‘Scene’ at the ‘Great Central Railway’, Leicestershire 3 “What sort of bus was it? It was a green one” on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is two years since friend Peter Rose and I last visited the GCR.

 

A good selection of trains both steam and diesel were running. 

 

However, our main purpose, now as then, was to see and photograph the entrants in the bus rally held at Quorn & Woodhouse station.

 

DFE 963D ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Co. Ltd’. No. 2537

Bristol FS5G Lodekka / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

Please forgive the slight intrusion of shadows at the front, caused by the trees that line the eastern side of the site.

 

 

 

 

MLL 817 ‘London Transport’ No. RF280

AEC Regal IV / Metro-Cammell  /1

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

 

 

 

 

MLL 817 ‘London Transport’ No. RF280

AEC Regal IV / Metro-Cammell  /2

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

 

 

 

 

MRT 9P ‘Ipswich Borough Transport’ No.9, PHILLIPA JAYNE.

Leyland AN68 Atlantean / Roe

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

 

Converted to open top in January 1985.

 

 

 

 

FRP 692 ‘UNITED COUNTIES’ No. 692.

Bristol KS6B / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New in 1950.

 

 

 

 

EKA 220Y ‘Merseyside Transport’.

Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

264 ERY ‘GUIDE FRIDAY’ No. 264.

Leyland PD3A / Park Royal

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

 

New in 1963 to ‘LEICESTER CITY TRANSPORT’ who converted it to open top in 1978.

 

 

 

 

PJX 43 ‘HALIFAX CORPORATION TRANSPORT’ No. 43.

Leyland PD2 / Weymann

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

 

The livery was ‘borrowed’ from ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport’ by Mr. Geoffrey Hillditch who managed ‘HCT’ at the time.

 

Asked why, he said, “because I like it”.

 

I can’t think of a better reason!!

 

New in 1962.

 

‘Scene’ at Transpire’s Peak Park Bus Gathering 2022 /3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For some years now, this event has been held at the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley in Derbyshire.

 

There was plenty of room for the 35 or so buses the event attracted together with the added bonus of the trains provided by ‘Peak Rail’.

 

This year being steam only.

 

A return to the traditional June date was welcome because last year the event was held in August due to the problems caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

CRU 103C Bournemouth Transport No. 103.

Leyland Leopard / Weymann /1

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

 

One of three, CRU 101C No. 101 and CRU 102C No. 102 being the other two.

 

They were fitted with what were called ‘Dual Purpose’ seating. 

 

Not quite up to full coach standard but better than the usual bus seats.

 

Usually in a bus body shell.

 

They were used as buses most of the time but could be drafted in to support the coach fleet when required.

 

The pattern of taking holidays in the 1960’s was different to today.

 

These days, coach holidays have the coach providing transport to and from the resort and staying in the resort to provide excursions during the holiday.

 

In the 60’s, people booked their own accomodation in a resort and then booked with a coach or bus company to provide the transport to the resort.

 

Saturday was ‘changeover day’ when resort coach parks would be very busy.

 

I have seen the coach parks in Skegness, Llandudno and other places rammed with coaches and often buses delivering and collecting passengers. 

Almost anything that could turn a wheel was sometimes used.

 

A way of working that has gone but they were very interesting times for enthusiasts.

 

 

 

 

 

CRU 103C Bournemouth Transport No. 103.

Leyland Leopard / Weymann /2

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

 

 

 

 

N668 THO ‘Coopers’, Killamarsh, Derbyshire, 

Burtons of Alfreton, (Derbyshire).

Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere 320

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

 

New registered XEL 6S to ‘Excelsior’, Bournemouth.

 

Being local to where I live, this coach is well known to me.

 

The quality of the paintwork is superb. 

 

So much so that ‘Coopers’ opted to keep it as it was with just the addition of their own titles.

 

 

 

 

EKA 220Y ‘Merseyside PTE’ No. 7020.

Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

PRA 109R ‘Whites of Calver’, Derbyshire.

