‘Scene’, Open toppers in London on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Well here we are then, August Bank Holiday Monday and what a glorious weekend it has been.

 

By contrast, the day I was in London and took the images seen here was dreadful. I left home at 7-30 am and returned at 9-30 pm and it never stopped raining!

 

I once wrote a blog about open top bus operation in London and titled it ‘Topless in London’. The response I got to it was remarkable and most of the feedback I received had little to do with buses.

 

I am not making the same mistake twice!

 

KGJ 118A ‘THE CLASSIC TOUR.com’, RM1398. AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

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

 

New in 1963 registered 398 CLT to ‘London Transport’ as No. RM1398.

 

 

 

 

BD16 YFB ‘Golden Tours’, Victoria No.138. Volvo B5TL / MCV Evoseti

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

 

 

 

 

LO15 OLT ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. YLY600. Ayats Bravo 1R City / Ayats

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

 

 

 

 

LJ09 OKH ‘The BIG BUS Company’ London’ No. DA223. Alexander Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400

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

 

New to ‘Travel London’ as No. 9475.

 

 

 

 

LX05 GDY ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. YLY602. Volvo B7L  / Ayats

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

 

 

 

 

 

Y543 UGC ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. DLP 243. DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA London North’ as No. DLP43.

 

 

 

 

PN10 FOD ‘The BIG BUS Company’ London’ No. DA322. Volvo B9TL / Optare Visionaire

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

 

 

 

 

LJ51 DKU ‘THE ORIGINAL TOUR’, No. DLP 263. DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA London North’ as its No. DLP63.

‘Scene’ on the Isle of Wight Once More part 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I have visited the Isle of Wight a number of times over the years and a number of blogs have appeared previously.

 

The major operator is ‘Southern Vectis’ which is part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group’s 

‘Go-South Coast’ operations.

 

HF09 FVV ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1402 ‘ISLAND BREEZERS’. Scania N230UD / Optare Visionaire /1

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

 

New to ‘Wilts & Dorset’ (another ‘Go-Ahead’ group company) for use on the Purbeck Breezer service between Bournemouth and Swanage via the Sandbanks ferry.

 

 

 

 

HF09 FVV‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1402 ‘ISLAND BREEZERS’. Scania N230UD / Optare Visionaire /2

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

 

 

 

HW67 AJV ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1664. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

HW67 AJV ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1664. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

 

HW67 AKF‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1666. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

 

HW09 BCK ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1148. Scania N270UD / Scania Omnicity

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

 

 

 

HW63 FHN ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1591. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400

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

 

 

 

Y704 TGH‘Southern Vectis’ No. 1940. Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘London Central’ as its No. PVL 240.

 

Used as a driver trainer,

 

Seen in the blue livery of ‘Damory Coaches’, another ‘Go-Ahead’ group company for whom it had previously worked.

 

 

 

HW64 AXC ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 2712. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

Short bodied vehicles to work services to the limited access ’Red Funnel’ ferry terminal in West Cowes.

 

 

 

 

YN04 GHF ‘Vectis blue’ No. 7175.Scania K114EB4 / Irizar Century

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

 

‘Southern Vectis’ provide schools services under the name of ‘Vectis blue’. The dedicated buses can however be used for other work when not required for schools duties.

 

‘Scene’ in the Sunshine in Dorset & Hampshire on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

AS PROMISED, THE NINTH AND LAST OF ‘A BLOG A DAY’ GOING THROUGH TO NEW YEARS DAY. 

 

I finish this series of blogs with a selection of open toppers that reminds us of 2018’s glorious summer and hopefully looks forward to more of the same in 2019

 

 

HF05 GGP ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1829 ‘New Forest Tour’. Volvo B7TL / East Lancs Myllenium Vyking

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

 

New to ‘Wilts & Dorset’ part of (‘Go South Coast’) as it No. 409.

 

Pictured in Lyndhurst.

 

 

 

T209 XBV ‘yellowbuses’, Bournemouth No. 436. DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA London North’ as its No. DLP9.

 

Then with ‘Original London Sightseeing Tour Ltd.’ as its No. DLP 209.

 

Pictured in Bournemouth Square.

 

 

 

HJ16 HSZ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1704 ‘Purbreck Breezer Route 50’. Volvo B5LH / MCV EvoSeti

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

 

Pictured in Bournemouth Square.

 

 

 

HF54 KXV ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1823 ‘New Forest Tour’. Volvo B7TL / East Lancs Myllenium Vyking

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

 

New to ‘Wilts & Dorset’ part of (‘Go South Coast’) as it No. 403.

Pictured in Lyndhurst.

 

 

HJ16 HTC ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1706 ‘Purbreck Breezer Route 50’. Volvo B5LH / MCV EvoSeti

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

 

Pictured in Westbourne.

 

 

HF09 FVY ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1405 ‘more’. Scania N230UD / Optare Visionaire

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

 

New to ‘Wilts & Dorset’ (part of ‘Go South Coast’) for use on ‘Purbeck Breezer’ services.

Pictured in Sandbanks.

 

 

T502 SSG ‘Discover Dorset Ltd’. ‘City Sightseeing Bournemouth’. Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400

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

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ as its No. 502.

Pictured in Westbourne.

 

 

HF59 DMO ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1406 ‘more’. Scania N230UD / Optare Visionaire

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

 

New to ‘Wilts & Dorset’ (part of ‘Go South Coast’) for use on ‘Purbeck Breezer’ services.

 

Pictured outside Swanage railway station.

