‘Scene’ at Manchester International Airport (MIA) 3

When I first visited in the 1950’s, ‘MIA” as it is now it was simply Ringway airport where we lads sat on the grass writing down the registrations only a stones throw from the aircraft. 

 

Only the posh kids possessed cameras, I certainly didn’t. The ladies in the nearby cafe kept us going with cups of tea and bottles of pop.

 

There are still some old timers (other than me) ‘lurking’ in the background,

 

G-DMCA

A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30

Originally built for ‘Zambia Airways’ (ZA) as N3016Z. It first flew on 11th. November 1980 but was only delivered to ‘ZA’ in July 1984.

It came to ‘Monarch Airlines’ in March 1996 being scrapped at Manchester in 2003 with the cockpit section being preserved there.

G-GDFY

 

A Boeing 737-86Q which first flew in October 2001 as N289CD for ‘Boullioun Air Services’ who are I believe a leasing company.

In November 2001 it was leased to ‘Travel Services’ in the Czech Republic as OK-TVC. Whilst with them, it was leased further to ‘Oman Air’ in 2002 and ‘Malaysia Airlines’ in 2005 before going to ‘Travel Service Hungary’ as HA-LKE in 2010.

 

It came to ‘Jet2’ in April 2014.

 

 

G-ZBAM

An Airbus A 321-231 of ‘Monarch Airlines’ (MA) which first flew on 25th. March 2014 with the German test registration of

D-AVZT. Delivered new to ‘MA’ on 10 April 2014.

 

D-AGWO

An Airbus A319-132 of ‘germanwings’. First flying on 13th. of January 2010 with the test registration of D-AVWH.

 

It was delivered new to the operator on the 22nd of January 2010.

 

G-JEDP

Originally a De Havilland Canada design called the Dash-8. Today it is marketed by Bombardier. It first flew in 2003 and was delivered new to ‘flybe’ in January 2004

 

D-ACNQ

Another Canadian built aircraft. This time a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ 900 of ‘Eurowings’. It first flew on the 7th. of January 2011 and was delivered new to the operator on the 21st.

 

‘Eurowings’ (EW) was formed in 1993 following the merger of two airlines. NFD based in Nurnberg and RFG in Dortmund. Growing to a size where they were able to operate aircraft up to the size of the Airbus A310. ‘EW’ were taken over by ‘Lufthansa’ and now operates as part of ‘Lufthansa Regional’. In July 2014 ‘Lufthansa’ announced that the CRJ fleet will be withdrawn and be replaced by Airbus A320’s.

 

PH-BXA

A Boeing 737-8K2 of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. It first flew in January 1999 with the American test registration N1786B. It was then delivered to KLM 0n the 25th. of February 1999. 

 

Since 2008 it has been painted in this ‘retro’ livery that was in use by the airline in the 1950’s. It was done so to celebrate 90 years of KLM.

 

LY-FLH

A Boeing 737-382 of ‘Small Planet Airlines’ (SPA) who are based in Lithuania. It first flew on 11/02/1992 and was leased on 25/02/1992 to ‘TAP Air Portugal’ by the ‘International Lease Finance Corporation’ (ILFC) as  CS-TIK.

In 1999 on the 30th. of April ‘ILFC’ leased it to ‘Air Malta’ as 9H-ADN.

On 24/05/2004 it went to ‘Air Sahara’ as VT-SAY (an Indian registration). While still carrying this registration, it had a spell with ‘Jetlite’ before coming to ‘SPA’ in July 2007.

 

G-TAWD

A Boeing 737-8K5 which first flew on the 8th. of February 2012 and was delivered new to the airline on the 23rd. of February 2012.

Note the complex arrangement of wingtip ‘hardware’ all of which are to improve fuel burn and performance.

 

EI-DEA

 

An Airbus A320-214 of Irish operator ‘Aer Lingus’.

It first flew with the French test registration F-WWBX in March 2004 being delivered to the airline on the 5th. of April 2004.

 

SU-GDY

A Boeing 737-866 of ‘Egyptair’. It first flew on the 14th. of October 2010 being delivered on the 22nd.

