‘Scene’ at Transpire’s Peak Park Bus Gathering 2022 /3 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.

 

CRU 103C Bournemouth Transport No. 103.

Leyland Leopard / Weymann /1

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

 

One of three, CRU 101C No. 101 and CRU 102C No. 102 being the other two.

 

They were fitted with what were called ‘Dual Purpose’ seating. 

 

Not quite up to full coach standard but better than the usual bus seats.

 

Usually in a bus body shell.

 

They were used as buses most of the time but could be drafted in to support the coach fleet when required.

 

The pattern of taking holidays in the 1960’s was different to today.

 

These days, coach holidays have the coach providing transport to and from the resort and staying in the resort to provide excursions during the holiday.

 

In the 60’s, people booked their own accomodation in a resort and then booked with a coach or bus company to provide the transport to the resort.

 

Saturday was ‘changeover day’ when resort coach parks would be very busy.

 

I have seen the coach parks in Skegness, Llandudno and other places rammed with coaches and often buses delivering and collecting passengers. 

Almost anything that could turn a wheel was sometimes used.

 

A way of working that has gone but they were very interesting times for enthusiasts.

 

 

 

 

 

CRU 103C Bournemouth Transport No. 103.

Leyland Leopard / Weymann /2

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

 

 

 

 

N668 THO ‘Coopers’, Killamarsh, Derbyshire, 

Burtons of Alfreton, (Derbyshire).

Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere 320

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

 

New registered XEL 6S to ‘Excelsior’, Bournemouth.

 

Being local to where I live, this coach is well known to me.

 

The quality of the paintwork is superb. 

 

So much so that ‘Coopers’ opted to keep it as it was with just the addition of their own titles.

 

 

 

 

EKA 220Y ‘Merseyside PTE’ No. 7020.

Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

PRA 109R ‘Whites of Calver’, Derbyshire.

Leyland Leopard  Alexander ’T'

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

 

Well known to me when it was new to ‘Trent Motor Traction’ as No. 109.

 

It was sold to ‘Lancaster City Transport’ before joining 

‘Whites of Calver’, (a subsidiary of ‘Chesterfield Transport’).

 

‘Chesterfield Transport’ became part of the ‘Stagecoach’ group and the bus passed to their ‘Bluebird Buses’ subsidiary in Scotland.

 

Again, the quality of the paintwork is superb.

 

 

 

 

KPC 204P ‘WHITEHEADS’.

Bedford YRQ / Plaxton Panorama Elite 111

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

 

New to ‘Harding’, Betchworth, Surrey.

 

 

 

 

DXI 3341 ‘Ulsterbus No. 341.

Leyland Tiger / Alexander (Belfast) ’N’

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

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 More Shades of Green & Blue on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The annual ‘Buses Festival’ in 2021 was held at the ‘East of England Showground’ which is near Peterborough.

 

UFX 360L ‘Dewsway’, Somersham, Cambridgeshire.

Bedford VAL70 / Plaxton Panorama Elite III /1

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

 

New to ‘Ward & Tarr’, Parkestone.

 

 

 

 

UFX 360L ‘Dewsway’, Somersham, Cambridgeshire.

Bedford VAL70 / Plaxton Panorama Elite III /2

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

 

 

 

 

JFT 412X ‘Dewsway’, Somersham, Cambridgeshire.

Bedford YMQ / Duple Dominant 3

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

 

The raked forward window pillars was a short lived fashion statement copied from American built coaches used by ‘Greyhound’.

 

 

 

BJU 13T ‘Theobalds Coaches’, Luton.

Bedford YMT / Plaxton Supreme IV Express

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

 

 

 

 

CVH 733Y ‘Peelings Coaches’ ‘Trevor’.

Ford R1114 / Duple Dominant /1

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

 

New to ‘Traject’, Huddersfield.

 

 

 

 

CVH 733Y ‘Peelings Coaches’ ‘Trevor’.

Ford R1114 / Duple Dominant /2

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

 

 

 

 

GCK 279S ‘Florence & Grange Tours’ No. 21.

Bedford YLQ / Plaxton Supreme

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

 

 

 

 

KVY 789N ‘Thornes’.

Bedford YRQ / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

C25 KAV ‘Kenzies’, Shepreth.

Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee

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

 

New in 1985.

 

‘Scene’ in the fleet of ‘Felix of Stanley’

I would like to present this small selection of images relating to ‘Felix of Stanley’ to my readers with the hope that you enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy and more importantly, a Healthy New Year. 

