‘Scene’ in Bury Transport Interchange, Lancs. ‘Go North West’ on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Go North West’ is a relatively new company, coming about in 2019 when the ‘Go-Ahead’ group purchased ‘First’ group’s Queens Road depot in Manchester, the services operated from there and the buses operating them.

 

BG66 MKD ‘Go North West’ No. 3062, MCR.

Volvo B5LH / MCV

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

 

New to ‘London Central’ No. MHV36.

 

 

 

 

SN14 TTX ‘Go North West’ No. 3106, MCR.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New to ‘First Games Transport’ No. 33488.

 

An organisation set up to operate buses for the Olympic Games of 2012 and the Commonwealth Games of 2014. 

 

 

 

 

MX58 DXD ‘Go North West’ No. 3241, MCR.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

 

 

 

BN64 CNV ‘Go North West’ No. 6168, MCR, cross city.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban 2

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

 

New to ‘Go South Coast’ No. 2291.

 

 

 

 

SN14 DXJ ‘Go North West’ No. 6001, MCR.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

New to  ‘First Manchester’ No. 63156.

 

‘Scene’ in Edinburgh Once More 1 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose’s love of the Scottish capital continues unabated.

 

The benefit to the rest of us is a steady supply of interesting images for me to reproduce here where we can all enjoy them.

 

Of course, they are posted with his consent and my thanks.

 

SJ19 OYO ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 1111, Lothiancity 1919 100 years 2019.

Volvo B8L / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400XLB

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

 

These 100 seat buses proved extremely useful during the recent Covid 19 pandemic in keeping passengers socially distanced.

 

 

 

 

SA16 VUN ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 562, poppyscotland.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

 

 

 

SN13 BDF ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 5.

Volvo 7900 Hybrid / Volvo

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

 

 

 

 

YN68 BBV ‘Borders Buses’ No.11619, The Great Tapestry of Scotland.

Scania N250UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400MMC

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

 

Behind the bus, the gentleman sitting astride his horse is the Duke of Wellington.

 

The horse, named Copenhagen, was his mount at The Battle of Waterloo.

 

The Duke’s normal headwear, an orange traffic cone, appears to be missing.

 

 

 

 

SN69 ZNL ‘Borders Buses’ No. 11920.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200MMC

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

 

 

 

 

 

HSK 657 ‘Parks of Hamilton’, citylink, 900 Edinburgh Glasgow.

Volvo B11RLET / Plaxton Panorama

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

 

‘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’ in Edinburgh Once More 1 ‘Lothian Buses’ group on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose has been North of the border once more and has forwarded these images which are posted with his permission and my thanks.

 

The last day of his latest visit took him to Edinburgh for the train home.

 

Prior to boarding his train, he took advantage of the sunny day to capture the images pictured here.

 

SJ71 HJV ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 661, Lothian.

Volvo B5TL / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400MMC

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

 

This image taken on Princes Street showing the relationship between the buses and the tramway.

 

For those that may not know Edinburgh; Prince Street gardens are down the hill to the left of the single deck bus, with the railway line beyond running more or less parallel to the road.

 

The castle being high on the hill again on the left.

 

 

 

 

SJ19 OYG ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 1106, Lothiancity, 1919 100 YEARS 2019.

Volvo B8L / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400XLB

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

 

 

 

 

LX11 CVM ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 100, Lothiancity, 1919 100 YEARS 2019.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

‘Lothian Buses’ bought 50 or so second hand buses which were surplus to operators in London of which this is one.

 

They were bought to replace older buses in the ‘Lothian’ fleet that had less efficient and more polluting engines.

 

 

 

 

SN13 BCY ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 3.

Volvo B5LH / Volvo

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

 

 

 

 

SB19 GMX’ Lothian Buses’ No. 1135, AIRLINK.

Volvo B8L / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400XLB

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

 

 

 

 

SJ67 MHA ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 588, Lothiancountry.

Volvo B5LH / Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

 

 

 

SJ18 NFV ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 588, EastCoastbuses.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

New to ‘East Coast Buses’ No. 20005.

 

 

 

 

SF17 VMO ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 64, EastCoastbuses

Volvo B8RLE / Wright Eclipse 3

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

 

New to ‘East Coast Buses’ No. 10064.

 

‘Scene’ in North London, Finsbury Park Interchange again on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose has once more been exploring the delights that the capital has to offer.

 

This time he and his trusty camera have brought us the transport highlights of the area surrounding what was Finsbury Park railway station and has now been elevated to the level of an Interchange.

 

All the images reproduced here do so with Peter’s permission and my thanks.

 

The station dates back to the 1850s when the ‘Great Northern Railway’s line from Kings Cross arrived at what was then known as Seven Sisters Road  (Holloway) station.

 

Becoming Finsbury Park station in July 1861

 

This was gradually extended North to York by the GNR and eventually to  Edinburgh by the ‘North Eastern’ and ‘North British Railways’ so creating what is now known as The East Coast Main Line.

 

Underground trains arrived in the form of the ‘Great Northern & City Railway’ in 1904.

 

Trams and buses have been around since the early days when I suspect that they would have been powered by horses.

 

Today, such is the volume of traffic that two bus stations are required to service their needs.

 

LTZ 1472 ‘ARRIVA London’ No. LT 472.

Wrightbus NBFL (New Bus For London) New Routemaster

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

 

 

 

 

LK15 CWW ‘Metroline’ No. VWH 2098.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

 

 

 

LX20 FLK ‘Go-Ahead London General’ No. Ee9.

BYD DD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 EV City

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

 

 

 

 

LTZ 1471 ‘ARRIVA London’ No. LT 471.

