‘Scene’ in Derby on ‘trentbarton’s service H1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It seems hard to believe that its now 4 months since I last visited Derby with buses in mind.

 

However it was changes to the buses on the H1 that I had observed that required investigating.

 

Service H1 which links Derby to Heanor and hourly on to Alfreton goes back some years but since January 2014 it had been the exclusive preserve of a small fleet of Optare Versa’s.

 

These were launched to the public in Derby’s Market Place on the 11th of January that year.

 

Numbered  828 to 832 and registered YD63 VCV/W/X/Y and Z.

 

I digress slightly at this stage. 

 

Regular readers may remember my blog of 28th. Of March 2020 in which I was sad to report the ending of ‘trentbarton’s rapid1 service to Nottingham.

 

The two regular route branded Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse’s used on that route were FJ08 WHR No. 726 and  FJ08 WHS No. 727. (See blog dated 28/03/2020 for an illustration).

 

During a number of visits to Derby’s hospitals in recent weeks, I had seen both of these buses now running in H1 livery.

 

At the same time I cannot recall seeing any of the Versa’s in service.

 

It would seem possible that the Volvo’s have replaced the Versa’s although I could be wrong.

 

If I am correct then replacing six year old buses with twelve year old buses does not bode well for the future of the six year old ones.

 

Time will tell !

 

YD63 VCZ ‘trentbarton’ No. 832 (and others) ‘Heanor’sH1. Optare Versa

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

FJ08 WHR‘trentbarton’ No. 726 ‘Heanor’sH1. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

 

 

 

 

FJ08 WHS‘trentbarton’ No. 727 ‘Heanor’sH1. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

FJ08 WHS‘trentbarton’ No. 727 ‘Heanor’sH1. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

FJ09 BXM‘trentbarton’ No. 732 ‘Heanor’sH1. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

FJ08 WHR‘trentbarton’ No. 726 ‘Heanor’sH1. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

It has been the norm to put different ‘messages’ on the rear of H1 buses so I include the rear end of FJ08 WHR No. 726 for completeness sake.

 

‘Scene’ in Edinburgh 3, ‘Coaches’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Edinburgh attracts coaches like moths to a flame. This selection is but a small sample of what was on view.

 

Unfortunately I was pushed for time. My 4 and a half hour train journey North had turned into an 8 hour marathon !!

 

To be fair, I applied to ‘Northern Rail’s delay, repay scheme and got the whole of the fare I had payed back.

 

BN66 GAL ‘Galleon 2009’, Roydon, Essex. VDL FDD2-141/510 / VDL

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YJ64 AUR ‘Stagecoach West Scotland’ No. 50313 ‘citylinkgold’. Van Hool TDX29 Astromega

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

YR17 RHE ‘Edinburgh Coach Lines’ No. 810. Scania K420EB6 / Irizar i6

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

In basic ’citylinkgold’ livery without the branding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BK14 LDU ‘Thomas of Rhondda’. Mercedes-Benz OC500RF / Caetano Levante

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ in Chesterfield. ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

I was in Chesterfield primarily to collect images of ‘Stagecoach’s new local livery which subsequently appeared in my blog posted on 17/07/2020.

 

Naturally, anything else that turns up that is of interest gets recorded.

 

Hulleys have been serving Chesterfield for longer than I can remember.

 

As befits a small independent fleet there is always something of interest. 

 

The first thing that struck me was the company title and the strapline it carries.

 

In recent times, the company had been mixing lower case and upper case lettering in the title (see my blog posted 05/01/2020) which to me looked wrong. 

 

However someone in the company must have had similar thoughts because it has been changed and to it a strapline has been added reading,

 

       Hulleys of Baslow

                    Proudly serving the Peak District since 1921

 

Now that is a title to be proud of.

 

Well done Hulleys.

 

YJ60 KGO ‘Hulleys of Baslow No. 5. Optare Versa V1110

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Richmond’, Epsom as No. OVO7 and as it was for service in the London area is fitted with the required two doors.

 

 

 

YX09 HZJ ‘Hulleys of Baslow No. 7. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Dunn Line’, Heanor, Derbyshire as No. 0909.

 

Formerly with ‘Tate’s Travel’ and 'Veolia England’.

 

 

 

 

YJ07 PCF ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 16. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Lancashire United’ as No. 1828.

 

 

 

 

SN55 HSX‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 14. Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer  

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Manchester Airport’.

