‘Scene’ at Transpire’s Peak Park Bus Gathering 2022 /2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For some years now, this event has been held at the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley in Derbyshire.

 

There was plenty of room for the 35 or so buses the event attracted together with the added bonus of the trains provided by ‘Peak Rail’.

 

This year being steam only.

 

A return to the traditional June date was welcome because last year the event was held in August due to the problems caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

G755 UYT ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’ www.johnsonstours.co.uk.

Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties

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

 

‘REDFERN TRAVEL’ are part of the ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. group.

 

New to ‘Pan Atlas’ as No. AB61 but acquired from ‘Arriva Merseyside’ No. 3215.

 

 

 

 

YSV 604 ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. www.johnsonstours.co.uk.

Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties

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

 

New registered G759 UYT to ‘Pan Atlas’ as No. AB67 but acquired from ‘Arriva Merseyside’ No. 3219.

 

This image by Peter Rose to whom thanks are given for its inclusion.

 

 

 

 

C253 FRJ ‘Wigan Corporation’.

Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester PTE’ No. 3253.

 

Although painted as a ‘Wigan Corporation’ bus, I don’t think that it ever appeared in Wigan livery except in preservation.

 

 

 

 

 

GNU 266C ‘Chesterfield Transport’ No. 266.

Daimler CCG6DD / Weymann

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

 

 

 

 

LJX 198 ‘HEBBLE’ No. 307.

AEC Regent V / Weymann

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

 

New in 1959.

 

 

 

 

NAT 766A ‘Grimsby-Cleethorpes Transport’ No. 57.

Daimler CVG6-30 / Roe 1/

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

 

 

 

 

NAT 766A ‘Grimsby-Cleethorpes Transport’ No. 57.

Daimler CVG6-30 / Roe /2

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

 

 

 

 

F97 PRE ‘midland classic’, Burton on Trent. No. 97. ‘Stevensons Bus Services’.

Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL

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

 

It came into ‘Arriva Midlands’ ownership when ‘Stevensons’ were taken over in 1994.

 

 

‘Scene’ at the GCR’s Bus & Train Spectacular ‘Confidence Bus’, ‘Barton Transport’ & ‘Devon General’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

B190 BLG ‘CONFIDENCE BUS, Leicester’ No. 70.

Leyland Olympian / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Crosville Wales’ as No. DOG190.

 

 

 

 

WLT 655 ‘CONFIDENCE BUS, Leicester’ No. 15.

AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

New to ‘London Transport’ in 1961 as No. RM655.

 

 

 

 

‘Barton Transport’ was one of the major independent bus operators in the East Midlands. 

 

Eventually becoming part of the ‘Wellglade’ group of companies.

 

Always known for their style and flair when it came to buying buses, this is but one example.

 

851 FNN ‘Barton Transport’ No. 851 /1.

AEC Regent 5 / Northern Counties Lowbridge

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

 

It spent some time at ‘Quantock Motor Services’ where it was part of the heritage fleet.

 

 

 

 

851 FNN ‘Barton Transport’ No. 851 /2.

AEC Regent 5 / Northern Counties Lowbridge

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

 

 

 

 

851 FNN ‘Barton Transport’ No. 851 /3.

AEC Regent 5 / Northern Counties Lowbridge 

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

 

For those readers who don’t fully understand what a lowbridge body was.

 

It was a way of building double deck bus bodies to a lower overall height. Generally, a foot or thereabouts lower.

 

What would have been the centre aisle upstairs was moved to the offside and dropped into the downstairs saloon. 

 

It intruded over the offside downstairs seats and was ready made for banging heads on when leaving seats.

 

Upstairs, the two pairs of seats were replaced by one seat that seated 4 people.

 

It was a most uncomfortable arrangement where you could finish up climbing over the other passengers seated with you.

 

Fortunately, this arrangement came to an end with the introduction of the drop centre rear axle which I think debuted on the Bristol Lodekka.

 

So allowing conventional 2X2 upstairs seating in a low overall height bus.

 

 

 

 

EOD 524D ‘Devon General’ No. 524.

AEC Regent 5 / Metro-Cammell Orion

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

 

The body shell was built in 1966 by Weymann but completed by MCW.

 

 

 

 

9 RDV ‘Devon General’ No. 9.

AEC Reliance / Marshall

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

 

Built by ‘Marshall’ to the BET Federation standard of the time.

 

‘Scene’ at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre ‘Barton Transport’ Double Deckers on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Located at Ruddington, which lies five miles to the South of Nottingham.

 

It is also home to the ‘Great Central Railway-Nottingham’.

 

A large site which houses an extensive collection of vintage buses as well as standard gauge and miniature railway vehicles and artefacts.

 

Originally a station on the ‘Great Central Railway’  extension line that linked Sheffield with London via Nottingham and Leicester.

 

JNN 384 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 467. 

Leyland PD1 / Duple Lowbridge

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

 

One of a batch of 40 new in 1947-49.

 

 

 

 

JVO 230 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 507. 

