‘Scene’ Out and About Once More on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Most of my blogs have some sort of theme or purpose. 

 

There are, however, times when something just happens to turn up that does not fit any category. 

 

Collectively they are just ‘Bits & Pieces’. 

 

Individually they can be interesting.

 

See if there is anything out of these that you like.

 

H9 GWY ‘Gwynfor Coaches’, Llangefni, North Wales.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New registered LK08 DXU to ‘Metroline’ No. TE882.

 

Image, courtesy friend Stephen Walters.

 

 

 

 

FXZ 8495 ‘Henshaws’, Ironville, Derbyshire.

VDL FHD2-122.365 / VDL

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

 

New to ‘Quinn’, Newry, Northern Ireland.

 

Pictured at ‘Henshaws’ depot at Jacksdale, Notts.

 

 

 

 

SC54 GAS ‘Cawthornes Travel’.

Scania K124EB6 / Irizar Century

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

 

 

New to ‘Strafford’, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales.

 

The ROTHERHAM OWLS sticker in the windscreen could indicate a ‘Sheffield Wednesday FC’ connection.

 

Come on you Owls. 

 

Yes?

 

Maybe not.

 

Pictured in Ripley, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

AGZ 9365 ‘Littles Travel’, Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

Displaying its then new livery whilst waiting for custom on Ripley Market Place, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

YD63 VDT ‘TMTravel’ No. 833.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

Bought new.

 

Pictured departing Bakewell, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

MA07 BUS ‘DERBYSHIRE COMMUNITY TRANSPORT (TRADING) LTD.

Optare Solo M710SE

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

 

New to ‘Mott’, Aylesbury. Bucks.

 

‘Star Travel’ the operator who’s livery this bus wears is also located in Aylesbury and the branding is for their route No.5 in that town.

 

The devil as always is in the detail, the legal titling showing that despite the branding it is now based in Ripley, Derbyshire, where this image was taken.

 

 

 

 

EDR 793 ‘Hornsby’s, Barbara.

Bedford OB / Duple Vista

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

 

A pity somebody left the door open!

 

New in 1949 to ‘Pridham’, Lamerton, Tavistock, Devon.

 

 

‘Scene’ at the ‘Statfold Barn Railway’ (SBR) Buses 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For those who do not know the ‘SBR,’ it is located near Tamworth in Staffordshire. 

 

A privately owned, multi gauge railway system which was operating at least seven locomotives and a tram on the day we were there.

 

There is also an extensive museum devoted to narrow gauge railway locomotives and artefacts.

 

Usually holding three running days per year (Spring, Summer and Autumn); buses, cars, Land Rovers, lorries, military vehicles and steam engines also featured.

 

Both friend Peter Rose and I found it to be an excellent day out.

 

NEA 101F ‘West Bromwich Corporation’ No.101.

Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline / Metro Cammell Weymann

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

 

 

 

 

MXX 23 ‘LONDON TRANSPORT’ No. RF 381.

AEC Regal lV / Metro Cammell

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

 

 

 

 

RC 4615 ‘Trent Motor Traction Ltd.’ No.714.

AEC Regal / Willowbrook 

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

 

New in 1937.

 

This is the second Willowbrook body that this bus has carried being re-bodied in1950.

 

 

 

 

KAD 359V ‘NATIONAL EXPRESS’ No. 359, BLACK & WHITE.

Leyland Leopard /  Plaxton Supreme

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

 

New to ‘National Travel (South West)’.

 

 

 

 

UHA 956H ‘Midland Red’ No. 5956, Wendaway.

BMMO S23 / BMMO

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

 

 

 

 

CCF 648 ‘MERVYNS COACHES’, Winchester.

Bedford OB / Duple

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

 

New in 1950 to ‘Theobald’, Long Melford.

 

‘Scene’ in Sutton in Ashfield (SiA), Notts on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A brief visit to ‘SiA’ produced this little gem serving as a mobile advertisement for its owners holiday program.

 

If I could book a holiday with this as my transport, I would be delighted too.

 

GDL 667 ‘Vallances Coaches’, Kirkby in Ashfield. 

Bedford OB / Duple /1

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

 

New to ‘Paul’, Ryde, Isle of Wight in March 1950.

 

 

 

 

GDL 667 ‘Vallances Coaches’. Kirkby in Ashfield.

Bedford OB / Duple /2

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

 

 

 

 

GDL 667 ‘Vallances Coaches’. Kirkby in Ashfield. 

Bedford OB / Duple /3

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

 

The coat of arms displayed on the side of the coach.

 

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 /2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

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

 

It is the first time I have attended the show and considering the amount of national publicity that has been lavished on it I was disappointed with the number of vehicles in attendance.

 

Whilst most of the attendees were preserved vehicles, there were some current buses and coaches on display.