 

It came from ‘Yellow Buses’, Bournemouth where it was No. 511.

 

I don’t know why it should be but on the day I saw it it was extremely noisy being audible over 100 yards away.

 

 

 

 

MX09 AOF ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 9. Optare Solo M880SL

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

‘Scene’ in Chesterfield. ‘Stagecoach’s Earlier Livery on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I was in Chesterfield primarily to collect images of ‘Stagecoach’s new local livery which subsequently appeared in my blog posted on 17/07/2020.

 

Naturally, anything else that turns up that is of interest gets recorded.

 

Now whilst I am a fan of the new livery, I don’t think that there is a lot wrong with the old one particularly when it is advert or route branding free.

 

YX66 WDF ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 10663. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro400MMC

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN58 CEK ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 22643. MAN 18.240 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 300

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN06 UGU ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 47322. Optare Solo M850.

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN64 XTB ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 15175 ‘Aspire 77’. Scania N230UD / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

YY16 YJN ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 26083 ’54’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200MMC

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

I think that the branding intrudes on the livery and what makes it worse is that the bus is not working on the route it is branded for.

 

‘Scene’ in Chesterfield. Stagecoach’s new local livery on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I have seen a number of illustrations of the ‘Stagecoach’ groups new local livery. 

 

I have also read a number of reviews that do not like it so I decided to go and see for myself.

 

The first impression is that it is light and bright. It will take some keeping clean.

 

The second is that I like the use of only two colours on the front.

 

I particularly like the back end treatment although there would appear to be an element of experiment.

 

Some buses having the word ‘Stagecoach’ standing alone on the rear panel whilst others have it in a box with a white border. Both are illustrated.

 

I like the continued use of the ‘Beachball’ emblem  which relates back to the old livery albeit with the new colours.

 

YN12 GYU ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 15829. Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400 /1 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN12 GYU ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 15829. Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400 /2 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN12 GYO ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 15824. Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400  

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

SF10 CDN ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 15645. Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400  

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

YN08 JHJ ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 22628. MAN 18.240LF / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300 /1  

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN08 JHJ ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 22628. MAN 18.240LF / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300 /2  

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YN08 JHJ ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 22628. MAN 18.240LF / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300 /3 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YY16 YJM ‘Yorkshire Traction’ No. 26082. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200MMC

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ on the ‘West Somerset Railway’ (WSR) 3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The ‘WSR’ at 20 miles, is the longest ‘Heritage’ steam railway in England. 

 

Running from Taunton to Watchet originally and then being extended to the terminus at Minehead.

 

Minehead these days is the main operating base and there is a Museum and some rolling stock storage at Washford which is well worth a visit.

 

For ‘WSR’ part 1 see blog posted 02/06/2020 and for part 2 see blog posted 07/06/2020.

 

W51859 ‘West Somerset Railway’. Derby built Class 115 DMU

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

A 3 car set completed by vehicles 57679 and 51880.

 

Pictured leaving Watchet.

 

 

 

4 ‘Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway’ (S&DJR) 6 wheel passenger coach

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally built on the S&DJR at Highbridge in 1886. 

 

It ran in service until 1929 when the body became a cricket pavilion at Templecombe for over 50 years before being preserved and rebuilt.

 

Pity about the lamp post !

 

Pictured at Washford.

 

 

 

W3450W ‘West Somerset Railway’. Former GWR Fruit D

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

The paintwork was a disappointment in that as can be seen in the image the paint has not been brushed into the grooves between the planks leaving natural wood or undercoat ‘stripes’.

 

Dapol have produced a model of this van in OO gauge which are available in the shop.

 

They have got the paintwork right !

 

Pictured at Washford.

 

 

 

W3450W ‘West Somerset Railway’. Model of former GWR Fruit D

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

As noted ‘Dapol’s model of the GWR Fruit D in 00 gauge. 

 

My model is No. 32 of 105 produced.

 

 

 

424123 ‘West Somerset Railway’. 4 plank former ‘LNER’wagon 

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Built to an earlier ‘Great Northern Railway’ design.

 

Pictured at Washford.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Edinburgh 2. ‘citylink’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Scottish Citylink ‘ to give its full title is a long distance coaching operation jointly owned and run by ‘ComfortDelGro’ and ‘Stagecoach’.

 

It works very much the same way that ‘national express’ does in England in that the vehicles are owned by the various companies and are contracted to 

‘Scottish Citylink’.

