'Scene' in Liverpool part 1

To stand at the bottom of what is called ‘The Gyratory’ and watch buses queuing from three directions to be photographed is almost overwhelming.

 

The only place I know with a similar volume of buses is Oxford Street in London and they come mainly in red. In Liverpool they are multi coloured.

 

I arrived in Liverpool by train at Lime Street railway station.

To find the buses, walk out of the front of the station, turn half right, down the steps and across the road and there they are.

 

In my experience, the bottom of the road on the far side is the best place for photography.

The only problem is where to start !

New to me were the Volvo B5LH with Wright Gemini 2 bodies. The major difference between the Gemini 1 and 2  lies in the much shallower roof line which I believe is being produced exclusively for ‘Arriva’ at this stage. 

 

The B5LH is of course Volvos Hybrid drive offering.

MX13 AEK and MX13 ADV Are both seen on route branded cross river services.

 

 

Fleet liveried buses with the same bodies are powered by VDL DB300 units.

 

MX61 AXH and MX61 AYA

 

MX09 LXK

A Dennis Trident 2 with Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 bodywork. The last time I was in Liverpool, these were everywhere. Today I only saw this one.

MX10 DAA

A VDL SB200CS with Wright’s Pulsar 2 body. Specially painted in Gold in 'Arriva's ‘Investors in People’ livery.

 

CX06 BHF 

A VDL SB200CS with Wright Commander bodywork with the early version of Arriva’s livery.

 

MX12 KWV

Another VDL SB200CS this time with Wright’s Pulsar bodywork.

 

YJ59 AZA

Yet another VDL SB200CS/ Wright Pulsar. This a bit of a mystery to me. I didn’t get chance to read the legal lettering but I know that it was on loan from Arriva Bus and Coach to ‘Impera Bus and Coach’ at one stage.

 

If anyone out there knows any further details, I would appreciate an E mail. Thanks.

 

V575 DJC

Its not all new shiny buses as this now elderly Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxtons Pointer 2 bodywork shows.

 

V669 DVU

 

Another Dennis Dart SLF this time with Marshall Capital bodywork. 

 

At one time with ‘MTL’ (Merseyside Transport Limited), it came into ‘Arriva’ ownership when that company bought MTL in 2000.

 

'Scene' briefly at Stafford

A twenty minute stop between trains was spent mainly bus hunting although ‘Cross Country Trains’ former ‘Virgin Trains’ Voyager  220 011 put in an appearance.

 

 

In bus terms Stafford is very much ‘Arriva Midlands’ territory.

 

The most interesting of which were

 

Y40 TGM and Y50 TGM

 

They are unusual Caetano Compass bodied Dennis Dart SLF’s.

 

Their registrations would indicate ‘Telling Golden Miller’ ownership to whom they were new in 2001. This company becoming an ‘Arriva’ subsidiary in 2007/8.

 

They were both originally double doored which would suggest a London connection. Next they then went to ‘Countryliner’ for a short spell before moving to ‘Network Colchester’. They later turned up with ‘Arriva Scotland West’ before going to ‘Arriva Northeast’. It was from there that they came to Stafford.

 

Where next I wonder ??

 

The next three images are all of Wright bodied single deckers.

 

Although the shape of the windscreen has changed over the years and the light clusters have been moved about, It is still basically the same body.

 

One major advantage to the operator is that because of the continuity of appearance, older buses do not look out of date

 

V227 KDA

Is a Volvo B6BLE with the Crusader body.

YJ57 BUA

A VDL SB200 with the Pulsar body wears one version of ‘Arriva’s ‘chaselinx’ livery which is a reference to Cannock Chase.

 

YJ61 FEO

Another VDL SB200 with a Pulsar body carrying a different version of the same livery.

V612 DBC

An Alexander ALX 300 bodied Volvo B10BLE.

YJ09 MKP

An Optare Versa on its 20 mile journey to Telford.

'Scene' at Rugby

I have been to Rugby before but on this visit, I thought it was extremely quiet.

 

The ‘Star’ here was Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 57309 named ‘Pride of Crewe’.

 

Rebuilt from Class 47’s by Brush Traction at Loughborough.  The 57’s incorporated General Motors engines which greatly improved the loco’s performance.

 

57309 was originally part of Virgin Trains‘ (VT) twelve strong ‘Thunderbird’ fleet and was named ‘Brains’ in that series. 

 

Along with 57302 and 57305. 57309 was leased from ‘Porterbrook’ by DRS for a period of 3 years from April 2012.

 

From December 2012 DRS contracted to provide haulage for VT and presumably, its presence at Rugby was to be of such service if required.

 

 

 

Parked in a siding adjacent to the station are a small collection of vehicles.

