‘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 The Derbyshire Dales Bus Rally 2 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

A new event organised by the ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’ (NHVC) who are based in the old TRENT garage at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

Friend Peter Rose and I ventured to the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley railway station in Derbyshire where the event was held.

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we gathered on the day. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

MX58 FTD ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 19407, ‘North Western Road Car Co. Ltd.’ No. 407.

Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

To mark the centenary of this much missed operator, both ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ and ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ have painted buses in appropriate NWRCC liveries.

 

It was a shame that the Hulleys vehicle could not have made the short journey from nearby Baslow to join it!

 

As a young bus enthusiast living in Sheffield, the appearance of NWRCC buses working into the Peak District in their distinctive red and cream livery was always a treat to be savoured.

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

CDB 224 ‘North Western Road Car Co. Ltd.’ No. 224.

Leyland PD2 / Leyland Lowbridge

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

 

A real ‘North Western’ bus now preserved at the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester.

 

 

 

 

PHE 692 ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 11125, stagecoachgold.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

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

 

One of many buses across the country that were painted to commemorate the late HM Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.

 

One of the surprises to me in recent times was the ditching of this smart, elegant livery for overall yellow.

 

Reminiscent of school buses.

 

New registered SK68 LUT.

 

 

 

 

YN14 MUV ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 627,

NOTTINGHAM’S CITY TRANSPORT SINCE 1897

Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

 

 

 

WKH 526X ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services’ No. 526.

Bristol VRT / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

Wearing the ‘National Bus Company’s interpretation of what had been a classic livery.

 

‘Scene’ at ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’s Mallard Road depot on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is with much sadness this week that I learned of ‘Yellow Buses’, of Bournemouth, going out of business.

 

An operator I have followed, visited and ridden on for over 50 years.

 

The colours yellow and in later years blue that adorned the fleet reflected the yellow of the beach and the blue of the sky that always seemed to be sunny.

 

Now, no more.

 

In the early 1950s ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’  (which went on to become ‘Yellow Buses’ etc.) had a new depot built on the outskirts of the town to house its growing fleet of buses.

 

Single storey and spaciously laid out it was ideal for its purpose.

 

Back in the ‘good old days’ the company allowed enthusiasts, and anyone else who felt inclined, to visit and wander round taking photographs etc.

 

If memory serves me right it used to be on summer Wednesday afternoons only.

 

Most of the then service fleet were out earning their keep which meant that the old, weird and wonderful were easier to get at! 

 

So, in happier days, here is some of what I saw.

 

XRY 202 ‘Bournemouth Omnibus Company’. Leyland PD3 / Metro Cammell Carriage  & Wagon Co. 

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

 

Not quite what it seems.

 

Despite the pseudo ‘Tilling Stevens’ radiator, it is definitely a Leyland PD3 underneath it all.

 

It has a long and complex history and to access it ‘Google’ XRY 202 and click on 

 

‘Yellow Buses-Yellow Wednesdays XRY 202’

 

It is worth the effort!

 

 

 

 

KEL 133 ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ No.247.

Leyland PD2 / Weymann 

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

 

New in 1950.

 

At the time Bournemouth specified two staircases with two doors allowing passengers to board at the front and leave by the rear.

 

Still in my view the most efficient way of loading and emptying a bus.

 

 

 

 

FRU 224 ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport. No 40.

Guy Arab 2 / Weymann

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

 

Previously a service bus but cut down to provide the basis of a crane initially for planting or uprooting traction equipment for the then trolleybus fleet and then for removing or replacing roof panels on convertible open top buses.

 

New in 1944.

 

 

 

 

297 LJ ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ trolleybus No. 297. Sunbeam MF2B / Weymann 

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

 

New in 1962. This bus and the rest of the trolleybus fleet were withdrawn in 1969 when the system was abandoned.

 

 

 

 

NLJ 272 ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport No. 262.

Leyland Royal Tiger / Burlingham

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

 

New In 1954.

 

 

 

 

KRU 55F ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport No. 55.

Daimler SRC6 Roadliner / Willowbrook on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

BOW 162 ‘Bournemouth Transport Museum’. Bristol L5G / Beadle /1

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

 

New as No. TS 662 to ‘Hants & Dorset Motor Services’ in 1938 and now in use as a recovery wagon.

 

As might be expected with a former bus of this age, there is a long and detailed history.

 

For further details, Google BOW 162 and the first item that comes up is what you are looking for.

