From Amanda Murphy in Ireland (30 December 2009):

Hi there, I am hoping you can help me gain some information. I am trying to find out information on Routemaster buses. My partner is a long term fan of the Routemaster bus and I would like to bring him to see one (or several) for a birthday next year. We would be travelling from Ireland and it seems to be impossible to get information on Routemaster tours or trips or even hire. He is actually a bus driver himself over here and would like to drive one. I am sure this is probably impossible but am wondering could you help at all?

Many thanks, Amanda Murphy

We've started by cleaning the 5 years of grime off the body and windows, removed the adverts and cleaned the inside. Next thing to be done is change the batteries. We've got an electrical fault between starter motor and the batteries that needs to be sorted out before we can do anything else. We are having the bus looked over by a guy from First South Yorkshire commercial department who is going to point out all the faults. After that we will know fully what we've got to do. The interior is not in that bad condition and only a few seats need retrimming. The rear emergency door needs replacing as it was damaged in an accident with an Olympian. There are about 9 panels to replaced including the rear fibre glass ones and then finally a repaint back in to Chesterfield's green and cream. We are intending to take 40 to Chatsworth to show the progres being made.

Vehicle sold

19 P120 GSR Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer B41F

This bus last ran on public service on Saturday 5th December, when it started off the evening shift by working the 1435 Bakewell to Yorkshire Bridge svc. 241, returning from Yorkshire Bridge at 1510, then began the 1615 svc. 170 journey from Bakewell to Chesterfield. It only operated this journey as far as Baslow, where it was replaced by another bus.

On Thursday 10th December it operated the school children only duplicate to svc. 89 at 1530 from Henry Fanshawe School Dronfield to Barlow.

On Friday 11th December it operated the morning run on this 89 duplicate from Barlow to Dronfield. Then later that morning it was taken to Stockport where it met up with the new no. 19 on delivery, and was taken onwards from there by its new owner. (North West Bus Sales Bolton?)

Vehicle acquired

19 PL06 TFZ Dennis Dart SLF MCV Evolution B40F

This is from the same batch as the current no. 5 in the fleet and is from the same source (North West Bus Sales, Bolton?) It was delivered, fully painted except for fleet numbers, on Friday 11th December, meeting the old no. 19, which went in part exchange, at Stockport.

That afternoon it was used on the 018 school journey at 1610 from Lady Manners, Bakewell to Tideswell.

Exchange of Destination blinds (see photographs below)

On Thursday 26th November, pending the withdrawal of Dennis Dart no. 19, the digital blind in this bus was exchanged for the winding blind in Dennis Dart no. 2, which is to be retained. This is the third ‘home’ for this digital blind, which was the first to be introduced by Hulleys when it appeared in Mercedes Vario no.9.

Vehicle due shortly

Another Dennis Dart SLF/ MCV Evolution from the same batch as nos. 5 and new no. 19 is currently being painted and will be delivered early in the New Year. It is expected to replace no. 18, P659 BUB, Dennis Lance/ Plaxton Verde.

The new number 19 (Dennis Dart SLF / MCV Evolution) has materialised form the paintshop as PL 06 TFZ.

It worked on schools today and should be in full service Tuesday once the destination display has been programmed Monday.

The 'old' 19 (Dennis Dart / Plaxton P120 GSR) has gone to its new home with North Western Bus and Coach, aka Blue Bus.

The second Dart has been collected and sent to CSG in Chesterfield for painting and should be in service in the new year.

Colin Sellers adds on 14 December: Here's a couple of pix to illustrate Dennis's piece on Hulley's blinds.

Dart No 2 showing it's new electronic destination display. Photographed on Route 89 at Barlow on the 27th November 2009.

Dart No 19 (old) with it's winder blind. photographed on, Fridays only, Route 276, photographed leaving Chesterfield on its return journey to Castleton also on 27th November 2009.

Colin Sellers writes on 11 December 2009: Here's a pic of Chesterfield's new bus.

