‘Scene’ at The Derbyshire Dales Bus Rally 4 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

A new event organised by the ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’ (NHVC) who are based in the old TRENT garage at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

Friend Peter Rose and I ventured to the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley railway station in Derbyshire where the event was held.

 

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.

 

NDB 356 ‘Stockport Corporation’ No.403.

Leyland Tiger Cub / Crossley

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

 

Although the body was built by Crossley, it was built to a Park Royal design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UJX 920M ‘Halifax Corporation Transport’ No. 10.

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Derwent

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!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

C131 HJN ‘UNITED’ No. 1401.

Leyland Tiger / Plaxton Paramount 3200

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

 

It also had a spell with ‘Eastern National’ in a rather garish yellow and blue colour scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

W645 FUM ‘NATIONAL HOLIDAYS’.

Volvo B10M / Plaxton

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

 

New to ‘Wallace Arnold Coaches’.

 

‘Scene’ at The Derbyshire Dales Bus Rally 3 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A new event organised by the ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’ (NHVC) who are based in the old TRENT garage at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

 

Friend Peter Rose and I ventured to the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley railway station in Derbyshire where the event was held.

 

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.

 

YRC 191 ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’.

Leyland Tiger Cub / Alexander

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

 

Delivered to ‘Trent Motor Traction Co. Ltd’ in 1962 as part of a batch of 20 similar vehicles, 191 is fitted with a Dual Purpose (DP) body, which meant it was intended mainly for use on bus services, but fitted with more comfortable seats and a luggage boot it could be used on Express services to coastal resorts at weekends.

 

Part of the NHVC collection and used as the site control bus.

 

I was surprised to see that it has been stripped of its TRENT titling and fleet number.

 

 

 

 

N769 WRC ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 769.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS Dual Purpose

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

 

Part of the NHVC collection.

 

 

 

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S, Winson’, Loughborough.

Bedford YMT / Unicar Estoril (Spain) /1

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

 

I have seen this coach at Hucknall a number of times and I am assuming that it is part of the NHVC collection.

 

New to ‘Mood’, Shepshed, Leics.

 

 

 

 

EBC 567T ‘Paul S, Winson’, Loughborough.

Bedford YMT / Unicar Estoril (Spain) /2

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

 

 

 

 

YN05 GZB ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’, notts+derby.

Scania L94UB / Wright Solar

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

 

New to ‘Felix’, Stanley, Derbys.

 

 

 

 

PRO 441W ‘Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity’, NATIONAL.

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Supreme IV

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

 

At some stage in its career, it was registered HIL 256.

 

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 5 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them now that the good weather has broken.

 

Nothing lasts for ever so it’s time to put away the open toppers for another year.

 

While there is seemingly an inexhaustible supply of open/part open top double deckers, the same cannot be said for the single deck equivalent.

 

Over many years, I have only come across a handful and here are three of them.

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

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

 

Pictured in Oban, Scotland.

 

New registered R928 XVM to ‘Stagecoach Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

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

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /3

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

 

 

 

 

TDL 564K ‘Midland Vectis’.

Bristol RELL6G / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 864, Isle of Wight.

 

Rebuilt to part open top by ‘SV’ in 1986 where it worked on the IoW branded as the ‘Shanklin Pony’ for many years.

 

The last time I saw it was in the IoW bus museum at Newport where I presumed it would stay.

 

How it comes to be this far North I don’t know.

 

Pictured at Rowsley, the home of Peak Rail, Derbyshire at the inaugural rally of the Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity in June 2023.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /1

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

 

New to ’Maidstone & District’ No. SO26 in 1947.

 

Converted to open top by ‘M&D’ in 1958 as No. OR3.

 

Pictured at ‘SHOWBUS 2022’.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /3

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

 

‘Scene’ at SHOWBUS 2022 ‘LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD’. on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

I have attended a number of SHOWBUS events over the years but this was the first time I had attended one at the Hertfordshire County Showgound.

 

The 50th. show and if we are to believe what we read, the last.

 

It would be a great pity if the reputation the SHOWBUS name has built up over the years were to be lost but we shall have to wait and see.

