‘Scene’ Out and About Once More on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

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

 

There are, however, times when something just happens to turn up that does not fit any category. 

 

Collectively they are just ‘Bits & Pieces’. 

 

Individually they can be interesting.

 

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

 

H9 GWY ‘Gwynfor Coaches’, Llangefni, North Wales.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New registered LK08 DXU to ‘Metroline’ No. TE882.

 

Image, courtesy friend Stephen Walters.

 

 

 

 

FXZ 8495 ‘Henshaws’, Ironville, Derbyshire.

VDL FHD2-122.365 / VDL

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

 

New to ‘Quinn’, Newry, Northern Ireland.

 

Pictured at ‘Henshaws’ depot at Jacksdale, Notts.

 

 

 

 

SC54 GAS ‘Cawthornes Travel’.

Scania K124EB6 / Irizar Century

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

 

 

New to ‘Strafford’, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, Wales.

 

The ROTHERHAM OWLS sticker in the windscreen could indicate a ‘Sheffield Wednesday FC’ connection.

 

Come on you Owls. 

 

Yes?

 

Maybe not.

 

Pictured in Ripley, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

AGZ 9365 ‘Littles Travel’, Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

Displaying its then new livery whilst waiting for custom on Ripley Market Place, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

YD63 VDT ‘TMTravel’ No. 833.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

Bought new.

 

Pictured departing Bakewell, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

MA07 BUS ‘DERBYSHIRE COMMUNITY TRANSPORT (TRADING) LTD.

Optare Solo M710SE

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

 

New to ‘Mott’, Aylesbury. Bucks.

 

‘Star Travel’ the operator who’s livery this bus wears is also located in Aylesbury and the branding is for their route No.5 in that town.

 

The devil as always is in the detail, the legal titling showing that despite the branding it is now based in Ripley, Derbyshire, where this image was taken.

 

 

 

 

EDR 793 ‘Hornsby’s, Barbara.

Bedford OB / Duple Vista

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

 

A pity somebody left the door open!

 

New in 1949 to ‘Pridham’, Lamerton, Tavistock, Devon.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Wolverhampton ‘Other Operators’. on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A day out train and tram riding in the West Midlands took friend Peter Rose and myself into pastures new recently when the transport delights of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich were explored.

 

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.

 

YJ60 LTV ‘Banga Buses’, Wolverhampton.

Optare Solo M880

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

 

I don’t know if Banga’s choice of livery has always been blue and yellow but it could, seeing as it is the same colours as the Ukrainian flag, be seen as support for the Ukraine in its current problems with Russia. 

 

New to ‘Hatch Green Coaches’, Hatch Green, Somerset.

 

 

 

 

YX60 FUE ‘Banga Buses’, Wolverhampton.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘First Capital’ as No. DMS44424 and then with ‘Go-Ahead London’ as No. SEN4.

 

 

 

 

YX61 BYC ‘Banga Buses’, Wolverhampton.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Edwards’, Llantwit Fardre, Wales.

 

 

 

 

EU08 FHD ‘TRAVEL EXPRESS LTD’, Lets Go!.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Olympus’, Harlow, Essex.

 

 

 

 

YX64 VOM ‘TRAVEL EXPRESS LTD’, Lets Go!.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Bevan’ Lydney, Gloucs.

 

 

 

 

SN68 AHT ‘Diamond’ No. 32231.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

 

 

 

YJ12 PLO ‘arriva’ No. 3698.

Optare Versa V1170

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Midlands North’.

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit In Bolton Town Centre 4 ‘Other Operators on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Hands up those of you that spotted yesterdays mistake ???

I accidentally posted 2 blogs on the same day.

 

Prior to posting the images of ‘Tyrers’ Volvo B9TL/ Optare Olympus, I had already posted the first of a series of blogs featuring the West Midlands. 

 

This included only the second Wright Hydroliner to appear in any of my blogs.

 

So it’s worth having a look at!!

 

The sixth blog of ten, posted over ten consecutive days. 

More tomorrow.

 

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.

 

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 being in the North West of England centred on the Holiday Inn Express, Preston.

 

Friend Peter Rose joined me for what turned out to be a sometimes wet, but very enjoyable weekend.

 

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

 

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

 

An hour lunch break was taken in Bolton where, inevitably, interest centred on the bus station.

 

The arrival of a large group of mainly men, mainly wearing Hi-Viz vests, many armed with cameras and jostling to take pictures provoked a lot of good natured banter with the local population.

 

I was asked twice by passers-by if the King was coming!

 

YX69 NTK ‘The Blackburn Bus Company’ (BBC) No. 507.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMC /1

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

 

One of a batch of 13 buses all carrying the same branding.

 

New to ‘Lancashire United’ No. 507. THE 1, Blackburn to Darwen to Bolton.

 

‘BBC’ is part of the ‘Transdev’ group.

