‘Scene’ in Ripley, Burton-on-Trent and Derby on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

This last week, I have been out and about more or less locally. There is quite a lot to report so I have tried to pack in as much of interest as I can into the one blog.

 

Ripley in Derbyshire is where I have lived for almost 40 years. 

 

Local routes 143 and 144 which link Ripley with Belper and Crich (the home of the Tramway Village) have been run for some years now by ‘Skills Coaches’ (see blog dated 20/05/2017).

 

However on the 29th. of October 2017 both routes passed to ‘Littles’ of Ilkeston.

 

V257 DRB ‘Littles’, Ilkeston Optare Solo M920 / 1

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ (NCT) as its No. 257.

 

Wearing for the most part its former ‘NCT’ livery.

 

 

 

V257 DRB ‘Littles’, Ilkeston Optare Solo M920 / 2

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ (NCT) as its No. 257.

 

Wearing for the most part its former ‘NCT’ livery.

 

 

 

Also seen in Ripley is one of ‘yourbus’ of Heanor’s latest arrivals.

 

As I have commented before, the ‘old’ Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / Enviro 200 still  continues to be available.

 

YX67 VGZ ‘yourbus’ No. 1411 ‘ADL E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200 /1

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

 

 

YX67 VGZ ‘yourbus’ No. 1411 ‘ADL E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200 /2

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

 

 

 

Just down the A38 from Derby lies the brewing town of Burton-on-Trent. 

 

The major operator in the town is now ‘midland classic’ (mc) who took over most of the 

‘Arriva Midlands’ operation in the town in September 2016. (see blog dated 06/09/2016).

 

‘mc’s fleet runs some new Optare Metrocity’s but the bulk of the fleet has come from other operators.

 

One operator that is well represented with ‘mc’ is ‘Reading Buses’.

 

The latest arrival I am told is on loan and wether it eventually gains ‘mc’s fleet livery remains to be seen.

 

YN08 MMA ‘Readingbuses’ No. 1108 / ‘mc’ No. 213 Scania CN270 / Scania Omnicity /1

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

 

 

 

YN08 MMA ‘Readingbuses’ No. 1108 / ‘mc’ No. 213 Scania CN270 / Scania Omnicity /2

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

 

 

 

It must be at least two weeks since Derby featured on my blog so time I think for yet another visit.

 

‘trentbarton’ (tb) have transferred its ‘spondon flyer’ service from Optare Versa’s to Optare Solo SR’s.

 

The Solo’s have come from the ‘mainline’ services in Nottingham where they have been replaced by new ‘ADL’ E20D’s, with ‘ADL’ Enviro 200MMC bodywork (see blog dated 12/09/2017).

 

The livery choice seems to be quite clever in that the base colour on the ‘spondon flyer’ buses is the same as was used in Nottinhgham. 

 

The rear of the bus being painted in the same style as was introduced on the ‘ilkeston flyer’ (see blog 28/03/2017).

 

YD63 VDL ‘trentbarton’ No. 501 ‘spondon flyer’ Optare Solo SR M970 /1

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

 

 

 

YD63 VDL ‘trentbarton’ No. 501 ‘spondon flyer’ Optare Solo SR M970 /2

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

 

 

 

I have commented previously about ‘yourbus’ painting the older dark red liveried buses in the new livery that contains a lot of white.

 

The older Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s were covered in my blog dated 15/03/2017 and the Wright Streetlite D/Fs were covered in my blog dated 05/09/2017.

 

Now it’s the turn of the Wright Streetlite W/F.

 

MX62 GVV ‘yourbus’ No. 1204 Wright Streetlite W/F /1

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

 

Still carrying some of the route branding for routes 110 and 111 which work between Matlock and Ashbourne this one was seen on a Derby City service.

 

 

 

 

 

MX62 GVV ‘yourbus’ No. 1204 Wright Streetlite W/F /2

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

 

 

 

YR59 NNT “Arriva Midlands’ No. 3513 New 2017 livery Scania K230UB / Wright

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

 

New to ‘Centrebus’ as its 749.

 

The first of ‘Arriva Derby’s allocation of single deck buses that I have seen in the new livery.

 

 

 

FJ58 KXR ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 4217 Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

I have included this for old times sake because according to my reckoning this is the last of its type in the old livery on deckers in Derby.

 

‘Scene’ this week at the NEC. ‘Wright up my Street’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

Its always difficult to get the image you want at the NEC with vehicles, stands and people in such close proximity to each other so as usual, I did the best I could.