Leyland PD1 / Duple Lowbridge /1

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

 

 

 

 

JVO 230 ‘Barton Transport’ No. 507. 

Leyland PD1 / Duple Lowbridge /2

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

 

 

 

 

AAL 522A ‘Barton Transport’ No. 854. 

AEC Regent V / Northern Counties

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

 

New registered 854 FNN when new in 1960, one of a batch of five and withdrawn in 1973.

 

‘Scene’ Down Memory Lane once more in Sheffield 4 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For part 1 see blog posted 24/12/2020, part 2 posted 25/12/2020, part 3 posted 26/12/2020.

 

On the 12th. of May 2013. ‘First South Yorkshire’ (FSY) organised a bus event to mark 100 years since the introduction of the motor bus in Sheffield.

 

It was held at ‘FSYs Olive Grove garage which is adjacent to the

‘Midland Main Line’ about half a mile to the South of Sheffield’s railway station. 

 

A stones throw from the garage is the site of what was Queens Road tram depot where many of Sheffields trams were built and housed.

 

What is now the bus parking area at Olive Grove for many years was home to 

‘Sheffield United Tours’ fleet of luxury coaches which eventually passed to ‘National Travel East’.

 

A part of Sheffield then that is steeped in the city’s transport history.

 

This blog deals exclusively with buses of my generation. The blue and cream fleet.

 

Most of these buses have been illustrated in my blogs in the past but they were there on the day so I make no apology for including them again.

 

It is interesting to note that at the time of writing ‘FSY’ are experimenting with re-introducing elements of blue and cream to the current fleet.

 

Google BD12 TCO to see an example or see page 12 in ‘Buses’ magazine for December 2020.

 

Sheffield operated 3 ‘fleets’ all in the blue and cream livery.

 

The ‘A’ fleet were vehicles owned by ‘Sheffield Corporation Transport’ and operated within the city boundary.

 

The ‘B’ fleet were vehicles that were jointly owned by ‘Sheffield Corporation Transport’ and ‘British Railways’ and operated from Sheffield to destinations outside the Sheffield boundary but that were considered ‘local’ ie the routes to Bakewell and other Peak District destinations.

 

The ‘C’ fleet that was wholly owned by ‘British Railways’ (BR) and used on longer distance services e.g. Manchester, Leeds, Gainsborough etc.

 

Prior to 1948 the ‘Railway’ holdings were held by the LMS and/or the LNER and passed to BR at nationalisation.

 

7874 WJ  ‘Sheffield Transport’ No. 874. AEC Regent 5 / Alexander

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

 

New in 1960.

 

The ‘A’ under the fleet number identifying the bus as an ‘A’ fleet vehicle.

 

 

 

 

OWE 271K ‘Sheffield Transport’ No. 271. Bristol VRT / East Lancs

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

 

 

 

 

3156 WE ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ No. 1156. Leyland PD2 / Roe

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

New in 1958.

 

 

 

 

 

657 BWB ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ No. 1357. Leyland Atlantean PDR1 / Park Royal 

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

 

New in 1962 with a Weymann body but re-bodied in 1966 by Park Royal after fire damage. Surely, one of the most attractive and elegant of double deck bus designs ever.

 

‘Matchbox’ toys issued aa replica of this particular body style complete with the ‘Sheffield’ style of destination display.

 

‘Scene’ at the ‘Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’ at Lathalmond on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

When I wrote on November 11th this year that I would post a blog every day until the end of this current period of lockdown, I did not know what I was taking on.

 

Well here we are at the end of that period of lockdown and as from tomorrow we are now into tier 3 of whatever the new system is called. All very confusing. 

 

Fortunately, I think the blog a day has been moderately successful but to allow myself to get my breath back so to speak, I will for the time being revert to my previous blogging schedule of a couple of times a week.

 

I may in future return to a blog a day but that is dependant on my actually being allowed to go out and take the images I require for me to do so.

 

Meanwhile, whatever happens I hope that you continue to access my blog and that you enjoy what I do.

 

Best wishes,

 

Dennis

 

 

The Glasgow Connection

 

It would be surprising if Glasgow wasn’t represented at a bus rally held in Scotland.

 

Starting with a bus dating back to ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport’ days. Then the intervening years and finally to the ‘First Glasgow’ fleet of today.

 

SGD 500 ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport’ No. A350. AEC Regent 5 / Alexander

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

 

 

 

 

SF09 LDJ ‘First Glasgow’ No. 37738. Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

Painted in the traditional ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport’ livery.

 

 

 

 

SF09 LFB ‘First Glasgow’ No. 37751. Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

Painted in the livery of ‘Greater Glasgow PTE’ which came into being in 1973.

 

 

 

 

A735 PSU ‘Strathclyde’s Buses’ No.A109. Volvo Ailsa B55 / Alexander RV

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

 

Painted in ‘Strathclyde Buses’ buses livery dating from 1986.

 

Please forgive the one spot of rain on the upper deck windscreen.

