‘Scene’ on Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent (BoT) ‘midland fox’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Wetmore Road, for those who don’t know, is where the fleet of ‘midland classic of Burton’ (mc) is garaged.

 

Over the weekend of 28/29th August 2021 ‘mc’ held a ‘Heritage Weekend’ to celebrate two anniversaries.

 

On the Saturday to celebrate 15 years of ‘mc’ operating in Burton.

 

On the Sunday to celebrate the 95th. anniversary of John Stevenson setting up in business to run buses between Burton and Uttoxeter via Tutbury.

 

A route that ‘mc’ still operates today.

 

As well as buses in ‘ ‘midland classic of Burton’ and ‘Stevensons’ liveries.

 

There was a selection of both current and preserved vehicles in attendance.

 

Many were operating journeys on ‘mc’s service No. 401 which is the current route number for the original service dating back to 1926.

 

‘midland fox’ has its origins in the old ‘Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Company’ better known as ’Midland Red’.

 

When ‘BMMO’ was broken up in 1981, ‘Midland Red East’ was formed to operate in Leicestershire, south Derbyshire and east Staffordshire.

 

Then becoming ‘Midland Fox’, and then ‘Arriva Fox County’, it is now part of ‘Arriva Midlands’.

 

FJ06 ZSX ’Arriva Midlands No. 4752. ‘midland fox’.

VDL SB250 / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Fox County’.

 

 

 

EAP 984V ‘midland fox’ No. 684.

Bristol VR / Eastern Coach Works /1

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

 

New to ‘Southdown’ as No. 684.

 

There is a suggestion that this particular bus never worked for ‘midland fox’ being purchased and preserved to represent other buses that did.

 

 

 

 

EAP 984V ‘midland fox’ No. 684.

Bristol VR / Eastern Coach Works /2

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

 

 

 

 

 

FD52 GGV ‘midland fox’.

DAF SB200 / Wright Commander /1

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Fox County’. as No. 3704.

 

 

 

 

FD52 GGV ‘midland fox’.

DAF SB200 / Wright Commander /2

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

 

 

‘Scene’ Near the East Midlands Airport (EMA) on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The ‘EMA’ at Castle Donington on the borders of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire has become much more than an airport.

 

It attracts all manner of organisations of businesses dealing directly or indirectly with the airport.

 

So much so that the surrounding countryside has developed into what might be called a small town.

 

Like all small towns, it requires a transport system.

 

LJ16 NNC ‘CT4N’ No. 987 ‘GATEWAY SHUTTLE’.

BYD K9UR /1

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

 

On lease from CT4N (Community Transport for Nottingham).

 

If my memory serves me right, the batch of Chinese built buses that this bus is part of were amongst the earliest all electric buses in the UK.

 

 

 

 

LJ16 NNC ‘CT4N’ No. 987 ‘GATEWAY SHUTTLE’.

BYD K9UR /2

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

 

 

 

 

LJ16 NNC ‘CT4N’ No. 987 ‘GATEWAY SHUTTLE’.

BYD K9UR /3

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

 

This image shows part of the re-charging infrastructure.

 

 

 

 

LJ16 NMU ‘CT4N’ No. 980 ‘medilink’

BYD K9UR 3

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

 

My blog posted 23/11/2016 shows a variety of images of the same type of bus in its original ‘CT4N’ livery.

 

Coincidentally, I recently took this image of another K9UR which illustrates the current ‘CT4N’ livery in Nottingham.

 

(please forgive the shadow of the street light).

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at the East Midlands Airport. Wide Bodied Freighters on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Whilst passenger services have plummeted because of the Covid-19 pandemic, freight traffic has rocketed.

 

Not surprisingly then, this blog illustrates freighters.

 

Many thanks go to friend John Beastall who provided all the identification and operational details.

 

Readers seeking further details of particular aircraft are recommended to Google the aircraft registration. e.g. G-CLBA. 

 

I then go to ‘www.airfleets.net'

 

G-CLBA ‘Cargologicair’. Boeing 747-428ERF.

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

 

New in 2004 registered as F-GIUD to ‘Air France’.

 

 

 

 

C-GYAJ ‘Cargojet’ Boeing 767-35EERF.

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

 

New in 1992 registered as B-16605 to ‘EVA Air’ (Taiwan).

 

It has since had spells with both ‘First Choice Airways’ and ‘Thomson Airways’ registered as G-PJLO before joining ‘CargoJet’ (Canada) in 2014.

 

Pictured parked at DHL’s facility.

 

 

 

 

N342UP ‘UPS Airlines’ Boeing 767-34AF ‘Worldwide Services’.

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

 

UPS = ‘United Parcel Service’.

 

New in 2011.

