One of the success stories in the bus world of the last 20 years has undoubtedly been the Optare Solo.
Built in a variety of lengths and width’s, there cannot be many bus fleets in the country that the type has not appeared in.
The first Solo I saw local to me in the East Midlands was a brand new V401 JTO in the ‘trentbarton’ (tb) fleet.
Now long gone, it was the first of a fleet of over 100 examples to work for ‘tb’.
My regular stamping ground for many years has been Derby and so I thought I might put together a compilation of the various liveries that have appeared before my camera in the city.
This is the first of a short series which will appear from time to time.
FE02 KEU
Working on the H1 for ‘tb’ which at that time linked the old ‘Derbyshire Royal Infirmary ’ with what was then the ‘City Hospital’ and of course is now ‘The Royal Derby Hospital’.
FG02 BGF
Working out of the old Derby Bus Station (oDBS) for ‘tb’ in an early ‘The Allestree’ livery.
FP51 GXS
Working on a different H1 altogether for ‘tb’. This time running from Derby to Heanor.
FP51 GXV
Seen wearing ‘Barton’ livery and again seen in the ‘oDBS’
YJ58 CCD
‘Arriva’ were the first to introduce the ‘Solo SR’ in 2008.
Some of this batch had a spell in Malta when for a while the company took over the job (and problems) of running the bus services on the island.
But intriguingly went back to the earlier Model in 2011.
YJ11 OHK
The independents also took to the Solo.
YN63 SVJ
Working for much missed ‘K & H Doyle Coaches’ on its service 59 to Ilkeston.
My son Andrew once likened this livery to ‘looking like some serious bruising’ which I think was rather apt !
X791 NWX
Seen outside the Concil House in Derby in the later green version of ‘Doyle’s livery.
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