‘Scene’ at the ‘Great Central Railway’, Leicestershire 3 “What sort of bus was it? It was a green one” on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is two years since friend Peter Rose and I last visited the GCR.

 

A good selection of trains both steam and diesel were running. 

 

However, our main purpose, now as then, was to see and photograph the entrants in the bus rally held at Quorn & Woodhouse station.

 

DFE 963D ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Co. Ltd’. No. 2537

Bristol FS5G Lodekka / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

Please forgive the slight intrusion of shadows at the front, caused by the trees that line the eastern side of the site.

 

 

 

 

MLL 817 ‘London Transport’ No. RF280

AEC Regal IV / Metro-Cammell  /1

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

 

 

 

 

MLL 817 ‘London Transport’ No. RF280

AEC Regal IV / Metro-Cammell  /2

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

 

 

 

 

MRT 9P ‘Ipswich Borough Transport’ No.9, PHILLIPA JAYNE.

Leyland AN68 Atlantean / Roe

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

 

Converted to open top in January 1985.

 

 

 

 

FRP 692 ‘UNITED COUNTIES’ No. 692.

Bristol KS6B / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New in 1950.

 

 

 

 

EKA 220Y ‘Merseyside Transport’.

Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

264 ERY ‘GUIDE FRIDAY’ No. 264.

Leyland PD3A / Park Royal

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

 

New in 1963 to ‘LEICESTER CITY TRANSPORT’ who converted it to open top in 1978.

 

 

 

 

PJX 43 ‘HALIFAX CORPORATION TRANSPORT’ No. 43.

Leyland PD2 / Weymann

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

 

The livery was ‘borrowed’ from ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport’ by Mr. Geoffrey Hillditch who managed ‘HCT’ at the time.

 

Asked why, he said, “because I like it”.

 

I can’t think of a better reason!!

 

New in 1962.

 

’Scene’ Down Memory Lane Once Again. ‘The Opening of Midland Road Bus Garage, Rotherham’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

These days, I suppose that the majority of photographers store their images electronically on computers, tablets etc.

 

It was with some surprise that I recently discovered some of my older images in that most familiar of storage locations, an old shoe box.

 

All of the images were taken on film in the days before I had graduated to automatic digital cameras so any slight focus or colour problems are due entirely to me.

 

So enjoy this selection dating back many years.

 

Midland Road Bus Garage has been closed since ‘First South Yorkshire’ moved out in 2017. 

 

However, I was there for the opening on September 11th. 1982.

 

NKU 241X ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 2214. 

Dennis Dominator / Alexander RH

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

 

If you want to check the date, the between decks banner in this image tells its own story.

 

Pictured in a version of the old ‘Doncaster Corporation Transport’ livery.

 

Which, in my opinion, was a marked improvement over what had gone before.

 

Dennis re-entered the double deck bus market with the Dominator at a time when Leyland almost had a monopoly of the type.

 

This did not suit many operators of the time, particularly in Sheffield where SYPTE bought over 300 of them.

 

 

 

 

NKU 184X ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 2184, Rotherham MAINLINE.

Dennis Dominator / Alexander RH

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

 

The buses in the ‘Mainline’ livery working in Rotherham had the yellow livery with the contrasting colour being in dark blue.

 

The dark blue being a reminder of Rotherham Corporation Transport’s livery in pre PTE days.

 

 

 

 

DWJ 563V ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 1737, Sheffield transport.

Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Roe

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

 

The old ‘Sheffield Corporation Transport’ livery has never been bettered in the 50 years since its passing.

 

Although, I must confess to being a tiny bit biased!

 

 

 

 

UKY 904Y ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 1904, MAINLINE.

MCW Metrobus 2

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

 

The buses in the ‘Mainline’ livery working in Sheffield had the yellow livery with the contrasting colour being in red.

 

The LE lettering on the front panel below the fleet number indicates that the bus was based at Leadmill Road garage in Sheffield.

 

 

 

 

 

XWG 631T ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 114 DRIVER UNDER INSTRUCTION.

Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Roe

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

 

New as service bus No. 1631.

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity (NHVC) 2’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.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. (Covid permitting).

 

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 was in my part of the world, the East Midlands.

 

The first visit was to the ‘NHVC’ which is based in what was the ‘Trent Motor Traction’ depot in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

The group have an excellent website which I would recommend to anyone requiring further details.

 

I have previously posted blogs featuring the ‘NHVC’ on 29/04/2019, 21/01/2020, 26/01/2020, 05/02/2020 and 17/03/2020 so I feel I have pretty well covered the main exhibits.