 

 

 

 

OY-SRO ‘Star Air’ Boeing 767-25EBDSF.

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

 

New in 1986 registered as B-1623 to ‘EVA Air’ (Taiwan).

 

It joined ‘Star Air’ (Denmark) in 2006.

 

 

 

 

G-TUIN ‘TUI Airways’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

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

 

New in 2017.

 

At the time I took the image, G-TUIN and G-TUIM were employed as freighters due to the lack of work for passenger aircraft due to Covid-19.

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 When ‘West Midlands PTE’ met ‘London Transport’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The annual ‘Buses Festival’ last year was held at the ‘East of England Showground’ which is near Peterborough.

 

NOA 462X ‘West Midlands PTE’ No. 2462.

MCW DR102/27 Metrobus /1

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

 

 

 

 

NOA 462X ‘West Midlands PTE’ No. 2462.

MCW DR102/27 Metrobus /2

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

 

 

 

 

JJD 579D ‘London Buses No. RML 2579 ‘Lionel’.

AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

 

The RML of course being half a bay longer than the RM (see final image).

 

 

 

 

CUV 233C ‘London Transport’ No. RCL 2233 ’Green Line’.

AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

The coach version of the RM. 

 

The twin headlights identify the RCL no matter what colour paint it is wearing.

 

 

 

 

CUV 180C ‘London Transport Executive’ No. RM 2180

AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

The standard bus of which 2,123 were built.

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 ‘Sharpes of Nottingham’ Part 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Sharpes of Nottingham’ are a well known operator in the East Midlands.  

 

Apart from their current service fleet which is always immaculately presented they also maintain some of its previous vehicles in a ‘heritage’ fleet that will be covered in part 2.

 

EX18 SON ‘sharpes’ ‘platinum service’ VANHOOL EX16M.

DAF / Vanhool EX16M /1

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

 

Formerly a Van Hool demonstrator.

 

 

 

 

EX18 SON ‘sharpes’ ‘platinum service’ VANHOOL EX16M.

DAF / Vanhool EX16M /2

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

 

 

 

 

EX18 SON ‘sharpes’ ‘platinum service’ VANHOOL EX16M.

DAF / Vanhool EX16M /3

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

 

 

 

 

 

TX69 SON ‘sharpes’ ‘Club Class’.

Vanhool TX21 Altano /1

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

 

This coach appeared at the NEC’s ‘Coach & Bus Live’ show in 2019.

 

At the time, it appeared on my blog posted 03/10/2019.

 

There are some interior images in that blog.

 

I had not realised until I was writing this piece that when looking closely at the image it is possible to detect the odd spot of rain for which I apologise.

 

 

 

 

TX69 SON ‘sharpes’ ‘Club Class’.

Vanhool TX21 Altano /2 

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

 

 

 

 

Registration Not known ‘sharpes’ ‘platinum service’.

Vanhool TX11 Alicron

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

 

If anyone could supply its registration, I would appreciate it.

 

‘Scene’ In Norwich 4 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose recently spent some time in Norwich and has forwarded a selection of images which I am pleased to share with you.

 

As usual with Peter’s work, his images are reproduced here with his consent and my thanks.

 

Part 1 was posted on 07/01/2022, part 2 on 10/01/2022 part 3 on 13/01/2022.

 

Whilst ‘First’ group have the major share of bus operations in the city, there are other operators.

 

YX69 NPE ‘konectbus’ No. 200, ‘park&ride NORWICH’.

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

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200MMC

 

‘Konectbus’ being part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group.

 

 

 

 

 

SN65 OAB ‘konectbus’ No. 623,‘park&rideNORWICH’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400

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

 

‘Konectbus’ being part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group.

 

 

 

 

 

SN65 OAY ‘konectbus’ No. 639, ‘STRAIGHT 8’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400

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

 

‘Konectbus’ being part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group.

 

 

 

 

 

SN61 CZZ ‘konectbus’ No. 609.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

YN53 CFZ ‘Sanders Coaches Ltd.’ Holt, Norfolk.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ as No. 717.

 

‘Sanders’ operate a regular service linking Norwich with the coastal towns of Cromer and Sheringham.

 

For more ‘Sanders’ images see my blog posted on 15/11/2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MT18 WTT ‘Motts Travel’, Aylesbury.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

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

 

‘Scene In Norwich 3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Friend Peter Rose recently spent some time in Norwich and has forwarded a selection of images which I am pleased to share with you.

 

As usual with Peter’s work, his images are reproduced here with his consent and my thanks.

 

I recently had a letter published in ‘Buses’ magazine where I enthused about the merits of bus companies using a variety of colours to identify its buses. 

 

This is an alternative to the traditional form of identification where all the buses in a fleet carry the same livery.

