Trips by Bus and Coach: Your reports

[TheGrandWazoo]

Woah @TheSel - I'm struggling to keep up with these I haven't had chance to respond to the 1984 Wrexham one and now another!! As always, thanks for the superb photos. You clearly have the charm to get drivers to stop and allow you to take their photo.

1984 - Some nice shots there, and the one in Shocklach has the pub looking rather traditional. Thanks to Streetview, you can still find it and it looks more Gastro. The thing that caught my eye, and I've seen in it mentioned elsewhere is that whilst Crosville had more DP Nationals than almost anyone else, they could be relied upon to have them grinding around on local services. Meanwhile, standard ones with brown vinyl seats would be flogging around on cross-country routes.

Good to see a bit of trundling round on town services in Wrexham. That bus shelter and flats behind SRG181 don't look too smart. Against, Streetview shows they've been smartened up a lot. Mold bus station though never seems to change appreciably. Another little observation between that and 1985 was the dispensing of Setright ticket machines and the introduction of Almex A. That exactly mirrors the experience of my local firm who did the same at the same time. Setrights were getting on and parts were becoming scarcer.

1985 - Some glorious shots and as someone who's own local firm (United) had a similarly huge operating area, it's good to see a trip out that shows the same sorts of things I experienced albeit with poppy red rather than leaf green. By that point, flat fronted REs had gone but United still had the odd bus seated RELL as a rarity (3 left by then) so similar to the Crosville RESL. Also, they had the same policy of sending elderly VRs for schools (and eliminating dupes) to rural depots yet often sending a new or nearly new VR to sweeten the deal. Like Machynlleth, United sent two VRs to Northallerton in 1981... a three month old example and a 1970s one. The idea of sending a brand new decker to Mach for a bus full of schoolkids for 30-ish weeks a year and associated pensioners with NTT tokens - it's bonkers. Yet I think that both Mach and Aberaeron got some of that batch. Llangefni may also have done so!

First time I did the run from Dolgellau to Mach... it was a B series National but about 10 years later than this. They were crude machines really but interesting as a relatively rare beast away from London Country or Crosville. Never done the run over the top from Ruthin to Corwen (except in the car) and should really do it. You had the weather for it. Whilst you may have done the D94 on an RE, I would venture that doing it on one of the two Deltas that Crosville Wales had tops it. I know that's herecy but they were great when fairly young, belting up the A494. One fess up is that I never had one of the later ECW RE coaches; United was all bus shell and whilst Northern had some, they went very early.

Anyhow thanks for the fantastic memories.

 

[TheSel]

I promised you all another 'Historical Report' for today, so here it is.

It's Wednesday, 12 March 1986, and it's the start of a three-day jaunt to the West Country. With little more than a camera round my neck and a couple of changes of essential clothes in a shoulder bag, I set out on what turned out to be an excellent day on:

0705 SOUTHPORT – LIVERPOOL CENTRAL 508138

0800 National Express 825 Liverpool – Birmingham Green Line TPL90 – B290KPF – Plaxton bodied Leyland Tiger

1100 National Express 730 Birmingham – Bristol Trent 148 – SCH148X – Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard

… where my intention to spend some time in the City before heading down to Weston-Super-Mare was immediately changed when I caught sight of:

1300 X96 Bristol – Exeter Southern National 1468 – RDV419H – ECW bodied Bristol RELH6G

… so I just HAD to have a ride.


Southern National 1468, hastily snapped during a brief pause in Burnham-on-Sea.

I ended up enjoying this most comfortable of machines all the way to journey's end in Exeter. I hadn't intended to get this far south today, but despite it being 'Minibus City' by this stage, and only having half an hour or so 'to play with', I managed to get a few shots of “proper” buses:


Ex Western National, now Devon General ECW bodied Bristol VR 582


Devon General Re-bodied Leyland Leopard 2425 - complete with a pesky minibus.



Devon General's ECW bodied Bristol LHS 95 - LFJ849W

Little did I know at the time that I would encounter this little beast again less than five months later, by which time it had become Southern Vectis 201:


LFJ849W again – this time Southern Vectis 201 at Freshwater Bay on 14 August 1986.

All too soon it was time to re-board the RELH to return north, but I managed to persuade the driver to back off the stand first, so I could get this shot of the return journey:


Southern National 1468 awaits a man with a camera before leaving Exeter!

... which conveyed me back to Taunton in style and luxury, with the most mellow and melodious of soundtracks!