Leyland Leopard  Alexander ’T'

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

 

Well known to me when it was new to ‘Trent Motor Traction’ as No. 109.

 

It was sold to ‘Lancaster City Transport’ before joining 

‘Whites of Calver’, (a subsidiary of ‘Chesterfield Transport’).

 

‘Chesterfield Transport’ became part of the ‘Stagecoach’ group and the bus passed to their ‘Bluebird Buses’ subsidiary in Scotland.

 

Again, the quality of the paintwork is superb.

 

 

 

 

KPC 204P ‘WHITEHEADS’.

Bedford YRQ / Plaxton Panorama Elite 111

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

 

New to ‘Harding’, Betchworth, Surrey.

 

 

 

 

DXI 3341 ‘Ulsterbus No. 341.

Leyland Tiger / Alexander (Belfast) ’N’

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

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘Drakelow Business Park’ 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 fifth and final visit of the day and of the weekend was to the ‘Drakelow Business Park’ to the South of Burton on Trent.

 

FN51 MUB ‘Terry Bushell Holidays’, Burton on Trent, Staffs.

Auwaerter N316SHD Neoplan Euroliner

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

 

 

 

 

A17 TBT ‘Terry Bushell Travel’, Burton on Trent, Staffs.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 515CDI

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

 

 

 

 

NTU 191L ‘Invincible Coaches’, ‘Comet’.

Ford R192 / Plaxton Panorama Elite

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

 

New in 1973 to ‘Shearings’ No. 191, Altrincham, Cheshire but acquired from  ‘Woodley’, Greater Manchester.

 

At one time being registered 4717 VR.

 

 

 

 

LHO 420T ‘Invincible Coaches’, ‘Caravelle’.

Ford R1014 / Duple Dominant

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

 

New in 1978 to ‘Marchwood’, Totton, Hampshire but acquired from ‘York Pullman’, Strensall, York.

 

 

 

 

ETH 605V ‘Invincible Coaches’, ‘Antonov’.

Ford Transit

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

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity (NHVC) 2’ 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.

 

I have previously posted blogs featuring the ‘NHVC’ on 29/04/2019, 21/01/2020, 26/01/2020, 05/02/2020 and 17/03/2020 so I feel I have pretty well covered the main exhibits.

 

However, the ‘NHVC’ has a reserve collection of buses that are awaiting preservation work.

 

These are located on an industrial estate nearby.

 

No doubt that in time and with further funding, some of these will buses will move to Hucknall.

 

G335 PAL ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Paul S. Winson Coaches’, Loughborough.

Volvo B10M / Alexander RV

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ as No. 335.

 

 

 

 

ONN 571P ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ’Trent Buses’ No. 571.

Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Willowbrook

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

 

Delivered with an Eastern Coach Works body that was damaged in the Meadow Road depot fire in July 1976.

 

Re-bodied by Willowbrook in 1977.

 

 

 

 

MTV 755P ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ (NCT) No. 755.

Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant E

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

 

In the mid 1970’s, ‘NCT’ took delivery of a batch of buses for use on park & ride services from a number of sites around the city.

 

Unusual at the time, being Duple Dominant coach bodies fitted with standard bus seats.

 

As supplied, they were painted lilac and marketed as ‘Lilac Leopards’.

 

The intention was to phase traffic lights into the city to give these services priority, so speeding the journey.

 

Park & ride was a new concept at that time and it became obvious that the citizens of Nottingham did not want it so the scheme was abandoned.

 

 

 

 

YN04 ANF ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ’Nottingham City Transport’ No. 204.

Scania N94UB / East Lancs

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

 

 

 

 

C724 MRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 724.

Leyland National 2

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

 

 

 

 

FJ03 VWK ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘trentbarton’ No. 620.

Scania L94UB / Wright Eclipse

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

 

 

 

 

FRB 208H ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Trent Buses No. 356.

Bristol RE / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Midland General Omnibus Co’ as No. 146.

 

Fitted with dual doors.

 

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 More Shades of Green & Blue 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.