 

I intend to post a small number of blogs illustrating my point.

 

Part 1 was posted on 07/01/2022 and part 2 on 10/01/2022.

 

Like other companies in ‘First’ group, the front of the bus was given a fresh coat of paint in a different colour and still carrying the 

‘network Norwich’ branding together with additional route information.

 

Now, the intending passenger can tell from a distance what bus is approaching.

 

BG12 YJX  ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 36265 ‘network Norwich’ 28/29/X29 YELLOW LINE’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Games Transport’ who were a ‘First’ group company that was tasked with providing transport for the Olympic games held around the UK in 2012.

 

They also provided transport for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

BN12 JYS ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 36192 ‘network Norwich’ 23/24.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Games Transport’ who were a ‘First’ group company that was tasked with providing transport for the Olympic games held around the UK in 2012.

 

They also provided transport for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

BD11 CFY ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 36192 ‘network Norwich’ BLUE LINE 25/26.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

 

 

 

SN65 OMT ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 35149 ‘network Norwich’.

Wright Streetdeck

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

 

New to ‘First Bristol’.

 

Every fleet that has a high percentage of its number in route branded or otherwise dedicated buses has to have spares so that the loss of a branded bus for whatever reason can be covered.

 

In ‘First Eastern Counties’ case it is with lilac fronted buses such as this.

 

 

‘Scene’ In Norwich 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Friend Peter Rose recently spent some time in Norwich and has forwarded a selection of images which I am pleased to share with you.

 

As usual with Peter’s work, his images are reproduced here with his consent and my thanks.

 

I recently had a letter published in ‘Buses’ magazine where I enthused about the merits of bus companies using a variety of colours to identify its buses. 

 

This is an alternative to the traditional form of identification where all the buses in a fleet carry the same livery.

 

I intend to post a small number of blogs illustrating my point.

 

Part 1 was posted on 07/01/2022.

 

Like other companies in ‘First’ group, the front of the bus was given a fresh coat of paint in a different colour and still carrying the 

‘network Norwich’branding together with additional route information.

 

Now, the intending passenger can tell from a distance what bus is approaching.

 

SK16 GVT ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 35194 ‘network Norwich’ PINK LINE 11/12.

Wright Streetdeck

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

 

 

 

 

EU08 FHB ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 44928 ‘network Norwich’ PINK LINE 10

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Olympus’ Essex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SN64 CPZ  ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 47505 ‘network Norwich’ ‘CHARCOAL LINE 40/41/X41.

Wright ‘streetlite D/F’

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

 

 

 

 

SK65 PWZ  ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 63319 ‘network Norwich’ ‘GREEN LINE 14/15’.

Wright ‘streetlite D/F’

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

 

 

 

 

KX05 MHN ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 66984 ‘network Norwich’.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘First Leicester’.

 

Every fleet that has a high percentage of its number in route branded or otherwise dedicated buses has to have spares so that the loss of a branded bus for whatever reason can be covered.

 

In ‘First Eastern Counties’ case it is with lilac fronted buses such as this.

 

 

‘Scene’ In Norwich 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Friend Peter Rose recently spent some time in Norwich and has forwarded a selection of images which I am pleased to share with you.

 

As usual with Peter’s work, his images are reproduced here with his consent and my thanks.

 

I recently had a letter published in ‘Buses’ magazine where I enthused about the merits of bus companies using a variety of colours to identify its buses. 

 

This is an alternative to the traditional form of identification where all the buses in a fleet carry the same livery.

 

I intend to post a small number of blogs illustrating my point.

 

To start, we see what has been the ‘First’ group livery for getting on for ten years.

 

Generally referred to as ‘First Olympia’.

 

I have always regarded it as bland and uninteresting.

 

 

SN64 CRJ ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 47507.

Wright ‘streetlite D/F’

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

 

 

With a rolling destination display, which this bus has, it is of little use to any intending passenger.

 

 

 

 

SN64 CRV ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 47510.

Wright ‘streetlite D/F’

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

 

 

 

 

LN51 GJU ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 33060 ‘network Norwich’.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘First Capital’ as No. TN1060.

 

We now see a move away from the standard ‘First’ group livery.

 

Not a large change but the addition of ‘network Norwich’ is a step forward.

 

 

 

 

BG12 YKB ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 36269 ‘network Norwich’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Games Transport’ who were a ‘First’ group company that was tasked with providing transport for the Olympic games held around the UK in 2012.

 

They also provided transport for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

 

 

 

BG12 YKC ‘First Eastern Counties’ No. 36270 ‘network Norwich’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Games Transport’ who were a ‘First’ group company that was tasked with providing transport to the Olympic games held around the UK in 2012.

 

They also provided transport for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.