1545 X96 Exeter – Taunton Southern National 1468 – RDV419H – ECW bodied Bristol RELH6G

Here, I decided against completing the full return trip, preferring to get a few shots in Taunton before the light faded completely.


Southern National 1468 again, this time leaving Taunton.


Southern National 1055 – OTA289G – an early (mark I) ECW bodied Bristol VR, alongside ...


Southern National 3114 – a Plaxton bodied Bristol LH

Time now for a 'local' trip:

1710 203 Taunton – Wellington Southern National 1097 – PTT97R – ECW bodied Bristol VR

returning on the same bus as

1740 203 Wellington – Taunton Southern National 1097 – PTT97R – ECW bodied Bristol VR


Southern National 1097, in an all over advert for Radio Bristol, in Rockwell Green. The light is definitely fading by now!

… before heading for my originally-intended destination on board:

1830 142 Taunton – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 5067 – MOU741R – ECW bodied Bristol VR

This allowed me time to check in to a Guest House before an evening run into the countryside to enjoy a pint or two of 'Flowers Original Ale' in The Lamb on Axbridge Square. Good, but contrasting sound effects for the journeys being provided by:

2110 126 Weston-Super-Mare – Axbridge Badgerline 1280 – EHU381K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

2209 126 Axbridge – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 3513 – AAE657V – Leyland National 2

All in all, a very good day! More memories and photos of this holiday will follow tomorrow if I can find time.

 

[route101]

Last weekend I decided to go a bit further!

Started off in Coventry, which was my first time in the City. I had a look in the Pool Meadow bus station, mostly national express buses present. I noticed ALX 400 tridents still in operation in Coventry. I wasn't sure to buy a Arriva dayticket and head towards Leicestershire or buy the Stagecoach midland dayrider. As I had a cheap advance rail ticket from Corby later in the day I plumped for the Stagecoach ticket.

Coventry to Rugby E200

Route 86 on a 11 year old E200 was the first bus of the day. The route featured a diversion along the old school A45 dual carriageway before arriving into Rugby. I had a break of about an hour in Rugby for something to eat and drink.

Rugby to Northampton E200

Rugby has no bus station so the stops are strung out across a large area, I eventually found my stop for the 96. Another 11 year old E200 and another single decker. The route took us out past the railway station and along a new road with a new housing development. The warehouses at Crick were next before we got to the nicer section of route towards Long Buckby. Eventually we made it to Northampton, first time since 2003.

Northampton to Kettering E400MMC

X4 to Kettering was next and great to be on a double decker. The route didn't take as long as I thought but good to pass through some new territory. Northamptonshire is a bit of no mans land for me. I took a break in Kettering and waited for the next X4 to Corby.

Kettering to Corby E400MMC

Continued with the X4 to Corby. I would of done the whole route to Peterborough if I had the time. Corby was quite bleak and almost reminded me of being in Scotland, a little like Glenrothes perhaps. I overheard a few Scottish accents. Walked to the railway station and caught the EMR class 360 down to London.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Last weekend I decided to go a bit further!

Started off in Coventry, which was my first time in the City. I had a look in the Pool Meadow bus station, mostly national express buses present. I noticed ALX 400 tridents still in operation in Coventry. I wasn't sure to buy a Arriva dayticket and head towards Leicestershire or buy the Stagecoach midland dayrider. As I had a cheap advance rail ticket from Corby later in the day I plumped for the Stagecoach ticket.

Coventry to Rugby E200

Route 86 on a 11 year old E200 was the first bus of the day. The route featured a diversion along the old school A45 dual carriageway before arriving into Rugby. I had a break of about an hour in Rugby for something to eat and drink.

Rugby to Northampton E200

Rugby has no bus station so the stops are strung out across a large area, I eventually found my stop for the 96. Another 11 year old E200 and another single decker. The route took us out past the railway station and along a new road with a new housing development. The warehouses at Crick were next before we got to the nicer section of route towards Long Buckby. Eventually we made it to Northampton, first time since 2003.

Northampton to Kettering E400MMC

X4 to Kettering was next and great to be on a double decker. The route didn't take as long as I thought but good to pass through some new territory. Northamptonshire is a bit of no mans land for me. I took a break in Kettering and waited for the next X4 to Corby.

Kettering to Corby E400MMC

Continued with the X4 to Corby. I would of done the whole route to Peterborough if I had the time. Corby was quite bleak and almost reminded me of being in Scotland, a little like Glenrothes perhaps. I overheard a few Scottish accents. Walked to the railway station and caught the EMR class 360 down to London.