 

Thank you for your interest and support.

 

Dennis

 

It is 3 years ago as of now since ‘Felix’s bus operations were sold to the Wellglade (WG) group.

To mark the anniversary and before memories start to fade, I thought that at this time of goodwill to all (bus)men that this small tribute to an independent operator who contributed substantially to the 'scene' in the East Midlands for so many years might be appropriate.

 

The coaching arm went elsewhere and the name can still be seen being carried by ‘Swiftsure Coaches’ of Burton-on-Trent.

 

So ended a business story that dated as far back as 1921 when Mr. Norman Frost set up with a Crossley lorry that was ex WD. A second vehicle a charabanc also by Crossley came the following year. The lorry was converted to a bus and a regular Ilkeston to Derby via Chaddesden service commenced. This was still the companies main route at the time of the takeover.

 

After Mr. Frost’s death in 1975, the business passed to his nephew Mr. Geoffrey Middup. In recent years ‘Felix’ had worked some services jointly with ‘trentbarton’ (tb) and although there was a brief interlude when it was thought that ‘Felix’ might be sold elsewhere, it was no surprise to me that ‘WG’ eventually took the company over.

 

Anyone wishing to know more about ‘Felix’ should search out a book published in 2006. Written by Mr. Paul D. Chambers and  published by Adlard Print & Reprographics of The Green, Ruddington, Nottingham. It covers all but the final years in great detail.

 

ORB 554K

A Bedford YRQ with Plaxton Derwent bodywork seen in the old Derby bus station. It was new to ‘Frosts Coaches’. and also operated for ‘Caves Bus Service’ of Shirley in the West Midlands.

WRC 826S

 

A Bedford YMT chassis, the bodywork being a Duple Dominant 2 Express.It was eventually disposed of the West Hallam Community Partnership.

 

J564 URW

A Leyland Lynx 2 which came from ‘VL Bus’ in Warwick in 1992.

 

SN54 HXG

 

An Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL). Enviro 300 demonstrator which had a spell on trial.

Seen again in the old Derby bus station. I always liked the body styling on this version of the E 300 preferring it to the bulbous rounded version currently in production.

 

YN55 YSE

 

An Iveco with Plaxton’s Paragon bodywork. One of a pair, the other being YN55 YSF. I did an excursion on this coach and very comfortable and smooth it was.

 

 

Derbyshire County Council have a discounted travel and services card called ‘b.line’ which is available to youngsters from age 14 to 18 who are still in education.

 

Of course an ideal way of promoting this is by advertising it on the side of buses.

 

V707 ENN

A Mercedes-Benz Vario 814-D with Plaxton Beaver bodywork is one such. This bus also appeared in in the red based ‘Ilkeston Flyer’ livery and was eventually sold on to an operator in the Aylesbury area.

 

FG52 WUC

An Optare Solo was another. After ‘Felix’ it went on to work for ‘Midland Classic’ based at Swadlincote.

 

V708 GRY

A Volvo B10BLE with ‘ADL’ ALX 300 bodywork. It moved on to ‘Harrogate Coach Travel’ where it carries ‘connexions buses’ branding. In addition perhaps as a nod to its origins it also carries the name ’Felix’. A nice touch.

 

W218 PRB

An Optare Excel again seen in the old Derby bus station. This bus is included because of its ‘Black Cat’ livery. It was a ‘trentbarton’ vehicle working a joint service. It eventually moved on to both Anglianbus and Konectbus.

 

X711 GJU

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton’s Pointer 2 bodywork eventually moved on to Richard Brothers of Newport in Wales.

 

YN03 WRA

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork. It is still with ‘Wellglade’ group albeit painted in ‘Notts & Derby’ (N&D) livery.

 

YJ56 KBF

A VDL SB200 with Plaxton Centro bodywork.

 

YN04 AGY

 

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork. Still in service with ‘trentbarton’ in the same livery on the ‘Ilkeston Flyer’.

Apart from the Scania/Wright in the ‘Ilkeston Flyer’ livery, there are three other buses that joined ‘WG’ at the same time. They all now carry ‘Notts & Derby’ livery and are,

 

YN05 GZB

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork.

 

YN03 WRA

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork.

 

YJ56 KBF

A VDL SB200 with Plaxton Centro bodywork.

 

So a small part of ‘Felix’ lives on albeit in new colours.