‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 5 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them now that the good weather has broken.

 

Nothing lasts for ever so it’s time to put away the open toppers for another year.

 

While there is seemingly an inexhaustible supply of open/part open top double deckers, the same cannot be said for the single deck equivalent.

 

Over many years, I have only come across a handful and here are three of them.

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /1

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Pictured in Oban, Scotland.

 

New registered R928 XVM to ‘Stagecoach Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /2

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

M800 WCM ‘West Coast Motors’ No.19702.

Volvo B10M / Alexander PS /3

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

 

 

 

TDL 564K ‘Midland Vectis’.

Bristol RELL6G / Eastern Coach Works

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Southern Vectis’ No. 864, Isle of Wight.

 

Rebuilt to part open top by ‘SV’ in 1986 where it worked on the IoW branded as the ‘Shanklin Pony’ for many years.

 

The last time I saw it was in the IoW bus museum at Newport where I presumed it would stay.

 

How it comes to be this far North I don’t know.

 

Pictured at Rowsley, the home of Peak Rail, Derbyshire at the inaugural rally of the Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity in June 2023.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /1

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

 

New to ’Maidstone & District’ No. SO26 in 1947.

 

Converted to open top by ‘M&D’ in 1958 as No. OR3.

 

Pictured at ‘SHOWBUS 2022’.

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /2

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

 

 

 

 

HKL 836 ‘LONDON VINTAGE BUS HIRE LIMITED’.

AEC Regal / Beadle /3

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

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 4 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them while the good weather lasts.

 

W631 PSX ‘ACE Travel’ No. 305, City Sights Liverpool.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 31.

 

 

 

 

SFZ 404 ‘SEAFORD & DISTRICT’ No. 819, Eastbourne Sightseeing.

Dennis Trident 2 / East Lancs Lolyne

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

 

New registered T819 RFG to ‘Brighton & Hove’ No. 819. 

 

Pictured waiting for custom outside Eastbourne Pier.

 

 

 

 

BX55 XLV ‘East Yorkshire’ No. 889, Scarborough’s Beachcomber.

Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini

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

 

New to ‘Travel London’ but purchased via the ‘Ensign’ dealership.

 

 

 

 

SJ16 CTK ‘Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd.’ No. 230 City Sightseeing Tour.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Most open top buses have previously been fully roofed double deck buses that have been cut down to either part open top or fully open top.

 

Unusually, this bus is one of a batch of buses ordered new as part open toppers by the ‘Lothian Buses’ group which includes ‘Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd.’

 

This image courtesy of friend Peter Rose.

 

 

 

 

HF09 FVY ‘Wilts & Dorset’ No. 1405, more.

Scania N230UD / Optare Olympus

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

 

Pictured in Sandbanks having been demoted to bus work from its previous ‘Purbeck Breezer’ branding.

 

 

 

 

MXZ 7653 ‘First Scotland East’ No. 32729, Bright Bus Tours Edinburgh.

Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President 

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

 

This image courtesy of friend Peter Rose.

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 3 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them while the good weather lasts.

 

L999 SSB  ‘shoreline suncruisers’, Scarborough.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New in 1999 registered V522 ESC to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 522.

 

Rebuilt to open top in 2011 by its then owner ‘Majestic Tours’.

 

Pictured on the Marine Drive with Scarborough Castle looking down from the top of the cliff behind the bus.

 

 

 

 

V309 KGW ‘Seaford & District’ No. TA9, Eastbourne Sightseeing 

Dennis Trident 2 / Alexander ALX 400 

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

 

New to ‘Connex’, London No. TA9 which it still retains.

 

Pictured waiting for customers outside Eastbourne Pier.

 

 

 

 

T407 SMV ‘Transdev’ No. 4009, ‘CitySightseeing York’. 

Dennis Trident / East Lancs Lolyne 

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

 

Originally a diesel engined bus that has been converted to battery electric propulsion.

 

New to ‘Metrobus’ as No. 407.

 

Pictured just leaving the stand outside York railway station.

 

 

 

 

A10 EYD ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd’. No. 881, Scarborough & District Sea Front Service.

Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 

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

 

New registered X579 EGK to ‘Go-Ahead London’ No. PVL 179 from which time it retains its second door.

 

Pictured on Scarborough seafront.

 

 

 

 

L555 SSB ‘shoreline suncruisers’.

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President

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

 

New In 1999 registered V516 ESC to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 516.

