‘Scene’ Darting around Edinburgh on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

There was a time when the Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SPD was the mainstay of ‘Lothian Buses’ single deck services in Edinburgh.

 

Now they are no more. 

 

However one has been secured for preservation.

 

New in service in 2002, the bus has been refurbished inside and out and painted in a new livery designed by David Cook.

 

The bus is now a promotion for ‘The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’ at Lathalmond, near the newly appointed City of Dunfermline, Fife.

 

Friend Stuart Montgomery, one of ‘Lothian Buses’ volunteer photographers has recently sent me images which I reproduce here with his permission and my thanks.

 

SK52 OJE ‘The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’ No. 61.

Dennis Dart SPD / Plaxton Pointer /1

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

 

 

 

 

SK52 OJE ‘The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’ No. 61.

Dennis Dart SPD / Plaxton Pointer /2

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

 

 

 

 

SK52 OJE ‘The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum’ No. 61.

Dennis Dart SPD / Plaxton Pointer /3

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

 

 

 

 

SK52 OJE ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 61.

Dennis Dart SPD / Plaxton Pointer /1

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

 

Pictured wearing ‘Lothian Buses’ Harlequin livery which was used to advise intending passengers that the bus was low floor and thus had a step free entrance.

 

This was considered important when the fleet was a mixture of buses with steps in the entrance and step free.

 

 

 

 

SK52 OJE ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 61.

Dennis Dart SPD / Plaxton Pointer /2

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

 

When the fleet became all low floor the need to differentiate disappeared enabling the buses to gain a more normal ‘Lothian’ livery.

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘JOHNSON BROS. 1’ on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.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. (Covid permitting).

 

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 was in my part of the world, the East Midlands.

 

The third visit of the second day was to ‘Johnsons’ depot at Hodthorpe which is near Worksop, Notts.

 

There were a large number of double decker buses which would appear to work on contracts, some luxury touring coaches which were mainly in store and the company’s collection of classic coaches.

 

S806 BWC ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. ‘www.johnsonstours.co.uk'

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400

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

 

New to ‘East London’ as TA6.

 

Then becoming ‘Stagecoach’ group No. 17006 and having spells in both Manchester and Devon with them from whom it was purchased.

 

 

 

 

T667 KPU ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. ‘www.johnsonstours.co.uk'

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400

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

 

New to ‘East London’ as TA67.

 

 Then becoming ‘Stagecoach’ group No. 17667 and working in  Manchester for ‘Greater Manchester South’ from whom it was purchased.

 

 

 

 

G102 AAD ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. ‘www.johnsonstours.co.uk'

Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL

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

 

New to ‘Cheltenham & Gloucester’ as No. 102.

 

Later becoming ‘Stagecoach’ No. 14272.

 

 

 

 

G864 XDX ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. ‘www.johnsonstours.co.uk'

Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL

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

 

New to ‘Chambers’, Bures, Essex/Suffolk border.

 

Acquired from ‘Cherry’ Bootle.

 

Although these last two images are of the same chassis/body combination, it is interesting to notice the slight differences in body styling around the headlights.

 

 

 

 

B736 GCN ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. ‘www.johnsonstours.co.uk'

Leyland Olympian / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Northern General’ as No. 3736.

 

Acquired from ‘Go Coastline’ (part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group which 

‘Northern General’ evolved into).

 

 

 

 

C658 LJR ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’. ‘www.johnsonstours.co.uk'

Leyland Olympian / Eastern Coach Works

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

 

New to ‘Northern General’ as No. 3658.

 

Again the same chassis/body combination and original customer but once more slight differences in the body styling around the headlights.

 

Acquired from ‘Nightingale’, Greencroft, County Durham.

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ at Transpire’s Peak Park Bus Gathering 2022 /1 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

For some years now, this event has been held at the ‘Peak Rail’ site at Rowsley in Derbyshire.

 

There is plenty of room for the 35 or so buses the event attracted together with the added bonus of the trains provided by ‘Peak Rail’.

 

This year being steam only.

 

A return to the traditional June date was welcome because last year the event was held in August due to the problems caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

SN03 DZM ‘Hulleys of Baslow’ No. 24 ‘For the best view of the Peak District’.

Transbus Trident / Alexander ALX400

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

 

My ‘Star of the Day’.

 

New to ‘London United’ as TA314.

 

Rebuilt in 2017 for open top service with ‘Bath Bus’, Bath for tourist services in that city, numbered 380.

