'Scene' in Heanor

Heanor, a small mid Derbyshire town lies at the crossroads of the A 6007 and the A 608. It used to be on the road that linked Manchester with Nottingham but a bye-pass ended that.

 

Once the centre of a busy East Midlands coalfield, that went the same way as most of the other English coalfields.

 

A bit of a backwater then in some ways so it comes as a bit of a shock for there to be what the press love to call ‘a bus war’ taking place in the town.

 

‘trentbarton’ (tb) whose origins can be traced back over 100 years now having recently celebrated that momentous birthday has always been the main player in the town.

 

‘yourbus’ (yb) are a newcomer dating from 2009 who have a depot in the town.

 

For many years ‘tb’ ran their service from Derby to Heanor with an hourly extension to Alfreton as the H1.

 

Starting in August last year, ‘yb’ started its Y1 service from Heanor to Derby even offering to accept ‘tb’ tickets. They do not cover ‘tb’s extension to Alfreton.

 

Between them then ‘tb’ and ‘yb’ provide 8 buses an hour each way. 

 

At one time ‘tb’s rolling stock was the unusual Optare Vecta which utilised MAN 11.190 running units but these days it uses Wright Solar Urban bodied Scania L94UB’s in a dedicated livery although from time to time fleet liveried buses turn up.

 

FJ03 VVR 

 

  FJ55 ABK

Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s are ‘yb’s choice for the Y1.  Here we see BK13 XYC pulling on to the stand in Heanor.

So, what else is there to see.

 

‘tb’ have 2 routes serving Ripley and Nottingham which pass through Heanor.

 

‘rainbow 1’ runs all stops via  Codnor, Loscoe, Heanor, Langley, Eastwood, Kimberley and Watnall. Running time is scheduled, depending on the time of day to be about an hour and a quarter although on bad traffic days it can take longer.

Current rolling stock are Scania L94UB’s (bought 2004) with Wright Solar Urban bodies seating 44.

 

They are painted in a dark shade of blue which preserves the memory of the old 
Midland General Omnibus Company (taken over by Trent in 1969) who ran the route back then. At Eastwood the route combines with other ‘rainbow one’ services that originate in Alfreton to provide an increased frequency into Nottingham

 

FN04 HSY 

‘rapid 1’ runs all stops via Codnor, Loscoe, Heanor, Langley, and then non stop along the A 610. Running time is scheduled for just over fifty minutes.

 

Current rolling stock is with Volvo B7RLE’s (bought 2009) with Wright Eclipse bodies seating 45. 

 

The paintwork is still dark blue, albeit a lighter shade than the Rainbow 1.

 

 

FJ09 BXE 

 

‘tb’ have many ‘branded routes’. One of which is the ‘amberline’. This route links Derby with Hucknall via Kilburn and Heanor.

 

Usually operated with Optare Solo’s (of which ‘tb’ has bought over 100).

 

Painted in a bright shade of orange and unless my eyes deceive me, two different shades at that.

 

X627 ERB 

 W412 YAL

 

 

Other Solo’s in the ‘tb’ fleet in town were W414 YAL seen working route 1A which links Ripley via Heanor to Aldercar. This includes a number of diversions onto housing estates which are spread along the route.

 

and FE02 KFD

One of a number of buses in the fleet liveried to advertise ‘tb’ s ‘Mango’ card. This is a smart card which can be purchased and gives discounted travel on ‘tb’ services.

 

Seen working on route 23 which links Heanor to Kirk Hallam via Ilkeston. Like the 1A, it includes a number of housing estates along the way.

 

MX62 GVZ

One of ‘yb’s Wright Streetlite’s acquired a little over a year ago that is seen on the 138 linking Heanor to Belper via Kilburn.

Using both Wheel forward and Door forward buses, ‘yb’ have built up a significant network of routes in central Derbyshire. (see my blog entries for 17th and 28th October 2013 for details).

 

YJ07 VSG

An Optare Tempo 1 working on ‘tb’s lengthy ‘black cat’ route linking Derby to Mansfield via West Hallam, Ilkeston, Heanor, Kirkby and Sutton in Ashfield.

LX58 BZC

A Mercedes-Benz ‘Sprinter’ conversion working for ‘Harrison Ford Executive Transport’ of Mansfield.

'Scene' in Chesterfield

Chesterfield’s motto which appears on the towns coat of arms is one word ‘Aspire’ which I have always thought a clever play on words.

 

Everyone, I think ‘Aspires’ to do or be something in life. (in my case it is to be a better photographer).

 

While Chesterfield’s unique landmark by which it is known worldwide is ‘A spire’. The one that adorns the church. As I say, clever.

 

So what was there to see of a transport nature.

 

I travelled by ‘trentbarton’s (tb) ‘red arrow’ service which is usually the province of suitably painted coaches. Today there were more buses than coaches. I travelled home on the ‘Mango’ bus but the light was too poor for photography so in true ‘Blue Peter’ fashion, here is one I took earlier. 

