‘Scene’ at ‘Showbus 2014'- Olympus

No doubt this will be the first of a number of ‘Blogs’ that came out of my visit to ‘Showbus’ yesterday.

 

My trip there was with ‘Transpire’ the Chesterfield Bus Society.

 

The ‘Olympus’ body has had a checkered build background during its relatively short production life. Starting out as an ‘East Lancs Coachbuilders’ product. Then coming from ‘Darwen’ until finally finishing up in the ‘Optare’ stable.

 

Whoever the builder was what I think that the ‘Olympus’ was probably the the most visually attractive of all the double deck bodies produced in the last few years.

 

Seen here in the livery of ‘Midland Classic’ who operate in and around Burton on Trent.

 

The livery is a classic of its own kind being recognisable as a style of livery that has graced buses for many years. Long may it continue.

JB10 MCL on a Scania chassis.

 

 

 

 

A short visit to Sutton Coldfield part 1

When I was researching an article I wrote about a visit to Midland Classic (MC) for this website a few weeks ago. I discovered from MC’s website that they were about to start services to Sutton Coldfield (SC) by extending their X12 service from Burton On Trent to Lichfield. So, say no more and here I am !!

 

The town lies about 8 miles to  the Northeast of Birmingham. It looks to be an attractive, well to do town with particularly good transport connections into Birmingham.

 

There is no bus station as such and all the bus stands are closely grouped together in the centre of town on the main street.

 

National Express West Midlands (NXWM) are the major operator but Arriva and others put in an appearance.

S24 SLT is a Scania 94UB with Wright bodywork and is one of four that joined MC from South Lancs travel of Atherton. As can be seen, this vehicle (and S25 SLT which took me back to Burton) are suitably route branded. 

 

In the centre of SC, the road we see turns sharp left just beyond the NXWM decker whilst the pedestrianised shopping centre carries straight on. 

 

Right FJ08 LVO a Wright Gemini bodied DAF SB250 stands in the leafy town centre waiting to depart for Tamworth on service 110 which links Tamworth to Birmingham. This bus put in an appearance at Showbus at Duxford in 2010.

 

Part 2 follows shortly…