.

Holmes coach in service

Andrew Bagshaw writes (9 March 2010): G & J Holmes new Plaxton Profile C57F bodied Volvo B7R arrived yesterday (8 March 2010) in all over white registered YN10 AAU. It entered service within an hour! working school service 143 Newbold St Marys - Tupton

Andrew Bagshaw adds (10 March 2010): Please see below a picture of G & J Holmes new Plaxton Profile Volvo B7R YN10 AAU taken today 10th March 2010 at the depot. It is a regular on service 143 Tupton - Newbold St Marys and was used on its first private hire working yesterday evening 9th March from Chesterfield to Notts County Football Ground. It is expected to receive fleet vinyls within the next 3 weeks.

Colin Sellers writes (7 March 2010): Photographed today by Martin Arrand on Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield near to St Thomas's Brampton, it is the former Surestart big blue bus (see second & third photographs, taken at Inkersall in July 2003 and New Beetwell Street in 2005 respectively), then it did some NHS outreach. I thought that it could be the church run soup kitchen, so I contacted Tony Wilson but he said that's still the ex Bournemouth decker. So over to you???????

Neville Whitmore comments (8 March 2010): I am told on good authority (by a neighbour who works on the "Soup Kitchen" bus) that the Ex Bournemouth Fleetline was replaced several months ago by this big black bus G77 OKY which is now the "outreach" bus. The Ex Bournemouth Fleetline however, is still present in the CSG yard at Chesterfield where G77 OKY is also based.

Tony Wilson comments (9 March 2010): I too like Neville* shall eat my portion of 'umble pie (or perhaps 'umble soup), and accede to his wise words about the 'soup kitchen bus'. However, my observations show that the tri-axle no longer appears to be lodged at CSG, but within the confines of the new fire station behind the new B&Q warehouse on the new development area between Derby Road/Horns Bridge roundabout and Baden Powell Road.

In the photograph below is a line-up of buses still lodged at the CSG site, which includes the former Bournemouth Transport Daimler Fleetline / Alexander CO43/31F convertible open topper NFX 134P, fleet number 134. This was one of eight such vehicles supplied back in June 1976 to that operator.

The accompanying vehicles are NFS 173Y one of ten Leyland PSU3 / Alexander C49F coaches supplied in October 1982 to the Alexander Fife company as their FPE 173, whilst the final vehicle began life in January 1994 with OK Motors of County Durham. L404 FVN was one of four VolvoB6 / Plaxton buses delivered.

*To see Neville's humble apology scroll down this page to VEOLIA SENDS DIFFERENT VEHICLE.

Ian Moorcroft asks (10 March 2010): Re -Tony's photo of the CSG premises. Who owns the other two buses and does anyone know where the VK VODKA open top decker is stored or does anyone have a photo of it?

Nathan Cartwright replies (11 March 2010): In response to Ian Moorcroft, the VK bus is kept at VK's owner's headquarters (Global Brands Limited) which is located on Bridge Street, Clay Cross. (Eastern Bridge Street is known as Furness Hill).

. . . and Neville Whitmore adds (11 March 2010): When not being used, the VK bus is normally parked at the VK premises in Clay Cross, seemingly under a "verandah" so as to protect the open part of the upper deck. Going down Wingfield Church Hill towards Clay Cross take the first turn right and the VK premises are about 20 yards on the right, the bus, if there, can be seen from the road.

More answers . . .

Tony Wilson writes (12 March 2010): As for the question posed about the buses in CSG: I believe (but I stand to be corrected - more 'umble pie perhaps), but as the former Stagecoach offices are now the "Church in the Park" (or something like that), they could well be associated with that organisation.

In repsonse to Ian Moorcroft's request herewith below is the current VK bus taken in Chesterfield Market Square in December 2007. I am unsure as to the chassis (either Dennis Trident or Volvo B7), but the bodywork suggests East Lancs.

