‘Scene’ at The Derbyshire Dales Bus Rally 3 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A new event organised by the ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’ (NHVC) who are based in the old TRENT garage at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

Friend Peter Rose and I ventured to the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley railway station in Derbyshire where the event was held.

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we gathered on the day. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

YRC 191 ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’.

Leyland Tiger Cub / Alexander

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Delivered to ‘Trent Motor Traction Co. Ltd’ in 1962 as part of a batch of 20 similar vehicles, 191 is fitted with a Dual Purpose (DP) body, which meant it was intended mainly for use on bus services, but fitted with more comfortable seats and a luggage boot it could be used on Express services to coastal resorts at weekends.

 

Part of the NHVC collection and used as the site control bus.

 

I was surprised to see that it has been stripped of its TRENT titling and fleet number.

 

 

 

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS Dual Purpose

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Part of the NHVC collection.

 

 

 

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S, Winson’, Loughborough.

Bedford YMT / Unicar Estoril (Spain) /1

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

 

I have seen this coach at Hucknall a number of times and I am assuming that it is part of the NHVC collection.

 

New to ‘Mood’, Shepshed, Leics.

 

 

 

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S, Winson’, Loughborough.

Bedford YMT / Unicar Estoril (Spain) /2

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

 

 

 

 

YN05 GZB ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’, notts+derby.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

New to ‘Felix’, Stanley, Derbys.

 

 

 

 

PRO 441W ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’, NATIONAL.

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Supreme IV

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

 

At some stage in its career, it was registered HIL 256.

 

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 5 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them now that the good weather has broken.

 

Nothing lasts for ever so it’s time to put away the open toppers for another year.

 

While there is seemingly an inexhaustible supply of open/part open top double deckers, the same cannot be said for the single deck equivalent.

 

Over many years, I have only come across a handful and here are three of them.

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Pictured in Oban, Scotland.

 

New registered R928 XVM to ‘Stagecoach Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /3

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

TDL 564K ‘Midland Vectis’.

Bristol RELL6G / Eastern Coach Works

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 864, Isle of Wight.

 

Rebuilt to part open top by ‘SV’ in 1986 where it worked on the IoW branded as the ‘Shanklin Pony’ for many years.

 

The last time I saw it was in the IoW bus museum at Newport where I presumed it would stay.

 

How it comes to be this far North I don’t know.

 

Pictured at Rowsley, the home of Peak Rail, Derbyshire at the inaugural rally of the Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity in June 2023.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /1

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

 

New to ’Maidstone & District’ No. SO26 in 1947.

 

Converted to open top by ‘M&D’ in 1958 as No. OR3.

 

Pictured at ‘SHOWBUS 2022’.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /3

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

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity (NHVC) 1’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The PSV Circle (of which I have been a member for some years) aims to hold an Annual General Meeting in a different location in the UK every year. (Covid permitting).

 

Usually held at a weekend, they also include visits to operators and other bus related venues for the attending members to visit and enjoy.

 

This year, the location was in my part of the world, the East Midlands.

 

The first visit was to the ‘NHVC’ which is based in what was the ‘Trent Motor Traction’ depot in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

The group have an excellent website which I would recommend to anyone requiring further details.

 

On the day, the ‘NHVC’ provided the transport to and from the ‘Holiday Inn’ at South Normanton where the event was being held.

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

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

 

One of five of the type purchased in 1995, it has been beautifully restored.

 

This was the transport to Hucknall.

 

 

 

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

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

 

 

 

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /3

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

 

 

 

 

YN05 WFE ‘Nottingham City Transport Ltd’. No. 676.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka /1

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

 

This was the transport on the return from Hucknall.

 

The between decks branding reads, 

 

    “1878    Celebrating 140 years      2018”

  of serving Nottingham 

 

This is not the first time this bus has appeared in my blog but having had the pleasure of riding on it, I make no apology for including it again.

 

 

 

 

YN05 WFE ‘Nottingham City Transport Ltd’. No. 676.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka /2

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

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 ‘Stagecoach’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The annual ‘Buses Festival’ in 2021 was held at the ‘East of England Showground’ which is near Peterborough.

 

An interesting selection where all the fleet liveries carried by ‘Stagecoach’ over the years were available in one place.