 

 

 

 

R717 YWC ‘Pennine Motor Services’ No. D15, Gargrave, N. Yorks.

Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach East London’ in 1997 with two doors as PD17.

 

Transferred to ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ in 2001.

 

Then to ‘Stagecoach in the Highlands’ in 2009 from where it passed to ‘Pennine’ in 2010 via ‘Ensign Bus’, the London bus dealer.

 

An early model of the Dart with the step entrance.

 

A very readable and interesting history of  ‘Pennine Motor Services’ can be found on the internet by Googling ‘Pennine Motor Services 1925-2014’

 

 

 

 

SFJ 904 ‘Vallances Coaches’, ‘Ethel’, Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts.

Bedford SBG / Duple Vega /1

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

 

New to ‘Greenslades Tours’ of Exeter.

 

Known to enthusiasts of the time as ‘Butterflies’.

 

Look at the shape of the radiator grill.

 

The ‘G’ in the SBG signifies ‘Gasoline’ (American for petrol) which provided the power for this model.

 

Bedford being owned by the American ‘General Motors’ group.

 

 

 

 

SFJ 904 ‘Vallances Coaches’, ‘Ethel’, Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts.

Bedford SBG / Duple Vega /1

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

 

 

 

 

 

JMY 120N ‘National Travel’ ‘SUPERNATIONAL’.

Leyland National /1

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

 

I never liked the National.

 

It was the bus to buy because you were told to or because there was little else available.

 

The bus of last resort.

 

To be fair, this particular sample has survived for 50 years so somebody must like it.

 

 

 

 

JMY 120N ‘National Travel’ ‘SUPERNATIONAL’.

Leyland National /2

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

 

 

 

 

JMY 120N ‘National Travel’ ‘SUPERNATIONAL’.

Leyland National /3

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

 

‘Scene’ at Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.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. (Covid permitting).

 

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 was in my part of the world, the East Midlands.

 

The second visit of the second day was to ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’ who work out of a large modern depot at Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts. 

 

Redfern Travel’s site at Mansfield Woodhouse is extensive. 

 

There are however other premises, that I don’t know the ownership of in the immediate area that service the bus sector.

 

So, ‘at Mansfield Woodhouse’ seems a reasonable compromise.

 

YN55 NGJ ‘CT4N’ (Community Transport for Nottingham) No. 1015.

Scania N94UD / East Lancs Omnidekka

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

 

New to ‘Nottingham City Transport’ as No. 694.

 

 

 

 

K40 CTN ‘CT4N’ (Community Transport for Nottingham) No. 1006.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

New registered YJ60 LTN to ‘Webberbus’, Bridgewater.

 

Missing part of the panelling above the registration plate.

 

 

 

 

J19 CTN ‘CT4N’ (Community Transport for Nottingham) No. 1014.

Optare Tempo X1200

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

 

New to ‘trentbarton’ as YJ07 VSP No. 318.

 

 

 

 

LJ16 NMV ‘CT4N’ (Community Transport for Nottingham) No. 981 ‘medilink’.

BYD K9UR / BYD

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

 

 

 

 

BR21 OCX Operator not known but from its colour I would suggest ‘FLiXBUS’.

Van Hool EX16

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

 

 

 

 

KCG 627L ‘Trent Motor Traction No. 419.

Leyland National

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

 

I last saw this bus at Transpire’s Peak Park Preserved Bus Gathering 2016 at Rowsley, Derbyshire.

 

At the time I wrote, 

       

   “New to ‘Alder Valley’ as No. 127 in 1972. 

 

    It replaced a previous Leyland National in the fleet (XRB 419L) which also carried 419 as its fleet number.

 

    If memory serves me correctly, the earlier bus fell out of favour because it had 2 doors and the norm had become single doors”.

 

I must admit, It brought a smile to my face to see that this ‘old timer’ was still around at the age of 50.

 

 

‘Scene’ in Edinburgh by Peter Rose Coaches 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

Peter, a friend of many years standing, was in Edinburgh on holiday recently and has forwarded these images for me to share with you.

 

As usual, they appear with his consent and my thanks.

 

Many images in this selection were captured on Princes Street which is shared with other forms of transport including Edinburgh’s trams.

 

The track of which can be observed beneath some of the coaches.

 

SG71 OTA ‘ember’ Dundee.

YUTONG TCe12

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

 

The TCe12 is the first full electric zero emission coach to be offered in the UK  by any manufacturer and this example is 1 of only 2 that were imported into the UK in 2021 by ‘Ember Core’ for use on their Dundee-Edinburgh service.