Colin Sellers writes (12 March 2010): Original VK bus - Sent Daniel to the files and look what he found, circa 2000/2001. AEL 176B, A Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 / Weymann body to the Alexander style. Formerly Bournemouth 176, this was one of a batch of ten new to Bournemouth in 1964. (Third photograph below)

Andrew Bagshaw adds (13 March 2010): I have seen the pictures of the first Vodka Kick Bus and the current VDL which is actually the 3rd bus! The 2nd was former London Transport DMS Fleetline GHM 800N converted by Ensignbus for the Philips Music Sound & Motion Promotion Tour. It was one of two, the other being KUC 943P and both received radical facelifts using a frontispiece similar to that found on a Jonckheere coach. They were converted to semi open top complete with a sliding roof to cover the open stage platform during inclement weather! Only GHM 800N joined Vodka Kick at Clay Cross, pictured arriving in Chesterfield on Baden Powell Road (second photograph below). This livery incidently is now worn by the current VDL East Lancs bus 44 VK having lost the black livery last year (as seen on the website) so a recent picture (I don't have one!) would be appreciated to bring this topic up to date if anyone can oblige?

Andrew Bagshaw comments again, NOT wearing his bus enthusiasts hat! (14 March 2010): Thank you for providing an excellent feature on the Vodka Kick buses. However just by viewing the picture above of AEL 176B it just proves that you don't always need to be up on board an open top bus when the scenery downstairs is just as interesting lol! I refer of course to the VK potential customers passing by!

Duncan Bingham brings us back on topic (14 March 2010): With regards to Andrew's comments about the second VK bus, I assumed that both GHM 800N and KUC 943P were with VK as they were both regularly parked together at the Duckmanton M1 Commerce Park. I think the latter was possibly purchased for spares in 2004, and was sold along with GHM on ebay in 2007. It is possibly that the London Bus Export Company bought the pair as GHM had subsequently been noted with the S4C television station in early 2008, although I don't know if that was a hire or a purchase. At that time it was noted wearing a 'playbus' style livery, which sounds very much like it had retained the VK colours. The revised front ends on this pair were done by Ensigns in the early '80s when London Transport were offloading the DMS class Fleetlines and Ensigns obviously thought that this revised front end design might make the buses more marketable - I seem to recall the conversion was called 'Enterprise' but I'm happy to stand corrected.

The current VK bus is an East Lancs bodied Volvo B7TL new in 2006 - it was originally registered PL06 RYN, but very quickly (possibly before entering service) re-registered with its current mark.

With regard to the buses parked at CSG, I thought they were owned by the Assemblies of God (Zion) church on Chatsworth Road. Certainly the Bournemouth Fleetline had been parked up at one stage on the waste land at the town end of Chatsworth Road.

Nathan Cartwright comments (15 March 2010): Just to let you know that the VK bus is in a blue livery at present.

Martyn Bonner adds (15 March 2010): With regards to the buses at CSG. CSG was formally a small garage off of Chester Street (Chester Street Garage) and used to mainly deal with ambulance maintenance which expanded and they moved to the present premises. The founder of CSG John Revill has connections with Zion Church and Churches Together in Chesterfield. The ex Bournmouth Fleetline previously used as the 'soup kitchen' before the use of the Surestart bus is owned by a charity called 'Church on the Bus' which is run by Captain Alan Park from Holy Trinity and Christ Church. So probably just free parking from a Christian friend?

Now Tony Wilson goes off topic (17 March 2010): I was rather amused with the picture supplied by Colin Sellers (above) of the first VK bus (the former Bournemouth decker), and the follow-up comment made by Andrew Bagshaw. It reminded me of a certain Robert E.Jowitt who has for years provided much entertainment with his prolific contributions to Buses Illustrated, Buses, Buses Annual and now Yearbook, that whilst focusing (in more ways than one), on the bus, tram and trolleybus has also drawn our attention to how shall I put it, a bit of digression in the shape of various members of the public. Over the years and with these many photographic articles he has brought a smile to my face, and hopefully to the faces of many others. Indeed where would the bus be for that matter, were it not for the people who use them. What Andrew has drawn our attention to in this particular image, is the fact that the bus whilst it is going about its business of advertising a particular product, the members of the public passing by are possibly in the town having a ‘girls day out’, therefore adding to the picture, along with the general surroundings. The end product of the image produced done in a similar fashion to that of the long established contributions provided by the already venerated Robert E.Jowitt. Here endeth the case for the a little bit of light relief and I recommend some of his earlier work to you.