 

M202 LHP ‘Stagecoach MIDLAND RED’ No. 202.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS type

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

 

I liked the first ‘Stagecoach’ livery. 

 

Often referred to as the ‘Starsky and Hutch’ livery after the car used by two American detectives in the TV series of that name.

 

It was new, it was bright and It was smart when kept clean (which mostly it was). 

 

The other advantage was that it could not be mistaken for any other company.

 

New to ‘Stagecoach MIDLAND RED SOUTH’.

 

 

 

N215 TDU ‘Stagecoach MIDLAND RED SOUTH’ No. 20215

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS type /1

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

 

This livery became known as the ‘Beachball’ livery.

 

 

 

 

N215 TDU ‘Stagecoach MIDLAND RED SOUTH’ No. 20215

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS type /2

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

 

 

 

 

LX58 CCV ‘Stagecoach Thames Travel’ No. 36330.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

The latest livery, and considering the impending ‘merger’ with ‘national express’, probably not the last.

 

New to ‘Selkent’.

 

 

 

R542 GSF ‘Owner Not Known’ No. 52422.

Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere Interurban /1

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

 

Obviously from the livery, its layout and a ‘Stagecoach’ group fleet

number, it was formerly a ‘Stagecoach’ vehicle.

 

New, numbered 542 to ‘Fife Scottish’. 

 

More recently with ‘Stagecoach in Cambridge’.

 

 

 

 

 

R542 GSF ‘Owner Not Known’ No. 52422.

Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere Interurban /2

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

 

‘Scene’ Down Memory Lane once more in Sheffield part 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

On the 12th. of May 2013. ‘First South Yorkshire’ (FSY) organised a bus event to mark 100 years since the introduction of the motor bus in Sheffield.

 

It was held at ‘FSYs Olive Grove garage which is adjacent to the ‘Midland Main Line’ about half a mile to the South of Sheffield’s railway station. 

 

A stones throw from the garage is the site of what was Queens Road tram depot where many of Sheffields trams were built and housed.

 

What is now the bus parking area at Olive Grove for many years was home to ‘Sheffield United Tours’ fleet of luxury coaches which eventually passed to ‘National Travel East’.

 

A part of Sheffield then that is steeped in the city’s transport history.

 

At the time ‘FSY’ were phasing out the ‘Barbie’ livery and replacing it with the mixture of pale blues and greys that is fortunately being replaced as I write with something that harks back to ‘Sheffield Transport’s earlier livery. 

 

Google BD12 TCO to see an example or see page 12 in ‘Buses’ magazine for December 2020.

 

Apart from SYT’s current fleet there were samples of earlier Sheffield buses and a good selection of preserved buses.

 

These are the ‘Barbie’ liveried examples.

 

KKU 120W ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 30398. Dennis Dominator / Alexander ‘RH’ /1

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

 

It also carries the fleet No. 2120 and the garage code of HE which it carried when it was new to ‘South Yorkshire Transport’ (SYT).

 

The garage where it was based being Herries Road in Hillsborough, Sheffield.

 

This bus was the oldest of the type in Sheffield with 25 years of service recorded.

 

It also worked on the last day of Dominator operation in the city.

 

‘SYT and FSY’ were major users of the Dominator with over 300 delivered.

 

The plaque on the front panelling beneath the windscreen reads,

 

LAST DAY OF DENNIS DOMINATORS

IN SHEFFIELD AFTER 25 YEARS SERVICE

15/6/81 TO 25/6/06

 

 

 

KKU 120W ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 30398. Dennis Dominator / Alexander ‘RH’ /2

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

 

 

 

P609 WSU ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 31673. Volvo Olympian / Alexander Royale

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

 

New to ‘Strathclyde’ as No. VO127.

 

 

 

WU02 KVL ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 30570. Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400

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

 

New to ‘Sheffield Mainline’ as No. 2710.

 

 

 

 

 

 

H642 RKU ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 60487 ‘DRIVER INSTRUCTION VEHICLE’. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS

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

 

New to ‘South Yorkshire Transport’ as No. 642.

 

 

‘Scene’ at ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles’ Open Day /1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles’ premises are located in what was the bus garage of ‘Trent Motor Traction’ in the Nottinghamshire town of Hucknall.