Wrightbus NBFL (New Bus For London) New Routemaster

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

 

With LTZ 1575 in the background, two for the price of one. What a bargain!

 

New to ‘Arriva London North’.

 

 

 

 

LJ13 FBC ‘arriva London’ No. HV127

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

Note the lower case fleetname.

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in North London, Finsbury Park Interchange again on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Friend Peter Rose has once more been exploring the delights that the capital has to offer.

 

This time he and his trusty camera have brought us the transport highlights of the area surrounding what was Finsbury Park railway station and has now been elevated to the level of an Interchange.

 

All the images reproduced here do so with Peter’s permission and my thanks.

 

The station dates back to the 1850s when the ‘Great Northern Railway’s line from Kings Cross arrived at what was then known as Seven Sisters Road  (Holloway) station.

 

Becoming Finsbury Park station in July 1861

 

This was gradually extended North to York by the GNR and eventually to  Edinburgh by the ‘North Eastern’ and ‘North British Railways’ so creating what is now known as The East Coast Main Line.

 

Underground trains arrived in the form of the ‘Great Northern & City Railway’ in 1904.

 

Trams and buses have been around since the early days when I suspect that they would have been powered by horses.

 

Today, such is the volume of traffic that two bus stations are required to service their needs.

 

LTZ 1325 ‘ARRIVA London’ LT 325.

Wrightbus NBFL (New Bus For London) New Routemaster

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

 

Pictured under the station canopy.

 

I wonder how the graffiti ‘artist’ managed to access the roof support??

 

 

 

 

LF20 XLS ‘Go-Ahead London General’ No. Ee16.

BYD DD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 EV City

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

 

 

 

 

LK14 FBF ‘Metroline’ VWH 2012.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

 

 

 

LF20 XLK ‘Metroline’ No. Ee9.

BYD DD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400 EV City

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

 

The bus is coming straight across the junction to enter the interchange.

 

 

 

 

LTZ 1341 ‘ARRIVA London’ No. LT 341.

Wrightbus NBFL (New Bus For London) New Routemaster

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

 

 

 

 

LK17 DBX ‘Metroline’ No.VWH 12342.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

‘Scene’ at SHOWBUS 2022, The ‘Wright’ Stuff Double Deckers on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Sir William Wright, the founder of the company that carries his name, passed away in July 2022 year at the age of 94.

 

From small beginnings in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, he built a multi million pound company with worldwide connections.

 

This blog (1 of 2) is my small tribute to the man and to all that he achieved.

 

He certainly had the ‘Wright’ stuff.

 

LK67 ELV ‘Metroline’ No. VWH2390, ZERO-EMISSION.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 /1

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

 

This image courtesy of friend Peter Rose and posted with his permission and my thanks.

 

 

 

 

LK67 ELV ‘Metroline’ No. VWH2390, ZERO-EMISSION.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 /2

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

 

 

 

 

BF12 KWZ ‘Brighton & Hove’ No. 425, The Regency Route (Brighton to Tunbridge Wells).

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

Carrying the latest route branding for this route.

 

 

 

 

BU57 WAY ‘Grant Palmer’ No. 709, Flitwick, Bedfordshire.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New in 2007 to ‘Lothian Buses’ registered SN57 GMU No. 866.

 

 

 

 

 

PRN 909 ‘Rotala Preston Bus’ No. 40628, 100 YEARS OF MOTOR BUSES IN PRESTON.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New in 2015 registered BJ15 TWG.

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at Showbus 2022 London Deckers Across the Years /2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I have attended a number of SHOWBUS events over the years but this was the first time I had attended one at the Hertfordshire County Showgound.

 

The 50th. show and if we are to believe what we read, the last.

 

It would be a great pity if the reputation the SHOWBUS name has built up over the years were to be lost but we shall have to wait and see.

 

GYE 394W ‘London Buses Ltd’. No. M394.

MCW Metrobus DR101/12

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

 

New in 1980.

 

 

 

 

R101 GNW ‘ARRIVA LONDON’ No. DLA 1, ARRIVA serving London.   

DAF DB250 /Alexander ALX400

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

 

New to ‘Arriva London North Ltd’.

 

New in 1998.

 

 

 

 

LK04 UWW ‘Metroline’ No. VP614.

Volvo B7TL / Transbus President

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

 

 

 

 

LJ16 EZN ‘uno’ No. BYD 1472, a breath of fresh air for London

BYD K8SR / BYD

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

 

New to ‘Metroline’.

 

 

 

LK67 ELV ‘Metroline’ No. VWH 2390, ZERO EMISSION.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

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

 

 

 

 

LG71 DXZ  ‘RATP GROUP’ No. BCE 47061.

BYD D8UR DD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400EV

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

 

‘Scene’ In London 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose recently spent some time in Muswell Hill in North London where on a very sunny day he captured these images.

 

As usual, they are reproduced here with his permission and my thanks.

 

Muswell Hill was rated recently as being one of the top five suburbs in which to live in the capital which is reflected in the surroundings of the buses.

 

LJ19 CVF ‘Metroline’ No. BDE2632, OVO energy. 

BYD DD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400EV

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

 

 

 

 

YJ69 DFF ‘Metroline’ No. OME2668.

Optare MetroDecker MD1050EV / Optare

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

 

 

 

 

BK10 MFJ ‘Metroline’ No. VW1828.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘Centrewest’ No. VN37876.

 

 

 

 

LJ61 LJN ‘ARRIVA LONDON’ No. T266.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

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

 

New to ‘Arriva London North’.

 

 

 

LK66 EOD ‘Metroline’ No. VWH2235.

Volvo B5LH / Wright Streetdeck

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

 

 

 

 

LK62 DCE ‘Metroline’ No. DEM1340.

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

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