 

 

 

 

BOW 162 ‘Bournemouth Transport Museum’. Bristol L5G / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

ERU 108V ‘Yellow Buses’ No. 108. 

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Supreme IV 

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

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021. When ‘Paul S. Winson’ met ‘Todmorden Joint Omnibus Commitee’ 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 was 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.

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S. Winson’ (PSW), Loughborough.

Bedford YNT / Unicar 1 of 3 

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

 

New to ‘Moon’, Shepshed, Leics.

 

The first coach operated by ‘PSW’.

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S. Winson’ (PSW), Loughborough. 

Bedford YNT / Unicar 2 of 3 

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

 

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S. Winson’ (PSW), Loughborough. 

Bedford YNT / Unicar 3 of 3 

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

 

An attractive feature on this coach are the individually embroidered antimacassars.

 

 

HWY 36 ‘Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee’ (TJOC) No. 18.

Leyland PD2 / Leyland Lowbridge /1 of 3 

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

 

‘TJOC’ was one of a small number of Joint Omnibus Committee’s that were owned jointly by the local Corporation and the railway operator that was dominant in the area. 

 

In this case it was the ‘LMS which eventually came under ‘British Railways’ control.

 

The company eventually became part of ‘Calderdale JOC’.

 

 

 

HWY 36 ‘Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee’ No. 18.

Leyland PD2 / Leyland Lowbridge /2 of 3 

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

 

 

HWY 36 ‘Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee’ No. 18.

Leyland PD2 / Leyland Lowbridge /3 of 3 

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

 

‘TJOC’ crest.

 

‘Scene’ at ‘First South Yorkshires’ (FSY) event in Sheffield on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The 22nd. of August 2021 saw the 60th. anniversary of the opening of Olive Grove Garage in Sheffield.

 

To celebrate ‘FSY’ put on a ‘Family Fun Day’.

 

I have already covered some of the exhibits from ‘FSY’ in blogs posted 11/09/2021 and 4/11/2021.

 

There were a fair number of entrants from the West riding of Yorkshire starting with.

 

YJ09 OCD ‘First West Yorkshire’ (FWY) No. 37732 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ ‘STANLEY KING. 

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

Like ‘FSY’, ‘FWY’ like to remember the liveries of their constituent companies.

 

 

 

 

BHL 682 ‘West Riding’ No. 640. 

Leyland PD2 / Leyland Lowbridge

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

 

 

 

 

EHL 344 ‘West Riding’ No. 733. 

Leyland PS2 / Roe

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

 

 

 

 

LHL 164F ‘West Riding’ No. 164. 

Leyland Panther / Roe

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

 

I can not understand why anyone who has gone to the trouble to prepare a vehicle for display to the bus world would then pile assorted objects in front of it so spoiling everyone’s view.

 

 

 

 

C920 FMP ‘West Riding Buses’ No. 252. Leyland Lynx

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

 

New to ‘Leyland Bus’, Workington for whom presumably it was a demonstrator.

 

 

 

 

RWU 534R ‘West Yorkshire PTE’ No.8534. 

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton

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

 

‘Scene’ at the GCR’s Bus & Train Spectacular 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Staged at the ‘Great Central Railway’s Quorn & Woodhouse station just south of Loughborough.

 

The day was blessed with dry, warm and sunny weather together with a turnout of buses that exceeded my expectations.

 

The City of Leicester’s transport department was well represented with a wide range of buses on display and also giving rides to the large numbers of people who were visiting.

 

Friend Peter Rose accompanied me on the day and the following images of the show are a mixture of his and mine.

 

CBC 921 ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 329. AEC Renown / Northern Counties

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

 

New in 1939.

 

My star of the show. Superb!

 

 

 

 

FJF 193 ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 154. Leyland PD2 / Leyland /1

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

 

New in 1950.

 

 

 

 

FJF 193 ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 154. Leyland PD2 / Leyland /2

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

 

Pictured outside the ‘GCR’ Loughborough station.

 

Friend Peter Rose is sat behind the 3rd. window from the front upstairs.

 

Give him a wave!

 

 

 

 

TBC 163 ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 163. Leyland PD3 / Park Royal

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

 

New in 1958.

 

The colours used are the same as for the two earlier images pictured above.

 

However, the different proportions in their application makes the bus seem much brighter and cleaner.

 

This styling was probably the best that half cab bus styling ever got.

 

In the late 1950s the ‘Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus’ Co. (Midland Red) had been building their own buses. 

 

One of the features was a full width panel at the front, hiding the radiator and blending in the wings.

