‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity (NHVC) 1’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The PSV Circle (of which I have been a member for some years) aims to hold an Annual General Meeting in a different location in the UK every year. (Covid permitting).

 

Usually held at a weekend, they also include visits to operators and other bus related venues for the attending members to visit and enjoy.

 

This year, the location was in my part of the world, the East Midlands.

 

The first visit was to the ‘NHVC’ which is based in what was the ‘Trent Motor Traction’ depot in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

The group have an excellent website which I would recommend to anyone requiring further details.

 

On the day, the ‘NHVC’ provided the transport to and from the ‘Holiday Inn’ at South Normanton where the event was being held.

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

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

 

One of five of the type purchased in 1995, it has been beautifully restored.

 

This was the transport to Hucknall.

 

 

 

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

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

 

 

 

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /3

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

 

 

 

 

YN05 WFE ‘Nottingham City Transport Ltd’. No. 676.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka /1

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

 

This was the transport on the return from Hucknall.

 

The between decks branding reads, 

 

    “1878    Celebrating 140 years      2018”

  of serving Nottingham 

 

This is not the first time this bus has appeared in my blog but having had the pleasure of riding on it, I make no apology for including it again.

 

 

 

 

YN05 WFE ‘Nottingham City Transport Ltd’. No. 676.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka /2

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

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Edinburgh by Peter Rose Double Deck Buses on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Peter, a friend of many years standing, was in Edinburgh on holiday recently and has forwarded these images for me to share with you.

 

As usual, they appear with his consent and my thanks.

 

Many images in this selection were captured on Princes Street which is shared with other forms of transport including Edinburgh’s trams.

 

The track of which can be observed beneath some of the buses.

 

LX60 DXG ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 1144 ‘Lothian 100 YEARS 1919-2019’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

Purchased by ‘Lothian’ in 2018 from ‘Go-Ahead London’ to enable the fleet to withdraw older buses with engines producing higher levels of pollution.

 

Note the dual doors, a left over from its London days.

 

 

 

 

SN66 WHA ‘First South East and Central Scotland’ No. 33448 ‘600 Fast &  convenient to Edinburgh Airport’.

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

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

 

 

 

 

LXZ 5408 ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 1023’ ‘Lothian 100 YEARS 1919-2019’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

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

 

New in 2010 registered BF60 VHP to ‘First Centrewest’ (London) as 

No. VN 37912.

 

Purchased by ‘Lothian’ in 2018 from ‘Metroline West’ to enable the fleet to withdraw older buses with engines producing higher levels of pollution.

 

 

 

 

MXZ 1752 ‘Lothiancountry’ No. 842’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

‘Lothiancountry’ being part of the ‘Lothian Buses’ group.

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ in 2007 as SN57 DDL. 

 

Then becoming part of ‘Lothian Motorcoaches’ fleet before joining ‘Lothiancountry in 2021.

 

 

 

 

SN11 EAX ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 352 ‘Lothian 100 YEARS 1919-2019’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

 

 

 

SJ18 NFR ‘EastCoastbuses’ No. 20002.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse 3

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

 

‘EastCoastbuses’ being part of the ‘Lothian Buses’ group.

 

‘Scene’ in Reading once more on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is now over 3 years since I last visited Reading in Berkshire so a re-visit was on the cards.

 

A compact town with excellent transport connections and an interesting selection of buses.

 

This selection being part of the diesel powered fleet.

 

SK66 HRR ‘Reading buses’ No. 901 ‘orange’. 

Wright Streetdeck

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

 

 

 

 

YX64 VLW ‘Reading buses’ No. 653, ‘little oranges’. 

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

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

 

 

 

 

SN61 BAO ‘Reading buses’ No. 220 ‘berry Routes’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400 

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

 

Although built as a ‘Hybrid’ bus, this and the others of its kind have been re-engined with diesel power units.

 

 

 

 

YY69 TNF ‘Reading buses’ No. 679 ‘little berries’. 

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

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

 

 

 

 

YX64 VRL ‘Reading buses’ No. 751. ‘claret routes’.

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

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

 

 

 

 

YN54 AEZ ‘Reading buses’ No. 808 ‘claret spritzer’.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka

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

 

Intended for use on services to Reading University. 

 

On the upper deck, the bus is fitted out with tables, facing seats, a communal meeting/lounge area, a games and study area together with a book exchange facility

 

My blog dated 20/02/2016 illustrates all of the above.

 

‘Scene’ going Solo in Derby on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The ‘Wellglade’ group has purchased over 100 Optare Solos over the years.

 

They continue to give good service although their numbers are in decline.

 

Looking at what is available in the current bus market, it is difficult to see where their replacements in what can be termed the ‘midibus’ range are going to come from.

