‘Scene’ in Burton-on-Trent (BoT) again on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

It is now just over a year (August 3rd. 2022) since the takeover of ‘Midland Classic’ was completed by the ‘ROTALA’ group, rebranding the company ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’.

 

On 09/08/2023 I posted a blog built around friend Peter Rose’s images of the fleet additions since that time.

 

All of course in ‘ROTALA’ blue.

 

This blog illustrates a return to BoT by both of us to look at some of what is left of the ‘Midland Classic’ fleet.

 

Will any of them ever be painted blue??

 

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.

 

YN08 MKO ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 40520.

Scania N270D / Scania Omnidekka

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

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1102.

 

 

 

 

YN64 FWZ ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30985.

Scania K230UB / Irizar i3

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

 

New to ‘Menzies’, Heathrow.

 

 

 

 

SN11 BNL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 40521.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro400

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

 

New to ‘First Capital’ No. 33623.

 

 

 

 

YJ66 AOY ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30996 

Optare MetroCity V1080MC / Optare

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

 

New to ‘Midland Classic’ No. 6.

 

 

 

JB14 MCL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 31429, X12 Burton upon Trent Lichfield.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Midland Classic’ No. 1.

 

 

 

YN05 GXL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30901.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1012.

 

 

 

 

YN57 FWG ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30908, the tutbury jinny.

Scania K230UB / Wright Solar

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

 

New to ‘Reading Transport’ No. 1031.

 

 

 

 

YJ16 DXT ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’ No. 30992.

Optare MetroCity V1010MC / Optare

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

 

New to ‘Midland Classic’ No. 4.

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

One of my most recent blogs, (posted 09/02/2022) dealt at length with an elderly ex ‘trentbarton’ Scania/Wright single decker currently in temporary service with ‘Hulleys of Baslow’.

 

I caught that bus to Bakewell where, whilst I was waiting the half hour or so for my return service to Chesterfield, I photographed the other buses that passed my way.

 

MX11 CZM ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 17. 

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

The paint scheme it appears in is that of the long departed ‘Express Motors’ of Hulland Ward, Derbyshire.

 

One of several ‘Heritage’ liveries produced during 2021 as part of ’Hulleys’ centenary celebrations.

 

It last appeared in my blog posted on 22/01/04 at Carsington Water, Derbyshire where I commented,

 

   “The bus was waiting to have its titles and branding added”.

 

It still is.

 

 

 

 

YN56 FDC ‘TM Travel’ No.1173.

Scania N94UD / Scania Omnidekka

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

 

Working service No. 218 from and to Sheffield.

 

New to ‘Metrobus’ as No. 929.

 

 

 

 

YJ07 PCF ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 16.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

New to ‘Lancashire United’ as No. 1828.

 

 

 

 

YN57 FZA ‘TM Travel’ No. 1207.

Scania K230UB4 / Scania OmniLink

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

 

New to ‘Universitybus’, Hatfield, Herts as No. 353.

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

 

Working service No. 218 from and to Sheffield.

 

 

 

 

FJ58 KKH  ‘trentbarton’ (tb) No. 716. ‘mango’.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban

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

 

Turning to go back on its lengthy journey to Derby.

 

Wearing ‘tb’s ‘mango livery which promotes the company’s electronic discounted payment card.

 

The ‘mango’ livery being one that is a go anywhere livery in a highly route branded fleet.

 

 

 

 

YX17 OGU ‘Andrews’, Tideswell, Derbyshire.

Volvo B8R / Plaxton Panther 3

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

 

 

 

 

YN07 EXP ‘Bowers Coaches’ No. 789 ‘transpeak’.

Scania K230UB4 / Scania OmniLink

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

 

‘Bowers Coaches’ are part of ‘High Peak Buses’ which are owned in partnership by ‘trentbarton’ and the ‘Centrebus’ group.

 

Operating a southbound service from Buxton to Derby.

 

New to Scania, Worksop as a demonstrator.

 

‘Scene’ In Sheffield. ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’ 1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For years I knew them as ‘Powells of Hellaby’.  

 

Hellaby being part of the South Yorkshire town of Rotherham.

 

‘Powells’ were a well known independent bus operator until the company was bought by the ‘HCT Group’ in 2018.

 

‘HCT Group’ has its roots in ‘Hackney Community Transport’ based in North London.

 

Known these days as ‘CT Plus’.

 

Unusual in bus operators in that the company runs commercial bus services to provide funding for its ‘Community Transport’ operations.

 

Nevertheless, ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’. have become an increasing part of the transport scene in Sheffield over the past few years.

 

YR59 NPC ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’ No. 88.  Scania N230UD / Scania Omnidekka

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

 

New to ‘CT Plus’ as No. SD2 for operation in London hence the second door.

