‘Scene’ in Birmingham ‘national express West Midlands 3’ 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.

 

In 2016 ‘West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive’ which had controlled transport in the area since 1969 was dissolved following the establishment of the ‘West Midlands Combined Authority’.

 

In the fullness of time, their transport arm was established under the name of ‘Transport for West Midlands’.

 

This body introduced its own livery using 2 shades of red with a cream highlight.

 

The plan, as I understood it, was to re-paint all the buses into this new livery no matter who the operator might be.

 

Whilst there are many buses working in this livery, there are also many other buses working in other liveries.

 

Most buses are named using people’s forenames which reflect the ethnic diversity of the area.

 

The choice of names are suggestions put forward by employees of ‘national express West Midlands’ together with some from the general public.

 

I think that is a nice touch because people of all ages will be happy to ride on ‘their’ bus.

 

BX54 DDY ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 4608. national express West Midlands, Hannah Louise.

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400

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

 

 

 

 

 

BK63 YWO ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 4927, national express West Midlands, Carol Ann.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

 

 

 

BX13 JNO ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 5515, ‘national express West Midlands’, Madhu.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

BV57 XKP ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 4771, ‘national express West Midlands’, Belinda Jane.

Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

I am advised by Paul, (thank you) that this was a Coventry based bus that has been transferred into Birmingham after being replaced by a new bus.

The blue livery being the Coventry livery.

 

 

 

 

YX15 OZE ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 2215, national express West Midlands, 4/4A, Luna.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200MMC

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

 

 

 

 

BX59 NSY ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 1911, national express West Midlands, Grace Christina.

Scania K230B / Scania Omnilink

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

 

 

 

 

BV57 XFO ‘Travel West Midlands’ No. 1800, national express West Midlands, Wictoria-Jadwiga.

Scania K230B / Scania Omnilink

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

 

Finally, something bright and cheerful.

 

Painted in the livery that preceded the other two liveries featured in this blog.

 

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit At the Premises of ‘preston bus’ /3 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

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.

 

‘Preston Bus’, which has a history going back to 1904, became part of the ‘ROTALA’ group in 2011.

 

KY63 VTK ‘preston bus’ No. 20880.

Optare Solo M8900

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

 

New to ‘Airbus Operations’, Filton, Bristol.

 

At one time, ‘ARRIVA’ group ran the bus services in Malta under contract to the Maltese government.

 

An agreement which eventually came to an end.

 

Some buses sourced from the UK were returned and sold on.

This bus being one of them.

 

Registered BUS 352 and numbered 352 in the Maltese fleet.

 

 

 

 

LM18 UWW ‘prestonbus’ No. 21201.

Mercedes-Benz 516CDI / Mellor Strata

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

 

 

 

 

YT61 FEM ‘prestonbus’ No. 30118.

Scania K230UB / Scania Omnilink

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

 

New to ‘Flights Hallmark’ but acquired from ‘Diamond West Midlands’.

 

 

 

 

VT61 FEP ‘prestonbus’ No. 30116.

Scania K230UB / Scania Omnilink

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

 

New to ‘Flights Hallmark’ but acquired from ‘Diamond West Midlands’.

 

 

 

 

VT61 FEU ‘prestonbus’ No. 30115.

Scania K230UB / Scania Omnilink

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

 

New to ‘Flights Hallmark’ but acquired from ‘Diamond West Midlands’.

 

‘Scene’ in Chesterfield Yet Again on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

SW64 XAR ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 11.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro200 /1

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

 

New to ‘Leask’, Lerwick, Shetland.

 

This bus has just arrived from Bakewell having worked an X70 service from Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

SW64 XAR ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 11.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro200 /2

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

 

Seen minutes later in this image working  a service 55 to Alfreton.

 

 

 

 

FJ03 VWR ‘TM Travel’ No. 623.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

Clearly marked as a ‘TMT’ bus but painted in full ‘notts+derby’ livery.

 

Both companies being part of the ‘Wellglade’ group together with ‘trentbarton’ to whom the bus was new.

 

 

 

 

YN57 FZA ‘TM Travel’ No. 1207.

Scania K230UB / Scania Omnilink

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

 

New to ‘Universitybus’, Hatfield, Herts.

 

 

 

 

MX54 LRK ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire Traction’ No. 22085 ‘L Driver Training’.

MAN 18.220 / Alexander Dennis Ltd. ALX300

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

WA56 FKO ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No.14.

Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer 2

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

 

Acquired from ‘Stagecoach South West’ but new to ‘Stagecoach Devon’ as No. 35153.

 

 

 

 

600 RT ‘JOHNSON BROS’. ‘REDFERN TRAVEL Euro Escapade’.

Irizar i6s

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

 

New registered YM19 JJV.

 

‘Scene’ once more in Bakewell on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

One of my most recent blogs, (posted 09/02/2022) dealt at length with an elderly ex ‘trentbarton’ Scania/Wright single decker currently in temporary service with ‘Hulleys of Baslow’.

 

I caught that bus to Bakewell where, whilst I was waiting the half hour or so for my return service to Chesterfield, I photographed the other buses that passed my way.

 

MX11 CZM ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 17. 

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

The paint scheme it appears in is that of the long departed ‘Express Motors’ of Hulland Ward, Derbyshire.

 

One of several ‘Heritage’ liveries produced during 2021 as part of ’Hulleys’ centenary celebrations.

 

It last appeared in my blog posted on 22/01/04 at Carsington Water, Derbyshire where I commented,

 

   “The bus was waiting to have its titles and branding added”.

 

It still is.

 

 

 

 

YN56 FDC ‘TM Travel’ No.1173.

