from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
News & Pictures from:
Oxford, High Wycombe,
The Chilterns &
surrounding areas
Issue 215
Sunday 8th
September 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
Welcome to issue 215
This week seems a quiet week and little of especial note has happened. The Oxford Times reports the take over by Tappins of Didcot the Guide Friday business in Oxford and the merger with The Oxford Classic Tour but this is somewhat a matter of record now.
Further expansion at Carousel
The Carousel depot in High Wycombe
is now host to 11 Metrobuses and 4 Lynx.
Here we latest arrival F75DDA from Blue Triangle alongside LX559, ex Arriva
3809, F559NJM.
The news from our area follows.................
News of the local companies - 8th September 2002
Arriva serving The Shires & Essex
Volvo B6 3127 enters Newlands Bus Station in Wycombe.
Sadly the dot matrix blind seems out of order.
Scania 3144 leaves Newlands Bus
Station on route 345 some weeks ago.
Hastening on its way to Marlow with final destination Reading, Volvo 3854 will
pass through Henley on its way.
Steve Warwick wrote "
Steve Warwick wrote that Dart 3834 worked the 1525 500 service to Watford on 3 September. He goes on to report :
Fri 6th Sept
The 1740 280 Oxford was worked by Dennis Dart 3492 on account of the road works at Headington and buses being held up.
Sat 7th Sept
The 1525 500 Watford was worked by Dennis Dart 3354.
Nigel
Peach wrote to say that “Aylesbury Olympian 5100 (G650UPP) on London Road at
1:45pm today (4th Sept) working the 300 to Uxbridge.
This was a surprise but then I thought; Did you report sometime that some
workings on the 300 would be worked by Aylesbury? If so it seems an odd route
for them to run!
Ex London Dart 3820 seems to be a permanent fixture on the 331. Whenever I see a
331 it's always 3820! I suppose, as mentioned before, its because it's virtually
the only route that Aylesbury run that features on its blinds! But I never see
sister 3819!"
Carousel Buses, High Wycombe.
A visit to the depot last Saturday revealed further new additions. Two more Lynx had arrived from Blue Triangle. They are F75 and F78DDA and will be used on the 336 from Chesham to Watford. Ex Arriva Metrobuses from Colchester, BYX283V (5364) and EYE336V (5366). are under preparation. 5364 as M283 is under repaint whilst 5366 - M336 is having its engine replaced. Fleet total is now 11 Metrobuses and 4 Lynx.
The first of the two Blue Triangle Lynx, to be LX75, has been partially prepared
fro service and has worked the 400.
It will receive a complete repaint during the next week or so entering service
on the 336 shortly.
The second Lynx will be LX78 and last Saturday, having only just arrived it
still had its Blue Triangle
fleetname and number DB101 (it seems DB stands for Dome Bus). It seems that BT
are replacing
these buses with ex Red Arrow Greenways.
Carousel will continue to work the
185 as a sub contractor for two months more.
Correct blinds have been fitted to this Metrobus but changing blinds on these
buses is so easy
any of the Metrobus fleet can appear with these blinds.
Carousel is also working the 321 to Great Kingshill. Correct blinds have
been fitted since this photo was taken.
The bus is M598.
The rear window on this Metrobus is used to good effect in driver recruitment.
City of Oxford Motor Services - The Oxford Bus Company.
More normally to be found opn 35
road, Volvo 613 was at work on 2 road when this photo was taken.
657. 658 and 802 have blinds
suitable for the new evening 22 service, serving Gypsy Lane (Brookes)
to Harcourt Hill. Here 658 waits time at Brookes on its first evening journey at
1935.
The work done by Oxford Bus on the
two ex Whitelaws Volvos was significant, including refurbished
interiors. The excellent exterior condition can be seen in this photo of 658.
Steve Warwick says "I have have found photo
(above) I thought might interest you of Bristol VR 507
taken in Thame in October 1985.
Seeing it on the 280 has posed some questions, that I thought you might be able
to answer for me.
Did it then run through to Aylesbury as it does now or just Oxford-Thame as I
can't recall it in Aylesbury.
Also when did the OBC stop running it and why?"
Guide Friday - Tappins Didcot
Newspaper reports say that following
the acquisition of GUIDE FRIDAY by Tappins half the present fleet
will be replaced by new buses. Here we see 217, with rear upper deck fleet
number at Carfax.
The bus is an ex Nottingham Fleetline still carrying fleet number 323 from the
days when the fleet was
based at the Cowley Road garage of OXFORD BUS.