Not done the 86 but the 96 is a route of two halves as you say. Absolutely, you have to get past the DIRFT distribution park and the Crick warehouses but that done, it's a pleasant run through Northamptonshire - a county of abysmal towns and gorgeous countryside. Long Buckby is a fair sized village and then through past Althorp.

The X4 is not particularly exciting. Kettering is a doleful town (though there's a great pub - the Gladstone). Corby has a long standing Scottish connection as many people moved from the central belt (Lanarkshire?) to work in the steelworks and so the local accent has a distinctly Scottish twang. It's a typical new town though at least you don't have to suffer the bus station there anymore.

 

[route101]

Not done the 86 but the 96 is a route of two halves as you say. Absolutely, you have to get past the DIRFT distribution park and the Crick warehouses but that done, it's a pleasant run through Northamptonshire - a county of abysmal towns and gorgeous countryside. Long Buckby is a fair sized village and then through past Althorp.

The X4 is not particularly exciting. Kettering is a doleful town (though there's a great pub - the Gladstone). Corby has a long standing Scottish connection as many people moved from the central belt (Lanarkshire?) to work in the steelworks and so the local accent has a distinctly Scottish twang. It's a typical new town though at least you don't have to suffer the bus station there anymore.

I do wonder if the 86 and 96 were one route at some point. I heard a few Scottish accents in Corby to be fair. Perhaps next time I will venture to Leicester, which is another city I have yet to visit.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I do wonder if the 86 and 96 were one route at some point. I heard a few Scottish accents in Corby to be fair. Perhaps next time I will venture to Leicester, which is another city I have yet to visit.

I don't think the 86/96 have been linked. Historically, Rugby was a Midland Red depot, and still resides in the old MR building whilst services North of Northampton were operated by United Counties as they had a depot there and in Daventry. There was in the mid to late 1980s, an X64 that went from Corby to Birmingham via Kettering, Northampton but then via Daventry before heading to Coventry.

 

[TheSel]

Re post #272 above, I'm sorry, but I didn't have the time yesterday to continue the report of my trip, so here goes with the next two days.

Firstly Thursday, 13 March 1986. After overnighting in Weston-Super-Mare, I had a Badgerline day. Despite the fact that by this stage Weston's local services were in the hands of minibuses (and thus to be avoided at all costs!), I was not to be disappointed! The day trip comprised:

0846 121 Weston-Super-Mare – Bristol Badgerline 1311 – LHT165L – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L


Badgerline 1311 - Wrington

1023 376 Temple Meads Station – Glastonbury Badgerline 3527 – BOU2V – Leyland National 2



Badgerline 3527 - Glastonbury

... then the Thursday-only market day service:

1150 166 Glastonbury – Butleigh – Glastonbury (circle) Badgerline 1272 – EHU373K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L


Badgerline 1272 - Butleigh.



Badgerline 1272 again, this time crossing the River Brue, between Barton St David and Catsham

1312 376 Glastonbury – Wells Badgerline 3513 – AAE657V – Leyland National 2 The vehicle which, you may recall, provided the soundtrack to my ride back to Weston Super Mare from the pub last night.


Badgerline 3513 - Glastonbury

1330 170 Wells – Latcham Badgerline 1315 – LHT169L – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L



Badgerline 1315 - approaching Latcham


1403 170 Latcham – Wells Badgerline 2063 – WHW375H – ECW (bus) bodied Bristol RELH6L


Badgerline 2063 - Theale (not the well known one, but a small village on the B3139 between Latcham and Wookey)

1436 126 Wells – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 2071 – GHY133K – ECW (bus) bodied Bristol RELH6L


Badgerline 2071 - Cheddar.

1615 X1 Weston-Super-Mare – Bristol Badgerline 2084 – CSV524 (originally GJD194N) – Plaxton bodied Bristol RELH6L


Badgerline 2084 (new to National Travel South East as GJD194N) - Bristol.

1720 325 Bristol – Old Sodbury Badgerline 1262 – DAO295K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L


Badgerline 1262 (new to Cumberland) - Old Sodbury – by which time I was definitely 'pushing it' for light, but balancing the camera on the thoughtfully provided wall helped enormously!