This was on the road in Chesterfield today still bearing Stagecoach Sheffield vinyls, after being transferred from Holbrook Depot. It is seen on Route 6, which is usually worked by an Optare Solo. This vehicle was one of a batch new to Yorkshire Terrier when it was 132.

Hi there,

I wonder whether anybody in Transpire can help me.

I am currently writing a series of articles about Routemasters for the RMOOA (Routemaster Association). This may evolve into a book.

So my ask is: Does anybody have any good quality hi-res colour e-photographs of my three RMs that were resident for a while at East Midland c1990? In particular RM652 on tours to the Peak District and at Christmas time. Also RM10 and RMF 2809.

Your help would be appreciated.

Regards, George Watson

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive, Brian Souter, said:

We have performed well in the face of the continuing challenging economic environment and increased cost pressures. This performance has been achieved by providing safe, high quality, value-for-money bus and rail travel.

We have successfully taken action to control costs across the Group. We have also taken steps within our bus operations to match our transport services to changing levels of demand.

The Group is in a strong financial position with a balanced portfolio of businesses that will allow us to trade through the current economic cycle and we are well-positioned to benefit from future economic recovery. We believe our strategy of targeting organic growth in our greener smarter public transport services builds on the firm foundations of our business and will help ensure we continue to deliver long-term value to our shareholders.

We have made a good start to the second half of our financial year and current trading remains in line with management expectations.

Part of the statement from Chairman Robert Speirs:

Our strong management action to proactively control costs and match our transport services to changing levels of demand has delivered a more efficient operation. At the same time, we have benefited from effective partnership working with Government and other key stakeholders and we have made significant payments to the Department for Transport ("DfT") through our successful rail franchises.

We believe our long-term strategy of targeting organic growth in our greener smarter public transport services, combined with the strong financial position of the Group and the flexibility within our portfolio, will ensure that our business has a firm foundation for the future and is well positioned to benefit when the economy recovers.

The Group has achieved further revenue growth despite the challenging macro-economic environment affecting the transport sector. Revenue for the six months ended 31 October 2009 was £1,081.4m (2008: £1,045.0m). Total operating profit (before intangible asset expenses and exceptional items) was £93.5m (2008: £119.8m). The reduction in operating profit includes the effects of rail franchise premia payments, and increased fuel and pension costs. Earnings per share before intangible asset expenses and exceptional items were 9.0p (2008: 12.1p).

Our flexible UK bus operations, which have achieved sector-leading growth for several years, have proved resilient in the face of the economic downturn. Our value pricing strategy, combined with continued fleet investment and innovative marketing campaigns, has delivered further revenue growth. We have also taken targeted steps to match supply to demand, while ensuring we maintain an attractive network of bus services for our passengers.

Bristols are back, or at least one of them is.

After several months absence it was nice to see the trusty Bristol VR back on the streets of Chesterfield. Today Johnson (Redfern) ODL 663R turned up on the Mecca Bingo contract and no doubt linked in with the route 149 St.Mary's School contract at either end of the day. The vehicle originated with the Southern Vectis company on the Isle of Wight in 1976 during the National Bus Company era.

It appears there has been a slight change to the timetable of Veolia Dunn Line D5, the Friday only service bringing in shoppers to Chesterfield from the Nottingham and Mansfield area. From 27 November 2009, having passed through Pleasley on the Nottinghamshire / Derbyshire border it heads off the main road to Upper Pleasley, then doubles back to New Houghton (and presumably Stony Houghton) before rejoining the A617 for Glapwell and Chesterfield.

Upper Pleasley, with many new houses, has not been served by buses since the 53 (Mansfield to Sheffield) was speeded up by losing several deviations a few months ago.

New timetable (PDF) is HERE

A couple of shots from Chesterfield on 30 November 2009.

A stray Olympian on loan to Worksop depot works the route 77.

A Castle Line branded Enviro 300 works the route 74. At least someone made an effort, now there's only 3 buses per hour.

