44 surprise!
Colin Sellers writes (28 June 2010):
They've branded the 44! I've arrived back from the medieaval times, a different world! Note the special passenger, or is he a member
of staff? That's what the driver said. Also a couple of visiting coaches
Then this afternoon a guest appearance on the 77. Also have to report a branded 44 on the 17:40 route 85.
Colin Sellers added 29 June 2010
Bus war photographs
For several years Trentbarton did not run a Sunday service between Derby-Ripley-Alfreton-Mansfield so Stagecoach filled the gap with an hourly commercial 92 from
Mansfield depot. A few months ago, Trentbarton brought in an hourly service on Sunday daytimes, evenly spaced with Stagecoach 92. Today (27 June 2010), Trentbarton has
introduced a Sunday 9.2 running 5 minutes in front of every Stagecoach 92.
Richard Lomas has photographs in his blog
HERE.
Richard Lomas added 28 June 2010
Local coaches in Llandudno
Dennis Basford found these on Saturday 26 June 2010:
Dennis Basford added 28 June 2010
TM at the pop festival
Dan Stone writes (23 June 2010):
Three ex-TM Travel Excels V389 KVY, 1126 (P505 OUG) and 1135 (R211 DKG) were taken out of storage at Langley Mill between 9 June and 14 June for
use with Notts & Derby on shuttle services between Derby Railway Station and the Download Music Festival at Donington Park. I'm reliably
informed that they were only to be used as a last resort, but V389 KVY was used most days as there was much more demand for buses than in
previous years. 1126 and 1135 were pressed into service on the Monday of the event, but 1126 only completed one trip before failing in the
Castle Donington area (it was subsequently towed back to Trent's Meadow Road Depot at Derby).
All three Excels have now returned to storage, pending an auction held by Malcolm Harrison at the Kinchbus Depot in Loughborough where they
will be auctioned off along with around 25 other surplus buses. These include other TM Excels, the two Primos, DAF SB220 X685 REC, as well as
numerous Trent Darts and the last ECW Olympian to be delivered to Trent, 723 (C723 NNN). More information on auctioneer's website
HERE.
More about the sale on this website
HERE.
Dan Stone added 24 June 2010
Coach update
Daniel Sellers writes (23 June 2010):
With reference to Ian Moorcroft's photo of V1 SFC, the Classic Coaches
Van Hool Altano taken in Chesterfield, (below) this is the Sunderland FC team
coach (hence the select registration) and took part in the UK Coach
Rally
(HERE).
J.R.Dent's FL02 ZXH (below) has a Jonckheere Modulo body similar to the
Stagecoach coaches bought in 1998-99, but on a rear-engined chassis (a
Volvo B7R or B12B?) or it could be a DAF (this body was available on
DAF / VDL chassis in the Netherlands, but I'm not sure if it was in
the UK).
Dan Stone writes (23 June 2010):
Ian Moorcroft's recent photo of J.R. Dent Volvo FL02 ZXH (below) got me thinking, and I suddenly remembered that it was a regular
visitor to Chesterfield for around six months in 2008 when it was leased from Volvo Bus by Trent Barton as a 'float' vehicle to cover during the
refurbishment programme of the company's eight Scania/Irizar coaches. It was used on the Red Arrow service, and gained the fleetnumber 72 during
its short stay with the company. It is seen loading in Chesterfield for another run to Derby and Nottingham back in March 2008.
Daniel Sellers & Dan Stone added 24 June 2010
Ian Moorcroft's Chesterfield area round up for mid June 2010
ANDREWS NEOPLAN SKYLINER VIL 6771 AT LADY MANNERS SCHOOL BAKEWELL - JUN 21 2010
BAKERS DOLPHIN GOLD SCANIA BD08 GLD IN CHESTERFIELD - JUN 11 2010
BAKERS SCANIA GT10 BDT IN CHESTERFIELD - JUN 21 2010
CHALFONT VAN HOOL WA10 ENK IN CHESTERFIELD - JUN 20 2010
CHESTERFIELD 225 LRB IN BAKEWELL - JUN 15 2010
CLASSIC VAN HOOL V1 SFC IN CHESTERFIELD - JUN 19 2010
DENTS OF LINCOLNSHIRE VOLVO FL02 ZXH IN CHESTERFIELD - JUN 14 2010
HULLEYS DENNIS DART SLF'S 18 AND 19 IN OLD BRAMPTON - JUN 20 2010
NORTHERN CAETANO LEVANTE FJO8 KLX AT CHATSWORTH HOUSE - JUN 13 2010
Ian Moorcroft added 23 June 2010
Chesterfield in the sun
Colin Sellers writes (21 June 2010):
A sunday working of the 77 (58 plate Enviro 300)
I finally got both Transbus Tridents on the 77 today, both vehicles now unbranded after their repaints at Rawmarsh.