 

‘Scene’ in Bournemouth, ‘Wilts & Dorset’ (WD)

 

My wife (Barbara) and I have been holidaying in Bournemouth for over 35 years. During that time I have watched with much interest the comings and goings in the bus fleets locally.

 

For most of that time, competition for ‘Bournemouth Corporation Transport’ has come from ‘Wilts & Dorset’ (WD).

 

With a history going back to 1915 ‘WD’ was at one time part of the ‘National Bus Company’ and these days is part of ‘Go South Coast’ which is a subsidiary of the ‘Go Ahead’ group. 

 

In 2012 ‘WD’ adopted ‘More’ branding for its Bournemouth and Poole area operations whilst adopting ‘Salisbury Reds’ for its Salisbury area services.

 

Bournemouth and Salisbury are linked hourly by service X3. 

 

HJ63 JKE

 

A Dennis Trident 2 with Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 400 bodywork which is based at Ringwood.

 

HJ63 JJV

Another Dennis Trident 2 with Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 400 bodywork which is based at Ringwood.

 

An earlier generation of double deck bus is represented by

 

YN03 DFL

 

A Scania N94UD Omnidekka with East Lancs bodywork seen in the ‘More’ livery.

 

HF05 GGJ

 

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Myllennium bodywork seen in the blue ‘New Forest Tour’ promotional livery.

 

The lugs along the roofline are for removing the roof to allow the buses in this batch to operate as open toppers.

 

HF05 GGY

 A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Myllennium bodywork seen in the old ‘W&D’ livery.

 

HF05 GGP

 

A Volvo B7TL with East Lancs Myllennium bodywork seen in the green ‘New Forest Tour’ promotional livery.

 

 

Apart from their own services, ‘W&D’ operate services on behalf of ‘Bournemouth University’ (BU) in ‘BU’ livery.

 

HF59 FAK

 

A Dennis Trident 2 with ‘Alexander Dennis Ltd,’ Enviro 400 bodywork in the ‘Bournemouth University branded livery’.

 

HF58 GZL

A Scania N230UD OmniCity with East Lancs bodywork in the ‘Bournemouth University branded livery’.

‘W&D’s service 50 the ‘Purbeck Breezer’ operates between Bournemouth and Swanage via the Sandbanks chain ferry and is one of the ‘Must Do’ journeys in the UK. 

 

To be held up on a double deck bus by a cross channel ferry as it sails out of Poole harbour is an experience not to be missed !

 

Operated with a fleet of Scania 230UD’s with Optare Visionaire bodies which can work in open or closed top layout depending on the weather.

 

The Swanage terminus and ‘W&D’s depot is located in the old railway yard and is at the side of the preserved ‘Swanage Railway’ of today.

 

HF59 DMO (This image was taken in Swanage with the station building behind the bus).

 

HF09 FVV

The bread and butter routes are the m1 and m2 which operate from Poole to Bournemouth and then on to the Castlepoint shopping complex (m1) and Southborne (m2).

Operating with buses up to every few minutes across the day and night.

The majority of the buses in use are Volvo B7RLE’s wit Wright Eclipse Urban 2 bodies but there are also Scania CN230UB’s OmnCity’s in regular service.

 

 

HF12 GWM

 

A Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 2.

 

 

HF12 GVR

 

Another Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 2.

 

 

The livery is quite stylised however at least one of the B7RLE’s wears a silver variation on the standard livery in celebration of 10 years of the m1 and m2.

 

HF58 HTO 

 

A Scania CN230UB OmniCities.

 

   HF58 HTP

MX57 CAV

 

An Optare Solo.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ Topless in London (Buses that is)

The summer always brings out more of the open top buses to cater for the tourist trade. However to my eyes, they did not seem as busy as in previous years.

 

Maybe its a reflection on the cost because they ‘aint cheap’.

 

YJ11 TVX

A 6 wheel Volvo B9TL carrying part open top Optare Visionaire bodywork. Liveried for ‘The Original Tour’.

 

Originally in the ‘Arriva’ fleet before the operation was sold to French company RATP-DEV.

 

201 KYD

A DAF DB250LF with Plaxton President part open top bodywork. Liveried for ‘The Original Tour’.

 

Originally in the ‘Arriva’ fleet before the operation was sold to French company RATP-DEV.

 

LJ51 DKD

Another DAF DB250LF with Plaxton President fully open top bodywork. Liveried for

‘The Original Tour’.

Originally in the ‘Arriva’ fleet before the operation was sold to French company RATP-DEV.

 

PN10 FOC

 

A 6 wheel Volvo B9TL with Optare Visionaire part open top bodywork working for ‘Big Bus Tours’ (BBT).

 

LV51 YCG

 

A Dennis Trident with East Lancs Lolyne full open top bodywork again working for ‘BBT’. 

 

It was new to ‘Metrobus’ as its No. 421.

 

BU14 EHR

A Volvo B9TL fitted with part open top MCV bodywork working for ‘Golden Tours’.

 

V204 MEV

A Dennis Trident with part open top Alexander ALX400 bodywork working for ‘Golden Tours’. It was new to ‘Stagecoach East London’.

 

TNZ 1245

 

A DAF DB250 fitted with Plaxton President bodywork cut down to part open top form. Currently working for ‘London Sightseeing The Original Tour’ it was at one time part of the ‘Arriva London’ fleet.

 

 

PF08 URU

 

A four wheel Volvo B9TL fitted with Optare Visionaire part open top body working for ‘BBT’.