 

D-CGEO

A Learjet 60 operated by MHS Aviation Gmbh out of their Munich base. It was new to ‘Silver Bird’ in 1999. Then moving to ‘Cirrus Aviation’ in 2006 before coming to MHS.

 

There was a time when ‘British Airways’ (BA) provided a variety of aircraft types going to many destinations. During this visit, ‘BA’s only representatives were a couple of A 320‘s and this A319. 

 

G-EUPL

An Airbus A 319-131 of ‘British Airways’. It first flew on 24th. of May 2000 with the German test registration of D-AVYP and was delivered on the 8th. of June 2000.

 

G-OXLS

A Cessna 560XL Citation 2 operated by a company called ‘Hanger8’.

‘Scene’ in Burton on Trent (BoT) 1

BoT is perhaps best known for beer brewing. Just off the A38, Burton has 3 bus major companies plying for trade. ‘Midland Classic’ (MC) the subject of this blog. ‘Arriva Midlands’ and ‘trentbarton’ who will both have a turn later.

 

Apart from the buses Burton also lies on the railway line from Derby to Birmingham.The watery connection other than the river is the Trent and Mersey canal that also runs through the town.

 

Midland Classic (MC)

 

Was founded in 2005 by James Boddice and operates mainly in the, BoT, Swadlincote and Lichfield areas with an express route the X12 running into the West Midlands to Sutton Coldfield.

 

In recent times the bulk of the single deck fleet has been built around Scania L94UB’s with Wright Solar bodies.

 

That may be about to change.

 

SN62 DNJ

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 350 hybrid electric was in use on the day that I was there. An ‘ADL’ demonstrator it has done the rounds in recent times having visited ‘Centrebus’ in Leicester, ‘Cardiff Bus’, ‘Stagecoach in Yorkshire’, ‘First in York’ and local operator ‘trentbarton’ (tb) amongst others. This bus has since moved on.

 

YN62 AAK

Is a Former ‘ADL’ demonstrator. This time an Enviro 300 body on a Scania chassis. Again like the hybrid it has been around the operators including ‘MC’ and ‘tb’ again.

 

S24 SLT

One of 5 Scania L94UB’s with Wright Solar bodies that came from ‘South Lancs Travel’ of Atherton in Greater Manchester. The others being S25 SLT, S26 SLT, S27 SLT and S200 SLT.

 

The registrations suffix rather giving away their origin.

Carrying branding for the X12 service to Sutton Coldfield via Lichfield. Note the wings motif on the route number. Underlining the service’s ‘Flyer’ status.

 

Some of the small double deck fleet have London origins with the ones pictured here being Dennis Trident 2’s with Alexander ALX400 bodywork.

 

V302 KGW

 

Came from ‘Abellio’ together with KG306 KGW

 

V118 MEV

 

Came from ‘Stagecoach East London’ together with X264 NNO and X265 NNO.

FG52 WUC

An Optare Solo that was previously with ‘Felix’ of Ilkeston.

Y332 HWT

A further Optare Solo was with ‘Travelmaster’ in Manchester and before that with ‘RH Transport’ of Finstock in Oxfordshire.

 

YN05 GXJ

Is one of two Scania/Wright Solar buses that came from ‘Reading Transport’. The other being YN05 GXH.

 

 

S372 SET

This elderly Scania L94UB with Wright Access-Flowline bodywork looks well in the sunshine.

 

It was new to ‘Ludlows’ in the Halesowen area of the West Midlands who were taken over by ‘Diamond Buses’ who in turn are part of the ‘Rotala’ group.

 

YS02 XDO

 

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork.. It arrived with similar YN04 ANX from ‘Beeston’ of Hadleigh in 2011.

X94 USC

One more of the same which came from ‘Nottingham City Transport’ again in 2011.

 

I have included this image of 796 USA (Formerly 168 CLT) for its interest.

 

The former London Transport (LT) RM1168 is kept in ‘LT’ colours with the fleet name ‘Midland Classic’ done in traditional ‘LT’ style.

 

This image was taken at the ‘trentbarton’ 100 years celebrations at Langley Mill depot in May 2013.