 

We are however, still able to enjoy those that are still here.

 

FJ09 MWF ‘trentbarton’ No. 480.

Optare Solo M950

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

 

‘trentbarton’ have recently introduced a lighter shade of red to its unbranded buses which brightens up the appearance considerably.

 

 

 

 

YJ12 NBA ‘trentbarton’ No. 493. 

Optare Solo SR M960SR /1

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

 

Pictured in Derby bus station.

 

Unusual in my experience as I have never seen one before in this location.

 

The route terminates in the city on Gower Street

 

 

 

 

YJ12 NBA ‘trentbarton’ No. 493. ‘harlequin’. 

Optare Solo M960SR /2 

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

 

 

 

 

FJ09 MWG ‘trentbarton’ No. 481 ‘royal derby’.  

Optare Solo M950 /1

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

 

Pictured in Derby bus station.

 

Unusual in my experience as I have never seen one before in this location.

 

The route linking the Royal Derby Hospital with the Derby Community Hospital runs via the city centre and not the bus station.

 

 

FJ09 MWG ‘trentbarton’ No. 481 ‘royal derby’.  

Optare Solo M950 /1

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

 

 

 

 

YJ65 EPF ‘notts+derby’ No. 510. ‘unibus’. 

Optare Solo SR M9900SR

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

 

 

 

 

FJ10 EHL ‘trentbarton’ No. 488 ‘amberline’. 

Optare Solo M950

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Halifax 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Or ‘alifax as we Yorkshire folk are given to calling it.

 

My first real day out ‘bus hunting’ in 2022 was to the two West Yorkshire towns of Halifax and Huddersfield.

 

Only 9 or so miles apart in distance but separated in fact by an enormous hill along the top of which runs the M62.

 

My first stop wherever I go is usually the local bus station.

 

Unfortunately, the one in Halifax was undergoing severe rebuilding work at the time of my visit and the bit that was still in operation was restricted viewing so it was time to take to the streets.

 

YJ54 XUM ‘First West Yorkshire Ltd’. No. 32521 ‘HALIFAX’.

Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

Pictured having just having left what remains of the bus station.

 

 

 

 

SL15 ZGA ‘First West Yorkshire Ltd’. No. 63294 ‘HALIFAX’.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

 

 

 

YJ05 VVW ‘First West Yorkshire Ltd’. No. 66777 ‘HX CONNECT’.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

 

 

 

YK05 FJF ‘First West Yorkshire Ltd’. No. 66783 ‘HALIFAX’.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

Pictured about to work o’er t’ ill via Todmorden to Burnley (translation, ‘over the hill’).

 

 

 

 

YJ09 FWR ‘First West Yorkshire Ltd’. No. 69321 ‘BRADFORD’.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

Pictured having just having left what remains of the bus station.

 

 

 

 

SL15 ZFZ ‘First West Yorkshire Ltd’. No. 63293 ‘HALIFAX’.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

Pictured approaching the bus station.

 

‘Scene’ in Huddersfield ‘Stotts Coaches’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Or ‘uddersfield as we Yorkshire folk are given to calling it.

 

My first real day out ‘bus hunting’ in 2022 was to the two West Yorkshire towns of Halifax and Huddersfield.

 

Only 9 or so miles apart in distance but separated in fact by an enormous hill along the top of which runs the M62.

 

Part 1 which looked at the bus station was posted on 20/03/2022. 

 

A14 ESS ‘Stotts BUS & COACH TRAVEL’.

Volvo B7TL/ Alexander ALX400

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

 

From the wording on the lower panels it would seem that this bus is kept for schools work.

 

 

 

 

YJ55 BLZ ‘Stotts BUS & COACH TRAVEL’.

Optare Solo M780SL

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

 

New to ‘Hughes & Goodsir’, Holyhead.

 

 

 

 

YK55 ENR ‘Stotts BUS & COACH TRAVEL’.

Optare Solo M920

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

 

New to ‘First West Yorkshire’ as No. 53904.

 

 

 

 

YJ05 WCO ‘Stotts BUS & COACH TRAVEL’.

Optare Solo M780 /1

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

 

New to ‘Tyrer’, Nelson, Lancs.

 

 

 

 

YJ05 WCO ‘Stotts BUS & COACH TRAVEL’.

Optare Solo M780 /2

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

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Huddersfield ‘team Pennine’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Or ‘uddersfield as we Yorkshire folk are given to calling it.

 

My first real day out ‘bus hunting’ in 2022 was to the two West Yorkshire towns of Halifax and Huddersfield.

 

Only 9 or so miles apart in distance but separated in fact by an enormous hill along the top of which runs the M62.

 

‘team Pennine’ is part of the ‘Transdev’ group being formed in 2021 to take over ‘Yorkshire Tiger’ (YT) which was purchased from ‘Arriva’.