 

 

 

 

AB02 POW ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’ No.71. ‘Park Gate Shopping’. 

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400/1 

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

 

New as KV02 URP to ‘Connex’, London as No. TA108.

 

 

 

 

AB02 POW ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’ No. 71 ‘Park Gate Shopping’. 

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400/2 

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

 

 

 

 

SN59 AXA ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’ No. 1299. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘Whitelaw’, Stonehouse, Scotland.

 

The livery is the ‘HCT’ group’s standard.

 

There is an interesting ‘strapline’ to the livery which reads

 

  “transport works better when the community drives”

 

 For front, back and sides views of the livery see my blog posted 08/05/2018.

 

 

 

 

MX12 DZF ‘Powells Bus Co. Ltd’ No. 1313. Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 20D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 200

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

 

New to ‘TLC’, West Bowling, Bradford.

 

‘Scene’ in Sheffield. ‘TMTravel’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

1294 RU ‘TMTravel’ No. 1167. Scania N94UD ‘ Scania Omnidekka 

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

 

 

 

 

FJ03 VWB ‘TMTravel’ No. 613 ‘MOTORPOINT”. Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

New to ’trentbarton’.

 

 

 

YN56 FDC ‘TMTravel’ No. 1173. Scania N94UD ‘ Scania Omnidekka /1

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

 

New to ‘Metrobus’ as No. 929.

 

 

 

 

YN56 FDC ‘TMTravel’ No. 1173. Scania N94UD ‘ Scania Omnidekka /2

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

 

Scene’ on a very wet Isle of Wight (IoW) on Dennis Basford’s 'railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

There is some rain present in some of the images for which I apologise in advance. It was one of those situations where you get what you can or go without. I always choose to get what I can and try and make the best of it.

 

We start in Ryde Bus Station where two ‘Southern Vectis (SV) ‘Alexander Dennis Ltd’. (ADLtd). ADLtd. E40D / ADLtd. Enviro 400 bodies are waiting their next trip out. 

 

‘Southern Vectis’ is part of ‘Go-Ahead South Coast’ group.

 

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

HW62 CEJ ‘Southern Vectis’ 1520 ADLtd. E40D / ADLtd. Enviro 400.

 

Is lettered for the ‘Vectis blue’ (Vb) operation which is a fleet of vehicles (which also contains Optare Solo SR’s and some full size coaches) which are primarily intended for transporting children to and from school.

 

This is a contract for the ‘IoW’ County Council that uses over 50 buses to transport over 5,000 children daily.

 

Unusually for such an operation the use of volunteer drivers is accepted.

 

The buses can be used on normal ‘SV’ services during school hours.

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

'HW63 FHO ‘Southern Vectis’ 1592  ADLtd. E40D / ADLtd. Enviro 400.

 

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

HW09 BBU ‘Southern Vectis’ 1142 Scania 230UD / East Lancs. OmniDekka

 

Seen leaving Ryde Bus Station.

 

All Images (except 1) from this point are taken in Newport Bus Station.

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

HW62 CGF ‘Southern Vectis’ 3803 Optare Solo SR.

 

 

There is a requirement for small buses to operate on the island that at one time was filled by using Dennis Dart MPD’s / Plaxton Pointer. See blog dated 09/02/2014.

 

These have now been replaced by a batch of ‘ADL’ Enviro 20D’s some of which are branded to work with the ‘Red Jet’ ferries from the mainland which dock in Cowes.

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

HW64 AXB ‘Southern Vectis’ 2711 ‘ADLtd.’ E20D.

 

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

HW64 AXB ‘Southern Vectis’ 2711 ‘ADLtd.’ E20D.

Others carry standard ‘SV’ branding.

 

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

HW64 AXB ‘Southern Vectis’ 2715 ‘ADLtd.’ E20D.

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

HW64 AXB ‘Southern Vectis’ 2715 ‘ADLtd.’ E20D.

 

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

HF64 BSV ‘Southern Vectis’ 1595 ADLtd. E40D / ADLtd. Enviro 400.

 

Bought to operate service 9, the flagship route to Ryde.

 

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

HW52 EPU ‘Southern Vectis’ 1996 Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President.

 

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

PL51 LDN ‘Southern Vectis’ 1952 Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President. 

Plaxton President bodywork but with the dual doors that indicates an earlier employment in London where it was PVL 252 with ‘Go-Ahead London’.

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

HW08 AOY ‘Southern Vectis’ 1104 Scania 230UD / Scania .

Painted in ‘SV’s poppy livery supporting ‘The Royal British Legion’.

