‘Scene’ in Chesterfield, Stagecoach on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Chesterfield is very much a ‘Stagecoach’ town having in the past taken over both ‘East Midland Motor Services’ and ‘Chesterfield Corporation Transport’.

 

For a while, the Chesterfield operation was part of Stagecoach East Midland(s) until a review of ‘Stagecoach’ operations in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire saw the buses in Chesterfield become part of ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’. 

 

Stagecoach have been removing local route branding and I wanted to capture some of the few that were left at the time.

 

YN64 AOD ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 15193 Scania 230UD / Alexander Enviro 400

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YN12 GYT ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 15828 Scania 230UD / Alexander Enviro 400

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YN12 GYR ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 15826 Scania 230UD / Alexander Enviro 400

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

1619 HE ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 17004 Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX 400

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

A cherished registration dating back to the ‘Yorkshire Traction’ days and formerly registered S804 BWC.

 

Originally new to ‘Stagecoach East London’ as its TA4 and then with ‘Stagecoach Devon’ before coming to Chesterfield.

 

 

 

YN04 KGP ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 18126 Transbus Trident / Alexander ALX 400

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

YN04 YXS ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 34583 Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander Pointer 2

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Most people would recognize this bus as having a Plaxton body however, ‘Stagecoach’s fleetlist gives Alexander the credit !

 

 

 

SL64 HXT ‘Stagecoach East Midlands’ No. 27184 Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 / Alexander Enviro 300

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

Working on the ‘pronto’ service between Chesterfield and Nottingham which is a joint operation with ‘trentbarton’ with both operators vehicles wearing the same livery.

 

 

 

YN06 UGS ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 47320 Optare Slimline Solo

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

YN06 UGV ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 47323 Optare Slimline Solo

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YN57 MXP ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 22547 MAN 18.240LF / Alexander Dennis Enviro 300

on ‘Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ ‘North of the Border 5’ on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A recent short break in Scotland produced a variety of images. Some, I thought were a bit special.

 

This is the fifth in a short series.

 

Parts 1-4 were published on 18/06/2016, 29/06/2016, 24/07/2016 and 04/08/2016.

 

This set of images of this Spanish registered coach were captured at Fort Augustus.

 

 

9757 GYH ‘autocareras cristobal’ MAN  26.480 / TATA HISPANO Xerus 

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

9757 GYH ‘autocareras cristobal’ MAN  26.480 / TATA HISPANO Xerus /2

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

9757 GYH ‘autocareras cristobal’ MAN  26.480 / TATA HISPANO Xerus /3

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

9757 GYH ‘autocareras cristobal’ MAN  26.480 / TATA HISPANO Xerus /4

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

‘Scene’ yet again in Derby on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I know I risk boring readers with my continual returning to Derby at the moment but you have to admit that I usually come up with something interesting.

 

Yesterday was no exception.

 

Heanor based ‘yourbus’ have announced that they are to compete directly with ‘Arriva’ on two routes in the city.

 

From Sunday the 20th. of November they will be operating against ‘Arriva’ on the 20 to Chaddesden and the 26 to Oakwood.

 

This is not the first time ‘yourbus’ have competed directly with the established operator on a route and it remains to be seen how successful they will be.

 

Rumours about ‘Arriva’s response continue to circulate and maybe the reliveried Scania single decker I saw is part of that response?

 

The images are not the best I have ever taken but there was very strong sunlight causing deep shadows. As usual, my policy was get what you can.

 

YR58 SRO ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 3552 Scania Omnicity

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YR58 SRO ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 3552 Scania Omnicity /2

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

YR58 SRO ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 3552 Scania Omnicity /3

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

YR58 SRO ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 3552 Scania Omnicity /4

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

Regular readers will recall the arrival of two VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro’s with ‘Arriva’ in a recent blog.

 

Seen here is a third and I believe there could be a fourth.

 

YJ59 AYX ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 5995 VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

I have seen this before but not all that often.

 

FJ64 ETZ ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 4600 Daimler OM 934 / Wright StreetDeck

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

We are used to seeing cars or vans being used as support vehicles but I don’t think that they are normally as well liveried as this.