 More images can be found on 'Flickr'

‘Scene’ in Bath

I don’t think that I have ever before built a blog around one single image so this has to be exceptional and it is.

 

YT13 YUK 

 

(Whoever picked this registration had either a sense of humour or a sense of the ridiculous).

 

It is a Scania gas bus demonstrator with an Alexander Dennis Ltd Enviro 300 body that is working for the ‘Bath Bus Company’ who are a subsidiary of the French owned RATP group.

 

Nothing unusual about a gas bus. Reading has them, Stagecoach in Sunderland has them. 

 

What is unusual is the source of the gas. In this case it comes from food and human waste and it is the latter that has lead to it being christened the ‘POO’ bus.

 

The vinyl’s on the nearside feature the same ‘people’ but whereas the ‘offsiders’ are scraping plates, the nearsiders are sitting on the toilet.

 

Employed for a trial period of 4 weeks between Bath and Bristol Airport the bus can travel 300 km on one filling of gas. 

 

This I believe is the amount of ‘fuel’ that 5 people will generate over a year.

 

I spoke to the driver who said that it is very quiet and easy to drive. 

 

I saw it move off and as far as I could tell there were no ‘noxious’ fumes being issued.

 

What the really country needs at the moment is a bus that will run on hot air. 

 

In the run up to the next General Election, a re-fuelling point at the Houses of Parliament would provide enough fuel to power the entire fleet of buses in London...! 

Scene’ in Derby today 11th. December 2014

The main purpose in going to Derby today was to try and get a glimpse of whatever ‘trentbarton’ were using on the ‘red arrow’ services. 

 

It is well known that they are looking to update the ‘red arrow’ fleet and have already trialled a Volvo/Plaxton Leopard and possibly a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo. 

 

Rumours speak of a Plaxton Interdeck still to come.

 

All was to no avail however as nothing resembling any of these turned up, at least whilst I was there.

 

It was a bitterly cold afternoon with some low sunshine which did not help with photography. By 3 o’clock the light was starting to go so it seemed a good time to head for home.

 

However, there were one or two items of interest.

 

YY64 GWJ

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200 working in ‘Centrebus’ (Cb) livery on ‘High Peak Buses‘ (HPB)  ‘transpeak’ service to Buxton. ‘HPB’ being part owned by ‘Cb’.

 

The first of four, the others being  YY64 GWK, GWL and GWM. It will be interesting to see if  they make it into the ‘transpeak’ livery.

 

YN08 MRO

 

One bus that did make it into ‘transpeak’ livery is this Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork that used to work in ‘Cb’ livery for the ‘Huddersfield Bus Company’. (HBC).

‘HBC’ being another ‘Cb’ company. Prior to that employment it worked for ‘Cb’ in Leeds.

 

When ‘tb’ introduced its ‘Zoom’ route last year, its rolling stock were all Optare Solo’s. They have recently been reinforced and presumably will be replaced with Scania/Wright saloons from elsewhere in the fleet.

 

FN04 HTA shows its dramatic livery to good effect. FN04 HSZ and HSD also put in an appearance.

 

R186 TKU

 

A Volvo B10M with Plaxton bodywork which at one time worked for ‘Gordons’ of Rotherham and before that was with ‘Wootens Luxury Travel’, a Buckinghamshire based operator.

 

Now upseated to 70 it would seem to be specifically aimed at the schools market.

 

I thought that when ‘Kinchbus’ got its Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s that the previous buses used on the ‘skylink’ service would be replaced. However as can be seen here that was not the case.

 

Although fellow Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE YN08 CWU has been stripped of its branding and transferred to the associated ‘Notts and Derby’ fleet.

 

YN08 CWU is still in service.

 

FN04 HSY

 

An older Scania/Wright combination continues in service seemingly in preference to the newer Volvo’s.

 

YN04 AGY

 

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork working on ‘tb’s ‘ilkeston flyer’ service is a survivor of the takeover of

‘Felix Bus Services’ of Stanley by ‘tb’ in 2012.

BK10 MFX 

 

A Volvo B7RLE with Plaxton Centro bodywork working for ‘yourbus’ (yb) of Heanor.

