‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 4 (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 while the good weather lasts.

 

W631 PSX ‘ACE Travel’ No. 305, City Sights Liverpool.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 31.

 

 

 

 

SFZ 404 ‘SEAFORD & DISTRICT’ No. 819, Eastbourne Sightseeing.

Dennis Trident 2 / East Lancs Lolyne

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

 

New registered T819 RFG to ‘Brighton & Hove’ No. 819. 

 

Pictured waiting for custom outside Eastbourne Pier.

 

 

 

 

BX55 XLV ‘East Yorkshire’ No. 889, Scarborough’s Beachcomber.

Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘Travel London’ but purchased via the ‘Ensign’ dealership.

 

 

 

 

SJ16 CTK ‘Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd.’ No. 230 City Sightseeing Tour.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

Most open top buses have previously been fully roofed double deck buses that have been cut down to either part open top or fully open top.

 

Unusually, this bus is one of a batch of buses ordered new as part open toppers by the ‘Lothian Buses’ group which includes ‘Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd.’

 

This image courtesy of friend Peter Rose.

 

 

 

 

HF09 FVY ‘Wilts & Dorset’ No. 1405, more.

Scania N230UD / Optare Olympus

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

 

Pictured in Sandbanks having been demoted to bus work from its previous ‘Purbeck Breezer’ branding.

 

 

 

 

MXZ 7653 ‘First Scotland East’ No. 32729, Bright Bus Tours Edinburgh.

Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President 

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

 

This image courtesy of friend Peter Rose.

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 3 (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 while the good weather lasts.

 

L999 SSB  ‘shoreline suncruisers’, Scarborough.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New in 1999 registered V522 ESC to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 522.

 

Rebuilt to open top in 2011 by its then owner ‘Majestic Tours’.

 

Pictured on the Marine Drive with Scarborough Castle looking down from the top of the cliff behind the bus.

 

 

 

 

V309 KGW ‘Seaford & District’ No. TA9, Eastbourne Sightseeing 

Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400 

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

 

New to ‘Connex’, London No. TA9 which it still retains.

 

Pictured waiting for customers outside Eastbourne Pier.

 

 

 

 

T407 SMV ‘Transdev’ No. 4009, ‘CitySightseeing York’. 

Dennis Trident / East Lancs Lolyne 

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

 

Originally a diesel engined bus that has been converted to battery electric propulsion.

 

New to ‘Metrobus’ as No. 407.

 

Pictured just leaving the stand outside York railway station.

 

 

 

 

A10 EYD ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd’. No. 881, Scarborough & District Sea Front Service.

Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 

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

 

New registered X579 EGK to ‘Go-Ahead London’ No. PVL 179 from which time it retains its second door.

 

Pictured on Scarborough seafront.

 

 

 

 

L555 SSB ‘shoreline suncruisers’.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New In 1999 registered V516 ESC to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 516.

 

Rebuilt to open top in 2010 by its then owner ‘Edinburgh Tours’.

 

Pictured on the Marine Drive with Scarborough Castle looking down from the top of the cliff behind the bus.

 

 

 

 

V519 ESC ‘Transdev’ No. 4019 ‘CitySightseeing York’. 

Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President 

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

 

The ‘CitySightseeing’ open top operation in York earns its green credentials by being 100% electric.

 

Originally a diesel engined bus that has been converted to battery electric propulsion.

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 519.

 

Pictured waiting for customers in York

 

‘Scene’ in Bakewell yet again on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is not often that I follow a blog from one place with another from the same place. 

 

However!

 

The posting of my blog from Bakewell almost coincided with the arrival of a selection of images received from friend Peter Rose taken in the same place.

 

I decided to post them ‘back to back’ as it were, to show you, the reader/viewer the variety of public transport that can seen in this very popular, riverside, Derbyshire town. 

 

All these image are courtesy of Peter Rose and posted with his permission and my thanks.

 

He enjoys images captured in the environment rather than being close cropped the way I do.

 

Out of respect for his opinion, they are not cropped as close as I would normally do which also allows you to see a bit more of Bakewell!

 

LK57 AYB ‘Hulleys of Baslow’.

Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 /1

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

 

On lease/loan/hire whatever from ‘Go Coach’, Sevenoaks, Kent.

 

New to ‘Metroline’, London No. TE 846.

 

 

 

 

LK57 AYB ‘Hulleys of Baslow’.

Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 /2

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

 

The spire of All Saints Church stands well.

 

It has a history dating back over a thousand years to Saxon times.

 

 

 

 

LK57 AYB ‘Hulleys of Baslow’.

Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 /3

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

 

 

 

 

LIG 6281 ‘Linburg’, Darnall, Sheffield.

BMC 220 Condor

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

 

New registered YJ56 LLO to ‘First West Yorkshire’ No. 68660 where I believe it was employed on transporting schoolchildren.

 

BMC are a Turkish owned producer of a wide range of heavy goods vehicles.

 

The former bank to the right of the bus is a handsome building and is just waiting for some entrepreneur to come along and turn it into a pub or bistro.

 

Any offers???

 

 

 

 

FN04 HSG’ TM Travel’ No. 657.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

Working ‘TMTravel’ service 218 from Sheffield.

 

New to ‘trentbarton’ and wearing the remains of its ‘tb’ livery ‘the sixes’ which serves Bakewell from Derby and Matlock.

 

The old bank stands well.

 

The historic Rutland Arms Hotel overlooking the square that carries its name.

 

 

 

 

K100 BYS ‘Kirbys’, Rayleigh, Essex.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

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

 

Arriving with another selection of day trippers.

 

 

 

 

LK58 CSU ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 20.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200 / MCV

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

 

New to ‘Metroline’, London No. DM969.

 

If you look close enough, you can just see the buds on the first tree.

 

 

 

 

 

MX11 CZM ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 17, Carsington Connection Ashbourne - Wirksworth - Matlock 110/111

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200 / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

One of several of ‘Hulleys’ buses that were painted in the liveries of previous operators in the area.

 

Part of the celebrations of 100 years anniversary of ‘Hulleys’ that happened in 2021

 

In this case it is the livery of ‘Express Motors’ of Hulland Ward, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

YJ09 MHN ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 10.

Optare Solo M880

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

 

New to ‘Richmond’, Epsom.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Cleethorpes on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

YJ04 FZF ‘Stagecoach East Midland’ No.16965, Splash the Seasider.

Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini /1

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

 

New to ‘First West Yorkshire’ No. 32458.

 

Then to the ‘First Chester & Wirral’ operation which was sold to ‘Stagecoach’ in 2012.

 

Then via ‘Stagecoach in Fife’ before coming to Lincolnshire.

 

 

 

 

YJ04 FZF ‘Stagecoach East Midland’ No.16965, Splash the Seasider.

Volvo B7TL  / Wright Eclipse Gemini /2

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

 

 

 

 

YJ04 FZF ‘Stagecoach East Midland’ No.16965, Splash the Seasider.

Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini /3

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

 

 

 

 

YJ04 FZF ‘Stagecoach East Midland’ No.16965, Splash the Seasider.

Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini /4

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

 

 

 

 

BY65 MYB ‘Doncaster Community Transport’, Leger Coach.

IVECO 70C17 / Mellor /1

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

 

Equipped with a tail lift for loading wheelchairs.

 

 

 

 

BY65 MYB ‘Doncaster Community Transport’, Leger Coach.

IVECO 70C17 / Mellor /2

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

 

 

 

 

MX56 FXN ‘Stagecoach East Midland’ No. 19061.

Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

 

 

 

DK09 GYB ‘Stagecoach East Midland’ No. 21267.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘First Potteries’ No. 69491.

 

Then to the ‘First Group Chester & Wirral’ operation which was sold to ‘Stagecoach’ in 2012 where I knew it when it worked on the Chester Park & Ride services.

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at the age of 100. ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ 8 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

I have learned that the bus rally planned for Sunday the 25th. of April in Chatsworth park to mark ‘Hulleys’ centenary has had to be postponed until later in the year in order to comply with the current regulations surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

For ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ /1, see blog posted 01/04/2021. For part 2 see blog posted 05/04/2021. 

 

This series will now run almost daily until I run out of images to post. 

 

So, watch this space.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Y293 HWA ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 7. DAF SB120 / Wright Cadet

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

 

New to ‘Teamdeck’ (K Line), Honley.

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

 

LX 51 FJA ‘Hulleys of Baslow’. Dennis Trident  2 / Alexander ALX400 /1

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

 

New as No. TA414 to ‘East London’.

 

It entered service before it had gained either ‘Hulleys’ titling or its fleet number.