1830 329 Old Sodbury – Bristol Badgerline 1262 – DAO295K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

1940 362 Bristol – Cambridge Batch Badgerline 1261 – DAO294K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

... thus sampling another second hand RE, and making it possible to break my journey to enjoy a pint before returning on Weston-Super-Mare on:

2011 353 Cambridge Batch – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 5100 – PHY694S – ECW bodied Bristol VR


All in all, a good day, despite the indifferent light for photography. Several REs of different types and different original owners. Next up, a report of the following day.

So, as promised, here's a report of Friday, 14 March 1986. After enjoying a decent breakfast, I pack what few things I've taken with me and make my way down to the promenade to see what other delights Weston-Super-Mare can offer. As I mentioned above, W-S-M was one of the first towns to be subjected to a full 'minibus conversion', when on 31 May 1985, all town services were converted to this mode of operation. However, my first 'minibus' of the day was rather special. I bought my Wanderbus ticket on board:

0850 8 Weston-Super-Mare – Sand Bay Badgerline 466 – AFB597V – ECW bodied Bristol LH6L


Badgerline 466, Sand Bay.

... returning to the town centre on the same vehicle, working:

0912 8 Sand Bay – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 466 – AFB597V – ECW bodied Bristol LH6L


Badgerline 466 at Kewstoke, where I attracted the attention of one of the local canines!

Next, I'm off into Bristol, rather disappointedly on:

0945 X1 Weston-Super-Mare – Bristol Badgerline 2097 – PWS491S – Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopard

... but normal Bristol RE service is restored with a trip out to Severn Beach on

1050 324 Bristol – Severn Beach Badgerline 1257 – DAE511K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

A nice enough route, but a very disappointing terminus.


Badgerline 1257 at a disappoining Severn Beach terminus.

Come on, @TheSel, you can do better than that for a scenic shot, so on the way back:

1155 324 Severn Beach – Westbury-on-Trym Badgerline 1257 – DAE511K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L


Badgerline 1257 again. That's better! Berwick Lane, complete with a 'centre-pole' bus stop, on the way back to Bris'l.

I alight in the outskirts of the city, in Westbury on Trym, to sample some City routes, where Bristol VRs - even some early, flat screen ones, still ply their trade.

1230 21 Westbury-on-Trym – The Downs City Line 5004 – EHU363K – ECW bodied Bristol VR


City Line 5004 - Lawrence Weston

1326 22 The Downs – Bristol Centre City Line 5082 – NFB118R – ECW bodied Bristol VR

1350 82 Centre – Ashton Drive City Line 1430 – JHU871L – Leyland National


City Line 1430 - JHU871L in Central Bristol.


1449 77 Ashton Drive – St James City Line 9553 – A953SAE – Roe bodied Olympian


City Line 9553 returned me to Central Bristol. Note the 'Transign' destination equipment, an early (and not entirely successful) brand of electronic display.

Next up, a second-hand flat-screened VR:

74 Haymarket – Horfield Sports Centre City Line 5200 – WUF527K – ECW bodied Bristol VR


City Line 5200 - Horbury.

... returning to the City on:

74 Horfield Sports Centre – Haymarket City Line 5147 – AHW198V – ECW bodied Bristol VR

... before the long journey home by National Express - changing in Birmingham - on board:


1635 National Express 730 Bristol – Birmingham Midland Red 581 – BVP781V – Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopard

1900 National Express 825 (duplicate) Birmingham – Liverpool Ribble 13 – URN213R – Duple bodied Leyland Leopard

... and finally the train back home.

2105 LIVERPOOL CENTRAL – BIRKDALE 507025

I hope you've enjoyed my report of this three-day jaunt from 36 years ago. Nostalgia isn't what it was!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Re post #272 above, I'm sorry, but I didn't have the time yesterday to continue the report of my trip, so here goes with the next two days.

Firstly Thursday, 13 March 1986. After overnighting in Weston-Super-Mare, I had a Badgerline day. Despite the fact that by this stage Weston's local services were in the hands of minibuses (and thus to be avoided at all costs!), I was not to be disappointed! The day trip comprised:

0846 121 Weston-Super-Mare – Bristol Badgerline 1311 – LHT165L – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

View attachment 111403
Badgerline 1311 - Wrington

1023 376 Temple Meads Station – Glastonbury Badgerline 3527 – BOU2V – Leyland National 2


View attachment 111404
Badgerline 3527 - Glastonbury

... then the Thursday-only market day service:

1150 166 Glastonbury – Butleigh – Glastonbury (circle) Badgerline 1272 – EHU373K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

View attachment 111412
Badgerline 1272 - Butleigh.