This appeared in Chesterfield today (1 December) on the 77 operated by Worksop depot. An East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian, one of six new to Road Car in 1997. The "strays" appear to be at Worksop because the ex "Brookes Bus" Tridents have been loaned to Lincoln to operate shuttles during the Christmas Markets.

At the TRANSPIRE meeting tonight, Paul Beardsley presented an interesting slideshow of the variety of buses run by South Yorkshire PTE for the ten years following its inauguration in 1974.

Because of serious family illness, Chris Corroy was still unable to complete the Newssheet. However, members should receive their copy through the post within the next two weeks.

As in previous years, there is a one sheet 2010 Calendar now available free of charge for all TRANSPIRE members. It contains pictures of two buses with a Chesterfield connection, provided by Neville Whitmore. Watch out for more information of these buses very soon in Neville's Notes on this website. One in particular is very intriguing!

Note that the above mentioned calendar is different from the far more comprehensive Calendar advertised on this website for two pounds. This one contains 15 colour pictures and must be ordered and paid for by 9 December for UK Christmas delivery.

The Chesterfield 123 Preservation Group are running two trips in December. For details, CLICK. They also have for sale Christmas cards (75p each) with a superb picture of their preserved fleet lined up at the 2009 June Chatsworth Rally.

Found this Optare Solo outside Dents the Chemists in the Chesterfield Market Square today promoting MacMillan Cancer Support. There was no legal lettering visible and having checked on the Bus List Website am unable to provide details of ownership. However, it looks very nice in the livery and is well kitted out inside. However, going by the registration I assume that it must have been produced from September 2007 to March 2008, but as a non-PCV vehicle.

I was in town earlier today when I saw this thirty nine Solo, on the route 44 to Sheffield. At least the service ran, any bus is better than none.

Saturday 14 November 2009:
Chesterfield traffic chaos

Colin Sellers writes:On Saturday, 14th November, I walked to the main road for the to 10-20am route 77 to Chesterfield. The traffic towards Staveley was at a crawl, and towards Chesterfield was exceptionally heavy. I waited over ten minutes and caught the 10-05 route 70. This was approximately twenty five minutes late, I asked what the problem was, and was told that the M1 was closed J29 to J30. There was also a set of traffic lights in Staveley that were letting only a few cars through at a time. The traffic was tailed back to Mastin Moor. Afternoon, I went to Beetwell Street for a bus, any bus, home. About 20 passengers were waiting and someone said that there hadn't been a bus to Inkersall for over an hour and that buses kept going past with not in service on the front.

I saw a 77 on West Bars, when he arrived at the stop I went to board the bus to be told by the driver that he wouldn't be dropping off passengers before Hodthorpe. He told me that he had taken over three hours to get to Chesterfield. I told him that there hadn't been a bus for over an hour. He made the decision to carry passengers on the way back to Worksop. it was slow going and from Tapton bus gate it was a bumper to bumper crawl. The driver did well, I got off, at my stop having taken just over an hour from Chesterfield, usually a seventeen minute journey. Thanks to the Worksop driver who went the extra mile for his passengers.

From 'The Star' . . . at 7.30am on Saturday morning both lanes of the M1 were closed for hours when a white Ford Transit panel van was in collision with a DAF tipper lorry between junctions 29 and 29a on the north bound carriageway.
A 22-year-old man who was driving the Transit died at the scene.
None of the victims of the three accidents has yet been named . . . The accidents led to complete chaos for drivers using or attempting to access or exit the M1.

To read more CLICK HERE and HERE: This report from the Sheffield Telegraph also has a picture of a bus in an accident in Sheffield and a report of another accident in Chesterfield.

David Gambles writes: For some reason the most recent deliveries of MAN single deck Enviro 300 vehicles to local Stagecoach companies seem to have been wrongly described as 'MAN Lion’s City' vehicles. I have been in discussion with Tony Griffiths of MAN Bus & Coach UK who has confirmed that Lion’s City vehicles are fully integral buses supplied by MAN and do not involve third party body builders and are never sold in the UK. I have included a picture of a Lion’s City bus that I took at the recent European Bus & Coach Show in Kortrijk to illustrate the vehicle.

