‘Scene’ by Peter Rose in Bakewell 1 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The first of two sets of images from friend Peter, featuring Bakewell, for which I thank him.

 

The first being a straight record of what he saw and the second (soon) will be one of his ‘Buses in the Environment’ specials.

 

YX23 OTB ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 1.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200MMC /1

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

 

 

 

 

YX23 OTB ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 1.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200MMC /2

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

 

 

 

 

SN61 BBZ ‘TMTravel’ No. 1412.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40H / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New to and still wearing most of its ‘Lothian Buses’ fleet livery No. 212.

 

Part of a batch of these buses which have been shared between ‘Wellglade’

subsidiaries ‘TMTravel’ and ‘notts & derby’.

 

Although new with hybrid drive trains, they were all subsequently re-powered with diesel engines.

 

 

 

 

LK09 EKU ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 3.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New to ‘Metroline’ No. TE944.

 

 

 

 

YX12 DHN ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 8.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ’Newport Bus’ No. 313.

 

 

 

 

YJ57 XWN ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 2.

Optare Solo M950SL

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

 

New to ‘Courtney’, Bracknell.

 

‘Scene’ in Wolverhampton ‘WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD. 1’ on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A day out train and tram riding in the West Midlands took friend Peter Rose and myself into pastures new recently when the transport delights of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich were explored.

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we gathered on the day. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

Most buses are named using people’s forenames which reflect the ethnic diversity of the area.

 

The choice of names are suggestions put forward by employees of ‘national express West Midlands’ together with some from the general public.

 

I think that is a nice touch because people of all ages will be happy to ride on ‘their’ bus.

 

 

53 ‘West Midlands Metro’.

CAF Urbos 100, Zaragoza, Spain

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

 

Quite an impressive operation except when a signals failure south of Wolverhampton forced us to catch a packed bus back towards West Bromwich.

 

At the Wolverhampton terminus, the driver enjoys the sunshine whilst he walks the length of the tram before heading back into Birmingham.

 

The area adjacent to the tram terminus has a number of bus stops which were quite busy.

 

Behind he camera, a short walk and a left turn takes you to an excellent bus station which is even busier.

 

 

 

 

SN66 WCA ‘WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD’, No. 6779, national express West Midlands PLATINUM, 8 8X Wolverhampton & Dudley, Manmeet. 

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

BX13 JPO ‘WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD’, No. 5417, national express West Midlands, Miya.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40H / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

 

 

 

SP13 BTE ‘WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD’, No. 5430, national express West Midlands, Olivia Victoria.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40H / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Tayside’ who at the time were part of the ‘National Express Group’.

 

 

 

BX54 XSG ‘WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD’, No. 4619, national express West Midlands, Lucia.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. ALX400

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

 

 

 

 

BX61 LNH ‘WEST MIDLANDS TRAVEL LTD’, No. 4840, national express Coventry, Blueson, Peggy.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit. Manchester City Centre on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.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.

 

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 being in the North West of England centred on the Holiday Inn Express, Preston.

 

Friend Peter Rose joined me for what turned out to be a sometimes wet, but very enjoyable weekend.

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we have gathered. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

Our lunch break was taken in Manchester City Centre where for a few minutes, it was fine and sunny.

 

For the rest of the hour it poured with rain so we sat in Chorlton Street Coach Station and watched the rain run down the windows.

 

SX70 BVZ ‘Burnley & Pendle’ No. 2004, Witchway, SKY CLASS.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

‘Burnley & Pendle’ are part of the ‘Transdev’ group.

 

 

 

 

BF21 DBU ‘National Express West Midlands’ No. 333.

Volvo B11RT / Caetano Levante 3

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

 

Turning into Chorlton Street Coach Station.

 

 

 

 

MX58 UTP ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 19476, itvX.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

YJ60 KDN ‘Transport for Greater Manchester’ No. 49108.

Optare V790H Versa

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

 

New to ‘First Manchester’ No. 49108.

 

 

 

 

SL63 FZK ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 12229, magicbus.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40H / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

 

The rain started!

 

 

 

 

LF69 UYM ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 14020, 100% ELECTRIC, ZERO EMISSIONS

BYD DD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400EV

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

 

The rain continued!

 

 

‘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’ in Reading 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.

 

SN11 BVV ‘Reading buses’ No. No. 214 ‘Lion’.

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

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.

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

SN61 BCY ‘Reading buses’ No. 227 ‘skyblue routes’.

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

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

 

 

 

 

SN11 BV0 ‘Reading buses’ No. 208 ‘yellow 26’.

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

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

 

 

 

 

YY15 OYP ‘Reading buses’ No. 773 ‘emerald routes’ 

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

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

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 /6 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

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

 

It is the first time I have attended the show and considering the amount of national publicity that has been lavished on it I was disappointed with the number of vehicles in attendance.

 

Whilst most of the attendees were preserved vehicles, there were some current buses and coaches on display.

 

The quality of vehicles that did attend was good particularly on a day which was interrupted by rain and dark clouds on a regular basis.

 

I think that an event held in the East Midlands will always have difficulties in attracting large numbers of participants.