 

‘London Country Bus Services Ltd’ were the successors to the ‘Green Line’ operation of ‘London Transport’.

 

It came into being when on January 1st. 1970, all ‘Green Line’ services were transferred to the new, nationalised, Transport Holding Company.

 

CUV 51C ‘LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD.’  No. XF1, LONDON COUNTRY.

Daimler Fleetline / Park Royal

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

 

In the early 1960s, ‘London Transport’ were heavily committed to half cab RT and RM double deckers.

 

The Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline had already built up a wide following across the rest of the country, so ‘London Transport’ ordered small batches of both models for trials purposes.

 

XF1 (Experimental Fleetline) being the first of its kind.

 

New in 1965.

 

 

 

 

 

JJD 412D ‘LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD.’ No. RML 2412, LONDON COUNTRY.

AEC Routemaster / Park Royal /1

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

 

New in 1966 to ‘London Transport’.

 

 

 

JJD 412D ‘LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD.’ No. RML 2412, LONDON COUNTRY.

AEC Routemaster / Park Royal /2

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

 

This image courtesy of friend Peter Rose and posted with his permission and my thanks.

 

 

 

 

KPJ 264W LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD.’ No. AN264, LONDON COUNTRY, Stevenage Bus.

Leyland Atlantean AN68 / Roe

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

 

New in 1981.

 

 

 

 

G610 BPH ‘London & Country’ No. 610.

Volvo B10M / East Lancs

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

 

New to ‘London Country’. (South West) in 1989.

 

 

 

 

AML 88H LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD.’ No. SMS88, LONDON COUNTRY.

AEC Swift / Park Royal

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

 

One of AEC’s least successful designs.

 

New in 1970.

 

 

 

 

UPB 312S LONDON COUNTRY BUS SERVICES LTD.’ No. SNB 312, LONDON COUNTRY.

Leyland National

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

 

New in 1977.

 

‘Scene’ at Transpire’s Peak Park Bus Gathering 2022 /4 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For some years now, this event has been held at the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley in Derbyshire.

 

There was plenty of room for the 35 or so buses the event attracted together with the added bonus of the trains provided by ‘Peak Rail’.

 

This year being steam only.

 

A return to the traditional June date was welcome because last year the event was held in August due to the problems caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

NH18 GGH ‘Caledonian Travel’.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

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

 

New in 2018 to ‘National Holidays’ which at the time were associated with the ‘Shearings’ group who were early casualties of the Covid 19 Pandemic going out of business in early 2020.

 

 

 

 

CYD 724C ‘Hutchings & Cornelius’. 

AEC Reliance / Harrington Crusader

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

 

Together with its stablemate, the Grenadier, Harrington’s produced some of the most stylish coaches of the 1960s.

 

 

 

 

S659 JSE ‘Go Green Peak Explorer’.

Volvo B10M / Jonkheere Modulo

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

 

New in 1998 to ‘Stagecoach Bluebird’ as No. 659.

 

 

 

 

BXI 2599 ‘ULSTERBUS’ No. 2599.

Bristol RELL6G / Alexander (Belfast)

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

 

 

 

 

 

BXI 2565 ‘Citybus (NI)’ No. 2565.

Bristol RELL6G / Alexander (Belfast)

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

 

 

 

 

CHA 460K ‘Midland Red’ No. 6460.

Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Panorama Elite

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

 

 

 

 

JMA 413L ‘North Western Road Car Co’. No. 413.

Bristol RELH6L / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

‘Scene’ at Transpire’s Peak Park Bus Gathering 2022 /3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For some years now, this event has been held at the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley in Derbyshire.

 

There was plenty of room for the 35 or so buses the event attracted together with the added bonus of the trains provided by ‘Peak Rail’.

 

This year being steam only.

 

A return to the traditional June date was welcome because last year the event was held in August due to the problems caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

CRU 103C Bournemouth Transport No. 103.

Leyland Leopard / Weymann /1

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

 

One of three, CRU 101C No. 101 and CRU 102C No. 102 being the other two.

 

They were fitted with what were called ‘Dual Purpose’ seating. 

 

Not quite up to full coach standard but better than the usual bus seats.

 

Usually in a bus body shell.

