‘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 York. Open top Buses on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Some years ago I published an article about open top buses in London titled ‘Topless in London’.

 

The response was amazing although I suspect that many viewers were not expecting the article to be about buses.

 

This time I am playing it safe!

 

 

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

 

V519 ESC ‘Transdev’ No. 4019 ‘CitySightseeing York’. Dennis Trident 2 Plaxton President

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

 

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

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 519.

 

 

 

 

V521 ESC ‘Transdev’ No. 4021 ‘CitySightseeing York’. Dennis Trident 2 Plaxton President

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

 

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

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 521.

 

 

 

T407 SMV ‘Transdev’ No. 4009 ‘CitySightseeing York’. Dennis Trident / East Lancs Lolyne /1

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.

 

 

 

 

T407 SMV ‘Transdev’ No. 4009 ‘CitySightseeing York’. Dennis Trident / East Lancs Lolyne /2

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.

‘Scene’, ‘Bits and Pieces’ 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

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

 

There are however times when I take a photograph of something that does not fit into any category. 

 

It is generally something that just happened to turn up at the time.

 

Collectively they are just ‘Bits and Pieces’. Individually they can be interesting.

 

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

 

For part 1 see blog published 28/03/2018.

 

X15 PSW ‘Paul S. Winson’ (PSW) No 131 Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX 400

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

 

It is always a pleasure to photograph one of ‘PSW’s vehicles. Whatever the weather, they are  always immaculate.

 

New to ‘Dublin Bus’ as 00-D40075 in 2000.

 

Seen in Loughborough.

 

 

 

X663 WCH ‘Paul S. Winson’ No 118. Dennis Trident 2 / East Lancs Lolyne

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ as its No. 663.

 

Seen in Loughborough.

 

 

 

YT10 UWS’ Nottingham City Transport’ No. 988. ‘NCT app’. Scania N230UD / Optare

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

 

Seen in Nottingham.

 

 

 

DC05 JCU ‘Maghull Coaches’, Liverpool. DAF 250LF / East Lancs Myllenium Lowlander

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

 

Ex ‘Bus Vannin’ but new to ‘Isle of Man National Transport’ registered HMN 290A.

 

I don’t see many ‘Maghull  Coaches’ vehicles but the ones I do see are always spotless.

 

Seen in Southport.

 

 

 

 YN06 JYL ‘TM Travel’ No. 1176. Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka

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

 

New to ‘Metrobus’, London as its No. 926.

 

Seen in Sheffield.

 

 

 

OOW 999G ‘Southern Independent Television’. Bedford VAL / Dell/Plaxton 

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

 

Seen at RAF Scampton.

 

Custom built by Dell using a Plaxton Panorama front end.

 

 

 

YX14 RZA ‘D&G Bus’ No. 107, Stoke on Trent. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Rolling Solutions’, Crewe.

Seen in Uttoxeter.

 

 

BK08 XYH ‘Sapphire Travel’, Nuneaton. SETRA S415HD

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

 

New to ‘City Circle’, Hayes, Middlesex as its No. 52.

 

Seen in Derby Bus Station.

 

 

 

N16 DHH ‘D. & H. Harrod’, Downham Market, Norfolk. Volvo / Volvo

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

 

Seen in Chesterfield Coach Station.

 

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

I must declare before I start that I do not like ‘Blackpool Transport’s current livery.

 

The colours used, mainly dark grey with a flash of yellow do not in my view capture the spirit of light and colour for which Blackpool is renowned.

 

Having said that, I record what I see and present it as well as I can, so here goes.

 

‘Blackpool Transport’ Logo

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

 

One thing I do like about the Blackpool livery is the logo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SN17 MHF ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 430 ,’PALLADIUM’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400City

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

 

 

 

 

SN16 OVB ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 402 ,’PALLADIUM’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400City

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

 

 

 

 

L200 BTS ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 356. DAF DB250 / East Lancs. Myllenium

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

 

New to ‘Bus Vannin’, Isle of Man as SMN 621J in 2001.

 

 

 

PJ02 PYP ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 307, Dennis Trident / East Lancs. Lolyne

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

 

 

 

PJ03 TFU ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 313, ‘LEGENDS’. Dennis Trident 2 / East Lancs. Lolyne

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

 

 

 

 

BJ15 BEO ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 559, ‘PALLADIUM’. Mercedes-Benz Citaro

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

 

 

 

 

BF60 UVP ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 531, ‘PALLADIUM’. Volvo B7RLE / Plaxton Centro

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

 

 

 

 

AU06 BOV ‘Blackpool Transport’ No. 520. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘Anglian’, Beccles, Norfolk,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Eastbourne, Buses on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The title seems a bit brief by my standards, however there will be a further blog titled ‘Scene’ in Eastbourne, Coaches

 

 

Bus services for many years were provided by ‘Eastbourne Corporation Transport’. 

 

In 2008 the company was taken over by ‘Stagecoach’ group.

 

This takeover was scrutinized and passed by The Monopolies and Mergers Commission before full control was achieved in 2009.

