‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 5 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them now that the good weather has broken.

 

Nothing lasts for ever so it’s time to put away the open toppers for another year.

 

While there is seemingly an inexhaustible supply of open/part open top double deckers, the same cannot be said for the single deck equivalent.

 

Over many years, I have only come across a handful and here are three of them.

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

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

 

Pictured in Oban, Scotland.

 

New registered R928 XVM to ‘Stagecoach Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

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

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /3

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

 

 

 

 

TDL 564K ‘Midland Vectis’.

Bristol RELL6G / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 864, Isle of Wight.

 

Rebuilt to part open top by ‘SV’ in 1986 where it worked on the IoW branded as the ‘Shanklin Pony’ for many years.

 

The last time I saw it was in the IoW bus museum at Newport where I presumed it would stay.

 

How it comes to be this far North I don’t know.

 

Pictured at Rowsley, the home of Peak Rail, Derbyshire at the inaugural rally of the Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity in June 2023.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /1

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

 

New to ’Maidstone & District’ No. SO26 in 1947.

 

Converted to open top by ‘M&D’ in 1958 as No. OR3.

 

Pictured at ‘SHOWBUS 2022’.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /3

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

 

‘Scene’ at the ‘Statfold Barn Railway’ (SBR) Buses 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For those who do not know the ‘SBR,’ it is located near Tamworth in Staffordshire. 

 

A privately owned, multi gauge railway system which was operating at least seven locomotives and a tram on the day we were there.

 

There is also an extensive museum devoted to narrow gauge railway locomotives and artefacts.

 

Usually holding three running days per year (Spring, Summer and Autumn); buses, cars, Land Rovers, lorries, military vehicles and steam engines also featured.

 

Both friend Peter Rose and I found it to be an excellent day out.

 

NEA 101F ‘West Bromwich Corporation’ No.101.

Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline / Metro Cammell Weymann

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

 

 

 

 

MXX 23 ‘LONDON TRANSPORT’ No. RF 381.

AEC Regal lV / Metro Cammell

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

 

 

 

 

RC 4615 ‘Trent Motor Traction Ltd.’ No.714.

AEC Regal / Willowbrook 

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

 

New in 1937.

 

This is the second Willowbrook body that this bus has carried being re-bodied in1950.

 

 

 

 

KAD 359V ‘NATIONAL EXPRESS’ No. 359, BLACK & WHITE.

Leyland Leopard /  Plaxton Supreme

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

 

New to ‘National Travel (South West)’.

 

 

 

 

UHA 956H ‘Midland Red’ No. 5956, Wendaway.

BMMO S23 / BMMO

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

 

 

 

 

CCF 648 ‘MERVYNS COACHES’, Winchester.

Bedford OB / Duple

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

 

New in 1950 to ‘Theobald’, Long Melford.

 

‘Scene’ at Showbus 24/09/2022 London Open Toppers on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I have attended a number of SHOWBUS events over the years but this was the first time I had attended one at the Hertfordshire County Showgound.

 

The 50th. show and if we are to believe what we read, the last.

 

It would be a great pity if the reputation the SHOWBUS name has built up over the years were to be lost but we shall have to wait and see.

 

The title London Open Toppers might conjure up certain expectations but I doubt that the two buses pictured here would be amongst them. However!

 

LF 8375 ‘LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY LIMITED’ No. B1609.

AEC B type / LGOC /1

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

 

New in 1912, the restoration having taken 30 years to complete.

 

I know of a number of ‘modern’ replicas of this type of bus but this is an original, albeit constructed from two separate buses.

 

The chassis being found in Aylesbury and the body that had become a store shed.

 

 

 

 

LF 8375 ‘LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY LIMITED’ No. B1609.

AEC B type / LGOC /2

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

 

 

 

 

LF 8375 ‘LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY LIMITED’ No. B1609.

AEC B type / LGOC /3

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

 

This plate is fixed to the rear of the bus and would appear to be a registration plate of some sort.

 

Does anybody out there know what it is?

 

 

 

 

LF 8375 ‘LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY LIMITED’ No. B1609.

AEC B type / LGOC /4

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

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC  Regal / Beadle /1

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

 

New to’Maidstone & District’ No. SO26 in 1947.

