Sunday 18 January 2015

‘Scene’ in K & H Doyle of Alfreton’s fleet part 3

It is now one year since ‘Doyle’s shut down. I do not know why they did.  What I do know is that for a period of 25 years or so, they brought extra colour and interest to the East Midlands transport scene.

 

Time then before memories fade for a retrospective of the company.

 

The early buses in the fleet were a beige colour and some never made it into fleet livery. In addition one or two appeared in advertising liveries. 

 

After that, there were two distinct liveries adorning the fleet. The lime green and purple and the overall green. 

 

My son Andrew likened the lime green and purple livery to 

 

     “Looking like a fading bruise”.

 

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Doyle on a number of occasions. The first time was on a ‘Transpire’ (The Chesterfield Bus Society) visit to his premises in Alfreton. It was an evening visit and he was kind enough to conduct us around and then to give us the run of the place to take whatever pictures we wanted. Some of them appear here.


I have dealt with the other liveries in additional blogs. See blogs dated 14 and 16 January 2015.

 

S287 UAL

 

A Mercedes-Benz (MB) 814D with Plaxton Beaver 2 bodywork.

 

It was built for ‘Trent Buses’ and fitted with Dual Purpose seats. One of 7 so built the other 18 being bus seated. The thinking was that they could be used on long, thinner routes where a bit more comfort was desirable.

 

This particular bus worked for some time on the ‘Ilkeston Flyer’ service and another, R275 RAU worked on the X38 service from Derby to Burton-on-Trent.

 

I don’t know wether any other ‘MB’s made it into the green livery.


P1010561

 

R556 UOT


A Dennis Dart with UVG Urbanstar body is seen waiting departure in Belper. The Urbanstar  was also marketed as the ‘Caetano Compass’.


P1010419

 

V331 CVV


A Dennis MPD Dart with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork seen in Ripley. It has since gone on to work for ‘Leven Valley’ in the Middlesborough area.


P1040840

 

Y866 TGH

 

Another Dart MPD/ Plaxton Pointer 2 combination seen leaving Nottingham Victoria Bus Station. Previously it worked in London for ‘London Central’.


P1030283

 

W975 ETW


Another of the same albeit the longer version. This time seen in Mansfield’s new (April 2013) bus station. 

 

Prior to being with Doyle’s it worked for ‘Bus Eireann’ in Southern Ireland registered 00-D- 84191.

 

Since leaving Doyle’s it has moved on to ‘Ridgeways of Glamorgan’.


P1020040

 

P301 HDP


A further Dart/Plaxton vehicle seen in the Alfreton depot.


New to ‘Limebourne’ in London. Before Doyle’s it had worked for ‘Metrobus’ in London and after Doyle’s it moved to

‘Irvine of Law’ in Scotland.


P1010057

 

YJ54 UBP


An Optare Solo seen at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.


Before joining Doyle’s it had a spell with ‘Wilfreeda Beehive’ operating in the Doncaster area.


P1060939

 

X791 NWX


An Optare Solo seen outside Derby’s Council House. At one time it worked for ‘Fair Rider’ of Huddersfield. It subsequently went to work for 'McEwens' of Mansfield on some of Doyle's former routes..!


P1010446

 

Y812 KBP and W296 EYG 


Two Optare Solo’s (almost) for the price of one seen in Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station. Formerly with ‘Courtney’, Bracknell. W296 EYG used to work for ‘EST’ Buses in South Wales.


P1070269

 

YN53 SVJ


An Optare Solo seen in Derby bus station. At one time it worked in Perth for ‘Stagecoach’ and for ‘The Harrogate Coach Company’.


P1010723

 

W296 EYG


The front side of this bus as opposed to its backside 2 images up. Seen in Sutton-in-Ashfield again.

 

P1070262

 

P308 HDP


A Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart on its way from Ilkeston to Derby.

 

New to ‘Limebourne’ in London, It then went to ‘Metrobus’ also in London from where it was loaned for a time to ‘Go-Ahead London’ before coming to Doyles’ in 2009.

 

It has since moved to Scotland with ‘Irvine of Law’.


P1040214

 

 

T183 CLO


A Dennis Trident with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork. Seen ‘laying over’ in Mansfield bus station.

 

It previously worked as fleet number TA 83 for ‘Metroline’ in London.

 

Since leaving Doyle’s it has been reported as working in Worthing for ‘Compass Bus’ entering service in ‘Doyles’ livery.




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