‘Scene’ in Reading 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The town of Reading lies 40 miles to the West of London and in bus terms it is one of the most progressive places in the country. 

 

It has a superb modern railway station that is the destination for virtually all the buses that operate within the town.

 

‘Reading buses’ and the service they provide would grace any city.

 

For an earlier blog illustrating double deckers in the town see blog published 11/01/2019.

 

For previous blogs illustrating gas powered buses in the town see blogs published 30/04/2016 and 03/02/2018.

 

 

When ‘First Berkshire’ gave up operating its service 702 which runs from London and Windsor to Legoland on the 23rd. of December 2017, ‘Readingbuses’ decided to operate the route themselves.

 

Several vehicles were hired in to run the service one of which is a tri-axle Scania OmniLink coming from ‘Stagecoach North Scotland’ with whom it was No. 24004.

 

SP57 CNK ‘Readingbuses’ No. 10 ‘greenline’. Scania Omnilink K170UB6 /1

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

 

 

 

SP57 CNK ‘Readingbuses’ No. 10 ‘greenline’. Scania Omnilink K170UB6 /2

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

 

 

 

SM65 LMF ‘Carousel Buses’ No. 404 ‘X80 Regatta’. Wright Streetlte D/F

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

 

‘Carousel Buses’ are part of the ‘Oxford Bus’ Group which in turn is part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group.

 

 

 

TF56 OXF ‘Thames Travel No. 855. Mercedes-Benz Citaro

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

 

‘Thames Travel’ are part of the ‘Oxford Bus’ Group which in turn is part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group.

 

 

 

YX63 LGV ‘Readingbuses No. 132 ‘nineteens’. ‘ADL’ E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200 

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

 

 

 

LO67 CFK ‘Readingbuses’ No. 382 ‘BUZZ’. Mercedes-Benz MB516CDI / Mellor

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

 

Reading is another operator that has joined the trend for operating mini-buses.

 

Mini buses have been tried before in big bus fleets. The problem is that they tend to attract so many passengers that bigger buses have to be substituted.

 

Still, an interesting developement and only time will tell wether they are a success or not.

 

 

 

 

SO12 WJC ‘Horseman of Royal Berkshire’. Volvo B9R / Plaxton Elite

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

 

What a lovely fleetname.

 

New as LSK 509 to ‘Parks of Hamilton’.

 

 

YN62 GYR ‘First  Berkshire’ No. 20808, ‘Reading-Heathrow railair’. Volvo B9R/ Plaxton Panther

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

 

New to ‘First Beeline’.

 

 

 

 

DK57 JJV ‘ReadiBus’ No.29. Mercedes-Benz 513

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

 

‘Scene’ in Bakewell part 2

When I first knew Bakewell, which is over 60 years ago. It was a typical country market town. Its primary function was trading in livestock at its large market together with produce, farm equipment and everything else that goes to support a basically farming community.

 

None of that has changed. The markets are still very busy particularly on Mondays. What has changed is that Bakewell has re invented itself and is now very much on the tourist trail and holidays map.

 

Situated on the river Wye and lying to the South of Manchester and Buxton. To the North of Derby and Matlock and to the West of Sheffield. Bakewell is ideally placed and the level of its bus services reflects that.

 

Services to Sheffield have been in the hands of ‘TM Travel’ (TMT) and ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ (see part 1) for some time but is interesting to see that ‘First in South Yorkshire’ have re introduced their service 240 which ran for many years and If memory serves me correctly originated in the ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ service 40. 

 

Only at week ends and bank holidays to start with but no doubt it will be developed .

 

J854 TSC

A Leyland Olympian with Alexander RH bodywork. Originally with ‘Lothian Regional Transport’, coming to TMT in 2008.

R977 KAR

 

A Volvo Olympian and bodied again by Alexander but this time by the Belfast factory for ‘Dublin ‘Bus for whom it worked as 98-D-20316. It came to TMT in 2009.

R93 LHK

 

Another Alexander Belfast bodied Volvo Olympian that was built for ‘Dublin Bus’ and was registered as 97-D-368 arriving with TMT in 2009.

 

 

DK10 DXS

 

Those of you who have read my earlier ‘blogs’ will know of my interest in ‘Community Transport’ fleets.

 

This ‘Mellor’ of Rochdale bodied Mercedes-Benz’ Sprinter is seen working for the local unit which is ‘Bakewell and Eyam C.T.

 

YJ07 DVM

A Sitcar Beluga bodied Mercedes-Benz of ‘Golden Green Travel’. An operator based not very far away at Longnor in Staffordshire.

 

Although the Beluga has been around for a long time, to me it is something of a rarity.

FJ05 HXW

A Volvo B12B with Caetano bodywork working for local operator ‘Lathkill Coaches’. Formerly working in Durham for ‘Lees Holidays’.

 

FM56 UNU

A DAF SB4000 with Marcopolo Viaggio bodywork operating for ‘Chiltern Travel’ of Blunham in Bedfordshire.

 

Originally registered 07-KE-1532 in the Irish Republic in the service of ‘Barton of Maynooth’. It also worked for ‘Matthews’ of Inniskeen before coming to the UK in 2010 with its present registration.

 

 

SU11 RON

A DAF MX340 with Van Hool T916 Acron bodywork working for ‘Barnards Coaches’ of Kirton-on-Lindsay in Lincolnshire.

 

When not on tour or excursion work this coach is used as the team coach for Scunthorpe United Football Club.

 

RB14 BUL

A Scania/Irizar PB working for ‘bullocks’ of Cheadle in Cheshire.

 

BG09 JJO

A Mercedes-Benz Tourismo carrying ‘Travelmaster Holidays’ titles although the coach is operated by ‘Owens Coaches’ of Oswestry.