 

Converted to open top by ‘M&D’ in 1958 as No. OR3.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC  Regal / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC  Regal / Beadle /3

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

 

‘Scene’ at the age of 100. ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ /1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

April 2021 sees the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of what has become ‘Hulleys of Baslow’, the well known Derbyshire based independent bus operator.

 

To celebrate the occasion, a gathering of some of ‘Hulleys’ past and present fleet is being planned to take place in Chatsworth Park, Derbyshire on Sunday the 25th. of April 2021.

 

Founded by Henry Hulley, the ownership of the company has changed hands more than once but the name of its founder has survived all the changes.

 

I have known the company for over 60 years and during that time the buses initially painted (in my time at least) in shades of red and red and grey have been a fixture in Rutland Square in Bakewell.

 

These days, the livery has changed to cream and dark blue. 

 

A combination that ‘Hulleys’ inherited from ‘South Notts’ when buses were bought from that fleet and the livery adopted.

 

Although Hulleys ‘main line’ is probably its service number 170 from Bakewell to Chesterfield via Baslow.

 

The company operates widely across North Derbyshire, to Sheffield and in the past year to Manchester.

 

The earliest images I have are in black and white and were acquired over the years from a variety of sources which today are unknown. 

 

So the best I can claim is that they are part of my collection.

 

I have included them for completeness sake and thank the unknown photographers who at that time had the foresight to capture the images for posterity.

 

Buses (and coaches) are listed in order of their first date of registration when new.

 

HL 7510 ‘Hulleys’ No,21. Leyland TS7c / Roe

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

 

New in 1936 to ‘West Riding’.

 

 

 

 

EA 9676 ‘Hulleys’ No.29. AEC Regal / Duple

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

 

New in 1938 to ‘Hill’, West Bromwich.

 

 

 

 

RC 9673 ‘Hulleys’ No.14. AEC Regal / Willowbrook

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

 

New in 1947 to ‘Trent’ as No.767. 

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

BRN 61 ‘Hulleys’ No. 8. Bedford OB / Duple

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

 

New in 1947 to ‘Scout’, Preston.

 

 

 

 

 

FEH 812 ‘Hulleys’ No. 23. Leyland TS8 / Burlingham

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

 

New in 1938 to ‘Potteries’ as No. 137 with a Brush body and re-bodied by Burlingham in 1949.

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

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

 

From time to time, I showcase the work of friends where I think that what they have produced might be enjoyed by a wider audience than they might otherwise get.

 

This short blog features the work of Paul Toon and Peter Wilson who are sometimes on the lookout for something that might be of interest to me and others.

 

Of course they have granted me permission to use their images.

 

YJ16 DZO ‘Littles’ of Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Optare Solo M9250SR

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

 

New to ‘Webberbus’ in Somerset to whom it was delivered as part of a small batch of buses in the basic livery seen in this image.

 

‘Webberbus’ have a history dating back over 50 years but like many more independent operators ceased trading in their case in 2016.

 

The bus with others of its type and livery moved on to ‘Cumfybus’. An operator based on Merseyside from whom it passed with others in the batch to ‘CT4N’ (Community Transport for Nottingham).

 

It only joined ‘Littles’ in the last few months and was pictured in Belper, Derbyshire by Paul Toon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KNU 446 ‘Vallances Coachways, Annesley Woodhouse, Notts. AEC Regal 1 / Willowbrook /1

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

 

New in 1946 to ‘Silver Service’, Darley Dale, Derbyshire in a silver and blue livery as No. 4. 

 

It was also with ‘Burton’ of Alfreton, Derbyshire where it gained its current livery which is very nicely done.

 

‘Burton’ are still operating today (August 2019) using the same colour scheme.

 

Wether it is just coincidence but the former ‘Burton on Trent Corporation’s livery was maroon & cream………

 

See my blog posted 22/02/2018 for an example.

 

Pictured by Peter Wilson at Elvaston (Derby) Steam Rally.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KNU 446 ‘Vallances Coachways, Annesley Woodhouse, Notts. AEC Regal 1 / Willowbrook /2

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

 

Pictured by Peter Wilson at Elvaston (Derby) Steam Rally.

‘Scene’ at ’Transpire’s Bus and Coach Rally at Rowsley 2017 part 2 on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A glorious day on what was the hottest weekend of the year so far.

 

The only down side to the conditions was that being located on a non hard surfaced site there was a lot of dust being thrown up.

 

Non the less, plenty to admire and enjoy.

 

Part 1 was published on 14/12/2017.