According to the MAN website the Stagecoach vehicles should be designated 18.240 or A69, both terms being used in press releases and advertising. See HERE and HERE.

A publication by British Bus Publishing entitled 'Stagecoach Bus Handbook' has wrongly listed the vehicles as Lion’s City thus adding to the confusion.

My concern is that this incorrect information will be taken as read and in time will be believed to be correct so we should ensure that any future reference to the Enviro 300 vehicles refers to MAN A69 or 18.240 chassis. A quick search of Stagecoach fleet lists for other areas, for example Stagecoach in Oxfordshire will confirm the correct terminology and also the following link will allow a download of Stagecoach fleet allocations for the South Yorkshire area including Barnsley and Holbrook, which correctly refers to MAN 18.240 A69. (HERE)

Hope this information is of interest. Photographs further down the page

Christopher Strong adds: In relation to the MAN 18.240 A69 buses, A69 is the actual MAN type designation for these vehicles. The MAN system of 18.240 is formulated to indicate axle weight, engine bhp, ie in this case 18 tonne chassis with 240BHP engine. All of the 22xxx and new 24xxx series MAN single deckers with Stagecoach are the A69 type and they have the designation 18.220 for the older batches and 18.240 for euro 4 onwards. Abroad I have even come accross 18.310 A69's.

The Enviro 200 bodied MAN's operated by Stagecoach are type A66 - 14.240. The chassis has existed for quite a while and has been bodied also by MCV and East Lancs and there are some A66 14.220 about.

The Reading Buses double decker is type A48 with the designation 18.240. The designation thus matches the single deckers but is not the same chassis.

On your webmaster checking if he had correctly described Stagecoach 22778 as 18.240 A69 (above), Christopher replied:

Yes 18.240 A69 is correct. The type can be determined from the chassis number also. In the case of 22778 the chassis number is WMAA69ZZ99C013269

This can be broken down on the standard 17 digit VIN system to:

WMA            World Manufacturer Identify
A69              Chassis Type
ZZ                Unknown
9                  Check Digit
9C                Unknown
013269        Chassis Number

So now you know! Oliver. Seriously, thank you gentleman for widening our education (well, mine anyway)
Oh dear it gets even more confusing . . .

Keith Rapley adds: (on 25 November 2009) Yes 18.240 A69 is correct. The type can be determined from the chassis number also. In the case of 22778 the chassis number is WMAA69ZZ99C013269

This can be broken down on the standard 17 digit VIN system to:

WMA         World Manufacturer Identify
A69           Chassis Type
ZZ             Unknown
9               Check Digit
9C             Unknown
013269     Chassis Number

'ZZ' is filler, it has no meaning.
'9C' shouldn't be taken together. The 9 indicates the production year, which in this case runs from late 2008 to late 2009. The C indicates the production line the chassis was built on. MAN produce chassis in Germany, Poland and Turkey with more than one factory in each country and more than one production line in some factories.
'013269' isn't really the chassis number; it means that it's the 13,269th chassis built on production line C. To further confuse matters, MAN allocate a 'series' number for each type, such that the first A69 was A69-0001 and so on. This number is sometimes shown on the chassis plate but often missing. The earliest A69 types for Stagecoach have the number in the VIN because it appeared there in the time prior to MAN introducing the Check Digit and Production Year digits to the VIN. For example, 22252 (V252 ESX) of Fife Scottish has VIN WMAA690225H000422, indicating it is the 225th A69 built and the 422nd chassis of any type built on the production line coded H.

The Lion's City model (A21) is not available in the UK, as stated, but it has a close cousin, the A22, which is a chassis intended for bodying by other than MAN. In N273F form it appears under the Wright Meridian bodywork and around 40 of this combination have been sold in the UK so far. It's a more sophisticated (and expensive) beast than the A69.

