‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘Drakelow Business Park’ 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 fifth and final visit of the day and of the weekend was to the ‘Drakelow Business Park’ to the South of Burton on Trent.

 

Most of the coaches I saw with DE-LUXE carried the names of British Battleships.

 

XJZ 222 ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent, ‘FURIOUS’.

Volvo B12B / Jonkheere

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

 

New registered FX58 SXD but acquired from ‘Last Passive’, Eire where it was registered 09-D-2777.

 

 

 

 

L5 NHA ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent, ‘INVINCIBLE’.

VOLVO B10M / Berkhof

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

 

New to ‘Abridge’, Hadleigh.

 

 

 

 

222 KTO ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent, 

‘ST. VINCENT’.

Volvo B7R / Sunsundegui Sideral on 

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

 

Formerly registered OCZ 1119 with ’Cropley Coaches,’ Fosdyke, Lincs. from where it was purchased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

VCZ 221 ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent, ‘RODNEY’.

Toyota Optimo / Caetano

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

 

New registered W59 SJH to ‘Horseman Coaches Ltd.’ Reading, Berks. but acquired from ‘Transport Direct’, Bramshall, Staffs.

 

 

 

 

DLX 21E ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent, ‘BENBOW’. 

Ford Transit 

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

 

 

 

 

222 GDY ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent.

Volvo B12BT / Plaxton elite

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

 

With the front panel that carries the registration plate missing, I had to rely on the rear registration plate for the details of the owner.

 

Previously registered YN09 HRF and LD55 RFC.

 

Acquired from ‘Cropper’, Guiseley, West Yorks.

 

 

 

 

N222 UPD ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent.

Manufacturer unknown / 1

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

 

 

 

 

N222 UPD ‘DE-LUXE COACH SERVICES’, Burton on Trent.

Manufacturer unknown / 2

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

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in the fleet K & H Doyle of Alfreton part 1

It is now a year since ‘Doyle’s shut down. I still do not know why they did. What I do know is that for a period of 25 years or so, they brought extra colour and interest to the East Midlands transport scene.

 

Time then before memories fade for a retrospective of the company.

 

The early buses in the fleet were a beige colour and some never made it into fleet livery. In addition one or two appeared in advertising liveries. 

 

After that, there were two distinct liveries adorning the fleet. The lime green and purple and the overall green. 

 

My son Andrew likened the lime green and purple livery to 

 

     “Looking like a fading bruise”.

 

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Doyle on a number of occasions. The first time was on a ‘Transpire’ (The Chesterfield Bus Society) visit to his premises in Alfreton.

It was an evening visit and he was kind enough to conduct us around and then to give us the run of the place to take whatever pictures we wanted. Some of them appear here.

I will look at the other liveries in future blogs.

 

G291 TSL

A Mercedes-Benz (MB) 709D with Alexander bodywork that in its early days worked for ‘Stagecoach’ in Scotland. Pictured in Belper.

 

MX55 BYD

An Optare Solo in an all over livery proclaiming the delights of Tesco’s Ilkeston store seen leaving Nottingham’s Victoria bus station on service 331 to Alfreton.

 

Previous to service with Doyle’s it had worked for ‘Super Travel’ on Merseyside and has since gone to the ‘GHA’ group in North Wales.

 

R183 OCW

A ‘MB’ 814 Vario with Plaxton bodywork which although retaining its lime green bonnet is otherwise advertising the wares of a local computer supplies company. Previously with ‘Hutchinson’ Easingwold. Seen in Alfreton.

 

R191 LBC

A Toyota Optimo dating from 1998. Seen at the Alfreton depot.

 

RIB 4311 (previously HXI 845 and B669 DVL).

A Neoplan N116 Cityliner dating from 1985. A previous operator was ‘TRS’ of Leicester. Seen at the Alfreton depot.