FJ08 WHS

A Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE.

FJ55 AAZ

A Wight bodied Scania L94UB.

FJ09 XPL

Another Volvo/Wright combination wearing what was the ‘old’ fleet livery.

‘tb’s associate company TM Travel turned up with a trio of Optare Solo’s in an assortment of liveries. All of them were members of the main ‘tb’ fleet at on time.

W411 YAL

 

W413 YAL

 

 

X631 ERB

 

NH11 MTH 

The only coach to put in an appearance on the coach bays was this sparkling clean SETRA S415GT-HD of

'National Holidays' which had delivered a party of holiday makers from Hull to sample Chesterfield before taking them back to their hotel in Leicestershire.

 

The ‘pronto’  from Chesterfield to Nottingham via Mansfield service is run as a joint venture by ‘tb’ and Stagecoach and samples of both fleets visit are pictured.

 

FX09 DCE

A MAN 18.240 powered Alexander Dennis  (ADL) Enviro 300 from Stagecoach.

 

and FJ03 VVY 

another Scania L94UB/Wright bus from ‘tb’

 

 

The  ‘Stagecoach’ fleets nationwide have become standardized over the years but if you look there is usually something a bit different.

 

1975 HE

Is a Dennis Trident with Alexander’s ALX 400 bodywork which is common enough but what makes this bus different is that it carries a registration which I think is a cherished registration from the old ‘Yorkshire Traction’ (YT) company from the days before ‘YT’ joined ‘Stagecoach’.

 

YN54 VKB

A Scania 94UD with East Lancs Omnidekka bodywork which I believe was ordered by ‘YT’ again in pre ‘Stagecoach’ days.

 

FT13 NZU

Is a Dennis Trident 2 with Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 bodywork.

What makes this a bit different is that it is based at Worksop and as a consequence of that carries

‘Lincolnshire Road Car’ legal titling.

 

 

G & J Holmes of Clay Cross are a small but long lived company. On the day, they were represented by,

 

YX63 GYK 

An ADL Enviro 200 that has recently joined the fleet. Seen here loading for the lengthy run to Buxton.

 

and YN54 XXP

A Plaxton Beaver 2 bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario. A type declining in numbers. At one time both ‘TM Travel’ and ‘Stagecoach’ used them in the town. 

 

As a photographer, I am used to getting mixed reactions from bus drivers. Most of the time they ignore me or are neutral to my being there. 

 

I get far more thumbs up than thumbs down. However, I have never before received the rapturous welcome that I got from this ‘Stagecoach’ driver.

 

Thank you young man, Sir Brian would be proud of you !!

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Derby today 3rd. January 2014

The weather was not at its best but a trip into town to buy a new mobile phone gave me the opportunity to capture a few images.

 

MX12 DYV

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 currently working for Wellglade group subsidiary ‘Kinchbus’ on the Derby to Leicester ‘skylink’ service which travels via the East Midlands Airport and Loughborough.

 

For a 12 plate it is much travelled having already worked for ‘City Sprinter’ in Glasgow, ‘Utopia Coaches’, Aberfoyle Coaches, ‘Maytree (Manchester)’ and ‘Stephensons of Easingwold’.

 

Its travels suggest one of two things and they are that maybe it is an ADL demonstrator and perhaps ‘Kinch’ might be considering an order or that it is owned by a dealer and it is being rented out to cover temporary shortages in the fleets where it has worked.

 

Only time will tell !!

 

R932 RAU

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton Pointer bodywork which by coincidence is also connected to Wellglade. Previously with ‘trentbarton’ (tb) as its No. 932.

 

Now working for ‘Littles’ of Ilkeston, it is deputizing for an ADL Enviro 200 on the Derby Pride Park Park and Ride service. 

 

A close look at the removed lettering on the cove panel would suggest that it was used on competetive services into Nottingham when ‘tb’ were facing stiff competition from former competitor ‘Premiere’.

A coupe of now elderly veterans still able to earn their keep are this pair of Optare Excels.

 

Y266 DRC 

Doing a stint on the ‘tb’ ‘Zoom’ service to Long Eaton and soon to be extended to Sawley.

 

Y264 DRC

In between journeys on the V3 traveling via Repton and Willington to Burton on Trent.

 

Derbyshire County Council’s timetable shows route this as being operated by ‘notts & derby’.

‘tb’ have a large number of Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10B’s parked alongside Meadow Road depot in what I have come to regard as the ‘Departure Lounge’ for buses shortly to leave the fleet.

 

That being so, it seemed to be a good time to record them while there is still an opportunity.

 

M133 PRA

New in January 1995 in normal ‘notts & derby’ livery operating service 17 to Borrowash.

 

L133 LRA

Which is a year older in Derby ‘unibus’ livery also on the 17.

