Sweating the Assets

‘Sweating the Assets’ In accountancy ‘speak’ means getting the absolute maximum return out of any asset that you possess.

 

In this age of high costs and austerity it means making things last longer and work harder but still be able to get a viable return out of them.

 

In the bus world, this used to mean getting ten to twelve years out of a vehicle before it was either sold on or scrapped.

 

These days, buses much older than that are still in regular service and still presumably earning a living. 

 

As an enthusiast, I can regularly be found in and around Derby and Nottingham bus stations watching what goes on and recording what I see.

 

Wellglade group companies (which includes trentbarton (tb), Notts & Derby and Kinchbus) are past masters at ‘Sweating the Assets’ as is seen by this small selection of images.

 

The newest buses in this veterans group are 13 years old and include Optare Excel 

X232 WRA which covers many miles per day on ‘transpeak’ routes albeit in ‘tb’s partly owned High Peak buses operation.

 

 

S937 UAL 

This Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart dates from 1968 and is 15 years old.

The single Volvo B10M/Plaxton Interurban that is used regularly on ‘red arrow’ services to Chesterfield and Nottingham. 

 

Although now registered YRC 182, it was originally registered R62 RAU in 1997 which makes it 16 years old.

 

Whilst L126 LRA and L127 LRA are amongst a number of Volvo B10B’s with 

Northern Counties bodies still in daily use that were new in 1993. Twenty years ago !

 

So with a bit of luck, the Excels, Darts and Volvo’s will hopefully be around for some years to come.

‘Scene’ in Somerset (or should it be Zummerzet). Part 2 of 3

I recently had a short break in the ‘Cider’ county where as usual, I had a look at the local transport scene.

Based in the town of Street which lies just off the A 39 about two miles from Glastonbury of pop concert fame.

 

My first (no pun intended) visit was to the county town of Somerset . Taunton is situated on the A38 and to the west of the M5.

 

“First Somerset and Avon’ are the dominant operator but they do not have it all their own way. Competition comes from a number of sources. The main one being ‘Webberbus’ once more (See part 1).

 

‘First’ have their own small bus station off Tower Street whilst the competition works from street stands on Castle Way. 

 

‘First’s’ fleet seems to be much the same mixture as elsewhere. However, there are not many double deckers and what I saw, were elderly.

 

‘Webberbus’ had more of their Optare Versa’s on show, the odd Solo and they are yet another fleet that is trialling the Wright Streetlite. 

 

To stand at the junction of North Street, Fore Street and Corporation Street is a bus enthusiast’s delight.

S677 AAE seen in First’s bus station is a Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties Palatine 2 bodywork.

 

 

While P563 EFL is another Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties earlier Palatine 1 bodywork.

 

 

 

SJ03 DPX an Optare Solo setting off on a local service but spent much of its life in Scotland before coming South.

 

 

N990 HVS a Mercedes-Benz 709D with Alexander’s Sprint bodywork works a longer service to Yeovil.

 

 

 

 

‘Webberbus’ had a number of its Optare Versa’s in service. Here we see YJ60 LTA and YJ62 FBL.

 

 

 

 

‘Webberbus’s  Optare Solo’s YJ10 EJU and DK06 OXD off to Bishops Lydeard where presumably it connects with 

The West Somerset Railway.

 

 

 

‘Webberbus’ Wright Streetlite D/F had just worked on the long and very scenic route from Minehead.

 

 

While the only ‘Stagecoach’ group bus I saw in the time I was in Somerset was this Optare Versa WA09 KWH.

More ‘Scene’ in Somerset here Flickr 

ZOOM !!

On Sunday the 8th of September 2013 'trentbarton' finally ZOOMED into Derby from Long Eaton.

With a running time of around half an hour including being non stop between Derby and Borrowash Post Office, this will give the residents of Draycott, Breaston and Long Eaton probably the fastest service they have ever had. As for the residents of Borrowash, the service can only be described as spectacular.

I could not get into Derby on the Sunday so today, Monday the 9th. I had a ride as far as Borrowash Post Office and back and Zoom is the right word.

I watched a number of arrivals in Derby and 15 to 20 passengers on board was commonplace.

The first image was taken at Borrowash, the rest in Derby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Scene' in Ashbourne & Derby 5th September 2013

It is a while since I visited either of these two places. It was a very pleasant day so why not?

I had arrived in Ashbourne by way of 'yourbus' service (yb) 111 which originates in Matlock that I had picked up in Wirksworth.

The route branding applied for this service to Wright Streetlite WF MX62 GVL is seen to good effect.

I said almost a year ago when 'yourbus' introduced these buses that I thought them solid and well made.

I still do!

 

 

Ashbourne was a bit quiet, These two Optare Solo's from the High Peak Buses (HPB) fleet put in an appearance MX53 FDG wearing its 'Centrebus' (Cb) livery.

HPB being a joint venture between Centrebus and trentbarton (tb)

While S276 AOX still carries its 'Bowers' livery. (Bowers being part of Cb).

 

 

 

Local operator 'Glovers of Ashbourne' sent along Plaxton Primo AIG 2912 to have its picture taken. Formerly withTM Travel, the Primo has never met with real success. 