View attachment 111405
Badgerline 1272 again, this time crossing the River Brue, between Barton St David and Catsham

1312 376 Glastonbury – Wells Badgerline 3513 – AAE657V – Leyland National 2 The vehicle which, you may recall, provided the soundtrack to my ride back to Weston Super Mare from the pub last night.

View attachment 111406
Badgerline 3513 - Glastonbury

1330 170 Wells – Latcham Badgerline 1315 – LHT169L – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L


View attachment 111407
Badgerline 1315 - approaching Latcham


1403 170 Latcham – Wells Badgerline 2063 – WHW375H – ECW (bus) bodied Bristol RELH6L

View attachment 111408
Badgerline 2063 - Theale (not the well known one, but a small village on the B3139 between Latcham and Wookey)

1436 126 Wells – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 2071 – GHY133K – ECW (bus) bodied Bristol RELH6L

View attachment 111409
Badgerline 2071 - Cheddar.

1615 X1 Weston-Super-Mare – Bristol Badgerline 2084 – CSV524 (originally GJD194N) – Plaxton bodied Bristol RELH6L

View attachment 111410
Badgerline 2084 (new to National Travel South East as GJD194N) - Bristol.

1720 325 Bristol – Old Sodbury Badgerline 1262 – DAO295K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

View attachment 111411
Badgerline 1262 (new to Cumberland) - Old Sodbury – by which time I was definitely 'pushing it' for light, but balancing the camera on the thoughtfully provided wall helped enormously!

1830 329 Old Sodbury – Bristol Badgerline 1262 – DAO295K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

1940 362 Bristol – Cambridge Batch Badgerline 1261 – DAO294K – ECW bodied Bristol RELL6L

... thus sampling another second hand RE, and making it possible to break my journey to enjoy a pint before returning on Weston-Super-Mare on:

2011 353 Cambridge Batch – Weston-Super-Mare Badgerline 5100 – PHY694S – ECW bodied Bristol VR


All in all, a good day, despite the indifferent light for photography. Several REs of different types and different original owners. Next up, a report of the following day.

More quality photos from @TheSel and, of course, very close to my adopted home. I did manage a couple of visits to the area whereby I was able to experience the Badgerline REs although by that point, they were confined purely to Wells depot. Absolutely love the photo of the RE traversing the bridge near Baltonsborough. Also, always thought it incongruous when you had the NBC symbol on a very non-NBC livery, as per your last shot.

The Badgerline REs were, of course, Leyland engined and so sounded very raucous compared to the more subtle Gardners of my home firm. I also quite liked the Mk2 National (better than the Mk1) for a fast interurban run.

Many locations that I know very well. The Old Sodbury terminus is still there though the cast iron bus stop has now gone and replaced by a more modern one. The old dears in Theale is a quaint shot and is a spot I've passed through on many occasions heading to Roger Wilkins' cider farm - a local institution Interesting to see how some of those services have fared in the last 36 years... the 376 has gone from Leyland National 2s through several upgrades and become double decker operated at a higher frequency. One of the local success stories. Meanwhile, the 121 has gone the other way, with it being deregistered and run under tender by various firms (First, Bakers Dolphin, Wessex) before being messed about through local authority changes and finally being "replaced" by a mish mash of routes. The 166 is now replaced by a daily (except Sun) service to Wincanton whilst the 170 Wells to Burnham is now severed in Wedmore with the two halves of the 67 now operated by two separate community minibuses though at least they do connect. Meanwhile, the 126 continues on as it always has.

Thanks again for posting

 

[RELL6L]

More fabulous pictures from @TheSel's three day trip and a wonderful collection of REs in what was now their twilight period with Badgerline. On your first evening I reckon you had 20 minutes in Axbridge for two pints in the pub - those were the days! I did go to Wells when REs were almost extinct, I think just on the 126 the last time I went. Loved the Plaxton bodied ones too. I was OK with National 2s, they sounded so much more like REs than National 1s.