In a fleet dominated by Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s with more expected in January, it will be interesting to see if this bus survives in ‘yb’s fleet.

 

 M132 PRA

 

A Volvo B10B with Northern Counties ‘Paladin’ bodywork working in the Notts & Derby fleet. (N&D). 

 

‘N&D ‘are a member of the ‘Wellglade’ group and as such is assosciated with ‘trentbarton’, ‘Kinchbus’, ‘Midland General Omnibus Company’ and ‘TM Travel’

 

Using mainly older buses primarily on contract work many of their buses started life in the main ‘trentbarton’ fleet.

 

This bus, nearly 20 years old being one such.

 

Every time I see one of these, I think it might be the last time but they keep on going....!

 

N404 GSX

Another ‘N&D’ veteran, this time a Volvo Olympian with Alexander Royale bodywork that started life with

‘Lothian Regional Transport’ (Edinburgh) in Scotland before coming South in 2009.

 

W467 BCW

Another veteran ‘N&D’ ‘decker. This time a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL. One of four bought from ‘London United’ in 2010. Delivered in dual doored form, it has been recently converted to single door.

 

  

 

‘Scene’ at Norwich

Earlier this year, I had a day out on the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) which runs from Sheringham via Weybourne to Holt. The day was a father’s day outing paid for by my son Andrew and his wife Joy.

 

We got there by way of ‘East Midland Trains’ from Nottingham to Norwich and then by ‘abellio-greateranglia’ to Sheringham.

 

158812

This unit carried us to Norwich. The journey was painfully slow, arriving something in the region of 50 minutes late.

 

The Class 158 is a product of Derby works being built between 1989 and 1992.Totaling 182 units built, they are my favourites amongst the various modern diesel units being fast (normally), warm and comfortable.

 

Norwich is at the end of a fast connection into London terminating at Liverpool Street.

 

The services are run with class 90 electric loco’s and Mark 3 coaches in push-pull mode with the loco at the London end.

 

The Class 90’s were built at Crewe between 1987 and 1990. there were 50 of this Bo-Bo design built to replace many of the earlier electric loco classes such as the 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85‘s which dated back to the 1960’s.

 

90013

 

Although not currently named, it has in the past carried ‘ The Law Society’ and ‘The Evening Star: Pride of Ipswich 1885 to 2010-125 years of serving Suffolk’.

 

 

90008 'The East Anglian'.

 

90012 'Royal Anglian Regiment'.

The coaches used are standard Mark 3’s which are a comfortable ride.

 

The ‘country end’ of these trains is provided with a Driving Van Trailer (DVT). The batch of which 82152 is a member of were built by Derby works in 1988. Used initially by  ‘Virgin Rail’ on the West Coast Main Line before being cascaded East with the introduction of the Pendolino fleet on that route.

170 273

 

Seen on the buffer stops at Norwich. Another Derby product. One of a batch of 4 sets (170 270 to 273) built by Bombardier in 2002 specifically for the then ‘Anglia Railways’ Norwich -Peterborough services.

 

 

156 416

 

Seen at Sheringham after carrying us there from Norwich. Another product of the late 1980’s this time built by Metro Cammell and designated as a ‘Super Sprinter’. One of 114 two car sets produced.

 

Operating Norwich-Great Yarmouth shuttles due to a lack of suitable DMU’s were a pair of  ‘Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) Class 47 loco’s operating in top and tail mode with a couple of ‘DRS’ liveried coaches. These were the first ‘DRS’ livered coaches I had seen.

 

The history of the Class 47’s is to long to recount in any detail here. Suffice to say, they were a product of the 1950/60’s and became one of the most successful of the U.K. diesel classes produced.

 

Produced by Brush and powered by engines that were built by Sulzer of Swiss origin.

 

47 501 ‘Craftsman’

 

 

47 805 ‘John Scott 12.5.45-22.5.12’

 

A 2 car unit was made up by coupling two Class 153’s together. In this case 153335 (named Michael Palin) and 153314.

 

Andrew spotted this. Norwich possesses neither subway or footbridge access......!