 

UFX 360L ‘Dewsway’, Somersham, Cambridgeshire.

Bedford VAL70 / Plaxton Panorama Elite III /1

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

 

New to ‘Ward & Tarr’, Parkestone.

 

 

 

 

UFX 360L ‘Dewsway’, Somersham, Cambridgeshire.

Bedford VAL70 / Plaxton Panorama Elite III /2

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

 

 

 

 

JFT 412X ‘Dewsway’, Somersham, Cambridgeshire.

Bedford YMQ / Duple Dominant 3

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

 

The raked forward window pillars was a short lived fashion statement copied from American built coaches used by ‘Greyhound’.

 

 

 

BJU 13T ‘Theobalds Coaches’, Luton.

Bedford YMT / Plaxton Supreme IV Express

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

 

 

 

 

CVH 733Y ‘Peelings Coaches’ ‘Trevor’.

Ford R1114 / Duple Dominant /1

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

 

New to ‘Traject’, Huddersfield.

 

 

 

 

CVH 733Y ‘Peelings Coaches’ ‘Trevor’.

Ford R1114 / Duple Dominant /2

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

 

 

 

 

GCK 279S ‘Florence & Grange Tours’ No. 21.

Bedford YLQ / Plaxton Supreme

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

 

 

 

 

KVY 789N ‘Thornes’.

Bedford YRQ / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

C25 KAV ‘Kenzies’, Shepreth.

Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee

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

 

New in 1985.

 

‘Scene’ at ‘Transpire’s 2019 Bus Rally at Rowsley in Derbyshire /3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Transpire’ being the name of 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.

 

H654 VVV ‘Stagecoach United Counties’  No. 654. Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL

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

 

New to  ‘United Counties’.

 

 

 

NOE 602R ‘Stagecoach Midland Red’ No. 602. Leyland National

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

 

New to ‘Midland Red’.

 

 

 

TYD 911W ‘Safeway’, South Petherton. Leyland Leopard PSU3 / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

 

NNU 123M ‘Chesterfield Transport’ No. 123. Daimler Fleetline / Roe

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

 

 

 

 

 

TIG 2504 ‘ARRIVA’. FIAT Seicento

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

 

What could be called a fleet support vehicle!

 

'Scene’ 'Lodging' at ‘Showbus' 2014

One of my abiding memories of ‘Showbus’ 2014 was the family of coaches on display from one operator. 

 

‘Lodges Coaches’ of High Easter in Essex.

'Lodges' have a long history dating back to the 1920’s and the vehicles on display covered most of the intervening period since then.

 

ES 8640

The oldest of which was this Chevrolet X replica. The original dating from 1926.

 

LTA 752

A Bedford OB with Duple coachwork. New to ‘Western National’ in 1950 it passed to ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Company’ where it was converted to ‘toastrack’ style bodywork for use in Skegness town and in the Butlins Holiday Camp nearby.

The style of bodywork was similar in appearance to that which was used on ‘Charabanc’s dating back to the very early days of coach operation.

One of 4 converted, this is believed to be the sole survivor.

I remember seeing these in 'Skeggy' I think in the 1950's.

 

 

 TMY 700

An even older Bedford OB/Duple dating back to 1949.

 

MJB 481

A Bedford SBG with Duple Vega bodywork dating from 1956. The ‘G’ in the type code indicated a Gasoline (Petrol) engine.

It was new to ‘Chiltonia Motors’ before moving to ‘West Wight’ of Totland on the Isle of Wight (IOW).

 

YMJ 555S

A Bedford YNT with Duple Dominant bodywork dating from 1978.

 

K738 ODL

A Leyland Olympian with Northern Counties bodywork dating from 1993. 

 

This is another vehicle with an ‘IOW’ connection having previously worked for ‘Southern Vectis’ there.

 

 

EU14 GXR

A Setra 416 GT-HD. A much more recent acquisition in 2014.

 

JW10 DGE which is cleverly spaced to read JW 10DGE.

 

Another of the same that I have included purely for the registration.