 

‘Buses’ magazine for June 2022 on page 12 carries an interesting piece on ‘Ember Core’s plans for the companies future development.

 

Worth a read.

 

 

 

 

PSU 616 ‘edinburgh coach lines’ ‘SCOTLAND scottishrugby.org'

Volvo B11R / Jonkheere

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

 

New registered SF17 VPM.

 

Possibly a coup for Peter in that this seems to be the Scottish rugby team’s team coach or is it just a very good all over advertisement ??

 

 

 

 

221-G-2939 ‘Callinan Coaches’, Galway, ’C-I-E Tours International’.

DAF / Vanhool EX16M 

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

 

‘C-I-E Tours’ are the touring arm of ‘Bus Eireann’.

 

 

 

YT19 DZZ ‘Doigs Ltd’,  Glasgow ‘Platinum by Doigs’.

Scania K3601B4 / Higer

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

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’ 3 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.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. (Covid permitting).

 

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 was in my part of the world, the East Midlands.

 

The second visit of the second day was to ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’ who work out of a large modern depot at Mansfield Woodhouse, Notts.

 

The company are part of the ‘JOHNSON BROS. TOURS’ (JBT) group of Hodthorpe, Worksop, Notts. 

 

(More of which another day).

 

71 RT ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’. ‘JOHNSON BROS. Euro Cruiser Lady Denise’.

Irizar i4 / Irizar

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

 

New registered YN16 NZO. It has also carried  registration 76 RT.

 

 

 

 

RV71 EWH ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’. ‘JOHNSON BROS’, ‘Euro Star’.

Iveco 70C21/ Ilesbus

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

 

 

 

 

300 RT ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’. ‘JOHNSON BROS’.

Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante

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

 

New registered FJ12 FXA to ‘Stott’, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield for use on 

‘national express’ services.

 

 

 

 

63 RT ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’. ‘JOHNSON BROS’.

Mercedes-Benz 516 cdi / Excel

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

 

 

 

 

67 RT ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’. ‘JOHNSON BROS Euro Roamer’.

Van Hool TX16 Alicron

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

 

New registered YJ15 EUX.

 

 

 

 

L3 JBT ‘REDFERN TRAVEL’

Mercedes-Benz 511 CDi

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

 

‘Scene’ in Halifax 2 on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

My first real day out ‘bus hunting’ in 2022 was to the two West Yorkshire towns of Halifax and Huddersfield.

 

Only 9 or so miles apart in distance but separated in fact by an enormous hill along the top of which runs the M62 Motorway.

 

My first stop wherever I go is usually the local bus station.

 

Unfortunately, the one in Halifax was undergoing severe rebuilding work at the time of my visit and the bit that was still in operation was restricted viewing so it was time to take to the streets.

 

Whilst ‘First West Yorkshire’ is the dominant operator, there are others.

 

Probably the largest is now ‘team Pennine’ (tP) which is part of the ‘Transdev Blazefield’ (TB) group.

 

‘TB’ bought the ‘Yorkshire Tiger’ (YT) operation from ‘Arriva’ in 2021 and renamed it as ‘team Pennine’.

 

The ‘tP buses I saw in Halifax with one exception were all wearing their former ‘YT’ livery with the addition of vinyls that read,

 

 “Im joining team Pennine… they’re going to make me better”.

 

I would suggest to ‘tP’ that they do that as quickly as possible because the ex ‘YT’ livery does the buses no favours.

 

YJ07 JVM ‘team Pennine’ No. 1224.

VDL SB120 / Wright Cadet 

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

 

Pictured wearing the remains of the ‘flying tiger’ livery from when it worked in Leeds on the Leeds/Bradford airport shuttle for ‘Arriva’.

 

 

 

 

YJ62 FBL ‘team Pennine’ No. 202.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

New to ‘Webberbus’, Bridgewater, Somerset.

 

 

 

 

YK08 ERV ‘team Pennine’ No. 180.

Optare Solo M950

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

 

New to ‘Arriva Durham County’ No. 2803.

 

 

 

 

YJ57 YCA  ‘team Pennine’ No. 201.

Optare Versa V1110

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

 

New to ‘Webberbus’, Bridgewater, Somerset.

 

 

 

 

YJ55 BLZ ‘Stotts Coaches’.

Optare Solo M780SL

 

New to ‘Hughes & Goodsir’, Holyhead.