Olympian operators

[TBSchenker]

Apart from several Stagecoach areas that still use Volvo Olympians, where else sees the Olympian in daily operation?

I've seen pictures of one operating between Crewe and Chester for Routemaster buses, and I've also seen one myself operating for TM Travel in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Seeing as they have to be gone by the end of this year, I'd like to track any down that still operate.

Not a big follower of First group, I recall West Yorkshire still had some Olympians running a while back, are they still knocking around?

 

[90019]

I know it's not quite what you're looking for as it's not in normal daily service, but it may be of interest that Lothian have a preserved Volvo Olympian (P285PSX) which gets used for the special service 98 that runs when there are events on at the Ingliston showground - mainly the Royal Highland Show.
There's also a Leyland Olympian (E322MSG) which gets used, too.

 

[richw]

First southwest still have large numbers of Palatine 2s in Cornwall and a couple of palatine 1 Olympians.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Apart from several Stagecoach areas that still use Volvo Olympians, where else sees the Olympian in daily operation?

I've seen pictures of one operating between Crewe and Chester for Routemaster buses, and I've also seen one myself operating for TM Travel in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Seeing as they have to be gone by the end of this year, I'd like to track any down that still operate.

Not a big follower of First group, I recall West Yorkshire still had some Olympians running a while back, are they still knocking around?

First Huddersfield depot has a few, only seen one in use on a regular service (the 370) since the turn of the year (one in a heritage livery), I think they're mainly used on school services now, along with occasional use on the University services.

 

[Mikey C]

First southwest still have large numbers of Palatine 2s in Cornwall and a couple of palatine 1 Olympians.

Yes, I was really impressed with the way they coped (with a light load admittedly) with the hills between Padstow and Newquay!

 

[martinsh]

Trent subsidiaries Notts & Derby and TM Travel still have quite a few Olympians.

Notts & Derby's are all ex Lothian, and are used on schools / college services.

 

[90sWereBetter]

Carters of Capel St Mary have a small collection of Olympians which still manage daily service on their routes between Ipswich and Colchester/Manningtree. Interestingly enough, they just withdrew three 51-reg Tridents, and one of the replacements is a 1993 Leyland Olympian from Wilts and Dorset, which was bought alongside two 04-reg Tridents from Tower Transit. Said Olympian carried its 22 years very lightly when I had a journey on it at the end of December. A very eccentric operator indeed, is Carters.

Ipswich Buses still have two of their three Olympians which they bought in 1995 in use on school contracts. Very very occasionally, one of them can sneak into public service, usually at peak times. I reckon these two are gonna outlast the Spectras and the oldest Tridents at Ipswich.

First Eastern Counties are down to just one Olympian, which can only be used on Bernard Matthews contracts as the ticket machine has been removed.

 

[Robertj21a]

Carters of Capel St Mary have a small collection of Olympians which still manage daily service on their routes between Ipswich and Colchester/Manningtree. Interestingly enough, they just withdrew three 51-reg Tridents, and one of the replacements is a 1993 Leyland Olympian from Wilts and Dorset, which was bought alongside two 04-reg Tridents from Tower Transit. Said Olympian carried its 22 years very lightly when I had a journey on it at the end of December. A very eccentric operator indeed, is Carters.

Ipswich Buses still have two of their three 1995 Olympians in use on school contracts. Very very occasionally, one of them can sneak into public service, usually at peak times.

First Eastern Counties are down to just one Olympian, which can only be used on Bernard Matthews contracts as the ticket machine has been removed.

Have Hedingham or Chambers got any still in use ?

 

[fgwrich]

Stagecoach Hampshire & Hants and Surrey still has few knocking around - Winchester has gained an ex MagicBus Oly, Basingstoke still has a handful (although ex Chichester/Winchester/Gloucester/Manchester Tridents are becoming more common) including oddballs S590/591BCE - both ex Cambridge.

There's a nearly up to date list here - the majority of it looks correct, but JWV251W is now preserved - an ex NC Olympian is currently due to be converted to become Stagecoach South's next tree lopper.


http://www.ukbuses.co.uk/fleet/stagecoachsouth.pdf

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

First Yorkshire have quite a few Olympians

K&D have a number as well

 

[theblackwatch]

Quite a few in Harrogate, mainly confined to school runs, but they occasionally appear on services at times like the Great Yorkshire Show or Flower Show. One normally does the (44) 17.15 York College-Crossgates which is a public service - pretty much worked by fleet no. 2005 solid.

 

[TAS]

Have Hedingham or Chambers got any still in use ?

According to the latest official fleetlist (6th Jan), there are still 19 at Hedingham (split between Kelvedon & Tollesbury), but none at Chambers: http://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/743/Hedingham Chambers fleet list v3.pdf.

I've seen them working on Tollesbury services fairly recently, but I don't know if this is still a regular thing. Otherwise, they'll just be being used on school contracts.

 

[richw]

Yes, I was really impressed with the way they coped (with a light load admittedly) with the hills between Padstow and Newquay!

Try an older Trident on the same route. The T and V plate Tridents (most have HIG private plates) really struggle on those hills. The newer Tridents (51, 02 plates) seem to cope ok.

 

[83G/84D]

First southwest still have large numbers of Palatine 2s in Cornwall and a couple of palatine 1 Olympians.