 

E64 WDT ‘Chesterfield Transport Ltd.’ No. 64 Leyland Lynx

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

 

Wearing the livery applied when the company was owned its employees. That was after 

‘Chesterfield Corporation Transport’ and before ‘Stagecoach’.

 

 

 

R51 XVM ‘North Western’ No. 1051. Scania L113CRL / Northern Counties Paladin

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

 

Formerly with ‘Arriva North West’ of whom ‘North Western’ became a part.

 

 

KRR 255 ‘Midland General Omnibus Company’. No. 175 AEC Regal 3 / Weymann

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

New to ‘Mansfield District’ in 1950.

 

 

433 MDT ‘Doncaster Transport’ No. 33. Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/11 / Roe

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

 

 

 

PRH 255G ‘Kingston on Hull Corporation Transport’ No. 255. Leyland Atlantean PDR1A/1 / Roe

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

 

 

 

WKH 526X ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services’ No. 526 Bristol. VRT SL3 / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

Preserved in ‘National Bus Company’ livery.

 

 

 

C537 DAT ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services’ No. 537. Leyland Olympian / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

Built with coach seats for use on longer services and preserved in the ‘express’ livery of its day.

 

After  ‘EYMS’ service it had a spell with ‘Sleafordian’, Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

 

 

 

LYH 148P ‘Glenton Tours’. AEC Reliance / Plaxton Supreme 3 

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

 

‘Glenton Tours’ (GT) continued with the centre entrance for its coaches long after most other operators abandoned it and is an easy recognition feature for former ‘GT’ vehicles.

 

The front passenger seats alongside the driver were highly sought after.

 

Currently owned and preserved by ‘Coopers Coaches’ of Killamarsh, Derbyshire.

 

 

 

SIW 2778 ‘Coopers Coaches’, Killamarsh, Derbyshire. Leyland Tiger / Van Hool Alizee

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

 

New as  D232 HMT to ‘Travellers’, Hounslow, Middlesex.

 

‘Scene’ in the Sunshine at Showbus 2016 part 2 on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

The weather at last years ‘Showbus’ at Donington Park was the usual mix but there were some extended periods of sunshine to brighten the scene. 

 

Here are some further images images that illustrate the point.

 

Part 1 was published on 28/12/2016.

 

 

SHO 800 ‘Thornes’ AEC Reliance / Duple Britannia

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New to ‘Creamline’ Borden, Hampshire in 1958. 

 

 

 

NML 619E ‘London Transport’ No. RML No. 2619 AEC Routemaster

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

YX63 LJA ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 385  Alexander Dennis Dart 4 /  ADL Enviro 200

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

W667 PTD ‘Fowlers’ Scania N113DRB / East Lancs Cityzen

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Previously with ‘Bullocks’ of Cheadle, Cheshire.

 

 

 

DAZ 3294 ‘National Express’ No. 1309 Leyland Tiger / Plaxton Paramount

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Originally registered E269 KEF with ‘United’ as its 6269.

 

 

 

HHP 755 ‘Greenslades Tours’ AEC Regal 3 / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Although listed as an AEC, the radiator carries ‘Maudslay’ badging. Maudsley having been taken over by AEC in 1948. 

 

New in 1948.

 

 

 

LDF 833 ‘Bowles of Ford’ Bedford OB / Duple

on ‘Dennis Basfords railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

Believed to be the last Bedford OB built, it dates from 1952.

 

 

 

C207 GTU ‘Crosville Wales’ No. EOG 207 Leyland Olympian ONLXB/1R  / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

One of a batch of 10 that were delivered to ‘Crosville’ in 1985.

 

There is a suggestion that this bus was built as a convertible open topper but the roof looks fixed to me. Does anyone know for certain?

 

 

 

NOA 462X ‘West Midlands PTE’ No. 2462 MCW Metrobus DR102/27 / MCW

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

 

 

 

 TRR 814R ‘Black Prince’ No. 814 Volvo Ailsa B55 / Alexander AV

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

 

Unique amongst Ailsa’s being the only low height Ailsa built.

 

Previously in the ‘Derby Transport’ fleet, where I had the pleasure of riding on it.

 

 

 

BUH 240V ’National Welsh’ No. NS 492 Leyland National Mark 2

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

 

 

 

 

KRU 55F ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ Daimler Roadliner SRC6  / Willowbrook

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

 

A very rare bird.