TRIVIA: Public registered heritage bus routes

alex397 · 16 May 2018

Thought i'd see how many public registered bus routes which exclusively use heritage vehicles there are in the UK. By public registered, I mean routes registered with the traffic commissioner.

Some of you may be aware of the Epping Ongar Railway, and its connecting bus service, the 339. It runs from Epping LU Station, through Epping town, to North Weald EOR Station. Most journeys continue to Ongar EOR station and 'Two Brewers'. Some journeys continue all the way to Shenfield NR Station. It runs on EOR running days, which is pretty much every weekend (except over Nov-Feb).

The service is almost always operated by RTs, which is no mean feat. These are vehicles from the 1950s (older than my parents), operating a rather intensive weekend service, with some fast sections of route. I would certainly recommend it to any classic bus fans.

While most people buy day tickets for the Epping Ongar Railway which includes the 339, you can also by single tickets and bus 'rover' tickets. ENCTS passes are accepted too! When I have used it, I have often also seen locals using it as a local bus service.

I am aware that Ensignbus publically register their special Christmas heritage routes around the Thurrock area, but I am unaware of any other public registered routes using just heritage vehicles. I assume there will be some tourist/open-top routes, but it will be interesting to see if there are any like the 339.

RailUK Forums

class387 · 16 May 2018

15H Tower Hill - Trafalgar Square

AndrewE · 16 May 2018

How about the central section of London Buses route 15 (Heritage), about which Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Buses_route_15_(Heritage) says:

... is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Tower Hill and Trafalgar Square, it is operated by Stagecoach London.[1] It is a short working of the standard route 15 and it is the only preserved AEC Routemaster route...

daodao · 16 May 2018

Cumbria Classic Coaches run a couple of routes from their depot in Ravenstonedale using heritage vehicles: 569 to Hawes and 572 to Barnard Castle via Middleton-in-Teesdale (summer only).

See https://www.cumbriaclassiccoaches.co.uk/

Stan Drews · 16 May 2018

The Perth Races shuttle service (71), which operates on Perth race days, is worked by the Stagecoach East Scotland heritage fleet.

CatfordCat · 16 May 2018

Quantock Heritage 300 (Minehead - Lynmouth) - now only runs for the peak summer season. 2018 timetable not yet out there, but understand it will be running this year

Go Coach 7 (Sevenoaks - Knole) - generally a Routemaster

Southern Transit 3 (Horsham - Shoreham) isn't exclusively heritage vehicles, but tends to have heritage vehicles on some bank holidays

MotCO · 16 May 2018

What about Imber Bus? Mostly operated with Routemasters, with a few Borismasters thrown in.

carlberry · 16 May 2018

Several museums (London Bus museum and Wythall spring to mind) have registered services to allow them to charge.

alex397 · 16 May 2018

class387 said:
15H Tower Hill - Trafalgar Square

AndrewE said:
How about the central section of London Buses route 15 (Heritage), about which Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Buses_route_15_(Heritage) says:

Oh yes, how could I forget the 15H?! A route i've been on countless times. Its brilliant to have it in London, and I feel its under-utilised. I appreciated the refurbishment in recent years to put them back in the vintage LT livery and interior. Shame they all have Dart engines though, as the sound just isn't the same! (But appreciate their Dart engines probably lower the cost of operation, making it possible to run the service).
Probably the highest frequency heritage bus operation in the UK, and running every day except Xmas Day!

CatfordCat said:
Go Coach 7 (Sevenoaks - Knole) - generally a Routemaster

Southern Transit 3 (Horsham - Shoreham) isn't exclusively heritage vehicles, but tends to have heritage vehicles on some bank holidays

I must try these two routes, as they are fairly close to me. The 3 seems to be mostly operated with a old ALX400, which could certainly be considered heritage by some younger enthusiasts!

MotCO said:
What about Imber Bus? Mostly operated with Routemasters, with a few Borismasters thrown in.

I'd love to try that one day. The organisers put a lot of effort into making it run. It is public registered, and bus stops and timetables are even put up across the route.

Wirewiper · 17 May 2018

Rail River Link (the bus-operating subsidiary of The Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company Ltd.) operated heritage open-top Bristol VRs on their 100 service between Torquay, Paignton and Totnes until October 2016. Although provided mainly as a feeder and transfer service for passengers travelling on their "Round Robin" combined rail and riverboat tickets, the route is registered with the Traffic Commissioner, local fares are available from the drivers and ENCTS passes are valid.

To comply with accessibility regulations they now operate ex-Go Ahead London Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B9TLs (closed and open top), which are now of sufficient age almost to warrant the "Heritage" label in themselves.

LiftFan · 18 May 2018

The 23A once a year bus route uses heritage vehicles, could we also count the route 4 in Bristol for still using those ancient ALX400s?

MotCO · 18 May 2018

LiftFan said:
The 23A once a year bus route uses heritage vehicles, could we also count the route 4 in Bristol for still using those ancient ALX400s?

Isn't that the Imber bus route - see post #7

Jordan Adam · 19 May 2018

Do services around Aviemore count as Stagecoach are still using a P reg B10M...

Ploughman · 19 May 2018

Great Orme Llandudno Marine Drive circular tour.