 

They were used as buses most of the time but could be drafted in to support the coach fleet when required.

 

The pattern of taking holidays in the 1960’s was different to today.

 

These days, coach holidays have the coach providing transport to and from the resort and staying in the resort to provide excursions during the holiday.

 

In the 60’s, people booked their own accomodation in a resort and then booked with a coach or bus company to provide the transport to the resort.

 

Saturday was ‘changeover day’ when resort coach parks would be very busy.

 

I have seen the coach parks in Skegness, Llandudno and other places rammed with coaches and often buses delivering and collecting passengers. 

Almost anything that could turn a wheel was sometimes used.

 

A way of working that has gone but they were very interesting times for enthusiasts.

 

 

 

 

 

CRU 103C Bournemouth Transport No. 103.

Leyland Leopard / Weymann /2

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

 

 

 

 

N668 THO ‘Coopers’, Killamarsh, Derbyshire, 

Burtons of Alfreton, (Derbyshire).

Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere 320

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

 

New registered XEL 6S to ‘Excelsior’, Bournemouth.

 

Being local to where I live, this coach is well known to me.

 

The quality of the paintwork is superb. 

 

So much so that ‘Coopers’ opted to keep it as it was with just the addition of their own titles.

 

 

 

 

EKA 220Y ‘Merseyside PTE’ No. 7020.

Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant

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

 

 

 

 

PRA 109R ‘Whites of Calver’, Derbyshire.

Leyland Leopard  Alexander ’T'

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

 

Well known to me when it was new to ‘Trent Motor Traction’ as No. 109.

 

It was sold to ‘Lancaster City Transport’ before joining 

‘Whites of Calver’, (a subsidiary of ‘Chesterfield Transport’).

 

‘Chesterfield Transport’ became part of the ‘Stagecoach’ group and the bus passed to their ‘Bluebird Buses’ subsidiary in Scotland.

 

Again, the quality of the paintwork is superb.

 

 

 

 

KPC 204P ‘WHITEHEADS’.

Bedford YRQ / Plaxton Panorama Elite 111

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

 

New to ‘Harding’, Betchworth, Surrey.

 

 

 

 

DXI 3341 ‘Ulsterbus No. 341.

Leyland Tiger / Alexander (Belfast) ’N’

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

 

‘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’ on a ‘Transpire’ Outing 2 ‘DW Coaches’ (DWC), Clay Cross, Derbyshire. on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Transpire’ being ‘The Chesterfield Bus Society’.

 

Apart from the widely known Peak Park Bus Rally organised by the group and held at ‘Peak Rail’, Rowsley, Derbyshire.

 

They also organise regular days and evenings out to operators and events both locally and nationally.

 

Friend Peter Rose joined the group which numbered about 20 or so enthusiasts, as a guest for the evening.

 

‘DWC’ operates an eclectic mix of buses and coaches on contract work in the area.

 

YN10 FKR ‘M. Pearson’.

Volvo B9R / Plaxton Elite

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

 

New to ‘Selwyns’, Runcorn as No. 144.

 

 

 

 

T208 KDM ‘M. Pearson’.

Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee

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

 

New registered T9 BCL to ‘Barratt’, Nantwich in 1999.

 

Re-registered T208 KDM in 2005.

 

Re-registered  A14 TBT by ‘Terry Bushell Travel’, Burton-on-Trent in 2005.

 

 

 

 

N178 LHU ‘M. Pearson’.

Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee

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

 

New to ‘Tappin’, Didcot but acquired from ‘Weavaway Travel’, Thatcham.

 

 

 

 

R175 GGR ‘DW Coaches’.

Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premiere 350

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

 

New to ‘Classic’, Annfield Plain, but acquired from ‘Lloyd’, Bagilt.

 

 

 

 

KJZ 4434  ‘DW Coaches’.

Dennis Javelin / Berkhof

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

 

New registered S8 BOS to ‘Bostock’, Congleton but acquired from 

‘M. Pearson’, Chesterfield.

 

 

 

 

N555 CLA ‘DW Coaches’.

Volvo B10M / Jonkheere

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

 

New to ‘Clarke’ Sydenham but acquired from ‘Ourhire’, Acle, Norfolk.