‘Six leggers’ ‘Scene’ at Showbus 2014

I have always had an attraction to 6 wheel buses and coaches. Its something about their size and the power that they convey.

I am too young to remember the pre war Leyland Gnu which like the Bedford VAL which I can remember from the 1960’s had the extra axle at the front. 

I also remember 6 wheel trolleybuses in both Rotherham and London in the 1950’s so maybe its the nostalgia that draws me to them.

Whatever the reason, there was plenty to enjoy at last years Showbus.

 

M1 PCV

 

A coach guaranteed to catch anyone’s eye.

An Ayats Bravo A3E/BR1 of ‘Barkerbus’ who are a long established operator operating out of Harlow in Essex.

Ayats are a Spanish coachbuilder building the Bravo range of double deck coaches to order in a variety of lengths ranging from 12m up to 15m.

 

B8 AWE

 

A Setra S 416 GT-HD from Eastons Coaches of Stretton Sawless, Norwich.

 

The registration cherished by ‘Eastons’ has previously been used on a Van Hool T9 Acron bodied vehicle.

 

A964 HVN

 

A much earlier Kassbohrer Setra being a S228DT with a body seating 74 passengers in coach style.

 

Operated by ‘Kings Luxury Coaches’ of Middlesborough, it looks to have been very well looked after during its 30 year career so far.

 

YN14 FXX

A Scania K440EB with 77 seat VDL bodywork owned by ‘Fords of Althorne’ who are based in Chelmsford, Essex.

 

DB64 RJB

A VDL Bova Synergie of ‘Brookline’. They operate this 83 seater from their base at West Malling in Kent.

 

WLT 868

An Optare Olympus bodied coach working for ‘Go-Coach’. It was formerly with ‘Classic Coaches’ of Anfield Plain, Stanley, County Durham.

 

The registration is interesting in that it was originally carried by Routemaster RM868 which after its service in London was reportedly exported to Sweden in 1998. It was further reported that it was repatriated in 2013.

 

 

L15 TBC

A  Neoplan Starliner of ‘Theobalds’ who are a long established operator in the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire area’s.

 

MT60 WKA

Another Neoplan product. This time a Tourliner again working for ‘Theobalds’. At one time it worked in a white colour scheme for ‘Weardale’ of Stanhope in the North East.

 

P563 MSX

A Volvo B10MA with Plaxton bodywork in the livery of ‘Ensignbus’ (Eb). Formerly operated by ‘Stagecoach West Scotland’ where it carried a branded livery for that companies X76 service.

‘Eb’ are the operating arm of the well known bus dealership of that name who are based in Essex. Because if its high passenger capacity it is regularly used on railway replacement work.

 

 

X14 BUS

A Volvo B9TL with East Lancs bodywork operated by ‘Morton Travel’ of Tadley near Basingstoke in Hampshire. The passenger capacity I believe is 106.

 

C21 BUS

Another Neoplan Starliner. This time working for ‘Coniston Coaches’ of Stourport on Severn. 

 

The partially faired in rear wheels is a touch unusual.

‘Scene’ in Burton on Trent (BoT) 3

‘BoT’ is perhaps best known for beer brewing. Just off the A38. Burton has 3 bus major companies plying for trade.

 

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

 

‘Midland Classic’ were highlighted in my blog dated 17/12/2014 whilst in my blog dated 28 /12/2014 ‘Arriva’ were the subject. Today sees the ‘trentbarton (tb) contribution. Plus one or two others.

 

Most of the ‘tb’ buses seen in Burton appear in the yellow livery of the ‘the villager’ series of routes.

 

These  (V1, V2 etc.) routes all start in Derby and terminate in Burton but are routed so that the many villages along the way get a service to both places.

 

Currently served by Scania L94UB’s with Wright Urban Solar bodies. All ‘the villager‘ branded buses carry livestock images to underline their rural credentials.

 

FJ03 VWB being Horses.

 

FJ03 VWE being Cattle (Friesians I think).

 

 

FJ03 VWF being Pigs.

FJ03 VWH being Rabbits

From time to time for operational reasons a fleet liveried vehicle will turn up suitably identified.

 

FJ55 AAU

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar Urban bodywork fills in.

 

The other regular ‘tb’ route is the X38. Run as a joint service with ‘Arriva’ which again runs from Derby to Burton but as the X indicates as an express service along the A38.

 

The regular performers are Optare Tempo’s. Introduced into service in 2007. The Tempo’s seem to have stood up well to the daily hammering that they get up and down the A38.

 

YJ07 VSC

 

 As with ‘the villager’, fleet liveried buses sometimes put in an appearance.

 

FJ55 AAZ

 

One more Scania L94UB with Wright Solar Urban bodywork.

 

YJ08 NTC

A Bova Futura of ‘Chiltern Travel’. A long established coach operator based at Blunham in Bedfordshire.

