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How to start bus spotting
- Thread starter Dom C
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Alistair G.
Member
Hi Don
Yep, bus spotting books are available. I find the best ones to use are ST Publications. Been using those since I took up the hobby about 4 years ago!. Never yet come close to competing any sections though!..... just far too many
Yep, bus spotting books are available. I find the best ones to use are ST Publications. Been using those since I took up the hobby about 4 years ago!. Never yet come close to competing any sections though!..... just far too many
tbtc
Veteran Member
Best places to "spot" locally?
The stretch of road in central Sheffield ("High Street", although nobody I know actually calls it High Street) from Fitzalan Square/ Haymarket/ Commercial Street up to Castle Square is probably the busiest section of road for buses - you'll get a combination of First (Olive Grove) / First (Leger Way, Doncaster)/ Stagecoach (Ecclesfield))/ Stagecoach (Holbrook)/ Stagecoach (Chesterfield)/ TM Travel/ Sheffield Community Transport (plus occasional National Express and all of the trams/ tram-trains), so there's always something passing by.
I'd guess that in a couple of hours, the vast majority of buses in Sheffield will pass through that bit of road (there are a few services that don't go along there but these are mainly the long distance Peak District services (218,271,272,273,274,275 etc), services that don't go anywhere near the city centre (61/62, SL1, SL1A) or the First 18/19.
I've never "spotted" buses with a notebook, writing down numbers or anything like that, but one good place to start would be the various "heritage" liveried vehicles (First have Geminis repainted in 1913, 1963, SYT 1980s, Rotherham and Doncaster liveries plus a B7RLE in the 1990s red/yellow "Mainline" livery). The 51 and X78 are generally the best routes to find these vehicles on (but, as ever with First, nothing is guaranteed!).
Happy hunting!
The stretch of road in central Sheffield ("High Street", although nobody I know actually calls it High Street) from Fitzalan Square/ Haymarket/ Commercial Street up to Castle Square is probably the busiest section of road for buses - you'll get a combination of First (Olive Grove) / First (Leger Way, Doncaster)/ Stagecoach (Ecclesfield))/ Stagecoach (Holbrook)/ Stagecoach (Chesterfield)/ TM Travel/ Sheffield Community Transport (plus occasional National Express and all of the trams/ tram-trains), so there's always something passing by.
I'd guess that in a couple of hours, the vast majority of buses in Sheffield will pass through that bit of road (there are a few services that don't go along there but these are mainly the long distance Peak District services (218,271,272,273,274,275 etc), services that don't go anywhere near the city centre (61/62, SL1, SL1A) or the First 18/19.
I've never "spotted" buses with a notebook, writing down numbers or anything like that, but one good place to start would be the various "heritage" liveried vehicles (First have Geminis repainted in 1913, 1963, SYT 1980s, Rotherham and Doncaster liveries plus a B7RLE in the 1990s red/yellow "Mainline" livery). The 51 and X78 are generally the best routes to find these vehicles on (but, as ever with First, nothing is guaranteed!).
Happy hunting!
Alistair G.
Member
You probably know what Sheffield is like living in south Yorks but just in case you haven’t been to have a look I filmed there last year and small sample I put in YouTube for anyone who cares to watch
There a books around for fleet lists which are split into operators. Alternatively the Sheffield omnibus society produce fleet lists for the south Yorkshire area: http://www.sheffieldomnibus.uk/fleet-lists.html
I'm not a regular to Sheffield so I don't known the road names but I normally go to bus stations but for Sheffield I would say some street stops are busier which are up the hill from the train station.
Eyersey468
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The PSV Circle also produce fleetlists split into areas (South East etc). I think you have to be a member to get them though.
The road up the side of the tram lines between Castle Square and Fitzalan Square is good at any time of day, and it's nice and easy with it being a bus only road and it being one way. You'd get a healthy mix of First and Stagecoach, along with the occasional TM, with the added bonus of trams too if that's also your thing.
There always used to be one or two spotters/photters at either end of Rotherham bus station before the Tesco was built 5/10 years ago. Barnsley interchange I imagine would be quite nice as all buses go round the 180 degree turn to get from the road to the stands, and theres a massive curb so that would be good for Stagecoach and for Globe/YT.
There always used to be one or two spotters/photters at either end of Rotherham bus station before the Tesco was built 5/10 years ago. Barnsley interchange I imagine would be quite nice as all buses go round the 180 degree turn to get from the road to the stands, and theres a massive curb so that would be good for Stagecoach and for Globe/YT.
gka472l
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Plenty of fleetlists on here http://ukbuses.co.uk/
Quite inaccurate though. There’s a good dozen buses on the list for who i work for that aren’t in our fleet and never have been! They’ve also opened a new depot for us looking down the vehicle allocations!
Old Yard Dog
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In the 1960's, I obtained a fleet list of Bradford City Transport buses which also included council's civil engineers fleet list. I thus ended up spotting vans, drain suckers, cranes, mayoral cars and the like as well as buses. Possibly even wheel barrows. Then I discovered Ian Allan's two Yorkshire fleet list books, one for municipal operators and one for the rest.