 

It was a good day for elderly buses

 

 

Y492 UGC

 

A DAF 250 with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork on a short working of the X50 going to Uttoxeter.

 

Originally in 'Arriva London' service complete with two doors. It lost its second door when it came to work for ‘Wardle Transport’ of Stoke On Trent in the days before they were taken over by ‘Arriva’.

P256 PSX

Retaining its second door is former ‘Lothian Transport’ Alexander ‘Royale’ bodied Volvo Olympian which considering the poor and dirty weather looks immaculate. ‘notts & derby’ livery sits well on these buses.

'Scene' in Norfolk

Recently, whilst in Norfolk to visit Thursford  for the collection and Kings Lynn (see blogs dated 20th. & 23rd. December 2013). I was able to capture a few coach images.

 

YJ10 DJZ

A DAF powered Van Hool T916 Astron of ‘Brookline Coaches’. ‘Brookline’ are an operator with a long history dating back to 1938 and are based in West Malling, Kent. The full side decoration is particularly impressive. 

 

The coach previously operated with ‘Centurion Tours’. 

 

MX10 DFZ

A Neoplan N2216SHD Tourliner of ‘Buckleys’ of Doncaster seen turning into Kings Lynn’s bus station.

 

At one time Neoplan were better known for their more exotic coach designs such as the ‘Starliner’. However the more restrained styling of the Tourliner has seen them being sold in increasing numbers.

 

Having spent a week touring Germany a year or so ago in a similar vehicle, I know first hand what comfortable and well appointed vehicles these are.

 

PN06 KJZ

A Volvo B12B with Plaxton Paragon bodywork working for ‘Coach Services Ltd’ of Thetford.

 

Seen laying over in Kings Lynn bus station between journeys on service 40 from Thetford. It previously worked for ‘Alfa Coaches’

 

This lengthy route operates several times a day during the week but only once on Saturdays arriving in Kings Lynn at 10-51am and not returning until 13-30pm. Presumably full of heavily laden shoppers. 

 

It was a very ‘dirty’ day as these images show but the driver spent s lot of his time cleaning his windows and an excellent job he made of them.

 

Although seen in Norfolk both of these two coaches are normally resident in Derbyshire. Both operators have long histories and they seem to fare well in todays uncertain climate.

 

TIB 2057

This Van Hool Alizee bodied Volvo belongs to ‘Coopers Tours’ of Killamarsh which lies to the North East of Chesterfield.

 

PN10 AHA

This MAN 18.400  with Beulas Cygnus bodywork is in the service of ‘Slacks’ Tours of Matlock.

 

 

The 'sawley xprss'

It is barely three months since I wrote about this new venture for ‘trentbarton’ (tb) which ran into Nottingham with fleet liveried Optare Solo’s.

 

At the time, I commented that I was disappointed that there was no route branding on the vehicles. 

 

I had an Email from Alex Hornby ‘tb’s Commercial Director which stated "that the route needed to prove its value before committing to the investment of branding”. 

 

This has proved to be a sound piece of thinking because I note from Derbyshire County Council’s ‘Changes to bus services’ that the service will be withdrawn as from the 26th. of January 2014.

 

It is sad to see it go but I see in the same notice that ‘tb’s ‘Zoom’ service is to be extended from the same date to New and Old Sawley so hopefully all is not lost.

 

The ‘Zoom’ service Optare Solo's are route branded and a couple of images are shown here for completeness sake.

 

 

 

 

'Scene' at Crewe (even more briefly than Stafford)

I literally had 10 minutes between trains at Crewe so it was up the steps and point the camera at anything that came my way. It was also getting late in the day and the lighting was not at its best so it was a case of get what you can or not at all.

 

YJ51 ENC

A DAF SB120CS with Wright Cadet bodywork working for ‘D&G’ Bus came from  ‘Johnsons of Henley in Arden’.

 

 

P185 TGD

A Volvo Olympian with Alexander RH bodywork has been around the ‘First’ group block a few times. Currently with

‘First Potteries’. it was new to ‘Strathclyde’ coming to ‘First’ when that operator became part of the group. It then had spells with ‘First Essex’, ‘First Wyvern’ and ‘First Midland Red’.

 

Y36 TDA

A Dennis Dart MPD with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork belonging to‘Arriva Northwest & Wales’ 

 

MX05 CFV 

A Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork, A ‘First Potteries’ bus that was new to ‘First Manchester’.Although route branded for the service 25 it is operating on the 20 to Hanley.

YJ54 ZYE

An Optare Solo M850SL carrying ‘Cheshire Connect’ livery. One of 6 buses carrying this livery that are part of the fleet of ‘D&G Bus’, Crewe.

 

323239

One of 7 3 car class 323 units allocated to Northern Rail shortly to return to Manchester Piccadilly on the hourly service.

Built by Hunslet TPL in 1992/3. They were last Hunslet produced vehicles prior to that company’s collapse.