 

All the vehicles I saw were working to and from Edinburgh Bus Station.

 

CN60 FFR ‘Stagecoach Western’ No. 54101 ‘citylink’. Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Panther /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Red & White’ where it was part of the megabus.com fleet.

 

It then had a spell with ‘Stagecoach South’.

 

 

 

CN60 FFR ‘Stagecoach Western’ No. 54101 ‘citylink’. Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Panther /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Red & White’ where it was part of the megabus.com fleet.

 

It then had a spell with ‘Stagecoach South’.

 

 

 

 

KSK 979 ‘Parks of Hamilton’ ‘citylink. Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Elite /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The cherished registration has appeared on 7 previous Parks coaches.

 

 

 

 

KSK 979 ‘Parks of Hamilton’ ‘citylink. Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Elite /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

YX63 NGN ‘Stagecoach Western’ No. 54135 ‘citylink’. Volvo B13RT / Plaxton Panther

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSU 376 ‘Stagecoach East Scotland’ No. 54126 ‘citylink’. Volvo B13RT / Plaxton Panther

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

A cherished registration that has appeared before.

 

The coach was new registered SP62 CKJ to ‘Rennie’ (Dunfermline) who are part of the ‘Stagecoach’ group.

 

 

‘Scene’ on the ‘West Somerset Railway’ (WSR) part 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For part 1 see blog posted 02/06/20. 

 

The ‘WSR’ at 20 miles, is the longest ‘Heritage’ steam railway in England. 

 

Running from Taunton to Watchet originally and then being extended to the terminus at Minehead.

 

Minehead these days is the main operating base and there is a Museum and some rolling stock storage at Washford which is well worth a visit.

 

Minehead is also the location where all the images in this blog were taken.

 

7752 ‘Great Western Railway’ 57XX class 0-6-0T Pannier Tank /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Built by the ‘North British Locomotive Company Ltd’. Glasgow in 1930 for the ‘GWR’.

 

Sold to ‘London Transport’ in as No. L94 and withdrawn in 1971. Bought by 7029 Clun Castle group, it spent many years at Tyseley before coming to the WSR in 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

7752 ‘Great Western Railway’ 57XX class 0-6-0T Pannier Tank /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

579 ‘West Somerset Railway’ No.1. 0-4-0 Diesel Hydraulic shunter /1

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Built by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.Ltd., Kilmarnock, Scotland for the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bridgewater, Somerset in 1962.

 

It came to the ‘WSR’ in 1984.

 

 

 

 

 

579 ‘West Somerset Railway’ No.1. 0-4-0 Diesel Hydraulic shunter /2

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

579 Andrew Barclay builders plate on ‘West Somerset Railway’s No.1. Diesel Hydraulic shunter

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ at the ‘Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’ at Lathalmond. The Alexander ‘Y’ type Coach 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

In the early 1960’s the Walter Alexander Coachworks located in Falkirk were one of many companies in the UK supplying bus and coach bodies.

 

Much of their production stayed in Scotland but they had started to break into the market elsewhere in the UK.

 

However it was the coming of the 36ft coach chassis and the ‘Y’ type body that they built on it that boosted them into being a national supplier.

 

Many English operators bought this very stylish body with the panoramic, slightly raked forward windows.

 

Trent, North Western, Premier Travel of Cambridge and Sheffield Transport are just a handful of operators who bought them.

It was later reworked as a bus retaining the front and rear ends with eight vertical pillared windows immediately reducing the body from elegant to ordinary. See image below LMS 374W.

 

OSJ 629R ‘Western SMT’ No. 2629. Leyland Leopard / Alexander ‘Y’

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Wearing ‘Western SMT’s coaching livery.

 

 

 

GRS 343E ‘Alexander (Northern) No. 652 ’BLUEBIRD’ Albion Viking /  Alexander ‘Y’

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

EWS 168D Eastern Scottish No. XA168A. Bristol RELH6G / Alexander ‘Y’

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

CAS 519W ‘Highland Scottish’ No. L25. Leyland Leopard / Alexander ‘Y’

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

LMS 374W ‘Alexander Midland’ No. MPE374.  Leyland Leopard / Alexander ‘Y’

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

UPT 517 ‘Venture Transport’ Consett, Co. Durham No. 317. Leyland Leopard / Alexander ‘Y’

on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’