 

It eventually moved to ‘Andrews’, Tideswell.

 

See blog posted 21/08/2019 for images of this bus in ‘Andrews’ livery.

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

LX51 FJA ‘Hulleys of Baslow’. Dennis Trident 2  / Alexander ALX400 /2

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

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

 

EK51 XXE ‘Hulleys of Baslow’. Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Mini Pointer /1

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

 

New registered 02-D-18251 to ‘Bus Eireann’ in 2002.

 

It also worked for ‘South Lancs Travel’ amongst others.

 

Pictured in Matlock railway station bus station.

 

Matlock has two bus stations and a lay-by that are regularly used for bus arrivals and departures.

 

 

 

 

 

EK51 XXE ‘Hulleys of Baslow’. Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Mini Pointer /2

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

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

‘Scene’ in Edinburgh. Open top buses on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

There was a time that the buses used on open top service were the oldest in the fleet which were serving out their time before the final trip to the scrap man.

 

Admittedly, there are ‘old timers’ around but more and more we are seeing new build open toppers.

 

Increasingly the type are being used year round and when you stand and watch the passenger loadings and see the money being taken you can understand why.

 

SJ16 CTK ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 230 ‘Edinburgh CitySightseeing’. Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

 

 

 

SJ16 ZZP ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 248 ‘Majestic Tour’. Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

 

 

 

MXZ 7653 ‘First Scotland East’ No. 32729 ‘Bright Bus Tours Edinburgh’. Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President 

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

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ as V529 ESC in 1999.

 

It must be galling to ‘Lothian’ to have this elderly veteran that started its career in their own fleet competing with their current fleet. 

 

Also previously with ‘Borders Buses Ltd’ as No. 19905.

 

 

 

 

 

SJ16 CTF ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 229 ‘Edinburgh CitySightseeing’. Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

‘Scene’ in Mansfield on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It must be some years since I last paid Mansfield a visit so here I am again.

 

First impressions were that it was very quiet for a Friday.

 

I have brought you images of the new ‘Stagecoach’ livery on the front, sides and back of a variety of buses.

 

This however is the first one to show the roof.

 

FX10 AEY ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Company’ No. 36116. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro200

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

 

 

 

BK14 LFF ‘Stotts’, Huddersfield. Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante

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

 

Working a ‘national express' service to Birmingham.

 

SN69 ZPD  ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Company’ No. 11277. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) EnviroE40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro400MMC 

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

 

The first batch of buses of this type in this livery were bought in 2018. See blog posted 18/07/2018.

 

This is one from the second batch a year later.

 

 

 

YX66 WMF ‘trentbarton No. 157 ‘the nines’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200MMC 

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

 

 

 

BX16 CHL ‘Skills Coaches’, Nottingham ‘national express’. VolvoB11RT / Caetano Levante

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

 

 

 

YN06 LLZ ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Company’ No. 18429. Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX400

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

 

‘Scene’ at ‘Transpire’s 2019 Bus Rally at Rowsley in Derbyshire /1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

REGULAR READERS/VIEWERS WILL BE AWARE THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, I PUBLISH BLOGS ON A DAILY BASIS USUALLY TO TIE IN WITH A HOLIDAY PERIOD.

 

SO FOR THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY, THE 23rd, 24th, 25th AND 26th. IT WILL BE A BLOG A DAY!

‘Transpire’ being the ‘Chesterfield Bus Society’.

 

A major event in my ‘Bus’ calendar. I have attended most if not all of the events over the years.

 

I am always surprised that although I think that I have seen everything that might turn up that on the day there is always something that I have not seen before and is new to me.

 

‘Andrews of Tideswell’ are a long established operator who’s depot is located just outside the village of that name set in Derbyshire’s High Peak.

 

Best known as a coach operator with a liking for the exotic. Their contributions to last years and this years rallies have been mere buses.

 

Last years entry was an Optare Excel. (see blog posted 03/04/2019).

 

This years entry was a double decker which came originally from ‘Stagecoach East London’ where it was new as TA414 but more recently from 

‘Hulleys of Baslow’ where it was No.15.

 

LX51 FJA ‘Andrews of Tideswell’. Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400 /1

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

LX51 FJA ‘Andrews of Tideswell’. Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400 /2

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LX51 FJA ‘Andrews of Tideswell’. Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400 /3

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

LX51 FJA ‘Andrews of Tideswell’. Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400 /4

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