 

BU05 UBR

'East Staffordshire Mobility Link' operates this IVECO based mini bus providing transport for the less mobile.

 

 

‘Scene’ at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford

 

As we come to the last blog of 2014, it is timely to reflect on the 100th. anniversary of the outbreak of World War One (WW1) and rightly so. 

 

A chance then to look back at some of what we went to war with.

 

Surprisingly, the small number of aircraft from that time have not been brought together to form a single exhibit. Instead they are spread around in oddments.

 

F 3556

A Royal Aircraft Factory (RAF) RE 8 (Reconnaissance Experimental) dating from 1916.

Powered by a ‘RAF’ V12 engine. Built as a bomber it carried an observer/gunner in the rear cockpit.

 

This particular aircraft  was built by Daimler and survived the war by only having arrived in France on Armistice Day 1918.

 

D 5649

The Airco/De Havilland DH 9 was intended to replace the earlier DH4 but powered by a 230hp Siddeley Puma engine, its performance was not as good as the DH4 and losses on operations were severe.

Eventually re engined with the American ‘Liberty’ engine it went on to achieve success as the DH 9A. 

 

By virtue of its internal bomb bay, it has become regarded as a very early example of the ‘strategic bomber’ and as such was a forerunner of the Lancaster and Vulcan. 

 

It is intended to restore the aircraft to flying condition.

 

N 1977

 

A Nieuport 17 single seat fighter developed from the earlier N 11. Powered by a Le Rhone 130hp engine, the type had one fixed forward firing machine gun as armament.

As well as the French air Force, it also served with Britain’s Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service.

 

Introduced in early 1916, a year later it had been outclassed by more modern German fighters.

 

2699

 

A BE-2c of the ‘RFC’. Designed at the Royal Aircraft Factory but built by Rushton Proctor and Co. Ltd. It took part in wartime sorties against the Zeppelins in 1917.

Withdrawn from use in 1919 it was originally kept at the Imperial War Museum in London before coming to Duxford.

 

E 2581

 

A Bristol F2B. Usually known as the Bristol Fighter or ‘Brisfit’ in British service.

 

Powered by a Rolls-Royce Falcon engine and fitted with a fixed forward firing .303 machine gun and another flexibly mounted Lewis gun mounted in the rear cockpit.

 

By the end of the war, the 'Royal Air Force' which had come into being on the 1st.of April 1918 had 1,583 of the type in service.

 

Coming relatively late to the war in 1917, after a shaky start it acquitted itself ably and went on to serve with many other air arms worldwide into the 1930’s.

 

There is SPAD in the American section of the Museum which will be included in a later blog.

‘Scene’ in Burton on Trent (BoT) 2 ‘Arriva’

BoT is perhaps best known for beer brewing. Just off the A38. Burton has 3 bus major companies plying for trade. ‘Arriva’  the subject of this blog. ‘Midland Classic’ (see blog dated 17/12/2014) and ‘trentbarton’ who will have a turn later.

 

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

 

The last time I was in town (2 years ago) ‘Arriva’ seemed to have a lot of Optare Versa’s in service. This time there was the odd one but there seemed to be more ‘heavyweight’ buses around. Various Wright bodied DAF/VDL’s for example.

 

FJ13 FYW

A VDL SB200 with Wright Pulsar 2 bodywork. Branded for the X38, a joint service with ‘trentbarton’ (tb) that links BoT with Derby. ‘tb’s share of the route is generally run with Optare Tempo’s.

 

W227 SNR

A Dennis Dart SLF with Alexander ALX 200 bodywork which was new to ‘Arriva’ in Derby.

 

SK52 MLN

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton Mini Pointer 2 bodywork.

 

FL63 DXE

Another VDL SB200/Wright combination. Branded for the ‘BoT’- Leicester service which runs under a variety of route numbers. 

 

Apparently, the bus leaves Burton going to Coalville where the number changes and the destination becomes Leicester. I suspect that it something to do with the licensing arrangements otherwise why not just refer to it as a Burton- Leicester service?

 

 

FJ58 KXL

A Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork. it was new to Derby and transferred to Burton in 2013.

 

YJ09 LBK

An Optare Versa V1110 that at one time worked on the X38 Burton-Derby service in full X38 branding.

 

BF52 NZV

A DAF SB200 with Wright Commander bodywork. It was new to Wellington in Shropshire, coming to Burton in 2010.

 

FL63 DXH

One more of the VDL SB200/Wright combination.

 

BF52 NZZ

Another DAF SB200 with Wright Commander bodywork. Like NZU it was new to Wellington in Shropshire, coming to Burton in 2010.

 

BF52 NZU 

Yet another DAF SB200 with Wright Commander bodywork. It was new to Wellington in Shropshire, moving on to Coalville in 2011 and coming back to Burton in the same year.

