‘Scene’ for the last time (maybe) in Derby

Saturday the 3rd. of October 2015 sees the last day of operation of the Volvo B10B’s fitted with Northern Counties ‘Palatine’ bodies operated by ‘Wellglade’ group member ‘Notts & Derby’ (N&D).

 

The surviving buses are what are left of the 38 of the type that ‘Trent Buses’ introduced into their fleet in 1993. 

 

They were to last in the main fleet for approximately 10 years before being moved on. As well as ’N&D’ they also served with other ‘Wellglade’ fleets including ‘Kinchbus’ and ‘TM Travel’ (TMT).

 

L112 LRA has recently been repainted for further service with ‘TMT’ as a driver trainer.

 

Down the years, a number have graced my photographic collection and here I present some images of these durable, rugged veterans by way of a tribute.

 

L101 LRA

Seen as delivered, spotless. 

Taken (maybe) by Mark B

 

L105 LRA

 

L106 LRA

 

L107 LRA

 

L108 LRA

 

L110 LRA

 

L113 LRA

 

L114 LRA

 

L117 LRA

 

L118 LRA

 

L121 LRA

 

L123 LRA

 

L124 LRA

 

L127 LRA

 

 

M129 PRA

M132 PRA

 

M133 PRA

M134 PRA

 

M135 PRA

 

 

M137 PRA

M138 PRA

 

 

‘Scene’, the new bus station in Worksop.

Opened in August 2015 the new bus station replaces facilities which at best could have been described as ‘bleak’ that were located in Hardy Street.

 

The new facility boasts 8 covered loading bays, a staffed information office, superb toilets and baby changing whilst a cafe is promised.

 

There are other cafe’s locally which could be used including one 200 metres away, located in the Library across the road to the right.

 

The interior is warm and welcoming. 

 

In my view a vast improvement over what went before.

 

 

 

 

Worksop is very much a ‘Stagecoach East Midlands’ (SEM) town. The only non ‘SEM’ operator I saw whilst I was there was ‘Nottinghamshire County Council’ who run minibuses into the town.

 

All of ‘SEM’ buses I saw where their fleet standards mostly painted in fleet livery with one or two exceptions.

 

FJ08 VPY

 

A Dennis Dart SLF 4 with Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 bodywork.

 

Painted in the duo green and yellow livery of the ‘Sherwood Arrow’. Used on services from Worksop and Retford into Nottingham which not surprisingly runs through large parts of Sherwood Forest.

 

KX53 VNG

A Transbus Trident with Plaxton President bodywork in ‘SEM’. ‘Ruby the Retford Belle’ branding. It was new to ‘Stagecoach Oxford’ and then went to ‘Stagecoach Devon’ before coming North.

 

There are a number of ‘Belle’ themed brandings in use ranging from ‘Donna’ the Doncaster Belle, via ‘Betty the Bawtry Belle’ and so on covering 13 towns across the operating area.

 

KX53 VNE

Another Transfuse Trident with Plaxton President bodywork in ‘SEM’. ‘Donna the Doncaster Belle’ branding. Again, previously with ‘Stagecoach Oxford’

 

SF64 CZS

 

FIAT running units with bodywork produced by ‘Bluebird’ at Scarborough before they were taken over by Mellors of Rochdale. Operated by ‘Nottingham County Council’.

 

YN56 HBC

 

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork. Previously with ‘Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes'.

 

R166 VPU

 

A Volvo Olympian with unusually, Alexander (Belfast) bodywork. It had a spell with ‘Stagecoach in Hull’ but was new to  'Stagecoach East London’.

 

FJ07 OSY

 

A Dennis Trident with ‘ADL’ Enviro 400 bodywork. 

 

It previously ran in the red, white and green livery of the ‘Robin Hood Airport Lynx service.

 

FX61 HGC

 

An ‘ADL’Enviro 300.

 

YN04 KGE

A Dennis Trident 2 with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork.

 

FX61 CZB

Another ‘ADL’ Enviro 300. This time carrying a slightly revised livery and branding for service 19 which runs from Worksop via Dinnington to Rotherham.

 

FJ07 OSZ

A Dennis Trident with ‘ADL’ Enviro 400 bodywork. 

 

Carrying a small sticker referring to the co operation between ‘SEM’ and ‘Nottinghamshire County Council’.

 

Another bus that was branded at one time for the ‘Robin Hood Airport Lynx’ service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at The Greater Manchester Museum of Transport.

Located on Boyle Street adjacent to one of ‘First Manchester’s garages. It is easily visited by catching the tram heading for Bury as far as Queens Road, leaving the station, turn left and walk until Boyle St. appears on you right hand side.

 

A useful bonus is that if you hold a current Greater Manchester Wayfarer day ticket, entrance is free.

 

Everything is packed cheek by jowl but it really is a wonderland particularly for bus enthusiasts.

 

L2

 

Dating back to Victorian times, this Horse Bus was operated by Manchester Carriage & Tramways Company and dates back to 1890.

 

MJA 897G

A Leyland PD3 with East Lancs bodywork dating from 1969. Built for ‘Stockport Corporation’ as its No.97.

 

It is interesting to note that the rear engined Leyland Atlantean had been introduced nearly 10 years earlier. 

 

This must have been one of the last half cab buses built.

 

HTF 586

A Bedford OB with Duple designed bodywork but constructed by Scottish Motor Traction. Once owned by ‘Warburton Brothers’ of Bury.

 

BND 874C

 

A Leyland Panther Cub with Park Royal dual doored bodywork  seen in the livery of ‘Manchester Corporation Transport’ (MCT).

 

Not the most successful of Leyland products with only 94 being built.

 

HTB 656

 A Leyland PS1 with Leeds produced bodywork by Charles H. Roe. Built for ‘Ramsbottom Urban District Council in 1947 as its No. 17.

 

VR 5742

 

A Leyland Tiger TS1 with Vulcan bodywork that was finished off by ‘MCT’ its operator. New in 1930 as No. 28.

 

DBA 214C

 

A Leyland Atlantean PDR 1with Metro-Cammell bodywork new in 1965 to ‘Salford City Transport’ as is No. 214.

 

Before being preserved in its original colours, it had a spell with a company called ‘Ashtree Coaches’.

TNA 496

 

Another bus from the fleet of ‘MCT’ is this Leyland PD2/40 with Burlingham bodywork being No. 3496 in ‘MCT’ service.

 

One of the features of double deckers in the fleet was the distinctive layout of the destination blinds. A layout that was the same on generations of buses.

 

Like many other local buses it went on to serve in the combined fleets in Manchester in the SELNEC (South East Lancs. North East Cheshire) fleet which preceded todays ‘Greater Manchester’ operation.

 

CDB 224

 

A Leyland PD2/1 with Leyland low bridge bodywork new in 1947 as No. 224 to the ‘North Western Road Car Company’.

 

I remember low bridge bodies as being difficult to access upstairs having to climb over other passengers to get to a seat and then in all probability banging your head in the process.

 

 

NDK 980

 

An AEC Regent 5 with Weymann bodywork in the livery of ‘Rochdale Corporation Transport’.

 

JVU 755

 

An all Crossley produced trolleybus for use on ‘MCT’s  small trolley network.