Private plates on buses and coaches

[Wirewiper]

Thanks for clarification. It is odd that in the early days the first few had the then current style of registration, and in a short while were re-registered with their LTZ numbers. I have had a qick search but cannot find any online reference. Can anyone help?

EDIT: I've found a picture of an LT with the registration LT61 AHT.

LT 1-8 were the prototypes, and entered service with the registrations LT61 AHT/BHT/CHT/DHT/EHT/FHT/GHT - LT2 was actually the first in service when it operated a 12.01 Hackney Central - Victoria route 38 extra on 27th February 2012. All eight were subsequently reregistered into the LTZ 1*** series. LT 9-13 initially entered service with Metroline on route 24 with LT13 *** registrations but these were quickly changed to LTZ 10** plates.

And as noted, LT 901-999 carry LTZ 29** plates, whilst LT1000 is LTZ 1000.

New Bus For London - the Inaugural Journey by Julian Walker, on Flickr

 

[Pit_buzzer]

LT 1-8 were the prototypes, and entered service with the registrations LT61 AHT/BHT/CHT/DHT/EHT/FHT/GHT - LT2 was actually the first in service when it operated a 12.01 Hackney Central - Victoria route 38 extra on 27th February 2012. All eight were subsequently reregistered into the LTZ 1*** series. LT 9-13 initially entered service with Metroline on route 24 with LT13 *** registrations but these were quickly changed to LTZ 10** plates.

And as noted, LT 901-999 carry LTZ 29** plates, whilst LT1000 is LTZ 1000.

New Bus For London - the Inaugural Journey by Julian Walker, on Flickr

Interesting that LT1 - 8s original registrations must also have been select plates as the group of 3 letters doesn't progress in the normal fashion. And LT itself is a bit of coincidence for the area identifier

 

[GusB]

Interesting that LT1 - 8s original registrations must also have been select plates as the group of 3 letters doesn't progress in the normal fashion. And LT itself is a bit of coincidence for the area identifier

DVLA hold back registrations that have the second and last letters the same. We had a thread about it a while back.

 

[Pit_buzzer]

DVLA hold back registrations that have the second and last letters the same. We had a thread about it a while back.

Thanks for that, now you mention it I vaguely remember reading about it

 

[Bald Rick]

DVLA hold back registrations that have the second and last letters the same. We had a thread about it a while back.

Indeed, I discovered it!

 

[GusB]

Indeed, I discovered it!

Grand - any chance you could post the link as it may be of interest to others?

 

[Bald Rick]

Grand - any chance you could post the link as it may be of interest to others?

Et voila!

GB number plate curiosity

Evening all. A good chum of mine recently experienced a curious incident, which set my mind thinking, which in turn has led to me discovering - I think - an oddity about GB registration plates (number plates). As most of you will know, since September 2001 GB number plates have been in the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[GusB]

Et voila!

GB number plate curiosity

Evening all. A good chum of mine recently experienced a curious incident, which set my mind thinking, which in turn has led to me discovering - I think - an oddity about GB registration plates (number plates). As most of you will know, since September 2001 GB number plates have been in the...

www.railforums.co.uk

Merci beaucoup, monsieur

 

[Dstock7080]

Wings Luxury Travel of Uxbridge acquired quite a few ex-RM “WLT” plates in the late ‘80s for their coaches.
When I acquired my WLT5xx plate I was specifically asked by the dealer “you’re not Wings Travel of Uxbridge are you?!”
Wings have since rebranded as Wings Executive Travel and have changed the “WLT” for non-descript “WET” plates.

 

[33117]

I know high peak have some private plates in their solos based at dove holes near buxton.

Example of which is HP52 BUS

D&G out of crewe have got DG64 BUS

 

[peters]

D&G out of crewe have got DG64 BUS

DG64 BUS was moved to their Adderley Green depot shortly after they stopped operating the 32 service. Although, the 108 service in Macclesfield is operated from the depot so it's possible it's been to Macc recently.

They also have 4 Wright Streetlites which were previously used on the Isle of Man so they registered them using DG55 BUS, DG56 BUS, DG57 BUS and DG58 BUS.

 

[route101]

I know high peak have some private plates in their solos based at dove holes near buxton.

Example of which is HP52 BUS

D&G out of crewe have got DG64 BUS

Are these age identifier's accurate on these buses?

 

[cnjb8]

Are these age identifier's accurate on these buses?

DG64 BUS is yes.
DG55/6/7/8 BUS aren't as they're ex Isle of Man as mentioned. They're from 2014 I believe

 

[Flange Squeal]

Are these age identifier's accurate on these buses?

And further to @cnjb8 on the D&Gs above, the other vehicle mentioned in your quote - High Peak HP52 BUS - is not. This is a 2011 Optare Solo, formerly YJ11 EJU. It did used to be on an age appropriate vehicle though, as it used to be worn by former Nottingham Omnicity FG52 WFX.

 

[Murray J]

Crawley Luxury - A selection of plates featuring 'CLC'.

I believe they have a few CL plates too, and also a few random ones, either inherited with the vehicle (EG 77 CJX) or acquired from another company.

 

[InOban]

At one time almost all West Coast Motors vehicles, both buses and coaches had private plates in the format # @00 WCM, as in W200 WCM. Still some around but with the growth of the Craig family empire recent vehicles have abandoned this.

