‘Scene’ today June 30th. 2014

It’s not everyday that an operator launches a new route particularly when the new route has strong links to an old route.

 

Let me explain.

 

Until the middle of January this year ‘K & H Doyle’ of Alfreton in Derbyshire operated route No. 331. This was a circuitous route that linked Alfreton through the village of Pinxton and eventually terminating at Nottingham’s Victoria Bus Station.

 

Quite suddenly on the 13th. of January this year, Doyle’s ceased trading.

 

In the aftermath almost all of Doyle’s routes were picked up by other operators, mainly ‘Stagecoach’ working out of Mansfield and ‘yourbus’. (See my ‘blog’ titled K &H Doyle Coaches. The end dated 16th. January).

 

The 331 was not ‘picked up in its entirety. The Nottingham end being run by another  operator.

 

I was intrigued to see mention of route 231 on Derbyshire County Council’s web site  that was going to be worked by ‘McEwens’ of Mansfield.

 

‘McEwens’ are a well known coach operator in Mansfield who are fairly new to bus operation. Their other routes are former Doyle routes linking Ripley with Belper and Crich.

 

They have recently become a member of the ‘Skills Coaches’ group of companies and maybe bus operation is something they will grow into. We shall see.

 

In my view it is a clever piece of scheduling to to use a ‘cut down’ route number for what is a ‘cut down’ route. No doubt that the ’31’ element will register with Pinxton’s residents.

 

Intriguingly there are other connections with Doyle’s. The bus used today on the service is a former Doyle’s bus and the driver a pleasant and helpful young man called Ian was at one time a Doyle’s driver.

 

I shall follow ‘McEwens’ rise with interest !!

 

Optare Solo X791 NWX

 

‘Scene’ in Keighley Bus station

Whilst in Keighley, West Yorkshire on other business recently I had an hour to kill so it was off to the bus station.

 

‘Transdev in Keighley’ (TiK) are the major operator in town operating out of a modern bus station that presents a few challenges when it comes to photography. 

 

The buses themselves were clean and tidy and considering that it was early in the afternoon appeared to be doing a steady trade.

 

YD02 UMY

A Volvo B7TL with Plaxton President bodywork that has not always been with ‘TiK’ having spent some time with another ‘Transdev’ operation that of ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’. (TYC)

 

The ‘Coastliner’ is an arduous series of routes running from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast resorts of Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington. 

 

I travelled on the Scarborough service a couple of years ago and it is a superb journey. If you get the chance, do it !!

 

Y712 HRN

Another Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL with ‘TiK’ and another transferee. 

 

This time having been with ‘Transdev Lancashire United’ (TLU) on its route branded ‘The Witch Way’ in the Burnley area.

 

YJ04 LXT

A Transbus Dart SLF with Plaxton Mini Pointer 2 bodywork.

YJ04 LXU

Another of the same.

YJ07 PBX

A Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork. 

Another ‘Transdev’ bus this time in the livery of the ‘Shuttle’ which runs from Keighley to Bradford.

 

YJ05 FNP

Another two year older Volvo B7RLE with Wright Urban Eclipse body.

 

PJ05 ZVW

Volvo B7TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini dual purpose bodywork.

 

What a magnificent vehicle this is. 

 

Another ‘Transdev’ group bus this time from the ‘Burnley and Pendle’ operation.

 

At one time this and the other fourteen buses of its kind were liveried for the ‘Witch Way’ an express service that runs from Nelson in Lancashire to Manchester.

 

All of them carried names of alleged witches who lived in the ‘Pendle Hill’ area.

 

‘Mainline’ is another ‘Transdev’ brand.

 

I have made the point before that the Wright single deck body has not been subject to major change or re styling for many years. 

 

There have of course been slight changes which have been incorporated from time to time.

 

The benefit to the operator is that because the buses look very similar to each other that the oldest buses look as modern as the newest.

 

Only the number plate gives away the age of a vehicle to the public and I think that as long as a bus is presentable, clean, comfortable, warm and on time that is all that most of the public wants.

