‘Scene’ in Wolverhampton ‘Other Operators’. 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.

 

YJ60 LTV ‘Banga Buses’, Wolverhampton.

Optare Solo M880

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

 

I don’t know if Banga’s choice of livery has always been blue and yellow but it could, seeing as it is the same colours as the Ukrainian flag, be seen as support for the Ukraine in its current problems with Russia. 

 

New to ‘Hatch Green Coaches’, Hatch Green, Somerset.

 

 

 

 

YX60 FUE ‘Banga Buses’, Wolverhampton.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘First Capital’ as No. DMS44424 and then with ‘Go-Ahead London’ as No. SEN4.

 

 

 

 

YX61 BYC ‘Banga Buses’, Wolverhampton.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Edwards’, Llantwit Fardre, Wales.

 

 

 

 

EU08 FHD ‘TRAVEL EXPRESS LTD’, Lets Go!.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Olympus’, Harlow, Essex.

 

 

 

 

YX64 VOM ‘TRAVEL EXPRESS LTD’, Lets Go!.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Bevan’ Lydney, Gloucs.

 

 

 

 

SN68 AHT ‘Diamond’ No. 32231.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

 

 

 

YJ12 PLO ‘arriva’ No. 3698.

Optare Versa V1170

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Midlands North’.

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit At the Premises of ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’., Bolton 2. on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The eighth blog of ten, posted over ten consecutive days. 

More tomorrow.

 

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.

 

With the current driver shortage, the driver training fleet is more important than ever.

 

MX55 FFE ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’., Driver under Instruction.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Manchester’ No. 66895.

 

 

 

 

T845 MAK ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’. No. 60663, Training.

Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown

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

 

New to ‘First Mainline’, Sheffield. No. 845. 

 

Acquired from ‘First Manchester’ No. 60662.

 

 

 

 

PJ02 RHA ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’., DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION.

Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer /1

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

 

In October 2019, local to me bus company, ‘yourbus’ of Heanor, Derbyshire ceased operating.

 

A substantial number of their Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s were bought by ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’. (more of which, another day).

 

In addition, this sole Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer training bus came with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PJ02 RHA ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’.,  DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION.

Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer /2

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

 

 

 

 

PJ02 RHA ‘yourbus’, Heanor, Derbyshire,  DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION.

Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer /3

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

 

Included for comparison, showing how little it has changed.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Barnsley on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has a thriving shopping centre and a genuine Travel Interchange.

 

My definition of that is where trains, coaches and buses all come together on one site.

 

YN60 FKS ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 3618, Maggie’s Yorkshire to Kalida Barcelona cycle ride.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire Traction’.

 

 

 

YX66 WCW ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 10656, TOWNlines 66.

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

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire Traction’.

 

 

 

YN62 FVJ ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire’ No. 28673, X19 Barnsley to Doncaster.

Scania K230UB / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Yorkshire Traction’.

 

 

 

KX07 HEU ‘Globe Holidays Ltd.’ No. 1073.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Kent County Council’, Aylesford.

 

 

 

 

YX22 OJG ‘Globe Holidays Ltd.’ No. 1221.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMC

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

 

New to ‘Thames Valley’ No. 683.

 

Pictured having just left the Interchange at the rear of the bus.

 

 

 

 

KX60 DVP ‘Globe Holidays Ltd.’ No. 1601.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Thurmaston Bus’, Thurmaston, Leicester.

 

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit. At the Premises of ‘Vision Buses Ltd’. (VB) 3, Blackrod, Bolton 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.

 

YX61 FYN ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

Within the past few months, ‘VB’ have taken delivery of a batch of these buses from ‘Tower Transit’, London.

 

They are registered YX61 FYB,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,M,N,O and P.

 

Numbered (with ‘Tower Transit’).

DML44279,44280,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91, and 92.

 

 

 

 

YX61 FYM ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

 

 

 

YJ59 NNC ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Optare Solo M950

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

 

New to ‘Star Travel’ Ossett, West Yorkshire No. ST8 but acquired from ‘Selwyns’ No. 286.