 

Typically of ‘Transdev’, a new bright livery has been introduced whilst the old  ‘YT’ livery is rapidly disappearing.

 

YX18 KZG ‘team Pennine’ No. 727 ‘Huddsquick’.

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

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

 

New to ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’.

 

 

 

P44 TDV ‘team Pennine’ No. 744 ‘DenbyDARTS’.

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

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

 

New registered ‘YX16 OBM’ to ‘NSL Gatwick’.

 

 

 

YX18 KNH ‘team Pennine’ No. 572 ‘Huddsquick’.

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

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

 

New to ‘First South West’ as No. 617.

 

 

 

 

SK68 LZL ‘team Pennine’ No. 728.

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

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

 

New to ‘Chariot’, Isleworth, Middlesex.

 

 

 

 

YK08 ETD ‘team Pennine’ No. 185.

Optare Solo M950

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Durham County’ No. 2511.

 

Still painted in the ‘Yorkshire Tiger’ livery to which the following vinyls have been added.

 

   “Im joining team Pennine… they’re going to make me better”.

 

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

 

I have been taking photographs of buses in Oxford for some years and I have always been fortunate in having dry weather.

 

This particular day was in late autumn with a clear, blue and sunny sky.

 

The only problem is that Oxford is a historic city with narrow streets and many tall buildings which between them create a variety  of difficulties with shadows.

 

As always, it is all about making the best of what you have.

 

I hope you enjoy this selection.

 

Earlier blogs re Oxford have dealt with the ‘Go-Ahead’ group’s ‘City of Oxford’ and ‘Thames Travel’ subsidiaries.

 

They do not have a monopoly in the city.

 

‘Stagecoach’ also have a presence.

 

The most significant of which must be the flagship route for the whole group let alone Oxford.

 

This being the ‘Oxford Tube’ which operates 24/7 into London.

 

Running between Oxford’s Gloucester Green bus station to London’s Buckingham Palace Road along the M40.

 

Taking on average a little over an hour and a quarter, traffic permitting to cover the 50 plus miles between the two cities.

 

YX70 LVE ‘Stagecoach in Oxfordshire’ No. 50439 ‘Oxford Tube’.

Volvo B11RET / Plaxton Panorama /1

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

 

 

 

 

YX70 LVE ‘Stagecoach in Oxfordshire’ No. 50439 ‘Oxford Tube’.

Volvo B11RET / Plaxton Panorama /2

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

 

 

 

 

YX64 WCV ‘Stagecoach Cambus’ No. 54312 ‘X5’.

Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Elite

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

 

The ‘X5’ links Oxford with the other great university city of Cambridge.

 

 

 

 

OU10 GGF ‘Stagecoach in Oxfordshire’ No. 12003 ‘electric hybrid’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Trident 2 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400

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

 

Wearing ‘Stagecoach’ groups ‘hybrid’ green variation of what was its standard livery.

 

 

 

 

SK15 HCN ‘Stagecoach in Oxfordshire’ No. 10431.

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

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

 

 

 

 

YM15 FPN ‘Stagecoach in Oxfordshire’ No. 28743, ‘S4’

Scania K230UB / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300

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

 

New to ‘Midland Red’ (South). 

 

‘Gold’ branded single deckers are still unusual in my experience

 

‘Scene’, in Reading Once More on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is now over 3 years since I last visited Reading in Berkshire so a re-visit was on the cards.

 

A compact town with excellent transport connections and an interesting array of buses.

 

Most of ‘Reading buses’ services are route and colour branded.

 

That leaves a requirement for ‘spare buses’ to be available where route branded vehicles, for whatever reason are not available.

 

Referred to as the ‘generic’ livery these ‘spare’ buses are painted in a grey livery.

 

WA04 CPZ ‘Reading buses’ No. 536. 

Transbus Trident / Alexander ALX400 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Devon’ as No. 18062.

 

 

 

 

YN08 MMK ‘Reading buses’ No. 1112. 

Scania N270UD / Scania Omnicity

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

 

 

 

 

YT59 OZO ‘Reading buses’ No. 864. 

Scania N270UD / Optare Omnidekka

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ as No. 973.

 

 

 

 

YX64 VRR ‘Reading buses’ No. 756. 

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

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

 

 

 

 

YN14 MXP ‘Reading buses’ No. 421. 

Scania K270UB / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300GS

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

 

 

 

 

YY69 TNE ‘Reading buses’ No. 680. 

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

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

 

 

 

 

RG55 BUS ‘Reading buses’ No. 186. 

Optare Solo M1020

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

 

New registered YM55 SVL to ‘Stagecoach Lincolnshire’ as No. 47399.