Scania N94UD / Scania Omnidekka

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

 

Working service No. 218 from and to Sheffield.

 

New to ‘Metrobus’ as No. 929.

 

 

 

 

YJ07 PCF ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 16.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘Lancashire United’ as No. 1828.

 

 

 

 

YN57 FZA ‘TM Travel’ No. 1207.

Scania K230UB4 / Scania OmniLink

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

 

New to ‘Universitybus’, Hatfield, Herts as No. 353.

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

 

Working service No. 218 from and to Sheffield.

 

 

 

 

FJ58 KKH  ‘trentbarton’ (tb) No. 716. ‘mango’.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

Turning to go back on its lengthy journey to Derby.

 

Wearing ‘tb’s ‘mango livery which promotes the company’s electronic discounted payment card.

 

The ‘mango’ livery being one that is a go anywhere livery in a highly route branded fleet.

 

 

 

 

YX17 OGU ‘Andrews’, Tideswell, Derbyshire.

Volvo B8R / Plaxton Panther 3

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

 

 

 

 

YN07 EXP ‘Bowers Coaches’ No. 789 ‘transpeak’.

Scania K230UB4 / Scania OmniLink

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

 

‘Bowers Coaches’ are part of ‘High Peak Buses’ which are owned in partnership by ‘trentbarton’ and the ‘Centrebus’ group.

 

Operating a southbound service from Buxton to Derby.

 

New to Scania, Worksop as a demonstrator.

 

‘Scene’ in Somerset. ‘Firstbus’ 3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The ‘Firstbus’ fleet in Somerset falls into two distinct categories.

 

In one of those categories are the members of the fleet that carry the full green or branded liveries and the other are those that don’t.

 

Blogs covering the ‘green’ fleet were published on 01/05/20 and 05/05/20.

 

HIG 1533 ‘First Kernow’ No. 65759 ‘Atlantic Coasters’. Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

New registered YN05 GXF to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1006.

 

Something of a puzzle. Painted in full ‘First Kernow’ livery working a local

‘First Southwest’ local route.

 

Route 21 heads North from Taunton to Burnham on Sea.

 

The most likely explanations are that it is on temporary loan or has been transferred permanently and ‘First South West’ have not as yet got round to repainting it.

 

Pictured in Taunton.

Since the publication of this blog, I have received the following addition kindly supplied by correspondent ‘bus Kernow’ to whom I offer my thanks for taking the time and trouble to contact me. Dennis 

bus Kernow said: these were transferred from First Kernow to Buses of Somerset in the 2nd half of 2018. The Atlantic Coasters livery it wears here uses the same base colours as for the BoS 21 route although as you can see here it took them some time to remove the vinyls and replace them with new ones

 

 

 

 

 

LT02 NVP ‘First South West’ No. 33127. Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘Centrewest’, London as TN1127 but previously with ‘First South Yorkshire’. 

 

Pictured in Taunton Bus Station.

 

 

 

YX58 HVF ‘First South West’ No. 44076. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 / (ADL) Enviro 200

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

 

Formerly with ‘First Capital’, London as No. DML 44076.

 

Pictured in Taunton Bus Station.

 

 

 

YN54 NZC ‘First South West’ No. 65007. Scania CN94UB / Scania Omnilink

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

 

Previously with ‘First Hampshire & Dorset’.

 

Pictured leaving Watchet railway station.

‘Scene’, Down Memory Lane with ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ (AM)4 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

To continue, an occasional series which came about when I was looking through my collection of images for something else and this selection turned up.

 

In the early days due to the number of operators who formed the group, the fleet was a mixture of types amalgamated by the livery. 

 

It was plain, simple and some said boring.

 

I liked it so here are some examples of how it looked.

 

L522 BNX ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 2022.  Dennis Dart / East Lancs

 

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

 

 

 

New to ‘Midland Red North’ as No. 522.

 

 

 

Pictured in Lichfield Bus Station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YJ57 AZL ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 3735. VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro

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

 

Pictured in Loughborough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

R624 MNU ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 4624. Leyland Olympian-50 / Northern Counties Palatine

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

 

Pictured in St. Margarets Bus Station, Leicester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN08 HZW ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 3809. Scania K230UB / Scania Omnilink

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA Midlands North’.

 

Pictured in Derby Bus Station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

W227 SNR ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 2227. Dennis Dart / Alexander ALX 300

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA Derby’. 

 

Pictured in Burton-on-Trent.

‘Scene’, Down Memory Lane with ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ (AM) 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

An occasional series which came about when I was looking through my collection of images for something else and this selection turned up.

 

In the early days due to the number of operators who formed the group, the fleet was a mixture of types amalgamated by the livery. 

 

It was plain, simple and some said boring.

 

I liked it so here are some examples of how it looked.

 

YN08 HZX ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 3810. Scania K230UB / Scania OmniLink

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA Derby’ where it is pictured.

 

 

 

 

M831 SDA ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 4191. Scania N113DRB / East Lancs

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

 

New to ‘Midland Red North’.

 

Pictured in Derby.

 

 

 

 

P483 CAL  ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 1381. Mercedes-Benz 709D / Plaxton Beaver

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

 

New to ‘Derby City Transport’ where it is pictured as its No. 83.

 

 

 

 

M159 GRY ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 4159. Scania N113DRB / East Lancs

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

 

New to ‘Midland Fox’.

 

Pictured in Derby.

 

 

 

 

T61 JBA ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 2299. ‘X38 burton derby fast’. Dennis Dart / Marshall Capital

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

 

New to ‘Gilligan & Wilson’, Winsford, Cheshire.

 

Pictured in Derby although at the time, it was based in Burton-on-Trent.

‘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’