 

The problem being that the venue is so far from many major centres of population.

 

Time will tell.

 

SN64 OGU ‘Stagecoach London’ No. 12345 ‘Selkent Ambassador’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400H /1 of 4 

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach East London’.

 

 

 

SN64 OGU ‘Stagecoach London’ No. 12345 ‘Selkent Ambassador’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400H /2 of 4 

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

 

 

 

 

SN64 OGU ‘Stagecoach London’ No. 12345 ‘Selkent Ambassador’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400H /3 of 4 

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

 

 

 

 

SN64 OGU ‘Stagecoach London’ No. 12345 ‘Selkent Ambassador’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400H /4 of 4 

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

 

‘Scene’ in Manchester, Stagecoach ‘magic bus’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘magic Bus’ is a brand that ‘Stagecoach’ group usually use where strong competition is experienced.

 

Generally using older, written down buses where lower competitive fares can be charged.

 

MX62 GGP ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 12189 ‘electric hybrid’,’magic bus’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro400 /1

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

 

 

 

MX62 GGP ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 12189 ‘electric hybrid’,’magic bus’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro400 /2

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

 

 

 

SL63 FZP ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 12233 ‘electric hybrid’,’magic bus’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro400 /1

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

 

 

 

SL63 FZP ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 12233 ‘electric hybrid’,’magic bus’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro400 /2

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

 

‘Scene’ in Manchester 3 ‘Stagecoach Manchester ’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is three years ago since I last visited the ‘Capital of The North’ and at that time I thought the future of transport there was settled for years to come.

 

Little did I know.

 

The ‘Go-Ahead’ group took over  some of ‘First’ groups operations in the City, ‘Rotala’ took over ‘First’ group’s operation out of Bolton, ‘Transdev’ seems to be much the same,’Arriva’ seems to have gone into decline whilst ‘Stagecoach’ has blossomed.

 

Every other bus seems to carry ‘Stagecoach’ colours and the variety of liveries that the company uses helps make Manchester the colourful city it is.

 

MX09 ATV ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No.19505. Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

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

 

This being the oldest livery in use and now being phased out.

 

 

 

 

MX12 ENL ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No.12115 ‘electric hybrid’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

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

 

The electric hybrid livery using green on the standard livery layout to highlight the buses ‘green’ credentials.

 

As these buses come up for re-paint, I have noticed many re appearing in fleet livery or as pictured below in ‘magic bus’ livery.

 

 

 

 

 

MX08 GOH ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No.19263 ‘magic bus’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

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

 

The old ‘magic bus’ livery now being phased out.

 

The ‘magic bus’ brand used older, financially written down buses where the fares charged were lower than on premium routes where lower fares might be of benefit to the communities they served.

 

For example, routes serving the University or when a competitor might be trying to attract custom.

 

 

 

 

 

MX62 GWE  ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No.12204 ‘magic bus’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro400

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

 

The ‘new’ (2020) ‘magic bus’ livery.

 

New in the green livery as worn by by MX12 ENL (above).

 

‘Scene’ In Sheffield. ‘Stagecoach’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

As is now well known, ‘Stagecoach’ group has adopted a variety of new liveries.

 

My blog dated 17th. of July 2020 covered the the local bus livery in Chesterfield.

 

I hoped my visit to Sheffield might produce the other liveries but it was not to be. 

 

I only saw a few buses in the local livery plus of course some in the earlier ones.

 

SN18 XXD ‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 39116 ‘Buses for Sheffield’. Wright Streetlite MAX  D/F

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

 

I was surprised that a bus only 2 years old had been repainted and was carrying the new livery but I thought it looked very smart.

 

 

 

 

SN18 XWZ ‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 39112 ‘Buses for Sheffield’. Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

 

 

YX69 NWU ‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 37602 ‘Buses for Sheffield’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro200MMC

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

 

 

 

 

BV19 XPJ ‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 54406 ‘national express’. Volvo B11RT / Caetano Levante 3

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

 

From the first time I saw this body at the NEC a few years ago, I have thought what a superb design it is.

 

 

 

 

YN12 GYO ‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 15824. Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

 

 

 

YN60 CKP ‘‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 15718 ‘YOUR X2 Barnsley to Sheffield’. Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New to ‘Andrews’. 

 

A Sheffield based company that became part of ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’.

 

 

 

YN62 BXX ‘Yorkshire Traction Co. Ltd.’ No. 12173 ‘Stagecoach in Sheffield’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’. Enviro400

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

 

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

I seem to drop lucky with the bus activity in Scarborough if not with the weather.

 

My annual visit last week produced the following images of these 2 Alexander Dennis Ltd. products making their first journeys from the ADL factory at Eastfield in what I would hope are successful and lengthy careers.

 

I am a bit short on detail as to the identity of one of them so if anyone can fill in the gaps then please feel free to get in touch.

 

YW19 VVB ‘London General’ No. EH329. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC /1

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

 

Operating on trade plate 078PY.

 

 

 

 

 

YW19 VVB ‘London General’ No. EH329. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40H / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC /2

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

 

 

 

 

537HB or E (trade plate) ’Stagecoach’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200MMC

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