 

Rebuilt to open top in 2010 by its then owner ‘Edinburgh Tours’.

 

Pictured on the Marine Drive with Scarborough Castle looking down from the top of the cliff behind the bus.

 

 

 

 

V519 ESC ‘Transdev’ No. 4019 ‘CitySightseeing York’. 

Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President 

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

 

The ‘CitySightseeing’ open top operation in York earns its green credentials by being 100% electric.

 

Originally a diesel engined bus that has been converted to battery electric propulsion.

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ as No. 519.

 

Pictured waiting for customers in York

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 2 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

The recent spell of warm, sunny weather set me in mind of open top buses which are traditionally used to enjoy this rare spectacle in British skies.

 

Some of these images have appeared before, but not for a long time, so enjoy them while the good weather lasts.

 

SIG 1847 ‘Maghull Coaches’, Liverpool.

DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

New registered T206 XBV to ‘ARRIVA London North’ No. DLP6.

 

 

 

 

BYX 118V ‘Top Line Travel’, York Citysightseeing.

MCW DR101/9 Metrobus 1 / MCW

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

 

Converted to open top in 1997.

 

New to ‘London Transport’  No. M118.

 

Pictured just down the road from York railway station.

 

 

 

 

SJ16 ZZP ‘Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd.’ No. 248, MAJESTIC TOUR.

Volvo B5TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Most open top buses have previously been fully roofed double deck buses that have been cut down to either part open top or fully open top.

 

Unusually, this bus is one of a batch of buses ordered new as part open toppers by the ‘Lothian Buses’ group which includes ‘Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd.’

 

 

 

T209 XBV ‘Yellow Buses’, Bournemouth No. 436.

DAF DB250 / Plaxton President

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

 

New to ‘ARRIVA London North’ No. DLP9.

 

Converted to part open top in 2006.

 

 

 

 

HF54 KXV ‘Wilts & Dorset’ No. 1823., New Forest Tour.

Volvo B7TL / East Lancs Myllenium

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

 

New as No. 403.

 

Pictured in Lymington, Hampshire.

 

 

 

 

HF59 DMO ‘Wilts & Dorset’ No. 1406, Purbeck Breezer.

Scania N230UD / Optare Olympus

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

 

Pictured at Swanage railway station waiting to load for its return to Bournemouth.

 

‘Scene’ In The Sunshine 1 (hopefully) on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

GYE 603W  ‘Guide Friday’ The York Tour.

MCW DR101/14 Metrobus 1 / MCW

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

 

New to ‘London Transport’  No. M603.

 

Rebuilt to part open top in 2011 for ‘Transdev York’ No. 4003 where this image was captured.

 

 

 

 

A517 VKG ‘Guide Friday’, York Citysightseeing.

Leyland Olympian / East Lancs.

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

 

New to ‘Cardiff Bus’ and converted to open top for ‘Transdev York’ in 1999.

 

Pictured in York.

 

 

 

 

HJ16 HSZ ‘Go South Coast’ No. 1704, Purbeck Breezer.

Volvo B5TL / MCV EVOSETI

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

 

One of my favourite bus journeys is aboard this service which operates from Bournemouth, via the Sandbanks Ferry to Swanage.

 

Pictured in Bournemouth.

 

 

 

 

T502 SSG ‘CitySightseeing Bournemouth’, Poole Bay & Sandbanks Explorer.

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400

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

 

New to ‘Lothian Buses’ No. 502.

 

Converted to open top in 2007.

 

 

 

 

VFT 189T ‘East Yorkshire’ No. 889, FLAMINGO LAND.

Leyland Atlantean / MCW

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

 

New to ‘Tyne & Wear PTE’ No.189.

 

Converted to open top in 2002.

 

Pictured at the North Bay terminus as was in Scarborough.

 

 

 

 

 

HF05 GGP ‘Wilts & Dorset’ No.1829, New Forest Tour.

Volvo B7TL / East Lancs Myllenium

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

 

New as No. 409.

 

Pictured in Lymington, Hampshire.

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ on a PSV Circle Organised Visit. ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.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.

 

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 being in the North West of England centred on the Holiday Inn Express, Preston.

 

Friend Peter Rose joined me for what turned out to be a sometimes wet, but very enjoyable weekend.

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we have gathered. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

The last two visits of the weekend were to ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ depots at Hyde Road and Sharston.