 

 

 

 

YX69 NTK ‘The Blackburn Bus Company’ (BBC) No. 507.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMC /2

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

 

 

 

 

YJ62 FSE ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

New to ‘de Courcey’, Coventry No. 577.

 

 

 

 

BD64 NCC ‘Diamond Bus North West’ No. 33017.

Mercedes-Benz Citaro

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

 

New to ‘Dunn’ trading as ‘yourbus’ No. 3108, Heanor, Derbyshire.

 

A company local to me in the East Midlands that went out of business in October 2019.

 

 

 

 

LJ13 GLK ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

New to ‘London General’ No. WS32.

 

 

 

 

CX58 EVC ‘Arriva North West’ No. 2682.

VDL SB200 / Wright Pulsar

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Liverpool’.

 

The livery is referred to as ‘Arriva 2009’.

 

 

 

 

CX58 EVF ‘Arriva North West’ No. 2684, SAPPHIRE.

VDL SB200 / Wright Pulsar

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

 

The ‘SAPPHIRE’ livery was introduced at the time ’Stagecoach’ introduced its ‘gold’ livery.

 

The purpose in both cases was to indicate to the travelling public that buses so identified were built to a superior specification to ‘ordinary’ buses.

 

The ‘SAPPHIRE’ livery now seems to be being phased out.

 

‘Arriva’ buses local to me in Derby are being painted in the current light blue with no reference to ‘SAPPHIRE’.

 

Still, interesting, while it lasted.

 

 

 

 

MX12 KWU ‘Arriva North West’ No. 3126.

VDL SB200 / Wright Pulsar

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

 

New to the ‘TGM Group’ (Telling Golden Miller) who became part of ‘Arriva’ in 2007.

 

Painted in the current ‘Arriva’ standard pale blue livery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Ilkeston, Derbyshire 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Ilkeston, pronounced ‘Ilson’ by the locals, has not featured in my blogs for some years.

 

Located close to the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border and only ten miles or so from both Derby and Nottingham.

 

The bus services in the town are almost all in the hands of ‘Wellglade’ group companies ‘trentbarton’ and ‘notts+derby’.

YD63 VDM ‘trentbarton’ No. 502, mango.

Optare Solo SR M970

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

 

‘mango’ is ‘tb’s discounted travel card and buses in this branding regularly work around all the routes as a spare bus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YJ11 ENH ‘trentbarton’ No. 804, my15.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

The my15 route runs from Ilkeston to Sawley every 15 minutes with one bus an hour being extended to the East Midlands Airport at Castle Donington.

 

The 2011 intake of Versas were the first of their kind in the fleet and became the standard single deck bus until 2014 in which time 49 were purchased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FJ09 XPB ‘trentbarton’ No. 743. 

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

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

 

This image shows the bus in what is the standard, unbranded livery.                 

 

A go anywhere livery.

 

It is also the first time I have seen this livery on a Volvo/Wright.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FJ58 KKM ‘trentbarton’ No. 718, llkeston flyer.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

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

 

The ‘flyer’ in the branding is to indicate that much of the journey is on roads not subject to lower speed limits where the driver (where it is safe to do so) can ‘let it fly’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN56 OWP ‘notts+derby’ No.1181.

Optare Solo M920

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

 

New to ‘TM Travel’, Staveley, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YJ12 NBE ‘trentbarton’ No. 496.

Optare Solo SR M970

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

 

This image shows the bus in what is the standard, unbranded livery.                 

 

A go anywhere livery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN08 CWT ‘notts+derby’ No. 761.

Volvo B7RLE / Plaxton Centro

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

 

 

 

‘Scene’ Between Newark and Nottingham Service No. 90, the ‘Fosseway Flyer’ has Flown on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Service No. 90 has linked Newark and Nottingham for many years.

 

When I first knew it in the early years of this century it was operated by ‘Nottingham City Transport’ using fleet liveried Optare Solos.

 

At that time it terminated at Newark Northgate railway station.

 

For reasons that I know not, the service and the buses moved to 

‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ (MoSoT) in 2008.

 

Later, the buses used were Optare Versas.

 

Always smartly turned out and branded as The ‘Fosseway Flyer’.

 

This continued until ‘MoSoT’ made an announcement in early March 2023 stating that as from April 15th. 2023, the service would be withdrawn for economic reasons.

 

This must have drawn some comment from the travelling public because a week later they issued a statement explaining the financial reasons behind the withdrawal.

 

I, together with friend Peter Rose, made a farewell return trip this week.

 

At some stage the Newark terminus had been cut back from Northgate station to the bus station in Newark.

 

I can understand that because the constant stream of traffic along the road, a

roundabout and traffic lights between the two, must have made time keeping almost impossible.

 

It was an interesting day out but, at the end, Marshalls have to be credited with knowing their own business best.