The Holy Grail was CP1, West Yorkshire's only petrol-engine vehicle. I never got it until about 30 or 40 years later when I came across the then owner sprucing it up near the site of the former Great Horton railway station. It subsequently featured famously in the last ever episode of "Last of the Summer Wine". And interestingly, CP1 was Captain Mainwaring's platoon number in "Dads Army".
I regret spending my schooldays bus spotting instead of gricing a number of West Yorkshire railways before they were closed by Dr Beeching. I just didn't have the railway knowledge. And even if I had, I doubt whether I would have had sufficient pocket money to pay the fares.
The Holy Grail was CP1, West Yorkshire's only petrol-engine vehicle. I never got it until about 30 or 40 years later when I came across the then owner sprucing it up near the site of the former Great Horton railway station. It subsequently featured famously in the last ever episode of "Last of the Summer Wine". And interestingly, CP1 was Captain Mainwaring's platoon number in "Dads Army".
I regret spending my schooldays bus spotting instead of gricing a number of West Yorkshire railways before they were closed by Dr Beeching. I just didn't have the railway knowledge. And even if I had, I doubt whether I would have had sufficient pocket money to pay the fares.
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I wouldn’t recommend them for someone getting into the hobby, they are a bit ‘advanced’
Those fleetlists on ukbuses.co.uk listed above are quite good, listing the buses in a clear manner and with liveries shown, even if they aren’t always 100% accurate.
Willie Bee
Member
Hello
Are there any apps useful for bus spotters please ?
The other day I met a young lad who seemed to know everything about the numerous bus companies, types of bus and even route maps. His knowledge on the subject put me to shame. I didn't even know there were LPG buses.
I know many bus companies, such as Arriva have their own apps but these are obviously only relevant to their own fleets.
Maybe there's something that shows general bus types and liveries. There's a plane app which helps new hobbyists to determine the type of plane .. How many engines ? How many decks ? Engines below or above the fuselage ?
thank you
Are there any apps useful for bus spotters please ?
The other day I met a young lad who seemed to know everything about the numerous bus companies, types of bus and even route maps. His knowledge on the subject put me to shame. I didn't even know there were LPG buses.
I know many bus companies, such as Arriva have their own apps but these are obviously only relevant to their own fleets.
Maybe there's something that shows general bus types and liveries. There's a plane app which helps new hobbyists to determine the type of plane .. How many engines ? How many decks ? Engines below or above the fuselage ?
thank you
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cnjb8
Established Member
Willie Bee
Member
heart-of-wessex
Established Member
I also recommend Map Group publications.
Like ST Publication it is a one man band, but map group has excellent region books (like South West, South East, Yorkshire etc etc) with a more in depth list of all operators with over 16 seaters, and a list of non PSV vehicles in the regions as well.
njlawley
Member
They are good at updating them based on your own observations, and updates are frequent enough. Just send them an email with corrections.
I have many times, then the inaccurate info is resupplied and changes I’ve advised have been undone.
I have never really been on for jotting down numbers with both buses and trains, but I usually keep a log of those I have travelled on. I used to take the odd picture but don't really bother now as I lost interest in the bus scene when all the early low floors and step entrance buses disappeared. I drive them for a living and have done for about 6 years now so dont really see the excitement in Streetlites and Hybrid buses! A friend of mine takes pictures of the buses while he is out then ticks them off a fleetlist when he uploads his photos to Flickr.
Often see older gents standing around bus stations writing down numbers in a notebook just like on the railway.
At the end of the day you can spot in whichever way you like, it isn't much different from the railway hobby in terms of what you can do - whatever floats your boat. Personally I prefer to take pictures than tick off numbers because a picture will one day contain a scene which no longer exists, a number in a book doesnt do the same for me although keeping a log of buses and trains you travel on is always going to be good to pull out in 40 years to have a flashback!
Often see older gents standing around bus stations writing down numbers in a notebook just like on the railway.
At the end of the day you can spot in whichever way you like, it isn't much different from the railway hobby in terms of what you can do - whatever floats your boat. Personally I prefer to take pictures than tick off numbers because a picture will one day contain a scene which no longer exists, a number in a book doesnt do the same for me although keeping a log of buses and trains you travel on is always going to be good to pull out in 40 years to have a flashback!
this is much like me. I only take record shots now of things I’m driving if I have a layover somewhere scenic or driving an older bus!
Eyersey468
Established Member
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I only take bus photos of something special these days
njlawley
Member
*Facepalm* is all I can say to that!
peterblue
Member
It's upto you. Fleet lists are available. I tend to only take photographs of "interesting" / unusual liveries, rather than trying to tick off a huge checklist. It's all based on your personal preference; everyone is different.
traction22
Member
http://www.sheffieldomnibus.uk/
Are you wanting to photograph? Are you wanting to note take? Ride? Are you wanting First, Stagecoach, Independents?
Are you wanting to photograph? Are you wanting to note take? Ride? Are you wanting First, Stagecoach, Independents?
woodhouse122
Member
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Check out the Sheffield omnibus enthusiast website before buying any fleet books,they have fleet lists on thier sits to download of all the local operators in South and West Yorkshire and sre updated monthly
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