Looks like all the (closed top) Leyland's have gone though.

 

[Hophead]

Arriva use one or more on the Royal Surrey Hospital park & ride service in Guildford. I think it's a staff-only service, so you probably wouldn't be able to use it yourself. If it's a private contract, they may be able to carry on using them next year (I'm sure somebody here knows the rules better than I do).

 

[richw]

Looks like all the (closed top) Leyland's have gone though.

The last ones all went to preservation I believe

 

[Robertj21a]

Arriva use one or more on the Royal Surrey Hospital park & ride service in Guildford. I think it's a staff-only service, so you probably wouldn't be able to use it yourself. If it's a private contract, they may be able to carry on using them next year (I'm sure somebody here knows the rules better than I do).

Any bus that doesn't meet the DDA regulations can still operate on closed contracts/Private Hire etc, just not on public services. This applies to mini-buses and single deckers now, and double-deckers from the end of this year.

 

[theblackwatch]

Also worth mentioning is that Connexions have P168BTV which I think normally works the (X70) 09.20 Wetherby-Harrogate in term time - other than that it does an AM/PM school run.

 

[ChathillMan]

I believe a Megadekka is still used on Stagecoach Bedford schools services

 

[GatwickDepress]

Rambler Coaches has (had?) S136RLE which I used to see running the 360 school service from Etchingham to Bexhill College.

 

[TBSchenker]

Thanks all for your replies so far, fantastic.

I follow Stagecoach operations and have been to Cumbria, Lincolnshire & Hampshire to see the Stagecoach Olympians. Still need to head back to Kent before they run out there.

By the sounds of it, North & West Yorkshire might be worth a trip out.

 

[BestWestern]

Do Wilts & Dorset still operate a good few in Poole? I presume they do, unless they've all gone recently. They have ex Vectis Palatine 1's and a handful of ECW/Leylands also. Mostly for schools but I believe the services are public.

 

[eezypeazy]

Go North East has eight left - three at Gateshead, five at Stanley in Co Durham, all usually confined to scholars work, although one could be found on Metro rail replacement work last night.

 

[F262YTJ]

Preston Bus still have a good few as well.

 

[martinsh]

The OP might be interested in this post, on a bus enthusiast e-group ...

"Due to popular demand, I can now confirm another new tour for the 2016 calendar.

This will take place on Saturday 27th February 2016 and will be an 'Olympian Only' running day with 2 Way Transport of Scunthorpe featuring all of the following repainted Olympian's (subject to availability on the day).

H115SAO, H118SAO, H197WFR, J209HFR, L969MSC, M215VSX and P683SVL

The day will start with a pick up at 10:20 from Lakeside Parkway (DN16 3UA), Scunthorpe and a second pick at 10:30am from outside Scunthorpe railway station.

There is no need to pre-book, nor is there any need to be a member of any group to take part in this tour as everyone will be made welcome.

I will be aiming to drop everyone off back in Scunthorpe for no late than 17:30

For a full day's Olympian travel there will be a bargain fare of only £15 per person which is payable on the day.

If you require any further details please don't hesitant to drop me an email.


Jamie

http://jb-tours.blogspot.co.uk/"

 

[Zamracene749]

Go North East has eight left - three at Gateshead, five at Stanley in Co Durham, all usually confined to scholars work, although one could be found on Metro rail replacement work last night.

Further to this, if they turn up anywhere in normal service, it's normally the 6/X70/X71/ group of services between Consett Stanley and Newcastle or even more rarely the 15 Consett-Durham.

PS Cumbria Classic coaches now have the rather nice H728DDL, it turns up on their scheduled market day services sometimes, was at Barnard Castle Wednesday last.

 

[Strathclyder]

McColls of Dumbarton may(?) have one or two left. They were mainly ex-Irish Alexander (Belfast) and ex-Stagecoach Northern Counties Palatine examples and and were mostly used for school work, although they made the occasional escape onto service work. Most have either been sent to the scrappers or put up for sale, thanks to the arrival of ex-Irish B7TLs.

JJ Travel/McNairn Coaches of Coatbridge (a father/son business) also have a few Olympians, mainly ex-Lothian Leyland examples, although they have recently acquired a ex-Hong Kong Citybus/Stagecoach Megabus tri-axle example (H607 LNA, I believe). They are mostly used for school-work, but they too can/could sometimes be found on regular service work...

 

[BestWestern]

Can confirm that 'Morebus' (i.e. Wilts & Dorset) still have Olly's and Volly's in Poole depot. A pair of ECW Leylands and three or four Palatine Volvos sat about awaiting their next (presumably schools) duty this afternoon. All ex Vectis I presume, the ECWs all seem to wear Damory colours these days, with the Palatines in both liveries.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Can confirm that 'Morebus' (i.e. Wilts & Dorset) still have Olly's and Volly's in Poole depot. A pair of ECW Leylands and three or four Palatine Volvos sat about awaiting their next (presumably schools) duty this afternoon. All ex Vectis I presume, the ECWs all seem to wear Damory colours these days, with the Palatines in both liveries.

ECW? Aren't they all Leyland ones?

A number parked up in Stagecoach's Stroud depot - all in reserve?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Any Scottish Stagecoach depots still have any in service? And whats left at Northwest and Cumbria?