 

[Applepie356]

Arriva London bus T85 has 185CLT plate, not entirely sure what that’s a reference to

 

[GusB]

Arriva London bus T85 has 185CLT plate, not entirely sure what that’s a reference to

xxxCLT and VLT/WLTxxx were former Routemaster plates.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Bus related but not on a bus.
The first bus that the late Colin Shears (West of England transport Collection, Winkleigh) bought was an Exeter Corporation Tiger, no 67, which ran on route K.
His early career was on the Exeter Motor Tax office and presumably he kept some contacts, because he once picked me up at St Davids station in his new car, proud of its registration - BUS67K.

 

[busesrusuk]

Both Oxford Bus Co and Stagecoach Oxford use "cherished" plates on their coach fleet. Oxford have plates with "OX" or "OXF":

Oxford Bus 62 Apr 14 | keith wood | Flickr
Oxford 61 Apr15 | Park Lane, Apr 2015 | keith wood | Flickr
Oxford 44 Oct18 | Heathrow, Terminal 5. Oct 0218 | keith wood | Flickr

This were also specific plates for coaches on the X90 route into London (now ceased):
Oxford 71 may15 | Marble Arch, May 2015 | keith wood | Flickr
Oxford 68 Aug16 | Thornhill P&R site, Aug 2016 | keith wood | Flickr

Whilst Stagecoach have a number of reg's that relate to the Oxford Tube service:
SCoach Oxford 50261 Aug19 | Magdalen College, Oxford. Aug 20… | Flickr
SCoach Oxford 50263 Aug19 | Oxford Castle, Aug 2019 | Flickr

These plates get transferred to new batches of vehicle's and will appear on the latest Plaxton double deck coaches in due course.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

xxxCLT and VLT/WLTxxx were former Routemaster plates.

Am I right in thinking that the "LT" part of that series was a deliberate reference to "London Transport"?

 

[GusB]

Am I right in thinking that the "LT" part of that series was a deliberate reference to "London Transport"?

The Lx marks were allocated to Greater London until 1974 and then London North West thereafter, with the exceptions of LG, LJ, LS and LV. It might just have been a co-incidence, although with London Transport having a fair amount of purchasing power, it wouldn't surprise me if those ranges were specially reserved.

Someone with more knowledge of LT's history will no doubt be able to shed a bit more light.

 

[SteveyBee131]

TM Travel, of Halfway near Sheffield (and these days part of the group who own Trent Barton), has for many years had plate TM52 BUS

For many years it was carried by an Optare Solo, but is now carried by an East Lancs Nordic. I don't have any pictures of either, but a Google image search comes up with pictures of both.

 

[TheSel]

TM Travel, of Halfway near Sheffield (and these days part of the group who own Trent Barton), has for many years had plate TM52 BUS

For many years it was carried by an Optare Solo, but is now carried by an East Lancs Nordic. I don't have any pictures of either, but a Google image search comes up with pictures of both.

Can't help with the Nordic, but here's a shot I took of the Solo when I was living in the area. 19/11/11, climbing Wharncliffe Street out of Rotherham.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The Lx marks were allocated to Greater London until 1974 and then London North West thereafter, with the exceptions of LG, LJ, LS and LV. It might just have been a co-incidence, although with London Transport having a fair amount of purchasing power, it wouldn't surprise me if those ranges were specially reserved.

Someone with more knowledge of LT's history will no doubt be able to shed a bit more light.

Indeed, they were London marks

LA London London NW
LB London London NW
LC London London NW
LD London London NW
LE London London NW
LF London London NW
LG Cheshire Chester
LH London London NW

LJ Bournemouth Bournemouth
LK London London NW
LL London London NW
LM London London NW
LN London London NW
LO London London NW
LP London London NW

LR London London NW
LS Selkirkshire Edinburgh
LT London London NW
LU London London NW
LV Liverpool Liverpool
LW London London NW
LX London London NW
LY London London NW

I don't know about the LT plates being booked for Routemasters by design. The DMS (aka Londoner) had their first examples with EGP-J plates, and FRM1 had a KGY plate.

 

[TheSel]

I don't know about the LT plates being booked for Routemasters by design. The DMS (aka Londoner) had their first examples with EGP-J plates, and FRM1 had a KGY plate.

And, of course, don't forget RM1000, which was registered 100BXL.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

And, of course, don't forget RM1000, which was registered 100BXL.

Indeed it was, and used on publicity photographs extensively!

 

[DJames]

NX West Midlands have S1 TWM, which was originally on an O405GN: https://www.flickr.com/photos/royalmailman/14985152634/

It then got put onto a Scania bendy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/je1791/5641022057/

And, after those got withdrawn, it got transferred again to a B7RLE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stourvalley/49494645333/

There was also C8 NEX, which adorned an ALX200 Dart, transferred in from Travel London. It was new to Connex, hence the registration. I don't think it's been re-used since the vehicle was withdrawn, however.

There are also two Enviro200 Darts in the fleet, acquired from igo/WMSNT after they went under, with T13/T16 GAJ registrations, but I'm not sure if there's any significance to those.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There are also two Enviro200 Darts in the fleet, acquired from igo/WMSNT after they went under, with T13/T16 GAJ registrations, but I'm not sure if there's any significance to those.

They were new to a firm called Leven Valley on Teesside. It was a very smart firm - traditional livery and usually immaculate. Amongst secondhand acquisitions, they would buy/lease vehicles and re-register them with traditional Teesside registration marks such as AJ, VN and XG. They were bought out by Proctors Group and those ones, I suspect, returned off lease.

 

[Flange Squeal]

There was also C8 NEX, which adorned an ALX200 Dart, transferred in from Travel London. It was new to Connex, hence the registration. I don't think it's been re-used since the vehicle was withdrawn, however.

It's currently on the company staff health bus, a Mercedes-Benz O405N formerly T687 FOB.