 

However, the ‘NHVC’ has a reserve collection of buses that are awaiting preservation work.

 

These are located on an industrial estate nearby.

 

No doubt that in time and with further funding, some of these will buses will move to Hucknall.

 

G335 PAL ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Paul S. Winson Coaches’, Loughborough.

Volvo B10M / Alexander RV

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ as No. 335.

 

 

 

 

ONN 571P ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ’Trent Buses’ No. 571.

Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Willowbrook

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

 

Delivered with an Eastern Coach Works body that was damaged in the Meadow Road depot fire in July 1976.

 

Re-bodied by Willowbrook in 1977.

 

 

 

 

MTV 755P ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ (NCT) No. 755.

Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant E

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

 

In the mid 1970’s, ‘NCT’ took delivery of a batch of buses for use on park & ride services from a number of sites around the city.

 

Unusual at the time, being Duple Dominant coach bodies fitted with standard bus seats.

 

As supplied, they were painted lilac and marketed as ‘Lilac Leopards’.

 

The intention was to phase traffic lights into the city to give these services priority, so speeding the journey.

 

Park & ride was a new concept at that time and it became obvious that the citizens of Nottingham did not want it so the scheme was abandoned.

 

 

 

 

YN04 ANF ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ’Nottingham City Transport’ No. 204.

Scania N94UB / East Lancs

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

 

 

 

 

C724 MRC ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 724.

Leyland National 2

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

 

 

 

 

FJ03 VWK ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘trentbarton’ No. 620.

Scania L94UB / Wright Eclipse

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

 

 

 

 

FRB 208H ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity’, ‘Trent Buses No. 356.

Bristol RE / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Midland General Omnibus Co’ as No. 146.

 

Fitted with dual doors.

 

 

‘Scene’ at the GCR’s Bus & Train Spectacular 2021 ‘Other Operators’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

XOI 105 ‘G.H. WATTS Coaches’

Chassis not known / Alexander RL

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

 

 

 

 

ARC 666T ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 666 ‘Andrew Pickering’. Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Northern Counties /1 of 2 

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

 

Very much a one off where ‘NCT’ explored various ideas for incorporation in future buses.

 

This bus has appeared on my blog before but I think that it is such an attractive bus that I make no apology for including it again.

 

 

 

 

OLD 714 ‘London Transport’ No. RT 4494

AEC Regent lll / Weymann

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

 

New in 1954.

 

Originally built with a Park Royal body. It acquired its current Weymann body at overhaul in 1966.

 

 

 

 

 

D113 DHY ‘Badgerline’ No. 113

Volvo B10M / Alexander ‘P’ type

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

 

Alexanders have for many years produced stylish, elegant, attractive bus and coach bodies.

 

This, however, was not one of them.

 

 

 

 

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

Bedford YLQ / Plaxton Supreme

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

 

It also had a spell on the Isle of Man registered A111 MAN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FJU 973 ‘Paul S. Winson’, Loughborough No. 147

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse

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

 

MY02 BAN ‘SOUTH STAFFS COACH HIRE / HYLTON & DAWSON of Leicestershire’

Dennis R410 / Plaxton Panther

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

 

New registered LA02 RZG to ‘Banstead Coaches’ where it gained its current registration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

. 

‘Scene’ at ‘First South Yorkshires’ (FSY) event in Sheffield 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The 22nd. of August 2021 saw the 60th. anniversary of the opening of Olive Grove Garage in Sheffield.

 

To celebrate ‘FSY’ put on a ‘Family Fun Day’.

 

As might be expected, ‘FSY’ was well represented with buses from the present fleet with others either from the past or representing something from the past.

 

RWB 87 ‘Sheffield Transport’ No. 687. Leyland PD2 / Weymann

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

 

This bus has appeared in my blog before but I make no apology for including this magnificent vehicle again.

 

It looks better every time I see it. 

 

I can remember this bus when it was new and it didn’t look as good then as it does now.

 

Congratulations to the owner/s who keep this 67 year old bus in this condition.

 

 

 

 

CWG 696V ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 1696. Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Alexander AL

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

 

This was the PTE’s second attempt at a livery which did not include either blue or red which were the major colours in the liveries of Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, the PTE’s constituent companies.

 

The first attempt featured a much paler coffee colour which to say the least looked wishy washy.

 

This stronger version was soon introduced to the same layout as before and looked much better.

 

 

 

 

KWA 22W ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ No. 22. Leyland National 2

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

 

 

 

 

 

YN58 ETY ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 37529, ‘South Yorkshire’s Transport’ No. 1529 ‘Wilf Duke’. Volvo 9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

Another of ‘FSY’s heritage liveries.