 

After all, they are running a business, not a charity.

 

‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ /1

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

 

 

 

 

‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ /2

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

 

 

‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ /3

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

 

 

 

 

YJ67 GBE ‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ No. OP117.

Optare V1110 Versa

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

 

This being the bus that carried us to Newark.

 

 

 

 

YJ67 GBF ‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ No. OP118.

Optare V1110 Versa

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

 

This being the bus that carried us back to Nottingham pictured coming into Newark Bus Station.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Ilkeston, Derbyshire 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

So, it is now Easter Monday afternoon and apart from the hailstorm that wet me through an hour ago, everything is going well.

 

Ilkeston, pronounced ‘Ilson’ by the locals, has not featured in my blogs for some years.

 

Located close to the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border and only ten miles or so from both Derby and Nottingham.

 

The bus services in the town are almost all in the hands of ‘Wellglade’ group companies ‘trentbarton’ and ‘notts+derby’.

 

The only other operator to make an appearance on the day I was there being 

‘Little Transport Ltd’. of Ilkeston.

 

FJ09 MVW ‘trentbarton’ No. 472.

Optare Solo M950

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

 

 

 

 

FJ58 KKE ‘trentbarton’ No. 713, mango.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

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

 

Working a the two branded service into Nottingham Victoria Bus station.

 

‘mango’ is ‘tb’s discounted travel card and buses in this branding regularly work around all the routes as a spare bus.

 

 

 

 

YN08 CWT ‘notts+derby’ No. 761.

Volvo B7RLE / Plaxton Centro

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

 

New to ‘Kinchbus’, Loughborough (another ‘Wellglade’ group member). It, and others of its kind were used on the ‘skylink’ service linking Derby with Leicester via the East Midlands Airport for many years before being replaced by Mercedes-Benz Citaros.

 

 

 

 

SN65 OFA ‘Little Transport’ Ltd., Ilkeston, Littles.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200 /1

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

 

The company has recently adopted a new livery and this is the first bus in the it to pass in front of my camera.

 

 

 

 

SN65 OFA ‘Little Transport’ Ltd., Ilkeston, Littles.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200 /2

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

 

 

 

 

BD65 EWH ‘trentbarton’ No. 776, the two.

Volvo B8RLE / Wright Eclipse 3

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

 

This batch (eleven buses) of Volvo B8RLEs are the only ones of their kind in the fleet. 

 

Since 2016, the intake of new buses has been entirely of  Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMCs.

 

 

 

 

YJ11 ENK ‘trentbarton’ No. 805, my15.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

The my15 route runs from Ilkeston to Sawley every 15 minutes with one bus an hour being extended to the East Midlands Airport at Castle Donington.

 

The 2011 intake of Versas were the first of their kind in the fleet and became the standard full size single deck bus until 2014 in which time 49 were purchased.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Loughborough 3 ‘Centrebus’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Just over 10 miles north of Leicester, Loughborough is an interesting town from a transport point of view being on the Midland Main Line and the Grand Union Canal.

 

In addition, there is a frequent and varied range of bus connections supplied on the day I was there by five different operators. 

 

‘Centrebus’, founded in 2001, are headquartered in Leicester but operate across widely across the midland counties.

 

A revised livery has recently been introduced.This introduces more blue and reduces the amount of white.The main colour still being orange.

 

Both liveries appear in this blog.

 

Images in this and all my other blogs can be viewed in a larger format on my Flickr page by double clicking on the image seen here.

 

YJ14 BGU ‘Centrebus’ No. 330.

Optare Solo M900SR /1

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

 

New to ‘Richmond’ as NHS1.

 

 

 

 

YJ14 BGU ‘Centrebus’ No. 330.

Optare Solo M900SR /2

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

 

 

 

 

YJ57 XWG ‘Centrebus’ No. 769.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

New to ‘Burnley & Pendle’ as No. 269.

 

 

 

 

 

YJ16 DXY ‘Centrebus’ No. 314.

Optare Solo M8900SR

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

 

New to ‘Centrebus East’.

 

 

 

 

KB10 BUS ‘Centrebus’ No. 758.

VDL SB200 / Wright Pulsar 2

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

 

New to ‘Kimes’, Folkingham, Lincolnshire as No. 510.

 

It came into ‘Centrebus’ ownership when they took over ‘Kimes’ in 2011.

 

 

 

 

YJ57 BCU ‘Centrebus’ No. 743.

VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro

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

 

New to ‘Arriva’, Gomersal, West Yorks.

 

 

 

 

YX61 DOU ‘Centrebus’ No. 578.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Alexander Dennis Ltd.,’ Falkirk where it worked as a demonstrator.

 

In that capacity, it spent time with, amongst others, ‘Faresaver’, Chippenham, Wilts., ‘Waverley Travel’ in Edinburgh and ‘Newport Transport’.