 

The quality of vehicles that did attend was good particularly on a day which was interrupted by rain and dark clouds on a regular basis.

 

I think that an event held in the East Midlands will always have difficulties in attracting large numbers of participants.

 

The problem being that the venue is so far from most major centres of population.

 

Time will tell.

 

The first time in 8 years of blogging that a lorry, truck, wagon, machine, call it what you like has appeared on my blog and what a way to start.

 

The magnificent Volvo FH16.

 

F56 BEN ‘Bus & Coach Repairs', Yaxley, Cambridgeshire. Volvo FH16

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

 

 

 

 

 

MYB 33 ‘Sun Stream’. Bedford OB / Duple

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

 

‘Scene’ at the age of 100. ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ /1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

April 2021 sees the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of what has become ‘Hulleys of Baslow’, the well known Derbyshire based independent bus operator.

 

To celebrate the occasion, a gathering of some of ‘Hulleys’ past and present fleet is being planned to take place in Chatsworth Park, Derbyshire on Sunday the 25th. of April 2021.

 

Founded by Henry Hulley, the ownership of the company has changed hands more than once but the name of its founder has survived all the changes.

 

I have known the company for over 60 years and during that time the buses initially painted (in my time at least) in shades of red and red and grey have been a fixture in Rutland Square in Bakewell.

 

These days, the livery has changed to cream and dark blue. 

 

A combination that ‘Hulleys’ inherited from ‘South Notts’ when buses were bought from that fleet and the livery adopted.

 

Although Hulleys ‘main line’ is probably its service number 170 from Bakewell to Chesterfield via Baslow.

 

The company operates widely across North Derbyshire, to Sheffield and in the past year to Manchester.

 

The earliest images I have are in black and white and were acquired over the years from a variety of sources which today are unknown. 

 

So the best I can claim is that they are part of my collection.

 

I have included them for completeness sake and thank the unknown photographers who at that time had the foresight to capture the images for posterity.

 

Buses (and coaches) are listed in order of their first date of registration when new.

 

HL 7510 ‘Hulleys’ No,21. Leyland TS7c / Roe

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

 

New in 1936 to ‘West Riding’.

 

 

 

 

EA 9676 ‘Hulleys’ No.29. AEC Regal / Duple

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

 

New in 1938 to ‘Hill’, West Bromwich.

 

 

 

 

RC 9673 ‘Hulleys’ No.14. AEC Regal / Willowbrook

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

 

New in 1947 to ‘Trent’ as No.767. 

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

BRN 61 ‘Hulleys’ No. 8. Bedford OB / Duple

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

 

New in 1947 to ‘Scout’, Preston.

 

 

 

 

 

FEH 812 ‘Hulleys’ No. 23. Leyland TS8 / Burlingham

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

 

New in 1938 to ‘Potteries’ as No. 137 with a Brush body and re-bodied by Burlingham in 1949.

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

‘Scene’ On Yet Another Trip Down Memory Lane on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A short piece in ‘BUSES’ magazine for October 2019 brought me up with a jolt.

 

It appears on page 12 and is titled "Kenzie’s Coaches closes down”.

 

‘Kenzies’ has been for many years an operator I have followed via the pages of ‘BUSES and its predecessors and at the 2013 Coach & Bus show at the NEC I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Mr. Cyril Kenzie.

 

He was at that time a sprightly elderly gentleman who had one of his coaches, a Bedford OB registered JBY 804 on show as a centrepiece for that years exhibition.

 

I had just started blogging and I wanted some images of his coach to illustrate the blog. I explained to him what a blog was. He was interested and and he wished me well with it.

 

I have never forgotten his kindness and his willingness to talk to me and I would like to wish him and his son Richard good health and a long (or even longer in Cyril’s case) and happy retirement.

 

Here are the images that accompanied my blog 6 years ago.

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /1

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

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /2

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

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /3

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

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /4

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

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /5

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

 

Look at the simplicity of the controls against what is seen on modern coaches.

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /6

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

 

The seating capacity was for 29.

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /7

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

 

‘Welcome Aboard’, but don’t slip on these immaculate steps.

 

 

 

 

 

JBY 804 ‘Kenzies of Shepreth’. Bedford OB / Duple Vista /8

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

 

The potted history of the coach, (worth a read).

‘Scene’ in the Sunshine at Showbus 2016 part 2 on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

The weather at last years ‘Showbus’ at Donington Park was the usual mix but there were some extended periods of sunshine to brighten the scene. 

 

Here are some further images images that illustrate the point.

 

Part 1 was published on 28/12/2016.

 

 

SHO 800 ‘Thornes’ AEC Reliance / Duple Britannia

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Creamline’ Borden, Hampshire in 1958. 