 

Y177 HRN                                                            

Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown Ex 'TLU'.

PO51 MUY

Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown Ex 'TLU'.

 

YJ05 FNN

Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban Ex 'TYC'.

 FJ08 BZV

Another Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban. 

  

 

In these four buses there are 2 VolvoB10 BLE’s with Wright Renown bodywork both ex ‘Transdev Lancashire United’. 

 

A Volvo B7RLE with Wright’s Eclipse Urban body which is ex ‘Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner’ and another B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban.

 

Four different but similar buses from different backgrounds that blend very well together into everyday operation.

 

Y153 HRN

A Volvo B10BLE with Wright Renown bodywork. Another bus from the ‘Transdev Burnley & Pendle’ fleet.

MX12 DZE

An Alexander Dennis Ltd Enviro 200. 

 

This was the only bus I saw that wasn’t owned by one of the ‘Transdev’ group company’s being owned my ‘TLC travel’ of Bradford.

‘Scene’ at the Great Western Society (GWS) facility at Didcot Part 3

A day out to Oxford mainly to see the buses (see elsewhere on my blog) also afforded me the time to catch the train from Oxford to Didcot where the ‘GWS’ are based. 

 

Although it was not a running day, there was plenty to interest me and from the assorted wagons on display, I have been able to make up a typical ‘Great Western Railway’ (GWR) Breakdown/Engineering train.

 

The first requirement is for a loco.

 

‘GWR’ No.5322 (formerly No. 8322)

A class 4300 2-6-0 Mogul dating of which 342 were built between 1911 and 1932.

 

No. 5322 was built in 1917 and was one of 11 loco’s of its class that went to France in The First World War where it operated for the Railway Operating Division in support of the British forces fighting there.

 

It was repatriated in 1919 and continued to serve the ‘GWR’ until it became 

‘British Railways” property at Nationalization.

 

Withdrawn in 1964 it was sent to ‘Woodhams’ scrapyard at Barry from where it was rescued for preservation in 1969. Originally stored at Caerphilly before coming to Didcot in 1973. Work on the loco continued from  the early 1990‘s being restored to its 1919 appearance. 

 

It re entered service in 2008 painted in the Army’s khaki colour scheme being returned to ‘BR’ black in 2012.

 

Breakdown trains by definition must always include a heavy crane. There are a number of cranes present on the site ranging from the small hand worked cranes up to the multi vehicle ‘loco lifters’.

One such is this,

 A Cowans Sheldon 50 ton steam breakdown crane. Built in 1930 for the LMS to order No. 5113 and is currently being overhauled.

 

205

A GWR 12 ton Hand Crane which entered service in 1894 or thereabouts having been ordered in November 1892.

 

This type of crane would have been used in goods yards.

 

It was acquired for preservation from Hackney Yard, Newton Abbot in the 1960’s.

 

ADW 537

3 ton hand crane. Built in 1899 at Swindon and now owned my the National Railway Museum. 

 

80659

A 10 ton Ballast wagon built at Swindon in 1936 to diagram P.15. Part of the National Railway Museum’s collection.

 

80789

Another Swindon built Ballast wagon dating from 1937 to diagram P.17

 

263

A ‘Tool van’ from the Signals & Telegraph department converted in 1952 from a former ‘Toad’ brake van. ‘Toad’ was the ‘GWR’s telephonic code name for brake van.

No. 47

Included in the make up of the train might well have been a ‘Riding Van’. These were used by the breakdown crew for traveling for messing facilities. Also the carriage of hand tools.

 

Built by the ‘GWR’ in 1908 at Swindon.

 

56400

Of course we need a brake van for our train and though a bit battered 56400 will do nicely. This 16 tonner was built in 1900 at Swindon to diagram AA.3.

 

 

The Buses 'Scene' in Oxford 2

I recently spent a couple of hours in the University City of Oxford. A beautiful place that is simply heaving with bus and coach operations of a quality that is superb.