 

They asked Leyland if they could produce something similar for the front of buses the company had on order.

 

This was Leyland’s answer.

 

The blank space between the vertical openings just below the Leyland badge was created to house the stylised initials BMMO.

 

Obviously, other operators wanted something different. 

 

In this case they have used what appears to be the City of Leicester’s coat of arms.

 

Known as ‘tin fronts’.

 

Suddenly AEC, Daimler, Guy, Alexander and others adopted what had virtually become a fashion item.

 

 

 

 

90 HBC ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 90. Leyland PD3A / East Lancs

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

 

If memory serves me right: For the PD3, the ‘tin front’ now became fibreglass.

 

New in 1964.

 

 

 

 

217 AJF ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 217. AEC Bridgemaster / Park Royal /1

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

 

New in 1961.

 

 

 

 

217 AJF ‘Leicester City Transport’ No. 217. AEC Bridgemaster / Park Royal /2

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

 

 

‘Scene’ at ‘First South Yorkshires’ (FSY) event in Sheffield 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The 22nd. of August 2021 saw the 60th. anniversary of the opening of Olive Grove Garage in Sheffield.

 

To celebrate ‘FSY’ put on a ‘Family Fun Day’.

 

As might be expected, ‘FSY’ was well represented with buses from the present fleet with others either from the past or representing something from the past.

 

RWB 87 ‘Sheffield Transport’ No. 687. Leyland PD2 / Weymann

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

 

This bus has appeared in my blog before but I make no apology for including this magnificent vehicle again.

 

It looks better every time I see it. 

 

I can remember this bus when it was new and it didn’t look as good then as it does now.

 

Congratulations to the owner/s who keep this 67 year old bus in this condition.

 

 

 

 

CWG 696V ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 1696. Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Alexander AL

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

 

This was the PTE’s second attempt at a livery which did not include either blue or red which were the major colours in the liveries of Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, the PTE’s constituent companies.

 

The first attempt featured a much paler coffee colour which to say the least looked wishy washy.

 

This stronger version was soon introduced to the same layout as before and looked much better.

 

 

 

 

KWA 22W ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 22. Leyland National 2

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

 

 

 

 

 

YN58 ETY ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 37529, ‘South Yorkshire’s Transport’ No. 1529 ‘Wilf Duke’. Volvo 9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

Another of ‘FSY’s heritage liveries.

 

The addition of the ’s in the company title was interesting at the time.

 

‘South Yorkshire’ (the civil authority, not the bus company) for some time, as a social measure charged uneconomic fares to which the government of the time objected and tried to force a fares increase.

 

The company added the ’s as a reminder to the government who the buses actually belonged too and that they were not the government’s.

 

An attractive livery though!

 

 

 

 

BD11 CFA ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 69525 ‘Sheffield’. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘First Manchester’.

 

Right up to date with this being the first single decker to be painted in the revised ‘FSY’ livery.

 

‘Scene’ Down Memory Lane once more in Sheffield part 5 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For part 1 see blog posted 24/12/2020, part 2 blog posted 25/12/2020, part 3 blog posted 26/12/2020, Part 4 posted 27/12/2020.

 

On the 12th. of May 2013. ‘First South Yorkshire’ (FSY) organised a bus event to mark 100 years since the introduction of the motor bus in Sheffield.

 

It was held at ‘FSYs Olive Grove garage which is adjacent to the ‘Midland Main Line’ about half a mile to the South of Sheffield’s railway station. 

 

A stones throw from the garage is the site of what was Queens Road tram depot where many of Sheffields trams were built and housed.

 

What is now the bus parking area at Olive Grove for many years was home to ‘Sheffield United Tours’ fleet of luxury coaches which eventually passed to ‘National Travel East’.

 

A part of Sheffield then that is steeped in the city’s transport history.

 

In support of ‘FSY’ sterling efforts in putting on the show, a good selection of preserved buses attended.

 

KDT 393 ‘Doncaster Corporation’ No.122. AEC Regent III / Roe

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

 

New in 1951.

 

Owned by the ‘Lincolnshire Veteran Vehicle Society’.

 

 

 

 

225 LRB ‘Chesterfield Corporation Transport’ No. 225. Leyland PD2 / Weymann

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

 

New in 1960.

 

 

 

 

PUA 924W ‘West Yorkshire PTE MetroBus’ No. 6294. Leyland Atlantan AN68 / Roe

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

 

 

 

449 CLT ‘London Transport’ No. RM1449. AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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