 

The addition of the ’s in the company title was interesting at the time.

 

‘South Yorkshire’ (the civil authority, not the bus company) for some time, as a social measure charged uneconomic fares to which the government of the time objected and tried to force a fares increase.

 

The company added the ’s as a reminder to the government who the buses actually belonged too and that they were not the government’s.

 

An attractive livery though!

 

 

 

 

BD11 CFA ‘First South Yorkshire’ No. 69525 ‘Sheffield’. Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘First Manchester’.

 

Right up to date with this being the first single decker to be painted in the revised ‘FSY’ livery.

 

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

It is hardly surprising that a bus museum located about 30 miles away from Edinburgh should attract so many buses from that great City.

 

BFS 1L ‘Lothian Region Transport’ No. 1. Leyland Atlantean AN68 / 

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

 

 

 

 

 

JSX 595T ‘Lothian Region Transport’ No. 595. Leyland Atlantean AN68 / 

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

 

 

 

 

M210 VSX ‘Lothian Region Transport’ No. 210. Volvo Olympian / Alexander  ‘R’

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

 

 

 

SN55 BJX ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 701. Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 

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

 

Painted in the ‘Harlequin’ livery. This was a variation on the fleet livery to differentiate to intending passengers

low floor buses from step entrance ones.

 

When the entire fleet became low floor the need for differentiation was no longer required so the livery layout reverted to the traditional layout.

 

 

 

LP11 YBA ‘Lothian Country’ No. 593. Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 on

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

 

‘Lothian Country’ came into being when in 2018 ‘Lothian Buses’ announced that the company was expanding beyond Edinburgh into West Lothian.

 

The green based livery harking back to the days when ‘Eastern Scottish’ who employed a similar green based livery worked in the area.

 

New to ‘Bullocks Coaches’ ,Cheadle, Cheshire.

 

One of four in the ‘Bullocks’ fleet that all passed to ‘Lothian’ in exchange for a number of Scania OmniCity’s.

 

 

‘Scene’ Down Memory Lane once more in Sheffield part 5 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For part 1 see blog posted 24/12/2020, part 2 blog posted 25/12/2020, part 3 blog posted 26/12/2020, Part 4 posted 27/12/2020.

 

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.

 

In support of ‘FSY’ sterling efforts in putting on the show, a good selection of preserved buses attended.

 

KDT 393 ‘Doncaster Corporation’ No.122. AEC Regent III / Roe

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

 

New in 1951.

 

Owned by the ‘Lincolnshire Veteran Vehicle Society’.

 

 

 

 

225 LRB ‘Chesterfield Corporation Transport’ No. 225. Leyland PD2 / Weymann

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

 

New in 1960.

 

 

 

 

PUA 924W ‘West Yorkshire PTE MetroBus’ No. 6294. Leyland Atlantan AN68 / Roe

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

 

 

 

449 CLT ‘London Transport’ No. RM1449. AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

‘Scene’ Down Memory Lane once more in Sheffield 3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

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

 

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.

 

Apart from ‘FSY’s current fleet there were samples of earlier Sheffield buses and a good selection of preserved buses.

 

This selection illustrates former fleet vehicles.

 

NKU 214X ‘South Yorkshire Transport No. 2214. Dennis Dominator / Alexander ‘RH’

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

 

Preserved in the livery of ‘Doncaster Tramways’.

 

 

 

CWG 696V ‘Isle Coaches’, Owston Ferry. Leyland Atlantean AN68 /Alexander

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

 

New to ‘South Yorkshire PTE’ as No. 1696.

 

 

 

 

UWA 312L  ‘Blue Mountains Explorer Bus’. Leyland Atlantean AN68 / East Lancs

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

 

New to ‘Sheffield Transport’ as No. 312. 

 

The ‘London Transport’ titling is not genuine. For most of the time after it left Sheffields employ it has worked in Australia.

 

It was repatriated to the UK in early 2012.

 

 

 

 

D150 RAK ‘South Yorkshire Transport’ No. 150 ‘Little Nipper’. Dodge S56 / Reeve Burgess on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The small GR above the fleet number is the abbreviation for the garage it works from in this case Greenland (Rd).

 

 

 

 

OWJ 353A ‘South Yorkshire Transport’ No.  M3 ‘TOWING’. Leyland PD3 / Roe

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

 

Rebuilt as a Tow car from former ‘Doncaster Corporation’ bus  registered 

475 HDT new in 1962 numbered 175.

 

The small HE above the fleet number is the abbreviation for the garage it works from in this case Herries (Rd).