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

Friend Peter Rose recently visited the town and has forwarded these images for me to share with you.

 

As usual, they are posted with Peter’s consent and my thanks to him.

 

It is almost exactly a year since ‘Midland Classic’ (MC), the major operator in BoT, was taken over by the ‘ROTALA’ group and re-branded as ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’.

 

The takeover being dated 03/08/2022.

 

A few of the fleet at the time have moved on and some replacement buses in the blue livery of ‘Diamond Buses’ have arrived to take their place.

 

However, much of the old fleet was still in daily operation still wearing the ‘MC’ yellow and red livery albeit with ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. vinyls

and fleet numbers.

 

MX20 HVK ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 40726.

Wright Streetdeck

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

 

A very early import after the takeover.

 

New to ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’.

 

 

 

 

BF15 KFD ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 40613

Volvo B5TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘Yellow Buses’, Bournemouth No.VGW194.

 

The giving up of bus operation in Bournemouth by ‘Yellow Buses’ recently allowed the ‘ROTALA’ group to acquire a batch of good quality additions to the fleet.

 

 

 

 

BF15 KFG ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 40610

Volvo B5TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘Yellow Buses’, Bournemouth  No.VGW196.

 

 

 

 

BF15 KFK ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 40611.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘Yellow Buses’, Bournemouth No. VGW198.

 

 

 

 

KW14 MCL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 31428.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

 

 

 

SN66 WJZ ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd.’ No’. 31422.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Johnsons’, Henley-in-Arden whose bus operations were taken over in 2022 by ‘ROTALA’.

 

 

 

 

YJ16 DDL ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 30972.

Optare Metrocity V1080MC / Optare

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

 

New to ‘Central Buses Group’, Birmingham who were taken over by ROTALA in 2018.

 

 

 

 

YY15 NJF ‘Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd’. No. 31417.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E20D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro200

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

 

New to ‘Johnsons’, Henley-in-Arden whose bus operations were taken over in 2022 by ‘ROTALA’.

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit At the Premises of ‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL (GB) Ltd’., Bolton 2 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 was to be the last visit on the Saturday.

 

‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL (GB) Ltd’., has a history dating back to 2007 and in that time have gathered together a very well kept fleet.

 

Coincidentally, their depot is located next door to that of ‘Diamond Bus (North West) Ltd’.

 

SK22 BWC ‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL (GB) Ltd’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

 

BF63 HEJ ‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL (GB) Ltd’.

Volvo B9TL / MCV

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

 

New to ‘Golden Tours’, Victoria, London No.114.

 

 

 

 

BJ11 DSO ‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL (GB) Ltd’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘First Capital’ No. VN36121.

 

 

 

 

KE12 OEY ‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL (GB) Ltd’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit. In Bolton Town Centre 2, More Double Deckers on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

The second blog of ten, posted over ten consecutive days. 

More tomorrow.

 

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.

 

An hour lunch break was taken in Bolton where, inevitably, interest centred on the bus station.

 

The arrival of a large group of mainly men, mainly wearing Hi-Viz vests, many armed with cameras and jostling to take pictures provoked a lot of good natured banter with the local population.

 

I was asked twice by passers-by if the King was coming!

 

BN61 MXG ‘Tyrers’, Farnworth, Lancashire.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

An interesting first look at ‘Tyrers’ because we were to visit all three of their local depots on the following morning.

 

An elegant and stylish livery which appears to have been designed rather than just having paint thrown at the bus.

 

New to ‘Centrewest’ No. VN37960 but acquired from ‘Tower Transit’ with the same fleet number.

 

 

 

 

SK22 BWD ‘ATLANTIC TRAVEL’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC

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

 

This was coming to pick our party up and was to be our transport for both the Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

 

Another very stylish livery.

 

 

 

 

YN65 XEW ‘Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire’ No. 15245.

Scania N230UD / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Glenvale Transport’, Merseyside.

 

 

 

 

BJ11 DSY ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse

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

 

New to ‘First Capital’ No.VN 36119 but acquired from ‘Tower Transit’ with the same fleet number.

 

 

 

 

MX08 UDK ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 19358.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E240D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit. At the Premises of ‘Vision Buses’ Ltd. (VB) 1, Blackrod, Bolton 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.

