‘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’ at ‘Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum’ on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A recent day out took friend Peter Rose and myself into pastures new when the transport delights of ‘Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum’ 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.

 

The early years of this, the third decade of this century has seen a rush to electric traction for buses albeit with the extensive use of batteries to store the electricity.

 

Many of the younger generation may not realise that the rush to electric traction for buses originally started in the 1920s and 30s and peaked in the 1950s.

 

At that time the electricity came down wires that required a lot of overhead infrastructure and numbers of support poles to get it to the buses.

 

That was part of the downfall of the trolleybus because it was expensive to construct and expensive to replace when time expired. 

 

It was unsightly and just imagine getting planning permission for getting more of it erected these days.

 

The trolleybus, then, was a bit of a blind alley but it is fondly remembered by many who grew up with it for its cleanliness and quietness. 

 

Hence the numbers of people who turn up regularly to see and to ride.

 

Many modern day operators would be delighted to see the queues that formed for the experience..

 

The only downside to the museum has to be its location which is on the Isle of Axholme northeast of Doncaster.

 

Just in Lincolnshire and as such, literally, miles from any substantial centre of population.

 

In all the images in this blog, note the amount of wiring and the number of poles.

 

CDT 636 ‘Doncaster Corporation Transport’ No. 375.

Karrier W4 / Roe /1

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

 

Built in 1945 with a ‘Park Royal’ body as No. 75 and subsequently re-bodied by ‘Roe’ in 1955.

 

 

 

 

CDT 636 ‘Doncaster Corporation Transport’ No. 375.

Karrier W4 / Roe /2

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

 

Pictured with other buses waiting their turn in service.

 

 

 

 

HYM 812 ‘London Transport’ No. 812.

BUT 9641T / Metro-Cammell /1

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

 

 

 

 

HYM 812 ‘London Transport’ No. 812.

BUT 9641T / Metro-Cammell /2

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

 

 

 

 

EKU 746 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ No. 746.

BUT 9611T / Roe /1

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

 

 

 

 

EKU 746 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ No. 746.

BUT 9611T / Roe /2

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

 

 

 

 

EKU 746 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ No. 746.

BUT 9611T / Roe /3

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

 

Later in the day, this bus had some form of malfunction which required its removal by a tractor.

 

We hope that it was nothing serious.

 

 

 

 

FTO 614 ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 802.

AEC Regent / Metro-Cammell

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

 

New as service bus No. 31 in 1939.

 

Following an accident in 1950, it was withdrawn by NCT and converted into a tower wagon for servicing the trolleybus infrastructure.

 

 

 

 

‘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 the ‘Statfold Barn Railway’ (SBR) Buses1 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.

 

Two buses, provided by The Transport Museum, Wythall, Worcestershire were kept busy running a half hourly service into nearby Tamworth.

 

KOX 780F ‘Birmingham City Transport’ No. 3780.

Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline / Park Royal /1

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

 

 

 

 

KOX 780F ‘Birmingham City Transport’ No. 3780.

Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline / Park Royal /2

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

 

 

 

 

KOX 780F ‘Birmingham City Transport’ No. 3780.

Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline / Park Royal /3

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

 

 

 

 

JOJ 707 ‘Birmingham City Transport’ No. 2707.

Daimler CVD6 / Metro Cammell /1

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

 

New in September 1951.

 

We had a ride on this bus which is 71 years old and still going strong.

 

 

 

 

JOJ 707 ‘Birmingham City Transport’ No. 2707.

Daimler CVD6 / Metro Cammell /2

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

 

 

 

 

JOJ 707 ‘Birmingham City Transport’ No. 2707.

Daimler CVD6 / Metro Cammell /3

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

 

‘Scene at EUROBUS EXPO 2022 /2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

At the end of EUROBUS EXPO 2019, I said in my closing blog;

 

     “All being well, I will be back at the NEC next year”.

 

We all now know that due to the Covid 19 pandemic the years 2020 and 2021 would not see the annual Busfest at the NEC .

 

However, I am pleased to say that it is back with a bang this year.

 

This, then, is the second of a series of blogs where I pick out what caught my eye at 2022’s show.

 

For all the new, bright and shiny machinery on show, one of the biggest draws of the day was a bus dating from 1931.

 

Based at the Transport Museum Wythall and immaculately restored, it was my star of the show.

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /1

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

 

Known as the ‘Piano front’ body due to its upper deck styling.

 

It has a typical wreck to recovery story which can be followed in detail by Googling OV 4486 and following the prompt to Wythall.

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /2

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

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /3

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

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /4

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

 

I had waited 20 minutes to get a clear shot of the back end but it was never clear.

 

I think there is a touch of the Wright Bus Eclipse Gemini about the rear dome.

