‘Scene’ at the PSV Circle gathering in the West Midlands April 2015 part 2

The PSV Circle Annual General meeting this year was held at the Menzies Strathallan Hotel at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

 

In addition to the meeting itself, attending members from around the country are treated to a half and two full days of visits to bus operators and locations where buses might be seen in some numbers.

 

I was only able to attend on the Saturday and here are a further selection of images from that day.

 

For part 1 see blog dated 25/04/2015

 

A lunch break was taken at West Bromwich bus station. Mainly covered in, the walls are made from a blue glass which changes the colours of anything that you look at. 

 

BU53 UMH

A Volvo B7TL carrying Wright Gemini bodywork working for ‘National Express West Midlands’ (NEWM) showing the blue cast imparted by the walls.

 

BL53 EDX

A Transbus Trident fitted with Transbus bodywork. More easily recognised as the Dennis Trident with Alexanders ALX 400 bodywork that were both marketed as Transbus products for a time.

 

Another ‘NEWM’ bus but this time seen without the ‘benefit’ of the blue filter.

 

BK13 NZR

A Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork working from new for the ‘Diamond Bus Company’ (DBC). ‘DBC’ are part of the ‘Rotala’ group.

 

SN64 ODB

An Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) E40D Another ‘NEWM’ bus carrying route branding for the West Bromwich to Birmingham service.

 

S589 VUK

A further ‘NEWM’ bus this time an all Mercedes-Benz 0405N.

One of a very large batch of these buses that were delivered over 2 years. Now 16/17 years old, these appear to be very rugged and long lasting buses.

 

YD02 PZJ

A DAF SB120 with Wright Cadet bodywork wearing the black version of ‘DBC’s livery. Previously it worked for ‘Birmingham Omnibus’.

 

KW02 CXG

A Transbus Dart SLF with Plaxton’s Pointer MPD bodywork seen at ‘DBC’s Tividale depot.

Seen in the red variation of ‘DBC’s livery, the red diamond seems to get lost in the background colour.

 

Final call of the day was at the bus station adjacent to the Merry Hill shopping complex

 

WX58 FSA

A Volvo B7RLE fitted with Plaxton Centro bodywork again working for ‘DBC’ carrying route branding for the Weoley Castle to Merry Hill service.

 

BX12 DDE

Another ‘NEWM’ bus. This one being a Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork carrying route branding for the X96 service.

 

SN51 SZW

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork working for ‘Hansons Local Bus’.

Now looking a bit shabby, It was new to London United as DPS559.

 

KX57 OVC

An Enterprise Plasma, better known as the Plaxton Primo in the fleet of ‘West Midlands Special Needs Transport’ in ‘igo’ livery.

 

26

 

A Tram operated by ‘West Midlands Metro’ who’s services travel between Birmingham and Wolverhampton from just across the road from the bus station.

 

Designed and built by CAF in Spain and known as the ‘Urbos 3’. There were 20 ordered with a further 5 optioned.

'Scene’ on the West Coast of Scotland part 1.

I recently had a short break staying at the Alexandra Hotel in Oban where most of these images were taken. The tour company was ‘Highland Heritage’ (HH) with whom I have no connection other than as a satisfied customer.

SN05 DWK

 

A Volvo B12BT with Van Hool Alizee 59 seat bodywork.

 

One of ‘HH’s fleet of 16 identical vehicles. All carry different names to identify them to passengers because there are times when more than one is at the same place.

 

 

‘West Coast Motors’ (WCM) is by far the biggest operator of bus services in this part of Scotland

 

‘WCM’ was founded in 1923 in Campbeltown where they are still based. Operating across Argyll and Bute and as far away as Glasgow, the company has a fleet of approximately 200 vehicles.

 

The ‘Flagship’ route is probably the 926 linking Campbeltown with Glasgow which requires over 4 hours to cover the 140 miles.

 

Oban is linked to Glasgow by the 976. Both of these routes together with the 918 Oban to Fort William service operate as ‘WCM/Scottish Citylink joint services.

 

Most of the vehicles on these services that I saw were Irizar i6’s.

 

YT11 LVH and YR61 RWF seen in ‘joint’ livery.

 

 

While i6 Y90 WCM appears in fleet livery.

 

‘WCM’ seem to have a policy of buying new vehicles then keeping them for most if not all of their lives. When trying to trace previous and or subsequent operators, I have been largely unsuccessful in doing so.