 

 

 

 

MX12 JXU ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Wright Streetlite W/F

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

 

New to ‘Enterprise’, Peterborough but acquired from ‘Roberts’, Hugglescote, Leicestershire.

 

 

 

 

LJ13 GKO  ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Wright Streetlite D/F

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

 

New to and acquired from ‘London General’ No. WS24

 

 

 

 

LK07 ELJ ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Dennis Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to and acquired from ‘Metroline’ No. DES801.

 

 

 

 

YX21 RSU ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMC

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

 

 

 

 

YX20 ODA ‘Vision Buses Ltd’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200MMC

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

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit At the Premises of ‘preston bus’ 2 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.

 

‘Preston Bus’, which has a history going back to 1904, became part of the ‘ROTALA’ group in 2011.

 

S517 JJH ‘Diamond Bus North West Ltd’. No. 31001, Driver under Instruction.

Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer /1 

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

 

Note the instructor’s rear view mirror.

 

New to ‘Tellings-Golden Miller’, Byfleet, Surrey.

 

It was part of the ‘Preston Bus’ fleet at the time of the takeover in 2011.

 

 

 

 

S517 JJH ‘Diamond Bus North West Ltd’. No. 31001, Driver under Instruction.

Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer /2 

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

 

 

 

 

MX06 VNP ‘preston bus’ No. 69159.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Manchester’ where it carried the same fleet number.

 

The lack of any titling or branding could indicate that it has been withdrawn and awaiting diposal.

 

 

 

 

SN68 AJW ‘preston bus’ No. 20158.

Wright Streetdeck D/F

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

 

Unusual in that it is built to a shorter length than the standard model only seating 33.

 

New to ‘First Manchester’ where it carried the same fleet number.

 

 

 

 

HF13 FZR ‘preston bus’ No. 32254.

Wright Streetdeck D/F

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

 

A standard length bus to compare with the short bodied one.

 

New to ‘Yellow Buses’ No. 3016, Bournemouth.

 

One of a batch of 15 buses bought in 2022 following ‘Yellow Buses’ ceasing to operate.

 

‘Scene’ in and around Newark Bus Station 2 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose and I were off to Newark to record the closing days of ‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ operating Service 90 from Newark into Nottingham. 

 

See blog posted 16/04/2023.

 

Always being willing to support public transport, we went into Nottingham by train.

 

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

 

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

 

BU16 UWK ‘Centrebus’ No. 630.

Volvo B8RLE / MCV

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

 

New to ‘Roberts’ Hugglescote, Leicestershire who if memory serves me right used it on Park and Ride services in Leicester.

 

I have not always liked ‘Centrebus’ liveries but I think this one is the best yet.

 

 

 

 

KV53 EZC ‘Stagecoach East Midlands’ No. 34426.

Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer 2

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

 

It amazes me that anyone will spend money on re-painting a 20 year old bus that in all probability has only a short service life left.

 

New to ‘Stagecoach United Counties’ No. 34438.

 

 

 

 

MX14 FUM ‘Centrebus’ No. 527.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘National Car Parks’, Paisley, Scotland.

 

 

 

 

LX10 AUR ‘GEM MINITRAVEL.

Dennis Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

Still wearing the livery of former operator ‘Faresaver’.

 

 

 

 

YJ05 JXN ‘GEM MINI TRAVEL’.

Optare Solo M780SL 

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

 

New to ‘Sheffield Community Transport’.

 

 

 

 

SJ22 HJN ‘GEM MINI TRAVEL’.

FIAT Ducato / Bluebird Orion

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ by Peter Rose in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland /2 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Friend Peter Rose has been North of the border once more and has forwarded these images which are posted with his permission and my thanks.

 

SF10 CAA ‘Stagecoach Fife Scottish’ No. 15621.

Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

Peter is known for his liking for ‘images in the environment’ and I suspect he chose this location more for the location than the bus.

 

The building in the background is typically Scottish.

 

The dormer windows, The weathervane topped spire and all those chimney pots!

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Western Buses’.

 

 

 

SP55 EEA ‘Stagecoach Fife Scottish’ No. 47240.

Optare Solo M850

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

 

The bus is spotlessly clean and looks far younger than the 18 years old that the registration indicates.