 

YX19 ONU ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

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

 

New to ‘Alexander Dennis Ltd.’ presumably as a demonstrator.

 

 

 

 

SK70 BVU ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. E40D / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400MMC

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

 

 

 

 

MX07 BVD ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘First Manchester’ No. 37308 but acquired from ‘Stagecoach Glenvale’ No.16953, Merseyside.

 

Fitted with coach seats.

 

 

 

 

LK58 EDR ‘VISION BUS LTD’.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘Centrewest’, London No. WN35003 but acquired from ‘Tower Transit’ where it carried the same fleet number.

 

 

 

 

LX09 AFK ‘VISION BUS LTD’. 

Scania N230UD / Scania OmniCity /1

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Selkent’ No.15080 but acquired from ‘Stagecoach East London’ where it carried the same fleet number.

 

 

 

 

LX09 AFK ‘VISION BUS LTD’. 

Scania N230UD / Scania OmniCity /2

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

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit At the Premises of ‘preston bus’ /1 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.

 

‘Preston Bus’, which has a history going back to 1904, became part of the ‘ROTALA’ group in 2011.

 

PRN 909 ‘prestonbus’ No. 40628, 100 YEARS OF MOTOR BUSES IN PRESTON.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New registered BJ15 TWG.

 

An image of the nearside of this bus appeared in my blog dated 24/09/22 when it appeared at SHOWBUS 2022.

 

 

 

 

HC 6422 ‘prestonbus’ No. 40510, CELEBRATING our 100th Anniversary.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

Acquired from ‘Hallmark’, London No. 40510.

 

New registered HJ57 CZC.

 

 

 

 

PO56 RSZ ‘prestonbus’ No. 40407.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka

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

 

 

 

 

BJ15 TWF ‘prestonbus’ No. 40627, Tap & Go.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

 

 

 

LX59 COH ‘prestonbus’ No. 40517.

Scania N230UD4 / Scania Omnicity

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

 

Acquired from ‘Hallmark’, London No. 40517.

 

 

 

 

BX21 DFD ‘prestonbus’ No. 40517, 23 Royal Preston Hospital.

Wright Streetdeck

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

 

 

 

 

SK18 TKX ‘prestonbus’ No. 40715.

Wright Streetdeck

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

 

Note the glazed staircase.

 

 

 

 

PN03 UMJ ‘prestonbus’ No. 40630.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

The Vehicle Off Road notice placed in the windscreen of this now 20 year old bus must surely mean that the end of its road is in sight.

 

New to ‘London General’ No. PDL49.

 

Acquired from ’Diamond North West’.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ by Peter Rose when Dashing Around Dundee 4 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk'

Christmas comes but once a year so the saying goes, so I would like to wish all the blogs viewers and readers the compliments of the season and I hope that it is as happy a time for you as you would wish for yourselves.

 

It has been a bumper year for days out on the Rails, Roads and Runways of the UK where a wide selection of images have been gathered by friend Peter Rose and myself.

 

Our gift to you then, is to post blogs on every day over the Christmas and New Year period. 

 

Starting on Christmas Eve, the 24th. of December and concluding on New Years Day, January 1st. 2023.

 

So, don’t just get glued to the television, have a look at what is on offer at

 

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

 

Friend Peter recently visited Dundee and has forwarded these images for me to share with you.

 

As usual, they are reproduced here with his permission and my thanks.

 

Public transport in Dundee has a long and complex history dating back to the 1870s.

 

The current owners ‘McGills Buses’ having bought the company from ‘National Express West Midlands’ in 2021.

 

‘McGills Buses’, a family owned business, are currently the largest independent operator in the UK with headquarters in Greenock on the West coast of Scotland.

 

PSU 339  ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ Fly Dundee Edinburgh Airport. 

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

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

 

New as NH17 LFH to ‘National Holidays’ as No. 960.

 

PSU 339 is a cherished registration owned by the company that has seen it used on a number of buses/coaches going back to the ‘Tayside’ days.

 

There is a suggestion that it has also been registered as X23 MGL which is a ‘McGills Buses’ cherished registration

 

‘National Holidays’ was part of the ‘Shearings’ group of companies who unfortunately were early victims of the Covid 19 pandemic, going out of business in early 2020.