Bookd · 19 May 2018

Wirewiper said:
Rail River Link (the bus-operating subsidiary of The Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company Ltd.) operated heritage open-top Bristol VRs on their 100 service between Torquay, Paignton and Totnes until October 2016. Although provided mainly as a feeder and transfer service for passengers travelling on their "Round Robin" combined rail and riverboat tickets, the route is registered with the Traffic Commissioner, local fares are available from the drivers and ENCTS passes are valid.

To comply with accessibility regulations they now operate ex-Go Ahead London Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B9TLs (closed and open top), which are now of sufficient age almost to warrant the "Heritage" label in themselves.

Although the regular LT route is described as 15H as far as the general public are concerned it is just shown as extra vehicles on the 15. As the other buses on the route are normal flat floor this meets the requirement for services to be fully accessible.

gnolife · 19 May 2018

LiftFan said:
The 23A once a year bus route uses heritage vehicles, could we also count the route 4 in Bristol for still using those ancient ALX400s?

I can assure you that the 23A runs a lot more frequently than once a year, given that it connects Stockport and the Trafford Centre every half hour.

goldisgood · 19 May 2018

gnolife said:
I can assure you that the 23A runs a lot more frequently than once a year, given that it connects Stockport and the Trafford Centre every half hour.

The special 23A as part of Imberbus is the one being referred to, which runs with heritage vehicles.

lightbulb · 20 May 2018

goldisgood said:
The special 23A as part of Imberbus is the one being referred to, which runs with heritage vehicles.

Yes: this year on Saturday 18th August.

Deerfold · 20 May 2018

alex397 said:
Oh yes, how could I forget the 15H?! A route i've been on countless times. Its brilliant to have it in London, and I feel its under-utilised. I appreciated the refurbishment in recent years to put them back in the vintage LT livery and interior. Shame they all have Dart engines though, as the sound just isn't the same! (But appreciate their Dart engines probably lower the cost of operation, making it possible to run the service).
Probably the highest frequency heritage bus operation in the UK, and running every day except Xmas Day!

Do TfL routes count as being registered with a Traffic Commissioner?

gazthomas · 20 May 2018

Ploughman said:
Great Orme Llandudno Marine Drive circular tour.

I thought that too but didn't think it met the OPs criteria as a proper bus route, though Alpine is a licensed operator

alex397 · 21 May 2018

Deerfold said:
Do TfL routes count as being registered with a Traffic Commissioner?

Not exactly. London is of course different. I only mentioned the Traffic Commissioner so that only public bus routes are mentioned, rather than special events.

341o2 · 22 May 2018

MotCO said:
What about Imber Bus? Mostly operated with Routemasters, with a few Borismasters thrown in.

The "Borismasters" are there because disabled access has to be provided - the event states no need to book, just turn up and buy your ticket(s) from the conductor

dscussed here - http://photocamel.com/forum/transportation/19431-show-us-your-train-shots-78.html

As the forum is predominately US based, some background info. provided

richw · 23 Jun 2018

Jurassic Mule start back in July for the summer holiday period, this seasons fleet
UWV614S, UFX856S, TDL564K, P772SWC and BJG674V
Registered with the TC as a tour.
www.jurassicmule.co.uk

TheGrandWazoo · 23 Jun 2018

richw said:
Jurassic Mule start back in July for the summer holiday period, this seasons fleet
UWV614S, UFX856S, TDL564K, P772SWC and BJG674V
Registered with the TC as a tour.
www.jurassicmule.co.uk

Chepstow OT VR UWV607S seen on M5 near Taunton today - nothing to do with JM??

richw · 23 Jun 2018

TheGrandWazoo said:
Chepstow OT VR UWV607S seen on M5 near Taunton today - nothing to do with JM??

Not this year, we’re having UFX856S instead from Chepstow, to reunite with TDL564K as they worked as a pair on the Isle of Wight for many years on the shanklins Pony.

Smethwickian · 24 Jun 2018

The Transport Museum, Wythall, registers the country tours operated on selected event days as they are available at individual fares as well as part of an inclusive ticket.

341o2 · 24 Jun 2018

Would services run in conjunction with the Alton Bus rally and the one between Alton and Jane Austen's house first Sunday May to October count?

carlberry · 24 Jun 2018

341o2 said:
Would services run in conjunction with the Alton Bus rally and the one between Alton and Jane Austen's house first Sunday May to October count?

The services run from the Alton rally are not public bus services and don't charge fares.

TheGrandWazoo · 25 Jun 2018

richw said:
Not this year, we’re having UFX856S instead from Chepstow, to reunite with TDL564K as they worked as a pair on the Isle of Wight for many years on the shanklins Pony.

Thanks for that - wonder what it was doing there

richw · 25 Jun 2018

TheGrandWazoo said:
Thanks for that - wonder what it was doing there

It wasn’t going to be available until early August, I think it was mentioned to have bookings in Scotland. Chepstow do move stuff between their Winkleigh yard and Chepstow yards as needed, I believe they carry out MOTs at only one of them.
Chepstow are a great company to hire a bare bus from and deal with. From our experience I can certainly see why they’re so busy.

TRIVIA: Public registered heritage bus routes

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