This appears to be too much for poor Neville CLICK

Tony Wilson adds: Adding to David's piece as regards any misunderstanding over vehicle descriptions, I notice for many years now that the British Bus Publications insist on the use of the term 'N' as a vehicle descriptor to distinguish between a step-entrance and a low floor vehicle. It appears strange to me that they are at odds with most others such as Ian Allan Buses, LOTS, PSV Circle, etc. For example in the description of a single-deck bus as B41F, whereas BBP use the term N41F, a double-decker H41/25F becomes N41/25F with BBP.

I presume that the letter 'N' derives from the German translation of low-floor bus "Niedrigstockbus".

But this is England and I am not getting all Nationalistic over this, but for umpty-um years we have used the terms as already indicated without too much problem. To me it just seems that one set of publications has to be at odds with the majority.

Launched on September 9 2009, this website was visited the one thousanth time sometime during November 6, having been running less than two months. Up to November 7, 559 visitors had made 1032 visits, staying on average 4 minutes and 7 seconds per visit (Source: Google Analytics). I reckon that is good going for a site starting from scratch with a new domain name.

I would like to thank the small band of enthusiasts who have regularly sent in photographs and material for me to put online. It seems people like what you are producing!

May I urge others who have information (however brief) or photographs to share to get in touch. I look forward to you CONTACTING me very soon.

Below is the 1805 departure from Chesterfield to Matlock on Sunday 25 October 2009 (a wet and blustery evening. At least there is one passenger!) The journey is worked by Trentbarton 447 FE02 KDO. Trentbarton has won the tender (which is worked in with 140 and 6.1) from Stagecoach in Chesterfield. Is this the first Trent bus on the Chesterfield to Matlock route? Has Trent ever before run tendered journeys from Chesterfield?**

**Ian Moorcroft writes: "At deregulation in 1986 Trent operated journeys through Chesterfield on the X44 (Sheffield - Chesterfield - Derby - Leicester) jointly with East Midland so the 17 journeys are possibly not the first Trent tendered journeys if this counts."

Anybody know anything about the X44? Was it tendered? If so by whom? It goes through a lot of local authority areas! Please CONTACT us.

Ian writes again 16:32 31 October: "It was tendered, I was in the schedules office at East Midland at the time and remember having to reschedule Chesterfield depot very close to the witching hour when this tender came in."

That sounds conclusive. I would be interested to see the timetable. Anybody got one? Oliver

Yes! Email from Phil Groocock:
"I notice on the excellent new Transpire website that you are asking if anyone has a copy of the timetable for service X44 which DCC introduced at deregulation. The answer is yes, I do - see below.

The service was introduced by DCC at deregulation to replace service 244 and bits of other services that no-one had registered commercially, and to try and offer a fast north-south service across the County, including a link to EMA. It was a good idea and probably ahead of its time, but unfortunately it was just too tightly timed and every time the M1 clogged up, the timetable just fell to bits and so customers gave up on it.

It obviously needed an extra bus in the system but the passenger loadings didn't justify it, so it was quietly dropped after less than a year of operation. It was several years before Trent realised the potential of a fast service between Derby and Chesterfield and introduced the Red Arrow, but the opportunity for better links to the airport from points beyond Derby has yet to be realised."

Unusual bus* (Notts & Derby) on Trentbarton's Transpeak. Photographed at Matlock Railway Station on Saturday 17 October making the 1237 to Buxton (but running about 20 minutes late)

*John Curtis adds (18 November 2009): The use of NDT B10B/NC on the Transpeak service is not really unusual. Coming back from Manchester via the A6 on 1/11 we passed two of these at least one of which was going through to Manchester (unless it was swapped over at Doveholes when it got there) and Sundays seem to generally produce one on here around teatime ex Derby. I often wonder if that is a positioning journey for the following week.

Trentbarton 610 FJ03 VVY left Victoria Bus Station, Nottingham at 0005 with 16 passengers. This journey has run for some months as far as Mansfield but is now extended to Chesterfield. Normal fares apply on this journey certainly as far as Mansfield but the driver was unsure whether after Mansfield it is normal fares or a flat £3.50 (he thought the ticket machine had not been programmed correctly). My senior citizen free pass was accepted as was my companion's return ticket.