 

 

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

EA05 KZC ‘Southern Vectis’ 024 Ford Transit.

 

Used for transferring drivers too and from the bus station to the depot.

 

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

HW09 BBV ‘Southern Vectis’ 1143 Scania 230UD / East Lancs OmniDekka.

 

Seen in Yarmouth Bus Station.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Sutton Coldfield recently Part 2 onDennis Basford’s ‘railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ recently Part 2

Hello there,

As you would have noticed if you read my last blog,

For whatever reason some of my images and comments have been turning up on other blogs elsewhere.

Whilst I am grateful for the extra exposure that they give my blog.

I would rather have my work initially appearing under my name.

That being so, I am taking extra care in identifying my work more clearly.

I hope I have explained myself and I thank you for your time and patience.

I was in Sutton Coldfield (SC) on other business but seeing as it was almost three years since I had been there previously, the camera went with me as well.It was a typically cold late winter’s day with strong sunshine set low in the sky creating all sorts of problems with shadows.

 

Challenging conditions then for photography.

 

‘SC’ seems a pleasant, prosperous town that is served mainly by ‘National Express West Midlands’ (NXWM) and ‘Arriva Midlands North ’(AMN).

 

Other operators include ‘Central Buses’ (CB), ‘Midland Classic’ (MC) who work in from Burton on Trent and ‘West Midlands Special Needs Transport’ (WMSNT).

 

For part 1 see Blog dated 11th February 2016.

 

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

 

SN15 LDE ‘National Express West Midlands’ 6722 ADLtd. Enviro 400 MMC.

 

Seen in the depressingly dull ‘Platinum’ livery.

 

Based at Walsall depot.

 

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

V83 MOA ‘National Express West Midlands’ 4056 Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President.

 

Dating from 1999/2000. 

 

This batch of buses must be some of the oldest in the country still in front line service with the original operator.

 

Based at West Bromwich depot.

 

 

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

BU51 RWX ‘National Express West Midlands’ 4274 Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX 400.

 

Based at West Bromwich depot.

 

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

BU08 DYB ‘National Express West Midlands’ 4781 Scania N230UD OmniDekka.

 

Previously registered BV57 XLC.

 

Based at Perry Barr depot.

 

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

 

BK63 YWY ‘National Express West Midlands’ 4936 Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D.

 

Based at Perry Barr depot.

 

 

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

 

BK63 YWJ ‘National Express West Midlands’ 4923 Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D.

 

Based at Perry Barr depot.

 

 

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

YX64 VME ‘Arriva Midlands North’ 4410 Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D.

 

Based at Tamworth depot and working service from 110 Birmingham to Tamworth.

 

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

YX64 VMJ ‘Arriva Midlands North’ 4414 Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D. 

Based at Tamworth depot and working service 110 from Tamworth to Birmingham.

 

 

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

FF08 LVL ‘Arriva Midlands North’ 4200 Volvo B9TL /Wright Eclipse Gemini.

 

Based at Tamworth depot.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Reading

I passed through Reading this week on the way to somewhere else so I just had to look at the bus scene there.

 

’Reading Transport’ is well known for its positive views on the provision of public transport and indeed has been recognised nationally by winning awards for its efforts.

 

Usually at the forefront of technology, there is much to see and admire. 

 

Gas buses (more of which in a later blog) in some numbers for instance together with much new hardware in a dazzling array of liveries is a joy to behold to an simple enthusiast like me.

 

However what drew my attention was something certainly new to me that has appeared on 11 year old buses.

 

Reading Transport 809 Scania OmniDekka YN54 AFA

 

The branding at the rear of the between decks panel draws attention to what makes these buses ‘different’.

 

Generaly marketed as ‘claret spritzer’ and ‘the university shuttle’, the additional branding draws attention to the seperate lounge zone, a play zone and a study zone to which the entire upper deck is devoted.

 

Reading Transport 809 Scania OmniDekka YN54 AFA

Bearing in mind then that these buses are targeted at Reading’s student population.

 

The rear upper deck has a wood effect floor and is fitted largely with perimeter seating which can seat a dozen or so.

 

Forward of that, the floor is carpeted and there are seperate areas provided with brightly coloured seats both with and without tables. 

 

I understand that the ‘Lego’ is provided by the company.

 

 

 

The front of the bus is fitted out with seats in a different fabric to draw attention to the fact that this a different area and to underline that, a ‘tree’ where books can be picked up from is provided.

 

I would imagine that if you take a book to read, then you are expected to leave another in its place.

 

 

In my view this is a superb piece of marketing that deserves to succeed.

 

The students of Reading I have no doubt will readily appreciate their new surroundings.

 

I only wish that ‘Sheffield Transport’ had thought of this in my youth !!