 

 

 

 

96605 

Is one of a small collection of vans that at one time were used by the ‘Motorail’ service. These ran in passenger train formations carrying the cars of the trains passengers.

 

The last time I was here which is over two years ago, they were parked in the same position. 

 

These former ‘Great Western’ liveried vehicles ran as part of the ‘Night Riviera’ service from London to Penzance.

Introduced in 1999. The trains ran until 2005 when after considerable financial losses, they were withdrawn.

 

6376 

Is one of two ‘Translator’ vehicles owned by ‘Porterbrook’. ‘Also known as ‘barrier’ vehicles. 

 

Their purpose is to bridge the gap between loco’s, coaches, wagons etc. that have otherwise incompatible couplings. 

Originally they were Mark 1 coaching stock.

Directly opposite the railway station is the local ‘Stagecoach’ Midlands garage. Like the railway station, it was very quiet.

 

The only bus outside in clear view was.

 

P905 RYO 

A Leyland Olympian with Northern Counties Palatine 1 bodywork. It has that forlorn look about it that old buses have just before they are sold on.

 

KX61 GEJ and KX61 GDU 

An image taken from Platform 1 on the railway station shows a couple of ‘megabus.com’ Volvo B9R’s with Plaxton Panther 2 bodies tucked away in the garage.

 

'Scene' in Hexham

Hexham lies between Carlisle and Newcastle just South of the the A69 and Hadrians Wall.

 

The bus station seems innocent enough. It is not much to look at and it does not have much by way of facilities but it has been branded as a ‘disgrace and a scandal’ by local politician Terry Robson while locals led by Dr Anne Pickering have tabled a 2000 signature petition to keep it where it is.

 

It certainly seems to generate passion. However, that aside, here it is !!

 

NK62 FCC 

A Volvo B9TL with Wright’s Eclipse Gemini bodywork is about to depart on service 10 to Newcastle. Carrying titles for       ‘Go North East’ (GNE) a part of the ‘Go-Ahead’  (G-A) group.

 

NK62 FDM

Another of the same. These coach seated vehicles are superb.

 

GNE operate other routes in the area including the 74 which links Hexham to Newcastle via a less direct route than the 10

 

X228FBB

An elderly Dennis Dart with Plaxton Pointer bodywork waits its next turn of duty.

 

NK53 TKY

Same operator, chassis and body suppliers but the shorter MPD variant.

 

NK55 OLN

A Scania L94UB with Wright’s Solar bodywork on yet another variation of the GNE Hexham-Newcastle route.

At one time this bus appeared in the livery of ‘OK Motor Services’ (OKMS) an independent operator from 1912 to 1995 when OKMS became part of the G-A group.

 

An interesting vehicle is this pedal powered tricycle which sells coffee and other delights whilst at the same time carrying adverts for GNE’s Tynedale Express service.

 

YX60 DXV

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200 bodied Dennis Dart SLF of ‘Howard Snaith Coaches’ (HSC) of Otterburn.

 

 

DAZ 1560

Another HSC vehicle is this Volvo B10M with Plaxton’s Premier bodywork.

 

NCZ 5381

‘Nightingale Coaches’ of Stanley operate this smartly turned out veteran DAF SB3000 with Van Hool T8 body. Previously registered K95 GEV when it worked for ‘Scarlet Band Coaches’ of West Cornforth.

 

 

C10 NGC

Is a Mercedes-Benz Riada. (Thanks to Garry at Nightingales for that snippet of information).

 

GIL 1792

Another Volvo B10M this time with Plaxton’s Paramount bodywork. Seen in the colours of ‘Gillinghams Coaches’ of Stanley.

'Scene' on Derbyshire's route 149

The 28th. of October was a busy day when it comes to taking on new ventures. ‘yourbus’ of Heanor were busy with the newly acquired 109 and 113 (see my blog for 28th. of October) while ‘G & J Holmes’ of Clay Cross were busy with the 149. 

A new venture for them linking Alfreton in Derbyshire with Sutton in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire.

Both towns were already linked by ‘trentbarton’ with its ‘9’s service and by ‘Stagecoach’ with its No.1 ‘Mansfield Miller’ service.

The 149 as can be seen from the map links many villages, most of them former coal mining communities with the two termini.

 

This was my first outing on the 149. A very rural route with many twists and turns along narrow country roads and lanes with distant views of the Southern Pennines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My transport turned out to be MK63 WZZ one of two of ‘G & J Holmes’ recently acquired Alexander Dennis Enviro 200’s. 

Both of these images were taken in Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station.

 

It was my first time on an Enviro 200 so I took the liberty of having a good look at it.

 

I thought it an impressive little bus which was comfortable to ride on and seemingly well able to cope with the job in hand. It is always a good sign when the driver likes his bus !!