 

 

 

 

SK19 EOM ‘First Glasgow’ No. 33101 ‘500 Glasgow Airport  Express’. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400City 

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

 

‘Scene’ in Preservation. ‘Sheffield Corporation Transport Department’ (SCTD) on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

This is my 500th. blog and to mark the occasion I am going back to my roots. 

 

To where the interest in transport all began for me in The City of Sheffield where I was born and grew up.

 

It was always a puzzle to me how in what was then a dirty city, from smoke, soot, smog etc. why anyone should choose a colour scheme that was mainly cream.

 

Having done so to then go to the lengths that were gone to to keep the fleet clean was quite remarkable.

 

Should any old ‘SCTD’ employees get to read this, I take my hat off to you. 

 

You did a fantastic job.

 

RWB 87 ‘SCTD’ No. 687. Leyland Titan PD2/12 / Weymann /1

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

 

New in 1954 to the ‘A’ fleet.

 

 

 

RWB 87 ‘SCTD’ No. 687. Leyland Titan PD2/12 / Weymann /2

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

 

New in 1954 to the ‘A’ fleet.

 

 

 

7874 WJ ‘SCTD’ No. 874. AEC Regent 5 / Alexander /1

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

 

New in 1960 to the ‘A’ fleet.

 

 

 

7874 WJ ‘SCTD No. 874. AEC Regent 5 / Alexander /2

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

 

New in 1960 to the ‘A’ fleet.

 

 

 

3904 WE ‘SCTD’ No. 904. Leyland PD3/1 / Roe /1

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

 

New in 1959.

 

 

 

3904 WE ‘SCTD’ No. 904. Leyland PD3/1 / Roe /2

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

 

New in 1959.

 

 

 

3156 WE ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ No. 1156. Leyland PD2/30 / Roe /1

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

 

New in 1958 to the ‘C’ fleet.

 

 

 

3156 WE ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ No. 1156. Leyland PD2/30 / Roe /1

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

 

New in 1958 to the ‘C’ fleet.

 

 

 

657 BWB ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ No. 1357. Leyland PDR1/1 Atlantean / Park Royal /1

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

 

New in 1962 to the ‘C’ fleet at that time with a Weymann body. 

 

It was re-bodied in 1968 with its current park Royal Body.

 

 

 

 

657 BWB ‘Sheffield Joint Omnibus Commitee’ No. 1357. Leyland PDR1/1 Atlantean / Park Royal /2

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

 

New in 1962 to the ‘C’ fleet at that time with a Weymann body. 

 

It was re-bodied in 1968 with its current park Royal Body.

 

 

 

OWE 271K ‘SCTD’ No. 271. Bristol VR/SL6G / East Lancs /1

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

 

 

OWE 271K ‘SCTD’ No. 271. Bristol VR/SL6G / East Lancs /2

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

‘Scene’ at ’Transpire’s Bus and Coach Rally at Rowsley 2017 part 1 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.

 

None the less, plenty to admire and enjoy.

 

 

UHA 225H ‘West Midlands PTE’ No. 6225. Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXB / Alexander ‘J’ type

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

 

New to ‘BMMO’ (Midland Red) and taken over when the PTE was established retaining its ‘BMMO’ fleet number.

 

Classifield in ‘BMMO’s vehicle identification system as a DD13.

 

 

 

USS 416L  ‘Ian Glass’, Haddington. Bedford VAS / Plaxton Panorama 4

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

 

A very pretty little coach.

 

 

 

CHE 536K ‘Yorkshire Traction’ (YT) No. 536. Leyland Leopard / Marshall

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

 

New to (YT) and subsequently becoming part of the ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ group in 2005. 

 

Unusual for the time in only being 30 feet long (or whatever the metric equivalent is).

 

On withdrawal from service it was converted to a recovery vehicle and is now restored to this very stylish (YT) livery.

 

 

 

RWU 534R ‘Metro’ No. 8334. Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Derwent

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

 

‘Metro’ being the operating name of ‘West Yorkshire PTE’.

 

 

 

ESC 847S ‘Eastern Scottish’ No. S847A. Seddon Pennine 7 / Alexander ‘Y’ type

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

 

New to ‘Scottish Omnibuses’.

 

 

 

PFN 865 ‘East Kent’. AEC Regent 5 2LD3RA/ Park Royal

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

 

New in 1959 as a  double deck service bus but subsequently cut down and used as a recovery vehicle.

 

B503 FFW ‘Lincolnshire’ No. LO603. Leyland Olympian / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Co’. with the fleet number 1503.

 

 

 

TMS 405X ‘Midland Scottish’ No. MPE 405. Leyland Leopard / Alexander ‘Y’ type

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

 

New to ‘Alexander Midland’.

 

 

 

CRC 911 ‘Derby Corporation Transport’ No. 111. Crossley DD42/8A / Brush

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

 

 

 

HNE 641N ‘GM Buses’ No. 81BY. Leyland Leopard / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

‘GM Buses’ being an operating name for ‘Greater Manchester PTE’.