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /5

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

 

The downstairs saloon with the transmission intruding as was a common feature at the time.

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /6

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

 

The upper deck seating area.

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /7

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

 

I particularly like the ‘snug’ at the back.

 

 

 

 

OV 4486 ‘Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Dept’. No. 486.

AEC Regent / Metropolitan-Cammell /8

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

 

The Coat of Arms of the City of Birmingham as displayed on the bus.

 

‘Scene’ at ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’s Mallard Road depot on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is with much sadness this week that I learned of ‘Yellow Buses’, of Bournemouth, going out of business.

 

An operator I have followed, visited and ridden on for over 50 years.

 

The colours yellow and in later years blue that adorned the fleet reflected the yellow of the beach and the blue of the sky that always seemed to be sunny.

 

Now, no more.

 

In the early 1950s ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’  (which went on to become ‘Yellow Buses’ etc.) had a new depot built on the outskirts of the town to house its growing fleet of buses.

 

Single storey and spaciously laid out it was ideal for its purpose.

 

Back in the ‘good old days’ the company allowed enthusiasts, and anyone else who felt inclined, to visit and wander round taking photographs etc.

 

If memory serves me right it used to be on summer Wednesday afternoons only.

 

Most of the then service fleet were out earning their keep which meant that the old, weird and wonderful were easier to get at! 

 

So, in happier days, here is some of what I saw.

 

XRY 202 ‘Bournemouth Omnibus Company’. Leyland PD3 / Metro Cammell Carriage  & Wagon Co. 

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

 

Not quite what it seems.

 

Despite the pseudo ‘Tilling Stevens’ radiator, it is definitely a Leyland PD3 underneath it all.

 

It has a long and complex history and to access it ‘Google’ XRY 202 and click on 

 

‘Yellow Buses-Yellow Wednesdays XRY 202’

 

It is worth the effort!

 

 

 

 

KEL 133 ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ No.247.

Leyland PD2 / Weymann 

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

 

New in 1950.

 

At the time Bournemouth specified two staircases with two doors allowing passengers to board at the front and leave by the rear.

 

Still in my view the most efficient way of loading and emptying a bus.

 

 

 

 

FRU 224 ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport. No 40.

Guy Arab 2 / Weymann

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

 

Previously a service bus but cut down to provide the basis of a crane initially for planting or uprooting traction equipment for the then trolleybus fleet and then for removing or replacing roof panels on convertible open top buses.

 

New in 1944.

 

 

 

 

297 LJ ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ trolleybus No. 297. Sunbeam MF2B / Weymann 

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

 

New in 1962. This bus and the rest of the trolleybus fleet were withdrawn in 1969 when the system was abandoned.

 

 

 

 

NLJ 272 ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport No. 262.

Leyland Royal Tiger / Burlingham

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

 

New In 1954.

 

 

 

 

KRU 55F ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport No. 55.

Daimler SRC6 Roadliner / Willowbrook on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

 

 

BOW 162 ‘Bournemouth Transport Museum’. Bristol L5G / Beadle /1

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

 

New as No. TS 662 to ‘Hants & Dorset Motor Services’ in 1938 and now in use as a recovery wagon.

 

As might be expected with a former bus of this age, there is a long and detailed history.

 

For further details, Google BOW 162 and the first item that comes up is what you are looking for.

 

 

 

 

BOW 162 ‘Bournemouth Transport Museum’. Bristol L5G / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

ERU 108V ‘Yellow Buses’ No. 108. 

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Supreme IV 

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

 

‘Scene’ at the Buses Festival 2021 Shades of Green 1 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.

 

OKP 980 ‘Maidstone & District’ No. CO252.

Leyland TD4 / Beadle

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

 

In the years following the end of World War Two, new buses were difficult to come by.

 

One way was to use pre-war chassis or running units under new bodies. This ‘new’ integral coach appearing in 1952.

 

At the time this practice was regarded as a temporary measure until ‘things got back to normal’. (I knew I had heard that phrase before!!)

 

Purchased by ‘Thornes’. In 1960 and eventually restored.

 

Now 70 years old. 

 

Not bad for a ‘temporary measure’.

 

 

 

 

OAE 954M ‘BRISTOL COUNTRY BUS’ No MH 1332.

Bristol RELL6L / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Bristol Omnibus Company’.

 

 

 

NLE 539 ‘London Transport’ No. RF539.

AEC Regal IV / Metro-Cammell

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

 

New in 1952.

 

 

 

 

 HTA 844N ‘WESTERN NATIONAL No. 2813.

Leyland National

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

 

 

 

 

YVL 837S ‘LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO. LTD. No. 1063.

Bristol LH6L / Eastern Coach Works

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