 

FJ13 FYX

Another VDL SB200 with Wright Pulsar 2 bodywork.

 

FL63 DXG

Another of the same.

 

Further photos can be seen on my Flickr 

‘Scene’ in the fleet of ‘Felix of Stanley’

I would like to present this small selection of images relating to ‘Felix of Stanley’ to my readers with the hope that you enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy and more importantly, a Healthy New Year. 

 

Thank you for your interest and support.

 

Dennis

 

It is 3 years ago as of now since ‘Felix’s bus operations were sold to the Wellglade (WG) group.

To mark the anniversary and before memories start to fade, I thought that at this time of goodwill to all (bus)men that this small tribute to an independent operator who contributed substantially to the 'scene' in the East Midlands for so many years might be appropriate.

 

The coaching arm went elsewhere and the name can still be seen being carried by ‘Swiftsure Coaches’ of Burton-on-Trent.

 

So ended a business story that dated as far back as 1921 when Mr. Norman Frost set up with a Crossley lorry that was ex WD. A second vehicle a charabanc also by Crossley came the following year. The lorry was converted to a bus and a regular Ilkeston to Derby via Chaddesden service commenced. This was still the companies main route at the time of the takeover.

 

After Mr. Frost’s death in 1975, the business passed to his nephew Mr. Geoffrey Middup. In recent years ‘Felix’ had worked some services jointly with ‘trentbarton’ (tb) and although there was a brief interlude when it was thought that ‘Felix’ might be sold elsewhere, it was no surprise to me that ‘WG’ eventually took the company over.

 

Anyone wishing to know more about ‘Felix’ should search out a book published in 2006. Written by Mr. Paul D. Chambers and  published by Adlard Print & Reprographics of The Green, Ruddington, Nottingham. It covers all but the final years in great detail.

 

ORB 554K

A Bedford YRQ with Plaxton Derwent bodywork seen in the old Derby bus station. It was new to ‘Frosts Coaches’. and also operated for ‘Caves Bus Service’ of Shirley in the West Midlands.

WRC 826S

 

A Bedford YMT chassis, the bodywork being a Duple Dominant 2 Express.It was eventually disposed of the West Hallam Community Partnership.

 

J564 URW

A Leyland Lynx 2 which came from ‘VL Bus’ in Warwick in 1992.

 

SN54 HXG

 

An Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL). Enviro 300 demonstrator which had a spell on trial.

Seen again in the old Derby bus station. I always liked the body styling on this version of the E 300 preferring it to the bulbous rounded version currently in production.

 

YN55 YSE

 

An Iveco with Plaxton’s Paragon bodywork. One of a pair, the other being YN55 YSF. I did an excursion on this coach and very comfortable and smooth it was.

 

 

Derbyshire County Council have a discounted travel and services card called ‘b.line’ which is available to youngsters from age 14 to 18 who are still in education.

 

Of course an ideal way of promoting this is by advertising it on the side of buses.

 

V707 ENN

A Mercedes-Benz Vario 814-D with Plaxton Beaver bodywork is one such. This bus also appeared in in the red based ‘Ilkeston Flyer’ livery and was eventually sold on to an operator in the Aylesbury area.

 

FG52 WUC

An Optare Solo was another. After ‘Felix’ it went on to work for ‘Midland Classic’ based at Swadlincote.

 

V708 GRY

A Volvo B10BLE with ‘ADL’ ALX 300 bodywork. It moved on to ‘Harrogate Coach Travel’ where it carries ‘connexions buses’ branding. In addition perhaps as a nod to its origins it also carries the name ’Felix’. A nice touch.

 

W218 PRB

An Optare Excel again seen in the old Derby bus station. This bus is included because of its ‘Black Cat’ livery. It was a ‘trentbarton’ vehicle working a joint service. It eventually moved on to both Anglianbus and Konectbus.

 

X711 GJU

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton’s Pointer 2 bodywork eventually moved on to Richard Brothers of Newport in Wales.

 

YN03 WRA

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork. It is still with ‘Wellglade’ group albeit painted in ‘Notts & Derby’ (N&D) livery.

 

YJ56 KBF

A VDL SB200 with Plaxton Centro bodywork.

 

YN04 AGY

 

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork. Still in service with ‘trentbarton’ in the same livery on the ‘Ilkeston Flyer’.

Apart from the Scania/Wright in the ‘Ilkeston Flyer’ livery, there are three other buses that joined ‘WG’ at the same time. They all now carry ‘Notts & Derby’ livery and are,

 

YN05 GZB

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork.

 

YN03 WRA

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork.

 

YJ56 KBF

A VDL SB200 with Plaxton Centro bodywork.

 

So a small part of ‘Felix’ lives on albeit in new colours.