‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit At the Premises of ‘Redline Travel’, Penwortham, Preston 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.

 

This small selection were on site at ‘Redlines’ premises  but belong to an independent but seemingly associated company.

 

SF04 ZXG ‘Saunders of Preston’.

Mercedes-Benz 0814D / Plaxton Beaver 2

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

 

New to ‘Brennan’, Sauchie, Scotland.

 

 

 

 

W5 SAU ‘Saunders of Preston’.

Wright Streetlite W/F

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

 

 

 

 

YJ58 CFG ‘Saunders of Preston’.

Optare Tempo X1200

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

 

New to Optare as a demonstrator.

 

 

 

 

PK60 SZD ‘Motor Services’.

Scania R440 Recovery vehicle

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

 

At one time it worked for the ‘Eddie Stobart’ group.

 

 

 

 

 

KX58 NCA Owner Not Known.

Volvo B9R / Plaxton Panther

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach United Counties’ No. 53609 but more recently with ‘Stagecoach Bluebird’.

 

‘Scene’ at the age of 100. ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ /7 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I have learned that the bus rally planned for Sunday the 25th. of April in Chatsworth park to mark ‘Hulleys’ centenary has had to be postponed until later in the year in order to comply with the current regulations surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

For ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ /1, see blog posted 01/04/2021. For part 2 see blog posted 05/04/2021. 

 

This series will now run almost daily until I run out of images to post. 

 

So, watch this space.

 

April 2021 sees the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of what has become ‘Hulleys of Baslow’, the well known Derbyshire based independent bus operator.

 

Founded by Henry Hulley, the ownership of the company has changed hands more than once but the name of its founder has survived all the changes.

 

I have known the company for over 60 years and during that time the buses initially painted (in my time at least) in shades of red and red and grey have been a fixture in Rutland Square in Bakewell.

 

These days, the livery has changed to cream and dark blue. 

 

A combination that ‘Hulleys’ inherited from ‘South Notts’ when buses were bought from that fleet and the livery adopted.

 

Although Hulleys ‘main line’ is probably its service number 170 from Bakewell to Chesterfield via Baslow.

 

The company operates widely across North Derbyshire, to Sheffield and in the past year to Manchester.

 

P881 PWW ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 2. Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer

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

 

New to ‘Clarkson’, South Elmsall.

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

 

R140 XWF ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 6. Dennis Javelin / Plaxton Premiere

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

 

 

 

 

 

R280 RAU ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 9. Mercedes-Benz Vario / Plaxton Beaver

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

 

New as No. 280 to ‘Trent’.

 

Pictured in Rutland Square, Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

 

V140 LGC ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 4. Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400

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

 

New to as No. AVL40 to ‘London Central’.

 

Pictured in Sheffield Transport Interchange (Pond Street Bus Station as was).

 

‘Scene’, Down Memory Lane with ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ (AM) 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

An occasional series which came about when I was looking through my collection of images for something else and this selection turned up.

 

In the early days due to the number of operators who formed the group, the fleet was a mixture of types amalgamated by the livery. 

 

It was plain, simple and some said boring.

 

I liked it so here are some examples of how it looked.

 

YN08 HZX ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 3810. Scania K230UB / Scania OmniLink

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA Derby’ where it is pictured.

 

 

 

 

M831 SDA ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 4191. Scania N113DRB / East Lancs

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

 

New to ‘Midland Red North’.

 

Pictured in Derby.

 

 

 

 

P483 CAL  ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 1381. Mercedes-Benz 709D / Plaxton Beaver

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

 

New to ‘Derby City Transport’ where it is pictured as its No. 83.

 

 

 

 

M159 GRY ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 4159. Scania N113DRB / East Lancs

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

 

New to ‘Midland Fox’.

 

Pictured in Derby.

 

 

 

 

T61 JBA ‘ARRIVA Midlands’ No. 2299. ‘X38 burton derby fast’. Dennis Dart / Marshall Capital

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

 

New to ‘Gilligan & Wilson’, Winsford, Cheshire.

 

Pictured in Derby although at the time, it was based in Burton-on-Trent.

‘Scene’ Coaching in Oxford 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

Apart from the scheduled long distance services that use Oxford’s Gloucester Greeen Coach Station. (See blog published 23 May 2016) 

 

There are always other coaches visiting the city with a constant stream of day trippers.

 

These can usually be found dropping off and collecting passengers near the Ashmolean Museum which in itself is one of the main attractions in the city.

 

 

MX13 XGV ‘Arvonia’ Neoplan N5217SHDC Starliner.

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

 

Surely, the ‘King of Coaches’.

 

 

YN54 DCE Mercedes-Benz 0814D Vario / Plaxton Beaver.