 

A small but busy operation that is worth a visit on one of their opening days.

 

 

‘Nottingham City Transport’ (NCT) /2

 

Vehicles formerly operated by ‘NCT’ feature but there are other East Midlands operators represented at Hucknall.

 

FE02 AKV ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 704. Scania L94UA / Wright Solar Fusion

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

 

‘NCT’ was one of a number of operators that tried articulated single deckers.

 

 

 

GAU 728L ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 728. Leyland National 1051  /1

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

 

Since withdrawal, it has been converted into a mobile shop from where transport related merchandise is sold in support of the museum.

 

 

 

GAU 728L ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 728. Leyland National 1051 Interior

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

 

 

 

N769 WRC. ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 433. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1 

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

 

 

 

N769 WRC. ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 433. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2 

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

‘Scene’ at ‘Transpire’s 2018 annual gathering at Rowsley 4 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Transpire’ being the Chesterfield Bus Society.

 

TT57 BLU ‘hulleys of Baslow’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Dart / MCV Evolution

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

 

For Parts 1, 2 and 3 see blogs posted 03/04/2019, 22/04/2019 and 23/04/2019

 

An uncomfortable mixture of lower case and capital letters in the operators title.

 

Used as a control vehicle on the day.

 

New to ‘Dunstan’, ((Bluebird), Middleton as its No. 94. 

 

Then having had spells with ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ as its No. 33872 who took over ‘Bluebird’ and then ‘Compass Bus’ (Worthing).

 

 

 

 

R897 XVM ‘Harpur’s Coaches’, Derby. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’ as it No. 897.

 

 

 

 

AXI 2541 ‘Citybus’, Belfast No. 2451. Bristol RELL6G / Alexander (Belfast)

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

The advertisement boards are an unusual feature.

 

 

 

 

YXI 5500 ‘Ulsterbus’, Leyland Tiger / Wright

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

‘Scene’ at ‘Showbus 2018’. The Alexander ‘PS’ type body on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

In its time the Alexander PS type body was one of the most widely distributed single deckers. 

 

Built mainly on Volvo B10M chassis but on other makes as well.

 

They were the workhorses of many fleets including ‘First’ group and ‘Stagecoach’.

 

N767 CKY ‘Mainline’, South Yorkshire No. 767. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS

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

 

The letters OG below the fleetnumber refers to Olive Grove garage in Sheffield where this bus was based.

 

 

 

N605 NWA ‘Sheffield Mainline’ No. 605 ‘Driver Training’. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

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

 

The livery is a combination of the ‘old’ livery at the front with what was ‘First’s livery of the time.

 

 

N605 NWA ‘Sheffield Mainline’ No. 605 ‘Driver Training’. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

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

 

 

 

N215 TDU ‘Stagecoach’ No. 20215. Volvo B10M / Alexander PS

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

 

New to ‘Midland Red (South)’.

 

A touch unusual in being fotted with semi coach seats and classified as ‘Dual Purpose’.

 

 

‘Scene’ once more, ‘West Coast Motors’ M800 WCM on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I do not normally repeat a blog but an article in ‘Buses’ magazine for March 2018 prompts me to do so.

 

On page 57 Mike Fenton writes about M800 WCM and its history.

 

I was fortunate almost two years ago to see this bus in Oban and it appeared in one of my blogs at that time.

 

Here are the four images I took then.

 

Previously registered R928 XVM when new to ‘Greater Manchester South’ (GMS) as its No. 928.

 

‘GMS’ eventually becoming part of ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ where it was renumbered 20928.

 

After Manchester, it had a spells with ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ and ‘Stagecoach Southwest’ before joining ‘Quantock Motor Services’ where it was converted to part open top.

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No. 19702 ‘City Sightseeing Oban’. Volvo B10M-55 / Alexander PS /1

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

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No. 19702 ‘City Sightseeing Oban’. Volvo B10M-55 / Alexander PS /2

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

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No. 19702 ‘City Sightseeing Oban’. Volvo B10M-55 / Alexander PS /3

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

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No. 19702 ‘City Sightseeing Oban’. Volvo B10M-55 / Alexander PS /4

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