‘Scene’, Open toppers in London on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Well here we are then, August Bank Holiday Monday and what a glorious weekend it has been.

 

By contrast, the day I was in London and took the images seen here was dreadful. I left home at 7-30 am and returned at 9-30 pm and it never stopped raining!

 

I once wrote a blog about open top bus operation in London and titled it ‘Topless in London’. The response I got to it was remarkable and most of the feedback I received had little to do with buses.

 

I am not making the same mistake twice!

 

KGJ 118A ‘THE CLASSIC TOUR.com’, RM1398. AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

New in 1963 registered 398 CLT to ‘London Transport’ as No. RM1398.

 

 

 

 

BD16 YFB ‘Golden Tours’, Victoria No.138. Volvo B5TL / MCV Evoseti

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

 

 

 

 

LO15 OLT ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. YLY600. Ayats Bravo 1R City / Ayats

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

 

 

 

 

LJ09 OKH ‘The BIG BUS Company’ London’ No. DA223. Alexander Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400

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

 

New to ‘Travel London’ as No. 9475.

 

 

 

 

LX05 GDY ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. YLY602. Volvo B7L  / Ayats

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

 

 

 

 

 

Y543 UGC ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. DLP 243. DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA London North’ as No. DLP43.

 

 

 

 

PN10 FOD ‘The BIG BUS Company’ London’ No. DA322. Volvo B9TL / Optare Visionaire

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

 

 

 

 

LJ51 DKU ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. DLP 263. DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA London North’ as its No. DLP63.

‘Scene’ in Bath Part 1

Bath is one of those cities on the English tourist trail that apart from being a magnet for tourists is the same for buses.

 

‘First’ group and ‘Wessexbus’ are the major players in the City whilst ‘Bath Bus Company’ are also very active. In addition of course there are the day and tourist coaches which quite literally are here today and gone today.

RKZ 4761

A Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse bodywork working for ‘First Somerset & Avon’ (FSA).

Unusual in wearing a plain white livery it was new in 2006 and worked for another operator at Belfast Airport.

AE05 EUX

 

‘Faresaver’ based in nearby Chippenham operate this MAN 14.22 with MCV Evolution bodywork which previously had a spell with ‘Thames Travel’.

WX05 RVO

 

There is a small bus station adjacent to the railway station where this 'Barbie' liveried Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLF is pictured working for ‘FSA’.

 

‘First’s own fleet list shows it as being bodied with an ‘ADL 200’ body....?

 

WX05 RTV

An Optare Solo working for ‘FSA’ and still wearing the old ‘Barbie’ livery.

 

W119 CWR

A Volvo B7LA carrying a Wright Eclipse Fusion body again working for ‘FSA’. 

 

Interesting in that this much older bus has gained the new livery whilst the Solo above is a much newer bus in the old livery.

 

I have passed the same comment before but I cannot understand the fitting of bodywork that partially encloses the rear wheels. It must restrict the maintenance staff when working on the wheels or tyres.

 

WX55 HWC

Another of the same only a lot newer. also note that the rear sets of wheels are no longer faired in. Obviously somebody else does not like them either.

 

YX09 AHF

'First’s fleet list shows this as being ‘ADL-Enviro MPD ADL Enviro 200’ bodywork.

 

‘ADL’ being Alexander Dennis Ltd.

 

 

YX62 DXC

Again ‘First’s fleet list is quoted as being ‘ADL 20D ADL Enviro 200’ bodywork.

 

WX07 UOB

 

A Volvo B7RLE fitted with Plaxton Centro bodywork.

 

Working for ‘Wessex’ Bus a member of the ‘Rotala’ group who have their roots in the West Midlands.

 

EU05 VBP & EU05 VBJ

Volvo B7L’s carrying Ayats Bravo City partial open top bodies

A touch of the exotic working for the French owned ‘RATP/Bath Bus Company’ on sightseeing duties.

 

‘Six leggers’ ‘Scene’ at Showbus 2014

I have always had an attraction to 6 wheel buses and coaches. Its something about their size and the power that they convey.

I am too young to remember the pre war Leyland Gnu which like the Bedford VAL which I can remember from the 1960’s had the extra axle at the front. 

I also remember 6 wheel trolleybuses in both Rotherham and London in the 1950’s so maybe its the nostalgia that draws me to them.

Whatever the reason, there was plenty to enjoy at last years Showbus.

 

M1 PCV

 

A coach guaranteed to catch anyone’s eye.

An Ayats Bravo A3E/BR1 of ‘Barkerbus’ who are a long established operator operating out of Harlow in Essex.

Ayats are a Spanish coachbuilder building the Bravo range of double deck coaches to order in a variety of lengths ranging from 12m up to 15m.

 

B8 AWE

 

A Setra S 416 GT-HD from Eastons Coaches of Stretton Sawless, Norwich.

 

The registration cherished by ‘Eastons’ has previously been used on a Van Hool T9 Acron bodied vehicle.

 

A964 HVN

 

A much earlier Kassbohrer Setra being a S228DT with a body seating 74 passengers in coach style.

 

Operated by ‘Kings Luxury Coaches’ of Middlesborough, it looks to have been very well looked after during its 30 year career so far.

 

YN14 FXX

A Scania K440EB with 77 seat VDL bodywork owned by ‘Fords of Althorne’ who are based in Chelmsford, Essex.

 

DB64 RJB

A VDL Bova Synergie of ‘Brookline’. They operate this 83 seater from their base at West Malling in Kent.

 

WLT 868

An Optare Olympus bodied coach working for ‘Go-Coach’. It was formerly with ‘Classic Coaches’ of Anfield Plain, Stanley, County Durham.

 

The registration is interesting in that it was originally carried by Routemaster RM868 which after its service in London was reportedly exported to Sweden in 1998. It was further reported that it was repatriated in 2013.

 

 

L15 TBC

A  Neoplan Starliner of ‘Theobalds’ who are a long established operator in the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire area’s.

 

MT60 WKA

Another Neoplan product. This time a Tourliner again working for ‘Theobalds’. At one time it worked in a white colour scheme for ‘Weardale’ of Stanhope in the North East.

 

P563 MSX

A Volvo B10MA with Plaxton bodywork in the livery of ‘Ensignbus’ (Eb). Formerly operated by ‘Stagecoach West Scotland’ where it carried a branded livery for that companies X76 service.

‘Eb’ are the operating arm of the well known bus dealership of that name who are based in Essex. Because if its high passenger capacity it is regularly used on railway replacement work.

 

 

X14 BUS

A Volvo B9TL with East Lancs bodywork operated by ‘Morton Travel’ of Tadley near Basingstoke in Hampshire. The passenger capacity I believe is 106.

 

C21 BUS

Another Neoplan Starliner. This time working for ‘Coniston Coaches’ of Stourport on Severn. 

 

The partially faired in rear wheels is a touch unusual.