On route101's adventure I totally agree that Northamptonshire's countryside is better than its towns. Corby is depressing (and there is a strong Scottish link, going back there were many express services - possibly run by Barton? - between Corby and Glasgow), Kettering nothing much, just the street that runs west from one of the bus termini down to a paved square and church is OK. The X4 is only scenic between Corby and Peterborough but that is difficult to make much of a round trip from as there are few other east-west routes there. Oundle is worth a stop in if you do that. I have a feeling that the Rugby 86 and 96 were connected for a brief period not too long ago, but clearly it didn't work (a very long route combined) and they unlinked them. Might be wrong as I wouldn't normally dream of suggesting The Grand Wazoo could be mistaken on such matters.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

More fabulous pictures from @TheSel's three day trip and a wonderful collection of REs in what was now their twilight period with Badgerline. On your first evening I reckon you had 20 minutes in Axbridge for two pints in the pub - those were the days! I did go to Wells when REs were almost extinct, I think just on the 126 the last time I went. Loved the Plaxton bodied ones too. I was OK with National 2s, they sounded so much more like REs than National 1s.

On route101's adventure I totally agree that Northamptonshire's countryside is better than its towns. Corby is depressing (and there is a strong Scottish link, going back there were many express services - possibly run by Barton? - between Corby and Glasgow), Kettering nothing much, just the street that runs west from one of the bus termini down to a paved square and church is OK. The X4 is only scenic between Corby and Peterborough but that is difficult to make much of a round trip from as there are few other east-west routes there. Oundle is worth a stop in if you do that. I have a feeling that the Rugby 86 and 96 were connected for a brief period not too long ago, but clearly it didn't work (a very long route combined) and they unlinked them. Might be wrong as I wouldn't normally dream of suggesting The Grand Wazoo could be mistaken on such matters.

The Badgerline REs survived on the 126, and the 163 Wells to Taunton, which is where I had my final trips IIRC. The National 2s were moved to Bath where they would work out to places like Chippenham and Devizes, I think replaced on the 376 by Lynxes (which were another guilty pleasure of mine).

I had thought the Glasgow to Corby services were SBG operated but no, they were indeed Barton Transport. I think it's because I always remember their ones to the North East rather than Scotland.

As for the 86/96, I can't recall it running through to Coventry from Northampton. That's not to say that it didn't happen (it may have) but I can only recall the 96 being Northampton to Rugby in recent years. Oh, and I reserve the right to wrong on such (and many other) matters

 

[RELL6L]

Another one from my archive, this one is from March 2012 and covers some of the ground recently shown by one of @TheSel’s splendid trips. This was day 1 of the first two-day trip I did, staying away after this trip and doing another one the following day.

This had a fairly late start in Corwen, as recently featured by @the Sel. The start was a journey which, rarely, is easier now than it was then – I took the Tuesday only Bws Bro 70 service to Llanrwst. The route was mainly along the A5 but I recall it diverted some way off to the north near the start to serve a couple of villages where passengers boarded. This was purely a market day once a week service but did attract some custom. Fabulous scenery heading west through North Wales but not as far as true Snowdonia.

I had about three quarters of an hour exploring the delights of Llanrwst on market day, a bustling little town and attractive both in the centre and down by the river. Then it was on with what was then still an Arriva service, the 19 up the western side of the Conwy valley to Conwy. Conwy is delightful with a lovely area of waterfront beside what is claimed to be the country’s smallest house, plus the wonderful castle and attractive bridge. From the 1960s and 1970s my memories of Conwy are as a traffic black spot with massive queues in all directions on sunny days as the A55 went through the middle of the town. I spent half an hour in the town before proceeding to Llandudno on the Arriva 5. This journey was an Olympian – although fairly rare on the route even then they would fit under the Conwy arch whereas modern low floor deckers do not so the route is now totally single decker, mainly with Pulsars.

I love Llandudno, a gorgeous Victorian holiday resort and my family stayed here for three summer holidays in the 1960s/70s which I remember fondly. I spent some time here wandering the familiar streets although the buses had changed: at that time the main routes were the A1 from Chester to Caernarfon (albeit change at Rhyl) run entirely with Lodekkas and the Cymru Coastliner L1 with REs. At this time the Great Orme route was run by the local council with some unbelievably old buses, possibly Guy Otters? Anyone recall? Even on this trip there is a pretty old coach in one of the pictures I have below and there was also a local open-top sightseeing tour with quite old Roe-bodied Olympians.

At this time the main 12 route to Rhyl ran every 12 minutes with Pulsars but always with a few deckers which I think were early low floor DAF Spectras. I did not hurry for a Pulsar as I could see the next journey would be a decker although it was somewhat slow leaving and got further behind schedule as it picked up more and more passengers until we were caught by the following service. Then a very busy route, and I think it still is, now all with deckers. I stayed on this through Colwyn Bay and Abergele to Rhyl, where I did not now have a great deal of time. I caught up with Colwyn Bay and Abergele in 2019 as reported in another visit to the archive.