 

 

 

 

NH17 NFH ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ Fly. 

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo /1

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

 

Looking at this coach alongside PSU 933 (above), it would seem that at the time of the image, that the branding was incomplete. 

 

New to ‘National Holidays’ as No. 962.

 

 

 

 

NH17 NFH ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ Fly.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo /2

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

 

 

 

 

CTS 917 ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ No. 2850. Discover Dundee, Xplore Dundee.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse /1

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

 

New registered BF60 UUC to ‘Centrewest’ as No. VN37894.

 

Rebuilt to part open top in 2018 by ‘London City Tour’, North Acton.

 

Then to ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 251 on ‘CitySightseeing’ duties in Edinburgh.

 

 

 

 

CTS 917 ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ No. 2850. Discover Dundee,

Xplore Dundee.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse /2

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

 

 

 

 

BF60 UUJ ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ No. 2854.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse /1

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

 

New to ‘Centrewest’ as No. VN37896.

 

 Then to ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 255 on ‘CitySightseeing’ duties in Edinburgh.

 

Looking at this bus alongside CTS 917 (above), it would seem that at the time of the image, that the branding was incomplete.

 

 

 

 

BF60 UUJ ‘Tayside Public Transport Co. Ltd.’ No. 2854.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini Eclipse /2

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

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Leeds City Bus Station ‘Transdev ’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

‘Scene at EUROBUS EXPO 2022 LIVE 

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

 

EUROBUS EXPO 2022 LIVE is being held at the NEC on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. of November 2022. 

 

ALL BEING WELL ! I will be attending on the 1st.

 

I will then publish a blog a day for the next week detailing those entries that caught my eye.

 

My view is that for that week, I will be ahead of most of the professional press. 

 

So, if you want to see some of what’s new first, the place to be is;

 

 

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

 

 

The company operates widely across Northern England working out of ten bases with a wide variety of services many of which are route branded.

 

SK70 BWM ‘Transdev York’ No. 2015 ‘CITYZAP’.

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D / ‘ADL’ Enviro 400MMC

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

 

Based in York to work the York-Leeds ‘CITYZAP’ service.

 

Now a service consigned to history.

 

Due to poor loadings the service was reduced from half hourly to hourly and as of early November 2022 has been withdrawn.

 

A service I have used several times and am sorry to see go.

 

 

 

 

X1 VTD ‘Transdev, The Keighley Bus Company’. No. 2791 ‘Aireline’.

Volvo B9TL /  Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New registered FJ08 BYH to ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’. 

 

One of ‘Transdev’s group of companies.

 

Based in Keighley.

 

 

 

 

BL65 YYR ‘Transdev, The Harrogate Bus Company’ No. 3618 ’36’.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

The livery is known as ‘Riding Redfined’.

 

Based at Starbeck, Harrogate.

 

 

 

 

BL65 YZB ‘Transdev, The Harrogate Bus Company’ No. 3627  ’36’.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

Based at Starbeck, Harrogate.

 

 

 

 

BD11 CEK ‘Transdev York No. 2424.

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 /1of 2

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

 

Based in York.

 

Working an inbound ‘Coastliner’ service from Scarborough.

 

My ‘livery of the day’.

 

 

 

 

BD11 CEK ‘Transdev York No. 2424.

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 /  2 of 2

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

 

 

 

 

BT66 MVX ‘Transdev Coastliner’ No. 3638 ‘Coastliner’.

Volvo B5TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

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

 

Based in York.

 

Just starting out on another 78 mile trip to Whitby.

 

The bus route that has been voted Englands most scenic journey.

 

 

 

 

FJ58 LSU ‘Transdev The Harrogate Bus Company’ No. 1857 ‘7’.

Volvo B7RLE Wright / Eclipse 2

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

 

Based at Starbeck, Harrogate.

 

Working an inbound service from Wetherby.

 

 

 

 

Y10 TDV. ‘Transdev York’ No. 240 ‘Flyer direct to Leeds Bradford Airport’.

Optare Versa V1170

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

 

Named ‘Kalvin Phillips’ a Leeds United and England football player.

 

New registered YJ16 DWG to ‘Keighley & District’ another  ‘Transdev’ company.