 

 

 

NML 619E ‘London Transport’ No. RML No. 2619 AEC Routemaster

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YX63 LJA ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 385  Alexander Dennis Dart 4 /  ADL Enviro 200

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

W667 PTD ‘Fowlers’ Scania N113DRB / East Lancs Cityzen

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Previously with ‘Bullocks’ of Cheadle, Cheshire.

 

 

 

DAZ 3294 ‘National Express’ No. 1309 Leyland Tiger / Plaxton Paramount

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally registered E269 KEF with ‘United’ as its 6269.

 

 

 

HHP 755 ‘Greenslades Tours’ AEC Regal 3 / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Although listed as an AEC, the radiator carries ‘Maudslay’ badging. Maudsley having been taken over by AEC in 1948. 

 

New in 1948.

 

 

 

LDF 833 ‘Bowles of Ford’ Bedford OB / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Believed to be the last Bedford OB built, it dates from 1952.

 

 

 

C207 GTU ‘Crosville Wales’ No. EOG 207 Leyland Olympian ONLXB/1R  / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

One of a batch of 10 that were delivered to ‘Crosville’ in 1985.

 

There is a suggestion that this bus was built as a convertible open topper but the roof looks fixed to me. Does anyone know for certain?

 

 

 

NOA 462X ‘West Midlands PTE’ No. 2462 MCW Metrobus DR102/27 / MCW

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

 

 

 

 TRR 814R ‘Black Prince’ No. 814 Volvo Ailsa B55 / Alexander AV

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

 

Unique amongst Ailsa’s being the only low height Ailsa built.

 

Previously in the ‘Derby Transport’ fleet, where I had the pleasure of riding on it.

 

 

 

BUH 240V ’National Welsh’ No. NS 492 Leyland National Mark 2

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

 

 

 

 

KRU 55F ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ Daimler Roadliner SRC6  / Willowbrook

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

 

A very rare bird.

 

 

‘Scene’ at The Greater Manchester Museum of Transport.

Located on Boyle Street adjacent to one of ‘First Manchester’s garages. It is easily visited by catching the tram heading for Bury as far as Queens Road, leaving the station, turn left and walk until Boyle St. appears on you right hand side.

 

A useful bonus is that if you hold a current Greater Manchester Wayfarer day ticket, entrance is free.

 

Everything is packed cheek by jowl but it really is a wonderland particularly for bus enthusiasts.

 

L2

 

Dating back to Victorian times, this Horse Bus was operated by Manchester Carriage & Tramways Company and dates back to 1890.

 

MJA 897G

A Leyland PD3 with East Lancs bodywork dating from 1969. Built for ‘Stockport Corporation’ as its No.97.

 

It is interesting to note that the rear engined Leyland Atlantean had been introduced nearly 10 years earlier. 

 

This must have been one of the last half cab buses built.

 

HTF 586

A Bedford OB with Duple designed bodywork but constructed by Scottish Motor Traction. Once owned by ‘Warburton Brothers’ of Bury.

 

BND 874C

 

A Leyland Panther Cub with Park Royal dual doored bodywork  seen in the livery of ‘Manchester Corporation Transport’ (MCT).

 

Not the most successful of Leyland products with only 94 being built.

 

HTB 656

 A Leyland PS1 with Leeds produced bodywork by Charles H. Roe. Built for ‘Ramsbottom Urban District Council in 1947 as its No. 17.

 

VR 5742

 

A Leyland Tiger TS1 with Vulcan bodywork that was finished off by ‘MCT’ its operator. New in 1930 as No. 28.

 

DBA 214C

 

A Leyland Atlantean PDR 1with Metro-Cammell bodywork new in 1965 to ‘Salford City Transport’ as is No. 214.

 

Before being preserved in its original colours, it had a spell with a company called ‘Ashtree Coaches’.

TNA 496

 

Another bus from the fleet of ‘MCT’ is this Leyland PD2/40 with Burlingham bodywork being No. 3496 in ‘MCT’ service.

 

One of the features of double deckers in the fleet was the distinctive layout of the destination blinds. A layout that was the same on generations of buses.

 

Like many other local buses it went on to serve in the combined fleets in Manchester in the SELNEC (South East Lancs. North East Cheshire) fleet which preceded todays ‘Greater Manchester’ operation.

 

CDB 224

 

A Leyland PD2/1 with Leyland low bridge bodywork new in 1947 as No. 224 to the ‘North Western Road Car Company’.

 

I remember low bridge bodies as being difficult to access upstairs having to climb over other passengers to get to a seat and then in all probability banging your head in the process.

 

 

NDK 980

 

An AEC Regent 5 with Weymann bodywork in the livery of ‘Rochdale Corporation Transport’.

 

JVU 755

 

An all Crossley produced trolleybus for use on ‘MCT’s  small trolley network.