Oxford

updated Monday 28th May 2001
the next update will be on Sunday 3rd June 2001

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.

Problems with the pictures ! - sometimes it seems that the pictures do not load.
I have found a solution which does work normally -
RIGHT CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND THEN CLICK ON "SHOW PICTURE"
Good luck !

In order to preserve the illusion that Arriva has totally absorbed the Wycombe bus scene
any red buses with a couple of exceptions were banished from Newlands Bus Station
last Sunday, thereby creating an all Arriva image for the Running Day.

Interestingly Olympian 5822 (240) still carries Wycombe Bus fleet names on the front!

A report of the running day by Nigel Peach is included below. I must thank Nigel for his regular and most informative reports which help with the content of this page each week.

2001 - a Bus Odyssey

Wycombe Running Day

Sunday 27th May 2001
10 until 5

A report by Nigel Peach
with photos by Malcolm Crowe.

With a colleague I went today & travelled on each of the four old routes that were being run.

Our first journey was the 11:20 departure to West Wycombe run by RML 2718 (SMK 718F) on route 305. (In the 1960s three 305 journeys a day of the Uxbridge - Wycombe route extended to West Wycombe). After returning at 11:50 we took the 12:00 former Thames Valley service 36 to Frieth. My first memories of the 36 are in the 1960s when Bristol LWLs ran it. Today's journeys on the 36 were run by Lynx 3070 (H410 ERO). This bus has recently moved from Lincoln Rd to the bus station and was originally a Dual Purpose vehicle. It now has bus seats. It gave us a very smooth ride and as well as stopping for photo opportunities on this pretty route, the driver had put an old NBC badge on the front of the bus! The driver said that this Lynx is nicer to drive than some of the others! Our next trip was the 455 to Beaconsfield New Town on RML 2718 again. Finally we travelled on RML 2366 (JJD 366D) on the 363 to Penn.

We struggled a bit up Amersham Hill. Indeed, driver Richard Bond said afterwards that he wondered if it was going to make it! It was only when we got to Penn that he realised that he had a full load, so perhaps it's not surprising that it struggled. The RMLs had come from Arriva London South and I suppose they are not used to hilly terrain. It was a shame that this year they were unable to borrow "authentic" RMLs i.e. those that had worked in Wycombe in London Country days, but apparently none were available. They maybe had to use Arriva RMLs rather than other London companies. Also a shame that they used 3070, one of the 2 most recent imports to Wycombe rather than say one of the ex Wycombe Bus Lynx. Never mind, it was still an enjoyable day for those of us who like to wallow in nostalgia! The fourth bus used was the Wycombe showbus Thames Valley 5829, but we didn't get to go on that this year.

Other buses in attendance included Thames Valley KSW6B 748 (JRX 823) a regular at this event.

Incidentally this bus is pictured on the front of the latest Classic Bus Yearbook recently published. Today 748 "duplicated" one of the runs to West Wycombe and apparently with RML 2366 caused traffic chaos, as when they were in West Wycombe suddenly traffic seemed to appear out of nowhere!

Also there were BCC new Optare Y46 HBT, and First Bristol Alexander bodied Volvo D/D 9819 (W819 PAE),

Newbury Buses Optare 804 (K804 DCF) and Arriva Volvo B6 260 (V260 HBH) displaying route H18 (the LT service it usually runs).

Another visitor was this Leyland National of N vintage.

There seemed to be fewer buses than in previous years, but hopefully a lot of money will have been raised for charity. Thanks to organiser Richard Bond who has once again put in a lot of work to ensure its success.

To accommodate the extra buses, much of the regular fleet were moved to the college car park in Suffield Road. When I passed I realised it had been strategically done - all the buses there were those remaining in Wycombe Bus livery. (i.e. Olympians 2822-4/7/32-4; Lynx 3806/8-10; SLF 3825 & Mercs 2821/6/7.) The only buses in Wycombe livery still in the bus station were 3807 (302) which is unmoved in the "final bay" position, and now engineless Merc 703 in the "back row". The other buses were later brought back in using Sainsbury's Merc 2820 as a shuttle. Merc 2824 was not present which suggests that it has been withdrawn.

Earlier today SLF 3826 was running on the 315. It said 304 Desborough Castle on the rear display! Later on, 3826 had been replaced by Volvo 3842. I think its the first time I've seen a Volvo on this route. Incidentally, 3827 has a new dot matrix rear display, like 3826.

Nigel Peach

Further to last week's page Ian Kirby writes to say that RJI 8032 was new to Grey Green as A840SYR. Since then it had been part of the United Welsh Coaches fleet in Wales, then back to London with Leoline Travel. Lastly it was with Classic Coaches, Booker.

Darts away for repaint this week are 3814 and 3820. As mentioned earlier ex Oxford Dart 3834 (504) is way for single door conversion and repaint. The very last bus to carry Wycombe Bus logos is Olympian 5822 (240). This used to be Alder Valley 822.

214 is in the body shop and still carries Cityline livery plus legal lettering
for Wilts and Dorset to whom it was on hire during the winter months

Coach 10 has been repainted in X90 livery and is seen awaiting duty at 0430hrs
on Bank holiday Monday, the 28th. Nr 9 has gained X90 vinyls on the front but
still carries Heathrow/Gatwick lettering on the sides and back!!!

A spell of duty on 22 road enabled me to sample the delights of Harcourt Hill.
This is the terminus of the extension earlier this year.

Olympians 221 and 223 are down in Cornwall at present and very well liked by their temporary operator, Truronian. both buses have recently been overhauled and are in immaculate condition. All the remaining Olympians are back from loan and 208 and 214 remain to be repainted.

Park & Ride charges are being increased, or at least the parking charges are. There was talk of these going up by the double to £1 but a more modest increase of £0.20p has been agreed after much public outcry. Further news is awaited of the 5th Car Park near Kidlington.

COACHES are still used on local services from time to time with nr 3 being used on 22 road recently in the rush hour.

Volvo B10M/Plaxton Paladin 904 is seen arriving at Gloucester Green resplendent
in its new livery.

Star of TV Morse, the very last Morse in fact, nr 383 has had its THIRD repaint
since new. It is now in the new corporate colours. (picture copyright - Matt Wheeler.)

Olympian 515 has gained a new super rear ad for Alders.
It is seen passing the newest Tube, 66 in Gloucester Green.

The tide of new livery is sweeping across the Oxford fleet with a number of Darts including 761 now repainted. M A N 913 has been completed but so far no further deckers have been completed beyond 520 and 526. It is often possible to see only relivered in St Aldates for example.

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

Chiltern Queens of Woodcote run school services in High Wycombe.
Here we see EBW107Y, ex Oxford Citylink 107, returning to Woodcote on day last week.
It has left the M40 at junc. 6 (in the background) and will pass through Watlington on its way home.