 

The Major Operator is Oxford Bus Company (OBC) which in itself is a subsidiary of the 

‘Go-Ahead’ (GA) group.

 

Of the 150 or so buses listed in the current ‘OBC’ fleet list the vast majority are registered with OXF Suffixes.

 

BF55 OXF

A Mercedes- Benz 0530 Citaro. Part of the’OBC’ fleet.

SV08 DHP

A Volvo B7R with Plaxton Profile Interurban bodywork currently operating with ‘Stagecoach East’ from their Bedford depot.

 

 

OU62 BYV

A Dennis Dart SLF 4 carrying Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) Enviro 200 bodywork. Part of ‘Stagecoach’s Oxford based fleet.

 

YJ13 HNX

An Optare Solo SR in service with ‘Thames Travel’. One of a batch of 5 that were ordered for services in Bicester.

 

OU57 FGZ

An 'ADL' Enviro 200 Dart.

Another of ‘Thames Travel’s fleet although you would hardly know it. Seen in a ‘Colourbus’ livery advertising Oxford’s Science Park.

 

Y238 FJN

A Dennis Dart with Alexander ALX 200 bodywork now with ‘Red Rose’ having previously worked for ‘Stagecoach’ in London.

As might be expected, Oxford is high on the list if places to be visited by tourists. A consequence of that is the number of open top double deckers seeking their custom.

 

PJ53 NKC

A Volvo B7TL/ Transbus President of ‘Tappin Coaches’ of Didcot. Previously employed by ‘Go-Ahead’  London in dual doored form.

 

LY02 OAE

A Dennis Trident with ‘ADL’ ALX 400 bodywork is another ex London bus working for ‘Tappins’. This time having come from ‘Stagecoach’.

 

PO56 JEJ

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Myllenium bodywork again with ‘Tappins’. The published information re this bus suggests that it came new as a part open topper. 

‘Scene’ at the East Midlands Airport (EMA)

I HAVE DECIDED TO RE RUN THIS PARTICULAR 'BLOG' WHICH RAN ALMOST TWO WEEKS AGO. IN THAT TIME I HAVE FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH THE IMAGES APPEAR ON FLICKr, THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO THE TEXT. SO HERE'S HOPING............

I have been taken to task in some quarters for the content on my ‘blog’. As someone put it.

 

“A lot of Roads, some Rails and very little Runways”.

 

Which I must admit is true. That is probably a reflection on the fact that buses run past the end of the road I live on. The nearest Railways are some miles further away and the local airport even further than that. On top of which is the fact that security at airports is so much tighter these days.

 

However, summertime means the odd airshow can be attended and the occasional airport visit can be pulled in.

 

The ‘EMA’ is my local airport and it is now in its 50th. year of operation. Viewing from the airport premises is virtually impossible. The days of the ‘waving off gallery’ are long gone and there are few locations around the perimeter that are accessible. 

 

The best of these is from the grounds of the East Midlands Aeropark (EMAe). (see my 'blog' for December 17th. 2013 for detailed coverage). This is located just outside Castle Donnington just off the main road. 

 

They are only open for a limited number of hours a day and there is a £3 charge but for that you get toilets, a cafe, a view of most of the activities without a barbed wire fence blocking the view and the ‘EMAe’ collection of aircraft. They alone are worth the charge.

 

So a lovely warm summers day and little else to do. so off I went.

 

The Irish based operator ‘Ryanair’ is a major user of the airport flying scheduled services with a number of aircraft being based there.

 

EI-EFA

One of over 300 Boeing 737-800’s in the fleet. This one carries special branding to promote the Swedish city of Nykoping.

EI-ENJ

This Boeing 737-800 carries branding promoting the Polish region of Podkarpackie.

 

 

EI-EVI climbs away on yet another rotation.

 

 

 EI-DAF, EI-ENJ, EI-ESP, EI-DYS and EI-EVS were others of the type that put in an appearance on the day.

