I am pleased to say that a January 2010 news sheet was given out to TRANSPIRE members present at last night's meeting (26 January 2010). It is perhaps the most up to date news sheet ever (in fact it contains details of the renumbering of the TM fleet under Wellglade control, and as yet some vehicles have still to receive their new numbers!) Without the help of our web master, Oliver Foreman, then it would have been unlikely that a News sheet would have been produced so I would like to express Transpire's thanks to him for his efforts.

Those members who were not present at the meeting can expect to receive their News sheet over the next few days. Plans are in hand to post them out this weekend, together with any remaining calendars.

It is still hoped that over the next few months, Chris Corroy will produce the missing news sheets from last year, parts of which have already been prepared, as "historical documents" and these too will be sent to members as soon as they are published. Members are thanked for their ongoing patience in this matter.

With all these photographs of Peakbus in the mid 1990's hitting the website (HERE) I thought it was time to remind ourselves what happened.

Peakbus was formed in August 1993 by a couple of enthusiasts, David Seddon and David Milson, whose names were on the licence. The legal address was Bushbury near Wolverhampton which was believed to be the home village of the owners. The first vehicle owned was an ECW bodied Bristol LHS6L which had been new to Western National (FDV 786V). It was very smartly turned out in a maroon, yellow and cream livery (see below) and from September 1993 was used on a school service between Calow and Brimington. My first contact with them was during the Christmas period 1993 when they operated journeys under contract on service 141 between Clay Cross and Mansfield. They certainly gave a very professional appearance with a driver, conductor in uniform (a very nice dog) and a hand held electronic ticket machine (I stand to be corrected, but it looked similar to those used by conductors on Blackpool trams).

A commercial service was started in March 1994 between Chesterfield and Newbold numbered 27 which was operated until the end of operations in March 1996. Another interesting service started in March 1995 was the 55 to North Wingfield which did a terminal loop around the Alma Estate. For most of the time this latter service carried a conductor, a duty on which several current Transpire members were employed, but this service ceased in December after operations had become rather erratic. Various other services were operated including a second commercial service to Newbold (29) and various school services together with some short lived services to places as far apart as Buxton and Doncaster!

The pictures show the vast array of vehicles operated, and during the time of operations enthusiasts from all over the country came to Chesterfield to see them. Some of the vehicles were on hire from other operators or dealers and only a relatively small number received the attractive livery.

The end came in March 1996 after various problems with Traffic Commisioners, Vehicle Inspectorate and other authorities which I felt was very sad after such a promising beginning.