The annual B&C show at the NEC has been cancelled for 2020 because of the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Regular readers/viewers of my blog will know that I would normally have published a number of blogs built round what was new in the 2020 show.
As I am not able to do so, I will fill the gaps created by re-running some of the highlights from previous shows.
Sometimes (but not always) a veteran bus from earlier years puts in an appearance.
The 2014 show today, 2015 tomorrow.
Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ADL Enviro200MMC
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
This was the first time I had seen what was to turn out to be the most significant single deck bus design of recent years.
OP14 ARE Optare MetroDecker
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
At the time I wrote that,
“Optare have set out to produce a bus that ticks all the boxes and still weighs under 10 tons.
According to all the reports, they have achieved it and all that is left to do is for someone to buy it and prove that it is as good as it looks.”
Six years later, despite there being diesel, hybrid and electric versions, it still seems to struggle to achieve really significant sales.
I have ridden on it and admired it from a distance. I think that it is a lovely bus. I would love to see it do enormously well.
BD64 NBO ‘yourbus No. 3101. Mercedes-Benz Citaro
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
At the time I wrote that,
“To my eyes, it has the look of ‘Lothian’s livery about it.
However, I think that the colours and the style of application is excellent and it will no doubt brighten up Heanor marketplace on a dark, misty winters morning”.
Indeed, it and others like it did until October 2019 when ‘yourbus’ ceased trading.
BD64 NBO is still earning its keep. Now with ‘Diamond North West’ where oddly enough it is numbered 33010.
Not much different from its ‘yourbus’ days.
DFB 704D ‘Hearsons Heritage Tours of Nottingham ‘London General Omnibus Company’ ‘B’ type replica
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
At the time I wrote that,
“1,200 of the buses (and their drivers) were commandeered by the War Office in 1914”. (for use as troop carriers in France). “The drivers were still dressed in their ‘LGOC’ uniforms”.
I wonder how many of the drivers survived?
VDL Futura ‘Leger Holidays’ ‘Luxuria’
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
At the time I wrote that,
“This coach has only 31 seats all arranged in 2 and 1 with two pairs of the singles facing each other across a table.
Each seat comes with its own fully interactive touch screen TV offering TV programmes, films and music. The screens are fitted in the seat backs as one finds in airliners today while the seats without seat backs in front of them have their screens on stalks”.
‘Luxuria’ indeed.
‘VanHool ‘Astromega’ ‘Stagecoach Western Buses Ltd’ ‘megabusGold.com.'
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
At the time, it seemed like a great idea but it never really took off.