 

The number of ‘WCM’ suffixed registrations in the fleet is noticeable

 

YJ05 PVK

 

A DAF SB120 with Wright Cadet bodywork. One of a batch of four buses with consecutive registrations.

 

N400 WCM (formerly SF06 HFN).

 

A Dennis Dart MPD with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork.

 

P600 WCM (formerly YJ07  EHC).

 

An Optare Solo.

 

W173 CDN

 

A Mercedes- Benz (MB) 0814D with Alexander bodywork.

 

 

YJ14 BAU

 

An Optare Solo SR.

 

W200 WCM (Previously YN08 NXP).

 

A Plaxton Primo.

 

GX08 AUR

 

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300.

 

J50 WCM

 

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton Pointer bodywork.

 

The style of bodywork would suggest that this bus is the earlier step entrance Dart and not the low floor variety.

N400 WCM

 

A Dennis Dart  SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork.

 

'Scene' in Hanley Bus Station. The independent operators

I was familiar with the old Hanley bus station and I had not yet seen the new one that opened in 2013 so a visit was long overdue. 

 

Although it was only a weekday, it seemed crowded and a driver told me to come back at tea time when it would be gridlocked.....!

 

However, I was only there to take pictures so here they are.

DX61 EOP

A Volvo B5RLH Hybrid bus with Wright Gemini bodywork operated by 'BakerBus' of Biddulph in Staffordshire.

One of three that must have been amongst the earliest hybrids of any description anywhere.

'Bakerbus' have a history dating back to the 1930's when James Baker started his chauffeured car service. Moving on to coach operation in 1967 and into local bus operation in 1990. The company today operates a fleet of around 70 vehicles.

 

LR52 KXH

A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork. Although not carrying any titles or branding it is one more from the 'Bakerbus' fleet. Formerly operating with ‘Metroline’ in London.

 

WT08 BUS

An Optare Versa working on ‘D&G Bus’ ‘plumline’ service.

 

It was new to ‘Wardle Transport’ (Now part of ‘ Arriva’). 

 

One of 2 buses ( the other is WT58 SOT) painted in this attractive plum and cream livery for the City of Stoke-on-Trent council funded service linking Hanley via the railway station to Trentham Lakes.

 

D&G was started in 1998 with services in Cheshire. 

 

They are now based in Crewe but until 2011 also operated services in Staffordshire. Due allegedly to ‘subsidy cuts’ the Staffordshire operations were sold to ‘Wardle Transport’.

 

YJ59 GHH

Another Optare Versa also working for ‘D&G Bus’. 

 

At one time it worked for ‘First’ in virtually the same livery except it carried ‘First’ titling instead of ‘D&G’ and was branded on the coving panel for route 76.

 

MX54 KXO

An Optare Solo working for ‘Bakerbus’ which at one time had a spell with ‘Thamesdown Transport’.

 

It has since moved on to ‘Tates’ of Barugh Green, South Yorkshire.

 

RIL 1016

This immaculate Van Hool Alizee bodied coach was operating a shuttle service with various school parties into Hanley’s Victoria Hall. 

 

Based in Biddulph, Hollinsheads have a history going back to the 1920’s.

 

‘Scraggs’ of Stoke-on- trent are another company with a long history going back sixty years or more. On the day, they were represented by.

 

YJ54 BSX

An Optare Solo. Seen in ‘Cityrider’ livery, it worked for ‘Wardle Transport’ in this livery. It was new to ‘D&G Bus’ who sold it to ‘Arriva Midlands’ with the rest of the Staffordshire operation in 2011. It passed to ‘Scraggs’ in July 2013.

 

YJ54 BSY

Another Optare Solo.It followed the same ownership path as BSX. Seen in ‘Scraggs  Blue Buses’ livery.

 

Plaxton’s Primo was never as successful as was anticipated. It originated as a low floor alternative to the high floor Mercedes-Benz mini buses such as the Vario.

 

MX55 WDT

Previously worked for ‘Munro’s of Jedburgh’.

 

60 UVT

Another Primo that was originally registered YX55 DSE and was formerly with ‘Central Connect’ of Aston in Birmingham.

 

PUI 5556

A Mercedes-Benz 814D/Plaxton Beaver 2 bodywork. A type of vehicle now in serious decline.