First of all, some minibuses. In 2001 the daytime 95 (Mansfield-Sutton-Tibshelf-Chesterfield) was commercial by Trent, but Mansfield Stagecoach depot provided the tendered evening and Sunday service, linked in with the 97A (Chesterfield-Pilsley-Alfreton). The 95 no longer runs. Stagecoach East Midland took over the whole service from Trent and withdrew it after modifying the 96 to cover some of the route. There is no longer a direct connection between Sutton and Chesterfield, and where this picture is taken (between Huthwaite and Newton on the county boundary) is no longer served.

The busy 1 and 2 (Woodhouse-Mansfield-Sutton-Huthwaite) was normally covered by 'big' buses, but this ex-Chesterfield Transport Mercedes was working the route on this occasion. If they HAD to drive a minibus, drivers tended to prefer these Chesterfield ones (they seemed smoother), though most drivers detested ANY minibus! There are none these days with Stagecoach in Mansfield. 94 stands in Huthwaite Market.

This Mansfield based minibus, waiting time in West Bars, Chesterfield, would have come in from Mansfield on the 95A. Soon it will pull up to the stop and set off for Alfreton. The route from Chesterfield to North Wingfield was changed constantly, causing many a driver to puzzle over maps and get lost on housing estates! More of this below.

For a time, TM Travel won the tendered evening journeys from Manfield to Sheffield via you name it-it goes there. Both the commercial and tendered journeys are now covered by Stagecoach Mansfield. Recently the route has been speeded up by missing out most of the numerous deviations - good news for long distance passengers (especially as this is the only through route from Mansfield to Sheffield, since the then 747 was cut back to terminate in Chesterfield) but tough for the residents of, for instance, Upper Pleasley. They are now over a mile from a bus route.

ABOVE & BELOW: Another ex-Chesterfield Transport Mercedes working from Mansfield depot. In those days the 10 (Mansfield-Warsop-Edwinstowe) was a commercial service with impossibly fast timings, though not normally worked by a minibus. Above, the bus is outside Meden School, Warsop and below at the Edwinstowe terminus, Lansbury Road (now unserved). These days, the service is tendered and follows a revised route. It is one of the few tendered routes worked by Stagecoach Mansfield.

This picture taken in Mansfield bus station proves that Trent provided the 95 to Chesterfield in 2001. I cannot remember why the daytime service was 95 whereas the tendered one was 95A.

Another TM Travel leaving Mansfield Bus Station on its meandering evening tendered journey to Sheffield.

Yet another ex Chesterfield Transport Mercedes working from Mansfield depot, this time on a 'proper' minibus route. (8 Sutton-Skegby-Rannoch Drive-Ladybrook-Mansfield-Berry Hill-Bellamy Road). This picture is taken in Sutton Bus Station. The section between Sutton and Mansfield is now withdrawn and the rest is covered by Veolia on tendered 17/18.

Most definitely New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield! This Mansfield based Mercedes waits time for the journey to Alfreton. At one time the route was via Hasland; then a deviation via Spital was introduced, then it was changed to Derby Road, Tupton, Wingfield Road and Station Road to St Lawrence Road, North Wingfield, then it was decided to go straight on at Tupton, down and up a steep hill to Grassmoor, then turn right for North Wingfield - all very confusing for drivers unfamiliar with the area. The final straw for us Nottinghamshire drivers was when one journey was diverted via Wingerworth. Time for Chesterfield depot to cover its own dirty work!

What a handsome vehicle (why Barton?) for the 141 (now 241) to Clay Cross! This route is constantly cut down (now no evening or Sunday service) with a recently added housing estate to negotiate at Stanton Hill, within the same running time. I fear withdrawal is imminent.

ABOVE & BELOW: Both photographs taken in Mansfield Bus Station. Chesterfield depot of East Midland did the hourly daytime 737 short working from Chesterfield to Mansfield (above) and Trentbarton covered the through bus to Nottingham. East Midland (Chesterfield and Mansfield) provided vehicles for the 747 (Nottingham-Mansfield-direct to Chesterfield via Hasland bypass-Sheffield- Meadowhall), later cut back to Chesterfield and then (under the PRONTO name) sadly withdrawn altogether

New to Mansfield depot, this low floor Dart is now based at Chesterfield. Here it is nearly new at Sherwood Forest Visitors Centre on a late Sunday evening journey, long after the day trippers have gone home. (In those days this service even ran to the Visitors Centre on mid Winter Sunday nights, in pitch darkness!)

Mansfield Bus Station again and another Trent 95 heads for Sutton and Chesterfield (but alas no more)

Though the daytime 53 (Mansfield-Fairholme Drive-Upper Pleasley-New Houghton-Scarcliffe-Palterton-Bolsover-Shuttlewood-Stanfree-Clowne-Barlborough-Renishaw-Eckington-Windmill Greenway-Mosborough-Manor Top-Sheffield) was worked by Mansfield vehicles, Chesterfield covered a morning journey to Mansfield and (shown here) an afternoon departure from Mansfield, worked in with a college run and the 737. Many considered these Tigers solid work horses, though the only time I drove one (loaned to Mansfield from Chesterfield) the gears failed!

This 141 will have started its journey in Clay Cross and is now leaving Mansfield for a meandering drive to Nottingham.

This 747 will reach Nottingham very much more quickly than the 141 above! It will have started its journey at Meadowhall, then through Sheffield and Chesterfield to Mansfield. Happy days!

Evening in New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield. Two Darts: the Chesterfield based one heads for Sheffield while the other heads home to Mansfield

Mansfield depot used to cover the 141 (later 241) on Sundays, now a Monday to Saturday only Trent route. In Clay Cross Market Street, a Chesterfield minibus working the 244 overtakes. This route too, I think, is now withdrawn.