In Mansfield Bus Station we met Trentbarton 612 FJ03 VWA, having made the 0005 departure from Chesterfield for Nottingham. Just one passenger alighted in Mansfield and none got on for Nottingham. This is the first time buses in the early hours have run in service from Mansfield to Nottingham. It seems strange that Pronto's use Mansfield Bus Station when all the other Mansfield 'early hours' services load in Clumber Street, in the heart of the night clubs and under police supervision.

We left Mansfield with just the two of us aboard. Upon arrival at Chesterfield Coach Station, it is disappointing that nobody was waiting for the bus to make the 0135 departure back to Nottingham. There is a further departure at 0300 running just to Mansfield (but your webmaster is far too decrepit to stay up to that time!).

As far as I can gather, normal fares are charged on the 0005 from Notingham, but on all other departures after midnight there is a flat fare of £5 between Nottingham and Mansfield or Chesterfield, and £3.50 between Chesterfield and Mansfield. No free passes or Megariders etc. are accepted on those journeys. Note that the departures from Nottingham at 0130 (to Chesterfield) and 0300 (Mansfield only) start from outside Boots, not the Bus Station.

Perhaps when people get to know about these enterprising extra journeys they will generate more passengers. They feature on the departure board in Chesterfield Coach Station but are not mentioned, at the time of writing, in Victoria Bus Station, Nottingham.

By clicking on the RSS symbol on the left, to be found at the top of most of the website pages, you can quickly see and link to those pages which have recently been updated. If you wish, you can set up an RSS feed to your web browser so you may quickly check whether the website has been updated without opening it. Hope this helps!

On studying the Derbyshire County Council bus timetables (CLICK) I noted the following changes (though I may have missed something!):

5 Chesterfield-Newbold circular: Mon-Sat journeys after 1900 withdrawn

10 Chesterfield-Newbold circular: Mon-Fri one early morning journey withdrawn; Sat reduction in service before 0900 and between 1700 & 1800

17 Chesterfield-Matlock-(Ashbourne): No change to timetable but two Sun evening tendered journeys have been taken over by Trentbarton from Stagecoach!

25, 50, 99 New Whittington-Chesterfield-Holymoorside-(Sheffield): Mon-Fri one early morning journey withdrawn; Sat reduced service before 1000 and between 1600 & 1800

39 Holme Hall-Chesterfield-Grangewood Park: Mon-Fri slightly reduced frequency between 1600 & 1730; Sat reduced frequency before 1000 and between 1445 & 1730

43, 44, 44A Chesterfield-Sheffield: Mon-Sat minor timing changes (from 31 October 2009)

51 Chesterfield-Danesmoor: Mon-Fri slightly reduced service before 0830 and between 1730 & 1800; Sat reduced frequency before 0900 and between 1630 & 1830; Sun frequency between 0900 & 1730 reduced from half-hourly to hourly

54 Chesterfield-Clay Cross: Sat reduced frequency before 0830 and between 1700 & 1830

66 Chesterfield-Buxton: A few minor changes. It appears some journeys are now run commercially by TM Travel

70 Chesterfield-Killamarsh: Mon-Sat changes to timings

74 Chesterfield-Staveley: Mon-Sat daytime frequency reduced from 15 mins to 20 mins

82, 83 Chesterfield-Bolsover-Langwith: Sat timings before 0800 revised and reduced

PRONTO Chesterfield-Nottingham: Journeys added between Nottingham-Mansfield-Chesterfield inthe early hours of Sat & Sun mornings - see further down page (from 16 October)

It has always been a problem arriving at the poorly situated Victoria Bus Station in Nottingham by Pronto or Red Arrow and having to get down to Broadmarsh Bus Station, perhaps for a National Express coach, or to the railway station, both on the other side of the City Centre.

The problem is no more! Amazingly, Trentbarton has introduced a FREE shuttle named CENTRELINK every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm. The coat of arms on the route liveried buses suggests that Nottingham City Council is footing the bill.