 

FD16 BTV ‘Skills Coaches’ Dacia Sandero

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

FD16 BTV ‘Skills Coaches’ Dacia Sandero /2

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in North Wales. Independent operators on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Independant operators have always had a part to play in North Wales transport and while there may be fewer of them than there were, they still survive. Having said that, since that was written ‘GHA Coaches’ of Corwen have gone out of business.

 

‘Express Motors,’ based in Penygroes, Caernarfon operate widely across North Wales and their vehicles can be seen in places as far apart as Llandudno and Dolgellau and many places in between. 

 

CX09 EMS ‘Express Motors’ MAN 12.240 Plaxton Centro.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen in Llandudno working the X1 to Llanrwst.

 

 

CX09 EMS ‘Express Motors’ MAN 12.240 Plaxton Centro /2.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Seen in Llandudno working the X1 to Llanrwst.

RX53 LNJ ‘Express Motors’ MAN 14.200 / East Lancs Myllenium.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen in Caernarfon.

 

Formerly working for an operator reasonably local to me i.e. ‘midland classic’ of  Burton on Trent.

 

Before that, it was new to ‘Countywide Travel’ of Basingstoke.

 

 

 

S1 EMS ‘Express Motors’ Optare Solo.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Again seen in Llandudno working the X1 to Llanrwst.

 

 

 

MX 56 ABK ‘Llew Jones’ Optare Solo 

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

CX07 AVM ‘M&H Coaches’ Optare Solo

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

150253 ‘Arriva Trains Wales’ 

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Seen approaching Deganwy station.

Hardly an independent, but included for completeness sake.

 

 

‘Scene’ at ‘Showbus 2016’, ‘Barton Transport’ on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogsot.co.uk’

One of the main features of this years ‘Showbus’ was to feature ‘Barton Transport’ who this year are celebrating the 150th aniiversary of the birth of the comany’s founder Mr. T. H. Barton.

 

I captured what images I was able too as the cavalcade passed through the site hoping to have a chance to catch up with them later. 

 

Circumstances on the day prevented me from doing so.

 

I therefore present the 11 images I did get and apologise for the other 4 which unfortunately got away.

 

 

 

 

966 RVO ‘Barton Transport’ No. 966 Bedford VAL / Yeates Europa

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

At the time of this bus being introduced, many of the travelling public were not used to the concept of dual doored buses so it was found necessary to paint IN and OUT on the bodywork.

 

Dating from 1963.

 

 

KNN 254 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 580 Leyland Titan PD1 / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Dating from 1949.

JVO 230 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 507 Leyland Titan PD1A / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Dating from 1948.

 

 

 

AAL 522A ‘Barton Transport’ No. 854 AEC Regent V / Northern Counties

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Originally registered 854 FNN when new in 1960. The last of a batch of 5 and withdrawn in 1973.

 

 

 

JNN 384 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 467 Leyland PD1 / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Dating from 1948.

 

 

 

XAL 784 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 784 AEC Regent V / Northern Counties

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Dating from 1957.

 

 

 

WAL 782 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 782 Leyland Tiger PS1 / Willowbrook

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

A 1957 rebuild of a much earlier single deck chassis.

 

 

 

866 HAL ‘Barton Transport’ No. 866 AEC Reliance / Plaxton Panorama

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Dating from 1960.

 

 

 

RVO 668L ‘Barton Transport’ No. 1246 Leyland Leopard PSU 3 / Plaxton Elite Express 3

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Dating from 1972.

 

 

 

861 HAL ‘Barton Transport’ No. 861 Dennis Loline 2 / Northern Counties

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Unique in that it combines a low height chassis with low height bodywork so producing an overall height of 12 feet 6 inches ( 3.81m) which I believe is still a lowest ever for a fully roofed double decker.

 

Dating from 1961.

 

 

 

XRR 615M ‘Barton Transport’ No. 1286 Leyland Leopard PSU3  / Plaxton Elite Express 3

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogsot.co.uk’

 

 

Dating from 1973.

‘Scene’ in Derby (again?) Today 12/10/2016 on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I suppose I should apologise for the number of blogs that feature Derby at the moment. However, every time I go there, something turns up and today was no exception.