 

My transport to Derby was this (tb) Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse bodywork FJ09 BXA.

 

Derby was as busy as ever but there were a some vehicles worth highlighting.

Recently (Cb) closed its 'Kimes of Folkingham' operation. Today a former Kimes bus turned up on the HPB trans peak service. 

YN51 MJE is a Scania L94UB with Wright bodywork that was new to 'Fowler's of Holbeach Drove'.

 

I do not like 'contravision' wrapped buses but they have to be recorded when seen.

Here we have Arriva's Dennis Dart MPD with Plaxton Pointer bodywork SN03 LGD shuttling between Derby's bus and railway stations.

 

When Wardle Transport  (part of Arriva) introduced its X50 service from Hanley to Derby it was run with two Wright Gemini Pulsar bodied VDL SB250's. Then a couple of 'older' double deckers came on the scene (all in Wardle's red livery) and today we had this.

W103 EWU A Volvo B10BLE with Wright's Renown bodywork that at one time worked for Arriva Yorkshire.

I wonder what next week will bring?

 

YN05 GZV a former 'Felix' Scania L94 with Wright Solar now with 'notts and derby' has a partial nearside advert for 'Turkish Airlines' flights out of Birmingham.

 

'yourbus' were much in evidence with Mercedes-Benz Citaro's on a variety of services.

Here we can see BF62 JYU on the Y5 to Beeston, BF62 JYW on the 'citylink ' to Nottingham and BK13 XYE on the Y3 to Ilkeston.

 

I had expected a 'Streetlite' to Ilkeston on the 59 but instead A3 UOB was in use. Another Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork which at one time worked in and around Bath.

 

tb are still in the process of refurbishing buses on the 'sixes' services. There seems to be a couple in service that are partially done but equally there still seems a lot more to do.

 

Finally, I finish with what is my favourite modern?? double decker.

The Plaxton President. If any bus could tempt me into becoming a preservationist. This is it.

 

More buses 'Scene' in Derby and Ashbourne here Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Scene' in a sunny Edinburgh 2013 Part 4 of 4

My son Andrew and his wife Joy recently had a short holiday in Edinburgh. Knowing of my weakness for buses they kindly brought me back a variety of images. Joy quite got into it. Nipping in and out of the traffic whilst Andrew was more laid back settling himself on Princess Street with a couple of cans of I’rn Bru. Their combined efforts are pictured herewith, the words are mine.

Whilst LB are the dominant operator in Edinburgh, there are others.

 

‘First’ group have a strong presence and are represented here by.

 

LT02 ZCE 

A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork. Cascaded from ‘First London’. Whoever replaced the second door made an excellent job of it.

 

YM52 UVS

A Scania L94UB with Wright’s Solar body had a spell in Lancashire with ‘First Oldham’ before coming to Scotland where it also worked in Larbert.

 

CU05 LGK

A Volvo B7R with Plaxton Profile bodywork at one time worked for ‘First Cymru’ in Swansea in the full ‘First’ barbie coach livery. Now resident in Edinburgh.

 

SN08 BZA An Optare Solo SR owned by LB in a dedicated Standard Life (Insurance) (SL) livery. Route 61 on which it operates, at one time was provided as a free shuttle service around its different Edinburgh locations for SL employees only.

 

The route was opened up to the public who have to pay a fare whereas it still remains free for SL employees. I wonder how the Taxman sorts that one out.

 

SV55 FKL A Volvo B7R with Plaxton Profile Interurban bodywork is based at Stagecoach Western’s Dumfries depot and is seen working the service 100 from Moffatt which lies 60 Miles to the South.

 

LSK 879 A Volvo B13R with Plaxton Panther 2 bodywork shown being operated by  

‘Parks of Hamilton’ in Scottish ‘citylink’ livery. The M 91 route on which it is operating runs from Inverness to Edinburgh via Perth.

 

 

SF62 CPU Another winner from Plaxton with the ‘Elite i’ bodied Volvo B11R chassis which was new in February this year. I had a look around and inside of one of these vehicles at the Euro Bus Expo 2012 at the NEC last year and they really are impressive. It is operating on megabus.com’s route 900 which is the Glasgow-Edinburgh shuttle that it runs jointly with Scottish ‘citylink’.

 

No visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a ride on an open top bus. No matter which of these open toppers you chose to ride on despite the varying liveries and vintages, you would still be riding with LB.

V513 ESC built in 1999 and VLT 143 built in 1959 are separated by 40 years.

 

V513 ESC being a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident and of course VLT 143 is an AEC Routemaster and was RM 143 in its London days.

 

 

 

The Trident is one of five former main fleet vehicles painted in the ‘Edinburgh World Heritage Tour’ livery while the RM is one of ten RM’s together with two RCL’s in the fleet.

 

 

 

T503 SSG is another Lothian vehicle under the paint being an Alexander ALX 400 bodied Dennis Trident. The batch of buses that this was part of were amongst the first low floor deckers in service with Lothian.

 

 

VLT 143 once more.