'Scene' on the X50 (Derby to Hanley)

After almost a fortnight without my internet connection due to some fault in the telephone exchange, it is nice to be back.

I would not be back if it were not for my son Andrew and the engineers at 'plusnet' and 'BT'. Thanks very much guys, I appreciate it.....!

Named after the A50 trunk road that it parallel’s for much of the journey. It was introduced on the 2nd. of April 2012 by ‘Arriva’ subsidiary ‘Wardle Transport’. 

 

It was never the success that was hoped for and from Sunday the 27th. of April 2014 it was withdrawn.

 

A pity because it gave a direct route to Uttoxeter and Stoke-on-Trent from Derby. 

 

Uttoxeter can still be reached from Derby using ‘trentbarton’s ‘swift’ service that runs via Ashbourne.

 

I travelled on it several times and while it passes through some very attractive countryside, I never saw it busy.

 

W236 SNR

An ‘Arriva’ Dennis Dart with Alexander ALX 300 bodywork seen entering Derby bus station carrying a ‘broadside’ advert for the then new service.

YJ56 KFK

Was one of 2 VDL SB250LF’s with Wright Pulsar Gemini bodies especially re liveried for the launch. The other being the identical YJ56 KFL.

 

It was not to last however because the X50 was down graded to single deck operation and by mid 2013 both buses were working in Leicester in full ‘Arriva’ fleet livery.

 

T695 KPU

A Dennis Trident 2 with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork. Painted in the full ‘X50’ livery as ‘spare’ bus it is seen in a sunny Uttoxeter bus station.

 

There cannot be many buses that have worked for both ‘Stagecoach’ and ‘Arriva’ but this is one.

 

It was ‘Stagecoach in London’ 17095 and spent most of its time working out of Upton Park depot. 

 

Sold on to ‘Wardle Transport’ it joined ‘Arriva’ (as 4895) when they took over ‘Wardle’ in 2010.

 

T896 KPU

Another of the same from the same background but painted in ‘Wardle’s standard livery.

S652 KJU

A Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties bodywork. Now liveried for ‘Wardle’ at one time it operated in the standard ‘Arriva’ livery in the Burton-on-Trent area.

 

W103 EWU

A Volvo 10BLE with Wright Renown body at one time worked for ‘Arriva Yorkshire’ in the Doncaster area.

 

X441 FGP

A DAF DB250 with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork is another bus that at one time worked for ‘Arriva’ in London.

 

Y492 UGC

Another DAF DB250 with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork is one more bus that at one time worked for ‘Arriva’ in London.

 

V601 DBC

A Volvo 10BLE with Alexander ALX 300 bodywork on which I had travelled back from Hanley. On board was the usual handful of passengers.

 

So, good bye X50. The few of us that you served, you served well.