 

Within the space of 5 minutes two different VDL SB200’s with Plaxton Centro bodies appeared. Both in overall white with just the ‘Arriva’ fleetnames and fleet numbers to identify the operator.

 

Lettered for’Arriva Midlands’ it appears that they are here to cover for a bus shortage.

 

Their history is that they originally worked for ‘Arriva’ in Malta before being repatriated to the UK for use as required.

 

 

 

YJ58 FFA ‘Arriva Midlands’ No. 5997 VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally with ‘Arriva Malta’ registered BUS 309.

 

Since then it has been with ’Yorkshire Tiger’ (an ‘Arriva' operation) and ‘Arriva’ in Yorkshire and Northumbria.

 

 

YJ58 FFC ’Arriva Midlands’ No. 5996 VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally with ‘Arriva Malta’ registered BUS 311.

 

Since then, it has been with ‘Centrebus Leicester’, ’Huddersfield Bus Company’ and ‘Yorkshire Tiger’.

 

Also working for ‘Geldards’ in Leeds and back with ‘Arriva’ in Newcastle.

 

 

YJ58 FFC ’Arriva Midlands’ No. 5996 VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro /2

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally with ‘Arriva Malta’ registered BUS 311.

 

Since then, it has been with ‘Centrebus Leicester’, ’Huddersfield Bus Company’ and ‘Yorkshire Tiger’.

 

Also working for ‘Geldards’ in Leeds and back with ‘Arriva’ in Newcastle.

 

 

YJ58 FFC ’Arriva Midlands’ No. 5996 VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro /3

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally with ‘Arriva Malta’ registered BUS 311.

 

Since then, it has been with ‘Centrebus Leicester’, ’Huddersfield Bus Company’ and ‘Yorkshire Tiger’).

 

Also working for ‘Geldards’ in Leeds and back with ‘Arriva’ in Newcastle.

‘Scene’ in Rhyl on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is many years since I last went to Rhyl and whilst a lot of money has been spent on the seafront, unfortunately the town itself looks very dilapidated and in much need of a makeover.

 

The town does have a very well organized bus and rail interchange where the intending visitor is left in no doubt as to where they are being confronted by this enormous piece of sculpture.

 

Rhyl Bus Station 1

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

As if to underline the location the town’s name is ‘writ large’ in the surrounding brickwork.

Rhyl Bus Station 2

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

 

The bus station occupies the space outside the railway station as this view taken from underneath the station canopy shows.

Rhyl Bus Station 3

on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

K580 RRH ‘Voel Coaches’ of Dyserth Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Branded for the Prestatyn-Rhyl service it appears to have just come of a school run.

 

Previously employed by ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services’ as their No. 576.

 

 

K580 RRH ‘Voel Coaches’ of Dyserth Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties /2.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Branded for the Prestatyn-Rhyl service it appears to have just come of a school run.

 

Previously employed by ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services’ as their No. 576.

 

 

CX61 CCZ ‘Arriva Buses Wales’ 4480 VDL DB300 / Wright Gemini Eclipse 2.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Branded for the ‘cymru coastliner’ although I have never seen them as far West as Llandudno. Fitted with coach seating.

 

 

CX07 CUH ‘Arriva Buses Wales’ 2654 VDL SB200CS / Wright Eclipse.

on Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Branded for service 51 from Rhyl to Denbigh and specified to ‘MAX’ standard.

 

The driver of this bus was very obliging and positioned the vehicle exactly where I wanted it so if you see this, Thank you.

 

 

YJ54 BTE ‘P&O Lloyd of Bagilt’ Optare Solo.

on ‘Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Formerly employed by Optare as a demonstrator.

 

 

DK09 DZH ‘GHA Coaches of Corwen’ Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban.

on ‘Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Wearing branding for the X50/X52 routes that link Rhyl with Wrexham via Denbigh and Ruthin.

 

‘GHA Coaches of Corwen’ have since gone out of business.

 

 

R848 PRG ‘GHA Coaches of Corwen’ Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown.

on ‘Dennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

Formerly ‘Go-Ahead Northeast’ No. 4848.

‘GHA Coaches of Corwen’ have since gone out of business.