from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
News from:
 Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

Issue 201
Tuesday 4th June 2002

Please note that any comments made in this news page are those of the Editors' and in no way constitute 
any official points of view from the bus companies mentioned,  or indeed any other official body. 
As a news page we reserve the right to make valid comments as seen from an editorial point of view.

Visit the Archive Pages going back to 1998

Your reports are welcome at malcolmhc@aol.com

What a weekend it has been! Today, Tuesday, has of course seen the culmination of the Jubilee celebrations with a fantastic day in London. Pageantry, music, parades and of course the Gold State Coach.  It was nice to see the London buses in the parade this afternoon, especially the RT. It is really nice to see everyone getting such pleasure out of the event and everywhere in the country so many things have been happening. On Saturday and Monday evenings there were the concerts at Buckingham Palace which produced many extra people travelling up to the Capital. Oxford was no exception with additional travellers and relief coach services were laid on by both companies to London. I was involved in special duties on both evenings, laying over in London for two or more hours awaiting return loading. Road closures were significant and at the end of both nights, Hyde Park Corner, Park Lane, Marble Arch and roads around The Palace were all closed. From our point of view of course, Victoria Coach Station is on the wrong side of town but we all managed. The Tube turned short at Marble Arch and The Oxford Express ran through to VCS avoiding the usual setting down points in Baker Street and Park Lane.

Such a lot of effort has gone into this week of celebration and OBC Trident 104 appeared in the Oxford Lord Mayor's Parade on Monday. We will have a reminder for sometime to come of the Jubilee as the many buses decorated for the event will continue to run for the remainder of 2002 at least.

Every city, town  and village seemed to have something going on. When I visited Marlow on Saturday morning, the main street was closed and a fun fair and stalls was in full swing as can be seen below. The 325 was thus unable to run though to its normal terminus.

Nigel Peach sent this some pictures of the Wycombe running day just over a week ago. I had already taken a picture of RM25 but I much appreciate his efforts with the same bus out on service. The weather was of course not very kind and this shot was taken just after on the heavy downpours during the day.

RM25 (VLT25) on route 30 in Tinker's Wood Road, Downley - photo Nigel Peach

For those wanting more information please refers to last week's page which had a full report from Nigel Peach.

Whilst returning home on Saturday lunchtime I was delighted and surprised to see the RT below, RT1701 I think, coming out of Stokenchurch and turning onto the old A40, Oxford bound. I moved a little quickly to get this shot of the RT coming down the steep incline from some 800ft above sea level to the Oxford Plain, near Lewknor. It was seemingly on a wedding job.

The bus mentioned above, RT1701 (I think) runs off The Chilterns.

And so on to news and happenings in our area under the various operators headings.

News of the local companies - 4th June 2002

Abbey Coaches, High Wycombe 

Martyn writes "We collected today a new addition to the Abbey Coaches fleet: J566DJV a C29F Mercedes 811D/Autobus Classique ex-Boomerang Bus Co, Tewkesbury via Bob Vale Coach Sales.  For your info a fleet list for the company can be found on www.abbeycoaches.com."

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

More pictures from the Running Day at Wycombe - by Nigel Peach

Bakers of Enstone

Tracey and Jim write to say that they have seen a new coach at Chipping Norton (chippy) Bakers of Enstone new Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Cheetah midi coach GB02MTB.

Blunsdons, Oxon

Chris Maxfield sent this picture of Blunsdons of Oxford Dennis/Plaxton G589VAY

Charlton Services.

Charlton appear to have replaced the ex Oxford Metrorider with this newer example from
Reading, seen here on route 108 in St Aldates. (L616LJM)

Oxford Bus (City of Oxford Motor Services)  http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk

Coach 26 has now gone into works for a repaint into the new Airline livery.

T102DBW - OX 102  works a 13 duty last Friday. I have not personally driven one of these on service.

Guide Friday

It appears that Guide Friday may have been taken over by another operator. More news in next week's page.

McLeans Coaches

Chris Maxfield sent this excellent shot of a McLeans Neoplan X299AKY, taken at their depot.

Rebound, Carterton

Another Chris Maxfield shot, this time of Rebound-Carterton Coaches Setra IAZ6421

Stagecoach in Warwick

Rob Williams writes "ExCambus Northern Counties Volvo Olympian 909 has been repainted into new livery. I have attached a photo of it outside the depot on Friday evening.  

Passing by the back of the Leamington depot on the train last Sunday afternoon I saw that another ex London Olympian has arrived, still with London blinds fitted but without fleet numbers or vinyls. The train line and bushes were at the wrong angle to see the registration - so no ID.

Stagecoach in Oxford 

MAN 949 catches the late afternoon sunshine last Friday, whilst it waits time in High Street.

Tube 51 is overtaken by MAN 913 on route 3 bound for rose Hill.
Queens College is seen in the background as passengers board the London bound Tube.

TA429 loading up on Western Avenue, Chatham on the Dockyard site on 4th June.

Newman Morgan wrote earlier in the week "Just a quick note as off to Birmingham in a minute. In the past couple of days I have seen all three Tridents, TA429,431 and 433, on the 77 road. Therefore any reports that one or other may have returned permanently to London may be incorrect.

Also noted was an ex-SiL VA-class Olympian in SiO livery complete with LT style blind for the 77 road. (This was 528 Ed)

Chris Jenkinson then wrote "Yesterday and Today on the Navy Days Park & Ride in Chatham, Kent was TA429 (Wasn't this the one in Oxford? - Yes it was Ed.) Blind box is masked down from London size and it had no blinds in. I actually went into the Dockyard today and got a brilliant photo of the Trident on route B between the Dockyard and the ships.

So it appears that TA429 has left Oxford, seemingly at last replaced by 528. I wonder?

Woottens, Chesham

Michael Wootten sent this superb shot of his new Volvo/Jonckheere FE02FCC

Michael also wrote that "Talking of Oxford Bus, the Willowbrook Warrior is now class 6 tested and busy on school routes. In answer to your question the Willowbrook Warrior is registered ABW310X (ex VUD33X / 633).

In the long term I plan to restore the vehicle to the Oxford Bus livery of the early 1990's.  I don't think many people are interested in Willowbrook bodies and this may become the only Warrior in preservation."  (I wonder? Ed)

Worth's, Enstone

Another Chris Maxfield shot, this time of ex OBC 216 now with Worth's.

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