 

However, I suspect that the beautiful plate tracery window in Hope Park & Martyrs Parish Church might have influenced the location.

 

 

 

 

PN57 CUX ‘A1 Minibus & Coach Services Ltd’. St. Andrews. 

Irisbus 397E / Marcopolo Viaggio

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

 

New to ‘Holmeswood Coaches’, Holmeswood, Lancashire.

 

 

 

 

LX58 CBY ‘Moffat & Williamson’, St. Fort, Fife.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Selkent’ No. 36020 and still wearing most of its previous owners livery.

 

More Scottish stonework and dormer windows and look at the road surface!

 

Setts no less and, in all probability, granite.

 

 

 

 

LM18 DZC ‘Moffat & Williamson’, St. Fort, Fife.

Mercedes-Benz  MB516CDI Sprinter / Mellor Strata

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

 

Look at all those chimney pots!

 

It was a good job that Fife at one time had its own coalfield.

 

 

 

 

MX56 FSG ‘Stagecoach East Scotland’ No. 19057.

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

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Greater Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

MX57 KXR ‘Stagecoach East Scotland’ No. 27599.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E300 / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300

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

 

Of all the different frontal styling applied to ADL’s single deckers in recent years, I think that this is the most attractive.

 

New to ‘Dunstan’ (Blue Bus), Middleton, Manchester No. 62.

 

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

It is now the middle of March 2023 and the days are getting longer, warmer, drier and brighter (or so I kid myself).

 

Time to come out of hibernation and look at what the world has to offer.

 

One of my favourite spots for bus photography is Bakewell’s Rutland Square.

 

You may not  be aware that by double clicking the images below that they can also be viewed on my ‘Flickr’ pages in a larger format.

 

LJ09 CCK ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 16.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

A lovely bus.

 

My view of all the variations on the Enviro400 body styling, 400MMC, 400City, 400EV etc. is that this, the earliest, is the most stylish. Somehow all of the others look a bit like a caricature.

 

New to ‘Travel London’ No. 9444.

 

 

 

 

YX12 DHN ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 8.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

Pictured having just circled Bakewell’s War Memorial and in front of The Rutland Arms Hotel.

 

It didn’t know that it was about to carry me back to Chesterfield.

 

New to ‘Newport Transport’ as No. 313.

 

 

 

 

FJ55 BZM ‘TMTravel’ No. 685.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

Working ‘TMTravel’ service 218 from Sheffield.

 

New to ‘trentbarton’ and wearing the remains of its ‘tb’ livery ‘the sixes’ which serves Bakewell from Derby and Matlock.

 

A return then, to its old haunts.

 

 

 

 

YX65 RGU ‘Bowers Coaches’ No. 528, ‘TRANSPEAK’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

The current TRANSPEAK service runs from Derby to Buxton.

 

A mere shadow of the route it was when it ran from Nottingham to Manchester.

 

 

 

 

YJ14 BTU ‘trentbarton’ No. 839, ‘the sixes’.

Optare Versa V1170

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

 

About to circle the War Memorial island before starting its 30 mile journey back south to Derby.

 

 

 

 

 

YX11 CSY ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 23.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. Dart / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200

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

 

One of several of ‘Hulley’s buses that were painted in former liveries used during the 100 years existence of the company, which was celebrated in 2021.

 

 

 

 

YJ57 XWR ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 14.

Optare Solo M950SL

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

 

This image, taken from the upper deck of ‘Hulley’s No. 22, a former London based Dennis Trident / Plaxton President, registration LR52 KXJ (see blog posted 17/02/2023).

 

New to ‘Courtney’, Bracknell, Berkshire but acquired from ‘Go Coach’, Sevenoaks, Kent.

 

 

 

 

YN56 NRZ ‘TM Travel’ No. 1210.

Scania CN94UB / Scania

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

 

This image, taken from the upper deck of ‘Hulley’s No. 22, a former London based Dennis Trident / Plaxton President, registration LR52 KXJ (see blog posted 17/02/2023).

 

Having just crossed the cattle grid that marks the entrance to Chatsworth Park on the road from Baslow.

 

New to ‘uno’, Hertfordshire.