Confessions of a bus driver by Oliver Foreman (17 March 2010): At the risk of being accused of going even more off topic but in the hope of bringing these digressions to a conclusion before they get totally out of hand, I have to say that the most pleasurable part of my years as a bus driver in Mansfield was waiting time on a bus station stand at around 8pm on summer Friday or Saturday evenings and watching the young ladies in their minimal party gear alighting from the buses as they pulled in and giggling their way across the concourse in front of me to a night of enjoyment. There I have said it. Now back to the bus numbers!

sybuses says (7 March 2010):

0928 (R928 RAU) is one of 2 Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointers at Halfway, believed to be on loan. It along with 0924 (R924 RAU) both sport previous operators livery, 924 Kinchbus, 928 Trent Red.

1110 (G435 MWU) is resting in the depot yard the day after working some passenger journeys. As you can see one was on 293 worked on Friday 5 March.

T455 HNH is one of the latest TM Travel buses to receive their livery. It is seen in Halfway depot looking fresh, no fleet names applied yet.

Neville Whitmore comments (8 March 2010):

The blind on R928 RAU is very interesting! Does anyone know why "Old Tupton" would be on the blind, which I assume is a Trentbarton blind and not a TM Travel one?

Daniel Sellers replies (13 March 2010):

Re the comment on the website about the "Old Tupton" blind on one of the Trent Darts now at TM, Trent route 98 (Old Tupton - Clay Cross - Alfreton) used to run to Old Tupton before Stagecoach took it over and joined it up with the Chesterfield - Wingerworth route.

Paul Hopkinson, Managing Director TM Travel responds (15 March 2010):

R924/928 RAU are fitted with (very old) TM Travel blinds, so the Old Tupton you can see used to belong to the 150. Another one of these old blinds has found its way into R374 DJN.

Matthew Vernals adds (9 March 2010): Below is a picture of Dennis Dart R924 RAU, seen in service with TM Travel on 09 March 2010, still branded and in blue and yellow livery. It's seen operating the short 252 journeys from Crystal Peaks to Marsh Lane.

. . . and 921 on the Trent Red Arrow leaving Chesterfield in 2003*, then photographed on 26 January 2010, shortly after being transformed into TM Travel livery, one of the first two vehicles to be transferred to TM Travel from another company within the Wellglade Group

*Date corrected from 1993 to 2003 by Daniel Sellers 7 April 2010

Richard Lomas comments (8 March 2010): I enjoyed seeing the two pictures of 921. I think those Darts have served Wellglade well and I wonder how many more will visit Halfway.

Seen today (Friday 5 March 2010) working the Veolia (Dunn Line) D5 service from Nottingham was AE57 CNA, a MAN with MCV Evolution B40F bodywork in University of Nottingham livery, the first time (to my knowledge) a BUS as opposed to a coach has been used on this service. One interesting fact is that it carried a Lamcote Motors disc, (together with three lots of legal lettering, but nothing unusual in that for Veolia/Dunn line). Lamcote Motors was a small coach operator based in Netherfield near Nottingham and was how Bob Dunn* started out on his own, by acquiring that company. Neville Whitmore

*Correction from Duncan Bingham (6 March 2010): With regard to the Veolia route D5 pic, some of the text unfortunately isn't quite right. Bob Dunn started out by acquiring Netherfield Coaches in 1984, although I think his father had previously run a Ford coach from Codnor. Lamcote Motors were based at Radcliffe On Trent and were a much later purchase by Dunn Line in 1996.

*. . . and from Michael Poole (6 March 2010): There is an error in the item 'Veolia Surprise'. The operator at Netherfield was Netherfield Coaches Limited, which was the basis of Dunn Line's initial operations. Lamcote was a separate operator based at Radcliffe on Trent which was taken over at a later date - can't remember exactly when, but I think it was in the late 1980s.

Final words from Neville (7 March 2010): Yes, I was wrong about Dunn Line, I shall eat a big piece of humble pie, but at least it shows that people are reading the web site!