 

Today, ‘Stagecoach South East’ is the main operator in the town with ‘Brighton & Hove’ ((B&H) a ‘Go-Ahead’ group company having a strong presence with a group of routes all linking along the coast to Brighton.

 

‘Seaford & District’ operate on mainly tourism based routes.

 

 

 

 

GN61 EVU ‘Stagecoach SouthEast’ No. 15771 ‘the Wave 99’ Scania N230D / Alexander Enviro 400

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach East Kent’.

 

 

 

GN13 HHR ‘Stagecoach SouthEast’ No. 36900 Dennis Dart SLF 4 / Alexander Enviro 200

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

 

 

 

GX06 DZA ‘Stagecoach SouthEast’ No. 27519 ADL Enviro 300 / Transbus Enviro 300

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach East Kent’.

 

 

 

BX15 ONS ‘Brighton & Hove' No. 940 ‘Coaster’ Mercedes-Benz / Wright Streetdeck /1

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

 

 

 

BX15 ONS ‘Brighton & Hove' No. 940 ‘Coaster’ Mercedes-Benz / Wright Streetdeck /2

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

 

 

 

 

 YH54 AOM ‘Brighton & Hove' No.  637 Scania N94UD OmniDekka / East Lancs

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

 

Seen ‘B&H’ fleet livery.

 

 

 

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) as its TA9 which it still retains.

 

 

 

SFZ 404 ‘Seaford & District’ No. 819 ‘Eastbourne Sightseeing’ Dennis Trident 2 / East Lancs Lolyne

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

 

New in 1999 as T819 RFG to ‘Brighton & Hove’ as its 819 which it retains. Then to ‘Geldard’, Leeds.

 

 

SFZ 131 ‘Seaford & District’ No. 349 ‘Eastbourne Sightseeing’ Volvo Olympian / Alexander (Belfast) ‘R’

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

 

New as 97-D-343 in 1997 to ‘Dublin Bus’. Then to ‘Bath Bus Company’ as P773 SWC.

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ Out and About on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Most of my regular readers will know that from time to time, I publish blogs that illustrate a series of articles about days out by bus.

 

These are written for a local community magazine that is circulated locally around the part of Derbyshire where I live.

 

It is called ‘all Things Local’, which is published bi-monthly and generally runs to about 10,000 copies per print run.

 

All these days out involve a degree of research which generally starts with maps and timetables and eventually requires a day out for me (and sometimes my wife Barbara) to make sure that all goes well.

 

I have recently researched a day out that took me from home to Derby, onto Loughborough, then Melton Mowbray and back via Nottingham.

 

Some of what I saw along the way were.

 

 

‘trentbarton’ have recently put 8 Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200MMC’s on its ‘the mickleover‘ service (see blog published 09/12/2016).

 

However, this was the first time I had seen this particular vehicle.

 

YX66 WLR ‘trentbarton’ No. 105 Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMC

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

 

 

 

Similarly, Heanor based ‘yourbus’ have put a batch of ‘ADL’ Enviro 200’s into service. 

 

These being to Euro 5 specification with the old style of bodywork. (See blog published 24/11/2016).

 

This again was the first time I had seen this particuler vehicle.

 

 

SN66 WLL ‘yourbus’ No. 1404 Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

 

 

My journey to Loughborough, courtesy of ‘Kinchbus’ was on,

 

BX64 WJD ‘Kinchbus’ No. 913 Mercedes-Benz Citaro

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

 

 

 

Loughborough usually produces something from the always immaculate fleet of Paul S. Winson  (PSW) and today was no exception.

 

Originally T420 XVO, with ‘Nottingham City Transport’ then YNR 778 with ‘PSW’ it eventually became T8 PSW.

 

T8 PSW ‘Paul S. Winson’ No. 115 Dennis Trident / East Lancs Lolyne

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

 

 

 

Also seen in Loughborough was, this former ‘trentbarton’ bus which also had a spell with the associated ‘TM Travel’ company.

 

FE02 KFJ ‘Kinchbus’ No. 460 Optare Solo

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

 

 

 

Market day generally brings this into town,

 

YX60 DZW ‘Soar Valley Bus’ FIAT / Bluebird Orion

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

 

 

 

My transport to Melton Mowbray was provided by ‘Centrebus’ on this bus which was bought from the previously mentioned ‘PSW’ in 2015.

 

FN09 FSO ‘Centrebus’ No. 511 Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

 

 

 Melton Mowbray, is an interesting town in bus terms and will appear in a blog of its own in the future.

 

The only route operated by ‘Arriva’ is No. 5A and it goes to Leicester. I saw three departures which were all operated by ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC’s.

 

YX16 OKB ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 4524 Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

Working route 8 from Loughborough to Grantham was,

 

YH63 CXC ‘Centrebus’ No. 670 VDL SB180 / MCV Evolution

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

 

 

 

Formerly registered J718 KBC when new to ‘Pailton’, Warwickshire in 1992 and a real ‘blast from the past’ was,

 

B3 CEC ‘Viking Travel’ Dennis Javelin / Plaxton Paramount

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

 

 

At this point, rain set in so it was home via Nottingham.