 

 

Another major visitor to the ‘EMA’ is ‘Jet2’. This Leeds based operator specializes in holiday flights. I have in the past seen jet2 Boeing 757’s but the aircraft I saw on this visit were all Boeing 737’s.

 

G-CELB

There can be little doubt about where this 737-377 is from. Dating from 1986 this machine has had a long and varied career having worked in Australia for ‘Ansett’ for 16 years as VH-CZL.

 

 

G-CELF

Another 737-377 that started its career in Australia with ‘Ansett’ being new as VH-CZM in 1988. It had a spell with ‘America Air West’ as N113AW before going back to Australia as VH-CZM. A spell in Singapore with ‘Region Air’ as S7-ABB followed before joining ‘Channel Express’ and eventually 'Jet2' in 2004.

 

G-GDFF

A 737-85P. New to ‘Air Europa’ in 1999 as EC-HGP it was stored briefly in November 2011 before coming to ‘Jet2’ in  December 2011.

G-CELV

Another 737-377 that started its career in Australia with ‘Ansett’ being new as VH-CZI in 1986. It became G-CELV with ‘Channel Express’ and then ‘Jet2’ in 2002.

G-GDFC

A 737-8K2, New in 1998 to ‘Transavia’ (Holland) as PH-HZC. It has been leased to various operators in the USA  (as PH-HZC), Canada (C-GHZC) and India (VT-SPY) before joining ‘Jet2’ in 2011.

‘Monarch Airlines’ (MA) is a relatively new operator on a regular basis at the ‘EMA’. With a history dating back to 1967, ‘MA’ is based at Luton Airport. In May 2012 they announced that they were to open a base at the ‘EMA’ to replace in part some of the routes that were vacated by ‘bmi baby’ when that airline was closed down.

 

G-OZBU

An Airbus A321-231 new to ‘Easyjet’ as G-TTII in 2008 moving to ‘MA’ in 2009.

G-OJEG

An Airbus A321-231 it was new to ‘MA’ in 1999.

 

It is interesting to note that the the fin tail colour schemes are different on these 2 aircraft.

G-OOBM

A Boeing 767-324ER of ‘First Choice Airways’ (FCA) just after liftoff on its way to Florida.

Built as EI-CMH for GECAS (a leasing company), it served ‘Vietnam Airlines’ as S7-RGU and then as VN-A765.

 

It became G-OOBM when it came to ‘FCA’ and became a Thomson Airways machine when ‘Thomson’ took over ‘First Choice’ in 2008’.

 

G-BCEN

A Britten Norman BN-2A-26 Islander. Although carrying no titles that I could see, the basic livery is that of ‘HM Coastguard’ for whom the aircraft at one time was operated by ‘Air Atlantique’.

 

 

G-JEDW

A Bombardier DHC-8-402Q of ‘Flybe’. It was delivered new to the airline in 2004. Although the aircraft is marketed as a Bombardier machine the ‘DHC’ gives away the origins of the design which was by De Havilland Canada.

G-ECOH

Another Bombardier DHC-8-402Q of ‘Flybe’. Delivered new to ‘Flybe’ in 2008, it had a short spell sub-leased to Brussels Airlines in 2012. The purple orange and red colour scheme is an attractive addition to the colour scheme.

 

 

There are of course aircraft other than airliners that use the airport. Representing these is

 

G-MOSJ 

A Beech King Air 90 owned by ‘Moss Aviation’ based at Southend.

1625

A Lockheed C-130H of the Royal Saudi Air Force.

It seemed ironic that in England of all places it was seen as necessary to cover the cockpit windows to keep the heat out. (Mind you, it was a bit warm).

M-JCBB

A Grumman Gulfstream G650 of locally based JC Bamford Excavators Ltd. (JCB).

 

This world famous and recognized company started just after the war when Joe Bamford set up his own business having bought a second hand welding set.

G-TASS

An Agusta AW109SP of the East Midlands Air Ambulance adds a nice local touch to end with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further photos can be seen on my Flickr