 

A new one on me, the ‘StreetAir’ would appear to be a battery electric version of the ‘Streetlite D/F ‘ with the batteries mounted in the roof.

 

Wrightbus ‘StreetAir’ 

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

 

 

 

Wrightbus ‘StreetAir’ /2

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

 

 

 

Wrightbus ‘StreetAir’ /3

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

 

 

 

 

 

As I said at the start, Its always difficult to get the image you want at the NEC with vehicles, stands and people in such close proximity to each other,

However, this bus was positioned perfectly.

 

‘Metrobus Ltd’. No. 6104 Wrightbus Streetlite D/F

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

 

 

‘Metrobus Ltd’. No. 6104 Wrightbus Streetlite D/F /2

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

 

 

 

‘Metrobus Ltd’. No. 6104 Wrightbus Streetlite D/F /3

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

 

 

‘Metrobus Ltd’. No. 6104 Wrightbus Streetlite D/F /4

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

 

‘Scene’ in Reading Part 4 on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

This is the fourth blog devoted to bus activity in Reading. The earlier blogs were published on 20/02/16, 30/04/16 & 09/07/16.

 

YN08 HYW ‘Reading Buses’ 859 Scania N230UD / Optare Olympus on

‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

One of five buses branded for route 33 which serves The Tilehust Triangle, Turnhams Farm, Little Heath Road before terminating at Chapel Hill.

 

SN61 BDE ‘Reading Buses’ 229 Alexander Dennis Ltd Enviro 400H

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

One of a batch of 14 buses branded for ‘purple 17’. A route that starts on the Wokingham Road, then runs into the town centre. Then working along the Oxford Road into Tilehurst terminating at Tilehurst Water Tower.

 

YX64 VLV ‘Reading Buses’ 65 an Alexander Dennis Ltd Enviro 200.

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

One of three branded for Park & Ride services from Winnersh Triangle on route 500.

 

 

KE07 EWB ‘Arriva the Shires’ 3871 Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 After the glorious technicolour of ‘Reading Buses’. I find ‘Arriva’s livery a bit ordinary.

KX59 GNU ‘Reading Buses’ 1210 Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'

 

 

One of a pair of buses bought second hand branded as ‘Lion’ which is numbered 4/X4. Serving Winnersh Wokingham and terminating in Bracknell.

 

New to ‘Portsmouth University’ before passing to ‘Dawson Rentals’.

 

 

TF56 OXF Thames Travel 855 Mercedes-Benz Citaro

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Working service X39 to Oxford where at one time it was part o the ‘Oxford Bus Company’ fleet.

 

 

YN08 MMO ‘Reading Buses’ 1113 Scania CN270UD Omnideka

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Wearing ‘Reading Buses’ ‘Generic’ livery which is what they paint their none route branded buses in. Effectively then these buses become fleet ‘spares’ and are able to operate anywhere on any route.

RX12 HNV ‘Horsemen of Royal Berkshire’ Mercedes-Benz Vario / Plaxton Cheetah

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

YN57 FWG ‘Reading Buses’ 1031 Scania 230UB / Wright Solar

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Although Reading has a substantial gas powered bus fleet (see blog dated 30/04/16) there is still the odd diesel in the fleet.

 

Again painted in the Generic ‘go anywhere’ livery.

 

 

 

RE63 EOH ‘Reading Buses 163 Wright Streetlite DF

on ‘Dennis Basfords’ railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

The only one of its type branded in the Pink 27/29 livery.

 

Branded for the pink routes which is a series of 6 routes, the 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 and 29 which serve a large area around Caversham, Caversham Heights, Caversham Park and Emmer Green to the North of the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scene’ in Sheffield Part 2 on. ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Part 1 was published on the 20th. July 2016.

 

The last time I was in Sheffield, I concentrated on the transport activity at Meadowhall.

 

On this latest return to the City of My birth, I concentrated on the City Centre and  the Interchange in Pond Street.

 

1 word of caution. 

 

The Transport Interchange is private property and the authorities there, whilst they have no objection to photographers insist that they get a permit to take pictures and sign in and out on every visit. 

 

If in doubt go to the city end of Platform 1 and enquire.

 

 

The most successful double deck body currently being built, the ADL Enviro 400 appears in a variety of liveries.

 

YN64 AOB ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ 15191 Scania N230UD / ADL Enviro 400

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

 

Although allocated to ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’, this bus is based in Chesterfield in Derbyshire and is seen on the ‘Gold’ branded service which operates between Sheffield and Matlock via Chesterfield.