Visitors to the Chesterfield markets.
Former Trent vehicles looking good in their TM livery
Colin Sellers added 22 June 2010
In town today - Friday 18 June 2010
Colin Sellers writes (18 June 2010):
A variety of shots taken over a couple of hours this afternoon -
A high floor B10M on the track (25) thought to be on loan from Barnsley;
TM Travel recent acquisition yet to be repainted;
a local "10" having been on a trip to Nottinghamshire;
two photographs of visiting coaches;
a coach, usually on the urban 727, enjoying a run out to Matlock;
and finally a 51 on the 98 and a red Trentbarton on the normally pink Pronto.
Most of us are just happy when a bus turns up when it should, whatever its make or branding.
Colin Sellers added 19 June 2010
More links from Daniel Sellers
TRAINS and
UK COACH RALLY and
SHEFFIELD
Daniel Sellers added 19 June 2010
Mystery coach??
Colin Sellers photographed this at Chatsworth on Sunday 13 June, though it was not part of the Preserved Bus Gathering. Any ideas?
John Young (17 June 2010):
I am told by a learned friend that the mystery coach, R505 SCH, which I also photographed, is an Iveco CC95 with an Indcar body.
David Hargraves writes (17 June 2010):
Re R505SCH: it is a 1997 Iveco 391E.12.35 / Beulas C49Ft. It may have been new to Jones of Machen.
Daniel Sellers answers (19 June 2010):
Following correspondence with David Gambles, who in turn contacted
Stuart Jones at Bus & Coach Buyer, it turns out that that the mystery
coach Dad photographed at Chatsworth is an Indcar Eco 3 bodied Iveco
EuroCargo, built in Spain.
Daniel Sellers gives us a link to local buses and trains on his interesting Flickr site
HERE
Colin & Daniel Sellers added 17 June 2010
Daniel Seller's answer added 20 June 2010
John Young's and David Hargraves' answers added 25 June (your webmaster apologises for the delay)
Colin Sellers found the 10 plate G & J Holmes Volvo Plaxton Profile coach in West Bars, Chesterfield on
11 June 2010, now in full livery:
. . . and on Flickr sent in by Daniel Sellers
Ex- East Midland Olympian 350 now with Nu-Venture, Maidstone
HERE
Colin & Daniel Sellers added 12 June 2010
Roger Kaye's holiday finds
. . . a couple of Volvo Citybus deckers formerly operated by Trent,
and a former East Midland Olympian operated by Marchant in Cheltenham.
Roger Kaye added 11 June 2010
Running Day thanks
Dennis Basford writes (9 June 2010):
I thoroughly enjoyed the running day last Saturday. I would just like to say a big thank you to all those many people who were involved in
any capacity to make it the success that it was.
(Others have expressed their thanks to the organisers of the Running Day on the website forum.)
I thought someone else might have sent this picture in, but seeing as they didn't, I will.
It was sat in the coach station for at least a part of the afternoon.
Dennis Basford added 10 June 2010
Newark to Lincoln express
Oliver Foreman writes (9 June 2010):
Thought today I would try out the new Stagecoach East Midlands X3 between Newark and Lincoln and back on brand new liveried double deckers.
In Lincoln, the bus goes on as a 3 to Grimsby (this part I think being with tachographs (EC rules) whereas Lincoln to Newark uses different
drivers on domestic rules).
There is no doubt the buses were very comfortable (leather seats) and smooth, but both I sampled were far too hot upstairs, even with windows open. In the
front seat on the journey to Lincoln, there was an incredible unrelenting noise apparently from a demister feebly blowing cold air on to the upstairs windscreen. It gave me a headache!
On the return journey I heard the racquet before I even climbed the stairs so sat further back, though mercifully the driver later turned it off. It reminded
me of my daily school bus ride some fifty years ago on Eastern Counties Bristol K's. One day, what should pull up at the stop but a brand new bus which
was so much smoother (a Lodekka) . . . except for incredibly noisy heaters which for me spoilt it (though no doubt it was better to have heaters -
Bristol K's I don't think had such fangled things).