From Rhyl I then headed south on the 51, then fully single deck, which ran every 15 minutes as far as Denbigh in competition with the late GHA Coaches X5 route which then covered the ground through to Wrexham. I alighted at St Asaph for 15 minutes, there is a cathedral here and a bridge over the river, but neither are desperately photogenic. Then on to Denbigh which is a really attractive small town, I had about 40 minutes here to explore the hill-top castle and town centre. From Denbigh I took the GHA X5 to Ruthin, spent half an hour here – another attractive small town – and back on the GHA X50 to Corwen. Only half an hour on this bus but great scenery, back into proper hilly territory. I regret I cannot remember what the vehicles were that I haven’t mentioned.



Corwen


Near Cefn Brith, west of Corwen


Llanrwst


Conwy waterfront


Conwy Castle


Postcard from Llandudno

Rhyl


Denbigh


near Rhewl


Ruthin

 

[asb]

I had some fun using a Staffordshire Knot ticket today, with the intention of travelling on at least one service of each participating operator. For those who don't know the ticket, for £7 you can travel across Staffordshire, but only on the vehicles of Arriva, Chaserider, D&G, First, Midland Classic, National Express West Midlands and Select Bus Services. Although I am very much an 'OS' person rather than a 'PSV Circle' one, and not a great photographer, I have attempted to take some vehicle photos today and will endeavour to add them to my report in the right places after doing the text!

Chaserider 828 - 0819 Rugeley to Lichfield Bus Station - 199 FN04 HTC Scania/Solar

The first bus of the day left a few minutes late, but had a good load when I got on with 21 other passengers, and excellent churn along the route, a further 13 boarding at some point, and only 4 left on at journey's end at Lichfield. The journey was pleasant enough, and the seats had been retrimmed relatively recently. Unfortunately, the handles on the top of each of the seats were very worn and grimy, and brought the image down. Not sure how to deal with that, other than replace all the seat frames, which no doubt would be pricey!



Select 36 - 0900 Lichfield Bus Station to Shenstone Cenotaph - 11 MX54 KYF Optare Solo

The displays at Lichfield Bus Station are generally very good, however the 36 used to be called the 35B when operated by Diamond Bus, who also run the faster 35 service, and the stand labelling has not caught up. However, Stand 3 was the one needed and I was on my own for the start of the trip. We picked up on other passenger on Falkland Road, and it was only when they boarded that I noticed the bus had no ticket machine! After the passenger alighted in Wall, the driver added the details to a clipboard. The bus felt cleaner than the first one, until you looked at the floor under the seats (as opposed to the central aisle), where a mop had obviously not been used for a long time. A shame, as it was a nice bus otherwise.



NXWM X3 - 0935 Shenstone (main road) to Lichfield Bus Station - 6809 SN66 WDO ADL Enviro 400 MMC

A nice walk through the village of Shenstone itself got me to the main Birmingham Road, and before too long a lightly loaded Platinum decker arrived. A smattering of other boardings on the way back to Lichfield, and a small delay at the roadworks by the new housing estates saw us arriving back at Lichfield almost on time. Clean and comfortable.



Arriva 765 - 0940 Lichfield Bus Station to Whittington Bell - 3728 YJ57 BUE VDL/Pulsar

I was due to have a break at Lichfield and catch the 1020 X65 as I was not due in until 0943, but the inbound Arriva vehicle was late, so I pressed on. A reasonable load of 13 joined me, and we made good progress to Whittington, where the full size single proceeded down roads that would probably only see a minibus for size reasons if brand new, but presumably buses have been going this way since the proverbial year dot. Although we were running late, it looked like the other bus on the circuit was also a bit late, so I went as far as The Bell as it seemed a nice place to wait a few minutes. The bus was nice inside, and even the fake leather seats seemed ok.



Arriva 765 - 1001 Whittington Bell to Lichfield Bus Station - 3504 YN08 HZR Scania Omnilink

Another nice vehicle, with 11 on board, and a further five waiting for it elsewhere in the village. Normal moquette seats on this, and generally very nice. The driver even lowered the bus for me to board! Again good progress made, and I was hopeful I might make another dubious connection at Lichfield. We were due in at 1015, but left Whittington more than 5 minutes late, so my desire to catch the 1020 service 12 was in the balance.