 

MX09 KSE ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ 19511 Dennis Trident 2 / ADL Enviro 400

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

 

YN62 BYU ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ 12176 Dennis Trident 2 / ADL Enviro 400 Hybrid

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

(That is what ‘Stagecoach’s fleetlist says).

 

SL14 DFF  ‘First South Yorkshire’ 33860 Dennis Trident 2 / ADL Enviro 400.

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

 

YN58 ESY ‘First South Yorkshire’ 37515 Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini.

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

 

LT52 WUB ‘First South Yorkshire’ 32218 Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President.

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

 

YU52 VYE ‘First South Yorkshire’ 31129 Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX 400

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

 

SK63 KHB ‘First South Yorkshire’ 63025 Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

MV02 VCJ ‘First South Yorkshire’ 60728 Volvo B7L / Wright Eclipse

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

YN07 KPZ ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ 22430 MAN 18.220LF / Alexander ALX 300

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

 

 

 

Sheffield’s current tramway network opened in 1994/5. 

 

It was operated by South Yorkshire Supertram Limited. A wholly owned subsidiary company of South Yorkshire Transport Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE). 

 

In December 1997, the company was sold to Stagecoach group for £1.15 million.

 

Stagecoach gained the concession to maintain and operate the Supertram trams until 2024.

 

‘Stagecoach’ Supertram 110

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

 

Is seen wearing the current fleet livery which very closely follows the livery of ‘Southwest Trains’ a ‘Stagecoach’ group company.

 

‘Stagecoach’ Supertram 116

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

 

Is seen wearing an overall livery promoting ‘East Midland Trains’ another ‘Stagecoach’ group company.

‘Scene’ in Bournemouth, ‘Yellow Buses’ (YB)

 

My wife (Barbara) and I have been holidaying in Bournemouth for over 30 years. During that time I have watched with much interest the comings and goings in the bus fleets locally.

 

The major operator in Bournemouth  (although not by much) is ‘Yellow Buses’ (YB).

 

‘YB’ has its roots in ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ dating back to the tramways days in the early 1900’s. 

 

Buses came to be used as feeders to the trams which in turn were replaced by trolleybuses. 

 

By the time I discovered Bournemouth, the trolleys had followed the trams into history.

 

Sold by Bournemouth Borough Council in 2005 to  ‘Transdev’, ‘YB’ became part of the French ‘RATP’ group in 2011.

 

Variety has always been the attraction to me in Bournemouth and I can say that I have never seen the degree of variety present in the ‘YB’ fleet as there is today.

 

The first three images all show Wright Gemini bodied buses but look at the detail.

 

HF03 ODW

 

Is built on a Volvo B7TL chassis and displays the deep windows on both decks together with the simple head and sidelight combination.

 

 HF11 HCX

This time built on Volvo’s 9TL chassis. This Wright Gemini 2 bodied bus has unpainted window frames and a revised front panel to present the ‘smiley face’ beloved of current bus designers which I think Irizar introduced on their ‘Century’ series coaches.

 

BF15 KFE

 

Is A Volvo B5L with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork.

 

The upper deck windows are markedly shallower whilst the front panel although still keeping the ‘smiley face’ is revised again.

 

HJ02 HFF

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Vyking bodywork.

HF04 JWK

 

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Myllennium bodywork. Similar to the Vyking but different. (the upper deck front windows, the front bumper and the drivers offside window).

 

X203 UMS

 

A Dennis Trident with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork.

 

New to ‘London United’ which is part of the ‘Transdev’ group as is ‘Yellow Buses’.

 

SK07 DYB

 

A Dennis Trident with Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 400 bodywork. A one off in the fleet. 

 

Originally a demonstrator with ‘ADL’ serving ‘Lothian Transport’ amongst others.

 

The single deck fleet is no less varied.

 

R8 TYB

 

An Optare Tempo.

 

HF05 LYW

 

A VDL SB120 Merit with Wright Crusader bodywork.

 

Some sources quote this bus as being an SB200 while ‘Yellow Buses’ fleet list has it as being an SB120.

 

T21 TYB

 

An Optare Versa.

 

YX65 RGZ

An ‘ADL’ Enviro 200 or 300 (I do not know which) is one of the latest acquisitions.

 

SN55 HTF

 

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork is one of the oldest.

 

YN08 NLG

A Volvo B7RLE with Plaxton Centro bodywork that is one of a number that came from ‘Minsterley Motors’ in Shropshire.

 

HF13 FZP

 

A Wright Streetlight DF.

 

KX07 OOY

 

An earlier ‘ADL’ product was this Dennis SLF Dart with Enviro 200 bodywork.