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

 

The owner of which is unknown but seemingly on a schools service..

 

An internet search produces 2 different vehicles carrying theis registration, the other being an Irizar Century bodied Scania.

 

Strange !

 

BX13 BZD ‘Golden Tours’ Volvo B11R / Jonkheere SHV. 

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

 

I like it when companies go to the trouble to have a proper livery.

 

With the cost of a livery application running into four figures, I think it says something positive about the company.

 

 

MW62 CZB  ‘Royale European’ Neoplan N2216/3SHDC Tourliner.

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

 

What a livery and look how clean it is. 

 

This company is based at Heston in London and at 4-00pm when the image was captured, it must be taking passengers home. 

 

Which suggests that the coach has been cleaned since it arrived in Oxford.

 

Superb !

 

 

 

LSV 749   ‘Tourist Coaches’ 7176 Scania K1141B4 / Irizar Century.

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

 

‘Tourist Coaches’ are part of the ‘Go-Ahead South Coast’ group. This 2004 vintage coach was previously registered YN04 GHG.

FJ56 KUC   ‘Group Travel Limited’ Volvo B12B / Volvo 9700. 

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

 

 

 

MUI 9693   ‘Empress of London’ Volvo B10M-62 / Plaxton C53F.

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

 

Another excellent livery. 

 

Simple, understated and elegant.

 

New to ‘Wallace Arnold’ as R434 FWT in 1988. Sold to ‘Empress’ in 2003 who re registered it then.

 

 

Whilst I have gone on a bit about liveries. I equally recognise that for whatever reasons (and there are many, short term lease being one) it can be necessary to keep the livery (and its cost) to a minimum.

 

That being so I think it important that the vehicle is well presented as is the case with these three.

 

E14 OWN ‘Owen Coaches’ Mercedes-Benz Tourismo.

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

 

‘Owen’s also use the ‘Travelmaster Holidays’ branding on its coaches.

 

This particular registration is a ‘treasured’ registration that has appeared on previous vehicles in the fleet.

 

 

PO12 JNK   Volvo B9R / Jonkheere SHV. 

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

 

At one time it worked for ‘The Travellers Choice’ of Carnforth in their full livery but I suspect that being ‘naked’ that it is now working for another company.

 

 

BJ15 BDF ‘Hawkes Coaches’ Mercedes-Benz Tourismo’ 

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

 

My transport for the day.

 

I can understand why the Tourismo is doing well for sales. It is a smooth and comfortable vehicle and on what was a cold day, the heater is very effective!

 

Again, look how clean it is for a return journey.

 

‘Scene’ in Leicester Haymarket

I am aware that the Haymarket area together with its small bus station are being re-developed so I thought it best to get some images before the buses were crowded out by ‘dozers and diggers’. 

 

FD02 UKR

A DAF DB250 with East Lancs Lowlander bodywork working for ‘Arriva Midlands’ (AM).

FD02 UKT

 

Another of the same wearing a revised, newer livery from the one above.

 

 

TUI 7938 (formerly FJ56 OBF)

 

A Volvo B7TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork wearing the ‘Arriva’ Sapphire livery that is relevant in Leicester.

 

Prior to its re registration it worked in Leicester in the ‘turn up and go’ livery. I presume that it has been re registered to disguise its age.

KP51 WBY

 

A Volvo B7TL with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork working for ‘First Leicester’. 

 

Barbie was still hanging on in there...!

SN58 CHC

 

A Dennis Trident fitted with Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 400 bodywork.

 

It used to work in London for ‘First Capital’ before being cascaded North.

 

Route branded for service 74 to Anstey.

 

I think the branding makes what is otherwise a poor livery look quite attractive.

 

V159 EFS

 

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork.

 

Wearing a non standard ‘Centrebus’ (Cb) livery, the white element being missing.

 

It was part of the ‘Kimes of Folkingham’ (KoF) fleet that was taken over by ‘Cb’ in 2011 and originally entered service in Leicester in ‘KoF’ livery prior to being repainted.

 

 

YJ61 CHO

An Optare Versa working for ‘AM’.

 

V120 LVH

An Optare Solo working for ‘Cb’ in an almost all over ad for a local radio station.

 

YN03 ZXB

Another ‘Cb’ Optare Solo. This one came to ‘Cb’ by way of ‘Paul James’ of Radcliffe on the Wreak who in turn became part of ‘Veolia Transport’.

 

S553 BNV

A Mercedes-Benz 0814 Vario with Plaxton Beaver bodywork. 

 

Previously in the fleet of ‘Burton’s of Haverhill’ it currently works for ‘Nigel Jackson Travel’, a Leicester based company.

 

The orange strobe light on the roof is an unusual addition to a service bus.

‘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.