My other normal moan concerns room for my long legs. Well, you'll be pleased to hear both buses I went on were excellent in this respect (and I don't often say that!),
though I did hit my head on the top of the doorway as I boarded in Newark. The driver showed such concern I thought he was going to call an ambulance!
I consider Stagecoach are to be congratulated for introducing such a service, especially as the route between Newark and Lincoln does not make any
deviations through villages and housing estates. I
hope it proves successful, though attention to notices giving departure bays in Lincoln Bus Station may help.
The photograph (once again taken in torrential rain) shows the bus I came on from Newark (15651 FX10 AFK) preparing in Lincoln Bus Station for
the onward journey to Grimsby (in this case with a school deviation - let's hope the little cherubs show respect for the new, expensive bus).
Oliver Foreman added 10 June 2010
In town today: 8 June 2010
Colin Sellers writes: (8 June 2010):
A wet dismal summer's day in Chesterfield.
We asked the question what will the buses from Manchester do in Chesterfield, well look at Beetwelll Street this morning, 25, 90 & 2
As for the others a 10 branded Dart on the 54, a 54 branded MAN on the 44 & another on the 25.
Rumours abound that there 10 new buses coming for Chesterfield, Scania Deckers. We know nothing officially. Oliver
Colin Sellers added 9 June 2010
Hulley newcomer & Yourbus
Ian Moorcroft writes (7 June 2010):
Newly delivered to Hulley's as the new number 2 is
MAN / MCV EVOLUTION B40F AE05 EVC from Alliance and Leicester (dealers rental fleet).
It was delivered painted and will probably enter service next week after inspection, servicing, vinyl application and a damn good
clean, it is filthy inside, you could grow potatoes on the floor !!
Ian Moorcroft adds (8 June 2010):
Just to make a liar of my e-mail yesterday the new bus was pressed into service this morning without fleetnames.
It operated the 018 Tideswell - Lady Manners School (where the photo was taken ) then the 0925 Tideswell - Buxton 68 followed by the
1005 Buxton - Bakewell 177 before going back to the yard.
I've also included this Yourbus Dart MPD seen in Matlock yesterday.
Ian Moorcroft added 8/9 June 2010
Matthew Vernals writes (26 May 2010):
Former Trent Excel, W213 PRB, is now in service at TM Travel
Apologies to Matthew as for some unknown reason his email went into the spam folder along with the offers on Viagra and gold watches
and was only discovered today. Oliver Foreman 7 June 2010
I then insulted Matthew by calling him Martin (now corrected). Oh dear. Sorry! Oliver Foreman 8 June 2010
Matthew Vernals added 8 June 2010
Martin Arrand saw this Routemaster on Sunday 6 June 2010
Martin Arrand added 8 June 2010
TM Travel and Notts & Derby
Dan Stone writes (30 May 2010):
TM Travel Mercedes-Benz Vario/Plaxton Cheetah 1178 (YN06 CYP) has recently transferred to Notts & Derby (both
companies are members of the Wellglade Group). It currently has Notts & Derby
legal lettering on its TM livery, but will be repainted into a variation of Notts & Derby livery if sufficient work can be found for it. It is
expected to see use alongside much of Notts & Derby's fleet on the shuttle service from Derby Railway Station to the Download Music festival
at Donington Park between 9 & 14 June, where the luggage space will be greatly appreciated!
It has also been suggested that some former TM Travel Excels will be reinstated and used on the Download shuttle service, and that a number of
TM Olympians will be loaned to Notts & Derby to provide assistance for the duration of the music festival. I will supply photos as soon as
possible.
Dan Stone added 31 May 2010
Hulleys found in Pontefract
Dan Stone writes (30 May 2010):
Please find below a photo of ex-Hulleys Optare Excel No.5 (P273 NRH) with its new owners, M Travel of Castleford. It can usually be found on
Pontefract Town service 488, and is seen here entering Pontefract Bus Station on 22 May 2010.
Ian Moorcroft adds (6 June 2010):
As well as the Excel in Pontefract ex Hulleys number 7, Mercedes Vario R281 RAU, is still in use with Llew Jones in North Wales.
It was on the Abergele Town Service last Tuesday but unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it.
Andrew Bagshaw adds (6 June 2010):
I have found a very interesting history article on Hulleys of Baslow which can be found by visiting
HERE.
Dan Stone added 31 May 2010
Ian Moorcroft added 7 June 2010
Andrew Bagshaw added 7 June 2010