 

Hyde Road produced the ‘King Charles III’ bus featured in my first blog posted on 24/04/2023 and this one featuring training buses

 

By the time we got to Sharston the rain had set in again and although I had a quick walk round, I took no photographs.

 

The return to our hotel followed.

 

After farewells to our other group members, it was off home, again in the rain.

 

Thanks go to the ‘PSV Circle’ as a group for organising the weekend and to Chris Elkins and Paul Whiteside as individuals for their efforts to keep the group in some sort of order.

 

As another member commented to me, “It must be like herding cats”.

 

To you, the viewer/reader:

 

If you have been with this series from the start, you have read/viewed over 30 blogs and viewed over 180 images.

 

Strangely enough, almost the same numbers as last year

 

Here’s to the next time, hopefully!

 

Thank you for your interest.

 

 

LX51 FNA ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 17499, Driver Training.

Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400

on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’ 

 

Because the buses were so tightly packed in the depot, I had to use an almost ‘fisheye’ lens to get the whole thing in.

 

It was either that or no photograph at all!

 

New to ‘Stagecoach East London’ No. TAS 499 but acquired from ‘Glenvale Travel’.

 

 

 

GX58 MVF ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 22742, Driver Training.

MAN 18.240 / Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 300

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach South’.

 

 

 

MX06 LUL ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 22399, Driver Training.

MAN 18.220 / Alexander ALX300

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

 

New to ‘Greater Manchester South’.

 

 

 

 

SP06 DBV ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 22404, Driver Training.

MAN 18.220 / Alexander ALX300

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Fife Scottish’.

 

 

 

SP06 DAO ‘Stagecoach Manchester’ No. 22400, Driver Training.

MAN 18.220 / Alexander ALX300

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

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Fife Scottish’.

‘Scene’ at ‘Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum’ on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’

A recent day out took friend Peter Rose and myself into pastures new when the transport delights of ‘Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum’ were explored.

 

As we have done before, we have combined all the images we gathered on the day. 

 

The credits being joint D.Basford/P.M.Rose.

 

The early years of this, the third decade of this century has seen a rush to electric traction for buses albeit with the extensive use of batteries to store the electricity.

 

Many of the younger generation may not realise that the rush to electric traction for buses originally started in the 1920s and 30s and peaked in the 1950s.

 

At that time the electricity came down wires that required a lot of overhead infrastructure and numbers of support poles to get it to the buses.

 

That was part of the downfall of the trolleybus because it was expensive to construct and expensive to replace when time expired. 

 

It was unsightly and just imagine getting planning permission for getting more of it erected these days.

 

The trolleybus, then, was a bit of a blind alley but it is fondly remembered by many who grew up with it for its cleanliness and quietness. 

 

Hence the numbers of people who turn up regularly to see and to ride.

 

Many modern day operators would be delighted to see the queues that formed for the experience..

 

The only downside to the museum has to be its location which is on the Isle of Axholme northeast of Doncaster.

 

Just in Lincolnshire and as such, literally, miles from any substantial centre of population.

 

In all the images in this blog, note the amount of wiring and the number of poles.

 

CDT 636 ‘Doncaster Corporation Transport’ No. 375.

Karrier W4 / Roe /1

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

 

Built in 1945 with a ‘Park Royal’ body as No. 75 and subsequently re-bodied by ‘Roe’ in 1955.

 

 

 

 

CDT 636 ‘Doncaster Corporation Transport’ No. 375.

Karrier W4 / Roe /2

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

 

Pictured with other buses waiting their turn in service.

 

 

 

 

HYM 812 ‘London Transport’ No. 812.

BUT 9641T / Metro-Cammell /1

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

 

 

 

 

HYM 812 ‘London Transport’ No. 812.

BUT 9641T / Metro-Cammell /2

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

 

 

 

 

EKU 746 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ No. 746.

BUT 9611T / Roe /1

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

 

 

 

 

EKU 746 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ No. 746.

BUT 9611T / Roe /2

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

 

 

 

 

EKU 746 ‘Bradford Corporation Transport’ No. 746.

BUT 9611T / Roe /3

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

 

Later in the day, this bus had some form of malfunction which required its removal by a tractor.

 

We hope that it was nothing serious.

 

 

 

 

FTO 614 ‘Nottingham City Transport’ No. 802.

AEC Regent / Metro-Cammell

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

 

New as service bus No. 31 in 1939.

 

Following an accident in 1950, it was withdrawn by NCT and converted into a tower wagon for servicing the trolleybus infrastructure.