Another member of the older fleet is
549, still bearing fleet number 311
Roland Cox writes “In Bicester on Tuesday and in Heyfordian yard was C54 CHM a red Leyland still with Stagecoach name on rear and looked as if it was being cleaned inside. EAZ 8413 is has just been painted into livery three years after arriving. Two more coaches are L752 YGE a Jonckheere and M883 HNS a Van Hool.
Pearces of Oxford, Berinsfield.
Pearces have this Caetano with
cherished registration P1RWL.
The latest coach is a Dennis R410/Plaxton Paragon registered OE02WAU.
Plastow's of Wheatley
A recent fleet line up with the
Jonckheere additions W1BUS and T910WCS.
Prestwood Travel of High Wycombe
Still active with Prestwood is this
fine Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen ex East Yorkshire Motor Services.
This was a one time National Express coach. E48TYG. Note the badge still in
place.
Stagecoach
in South Midlands & in Oxford
Keith
Wood wrote “Stagecoach Midland Red have a new Volvo B10M / Alexander PS. It
is 247 P823 FVU and is allocated to Rugby depot. It is ex West & Wales and is
in service today on the 86. Also Leyland National 772 has been active on Rugby
School services this week.
Had an e-chat with this gent last week who wanted to bash SMR Nationals and Olympians at Rugby. Looks like he only got one ! No LN's again this morning on schools. The end is nigh !"
Basil wrote
regarding Leyland Nationals and sent this photograph. He says -
"Stagecoach Leyland National NOE605R in service in Rugby this afternoon (Friday
6 September 2002).
The first two pictures show the bus at Newbold on the No.6 service 1746 Rugby to
Crick.
The driver was a very friendly chap who had been driving Nationals in Rugby
since they were introduced
and he was a big fan of them, unlike many of his colleagues he said.
Significantly he said that he had heard recently that Rugby’s last 3 serviceable
Nationals are to be withdrawn
“sometime this month” so their days really are numbered.
Please feel free to publish the photos on any web sites you may have access to
and would
it be possible for Malcolm to put a special entry in the next Oxford Bus
Page update to advise
people of the imminent demise of the Rugby Nationals?
I think people should be told so that they can go and have a last thrash before
its too late!!!
The driver advised me that the best services to get the last Nationals on are
the 8 and 9 (Hillmorton – Rugby – Long Lawford) during the day, the X40 Rugby to
Leicester,
some early evening 6 services to Newbold and services 2 and 89 towards Crick
during the afternoon."
One of the few dual door Darts left in the Stagecoach in Oxford fleet. 779
pauses in Castle St.
Volvo B6 842 passes M A N 945 at
Carfax. When these buses are on 7s they can look awfully like
an M A N from a distance.
Neil Gow noted that
“SiO
Leyland Olympian turned out on a 10/10A duty today, running all day and
finishing with the 1905 John Radcliffe to Blackbird Leys.
Ex
London Olympian 530 was running on the 27A 1730 Oxford to Bicester today. This
is probably a good journey to watch for less common vehicles as it is one of
three added in the evening peak. Earlier in the day one of the ex London
Olympians (maybe the same one) was running dead back to the depot after a
morning peak journey in from Abingdon."
Richard Sharman writes "....former
Oxford Tube coach F24 LBW turned up in Stratford today on a PH, she's now with
Blue Line Coaches,
Swansea. I think they
brought it from Hookways,
Exeter.
Ralph Adams wrote
"Olympian 529 was expected to be available to collect from Romford on Friday.
However, it was not there, so not sure when it will arrive. There is a P reg
Olympian waiting for
Leamington
to collect from Romford. Volvo B10M 905 has now gone to the paint shop at
Bedford."
Last week I showed some pictures from Chris Maxfield who visited Woottens recently. Below is a nice shot he took of the ex Oxford Bus trainer T4 (33-VUD33X) now reregistered ABW310X. It looks very smart.
Worths of Enstone
A line up ofg coaches in Worth's
yard shows two ex Oxford express Volvos as well as various other coaches.
Volvo B10Ms have a high ride position on the suspension. Here V9WMS shows that
position.
If you wish to be included on a
mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news please
let me know on
malcolmhc@aol.com
PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish
to submit photos for this page please send them to the me at
malcolmhc@aol.com
First in Slough 217 is on the route
50A rather than an airport service for which it is branded.
These buses often come to High Wycombe on the 74 since the new MB Citaros
expected for the 74, 75 and 76 have not yet arrived. They are expected anytime
now.
Binders Yard HW hosts this Titan,
often on services in Staines and a Timebus Routemaster.
The Regent petrol tanker looks like something out of Dinky catalogue.
I welcome your
photos for inclusion on this page. Please send them to me at
malcolmhc@aol.com
This is a most interesting site I do recommend