Midland Classic - 1020 X12 Lichfield Bus Station to Burton New Street - 25 YN64 FWW Scania Irizar i3

Sadly, as we pulled up to our bay, the 12 pulled away from the adjacent one spot on time. However, the X12 also due out at 1020 was not in sight and a queue remained on the stand. A couple of minutes later, it appeared. 15 boarded a bus that is nice inside, and looks striking externally, but a bit odd to my eyes (still). A good run on the X38, although I had to open the window for the old fashioned reason of being too hot, as the heating was on full!



I had an hour in hand on my plan due to all of this chopping and changing, so I had a look on the MyTrip app to see what vehicles Midland Classic had allocated on their Uttoxeter services. Lo and behold, if I waited in Burton an hour I would get a decker, and even better, I would end up on a decker from Uttoxeter too. Set out to find a decent sandwich, and ended up at Bargate. Feeling lazy, I thought I would catch an 8 back into town but it was running quite late, and a V3 turned up. The sharp eyed amongst you will notice that this is run by TrentBarton who were not on the list of operators I gave at the beginning. I tried my pass on the off chance, and unsurprisingly the driver didn't know about it. I offered to pay, but he decided to take me anyway. Unfortunately, the Solo concerned vibrated terribly when stood at lights and was very uncomfortable. I didn't record the details, but it was advertising 'Hugo'.

Midland Classic - 1210 402 Burton New Street to Uttoxeter Bus Station - 102 LH04 NNF Volvo B7TL/President

A driver changeover was taking place at Burton, where it seemed that 102 was an unplanned allocation that day, due to a last minute swap in the depot during run out. It was not a popular vehicle with either driver. Only 3 or 4 passengers got on at Uttoxeter, and were treated to an exceedingly spirited ride whatever road it was on. Nice views of Tutbury Castle. I don't know if the driver was convinced he was going to run late due to the vehicle, but we ended up arriving early. It seemed a reasonably vehicle though, and the scenery was quite nice. Also an interesting double run to HMP Dovegate, whose exit forces vehicles to turn left only. It seemed that a member of the local clergy found the temptation to turn right anyway too strong.



First Potteries - 1316 Kingfisher (32) Uttoxeter Bus Station to Hanley Bus Station - 32639 KP54 AZA Volvo B7TL/Eclipse Gemini

A bus branded for the 25 to Keele was my steed from the evermore down-at-heel Uttoxeter. Whoever designed these was obviously only 4' tall, as both pairs of front seats had abysmal leg room. Not many passengers, but a much more gentle run than the 402, to the extent that on the approaches to Hanley we kept waiting time at various bus stops. I was the only one left on board by then. Pleasant scenery but not outstanding.



D&G Bus - 1445 100 Hanley Bus Station to Stone Granville Square - 171 WT58 BUS - Optare Versa

An excellent vehicle that arrived on stand at departure time, liveried for cityrider - was that the tendered brand for Stoke on Trent Council? A strange arrangement at Hanley where the buses have to wait for a yellow light before reversing off the stand, made more strange by all the adjacent buses being allowed to reverse all at the same time. Eight passengers by the time we left the Stoke environs. Held up by two sets of temporary lights within quarter of a mile. Arrived at Stone with only two minutes to spare for my next bus.



Select - 1525 103S Stone Mill Street to Eccleshall Castle Street - 1 FJ55 BWA Dennis Pointer Dart

A quick sprint down the road, and I made the bus that had come down from Alleyn School by the skin of my teeth. One double seat not occupied by schoolkids, so grabbed that one. Good behaviour from those on board, but wow what a dirty bus! Needed a good scrubbing. If Arriva were running it like this too then that is really shameful. The 103S goes via Yarnfield exceptionally, and as it happens all the kids were for there, so I was on my own for the continuation to Eccleshall. Unexceptional scenery, though.

Chaserider - 1555 432 Eccleshall Castle Street to Stafford Chell Road - 67 KK63 WZK Wright Streetlite

A brief look around Eccleshall which is pretty if small, before my first time on a Streetlite, and it was nice. Two passengers on board when I started, who had arrived on the inbound working. They both alighted at Woodseaves. I was on my own after that.

A look on the app arriving in Stafford and the 826 I should have missed was not on it, which I took as promising. As we went past Gaol Square I saw it just pulling onto stand, so it was an easy change at Chell Road onto it.



Chaserider - 1610 826 Stafford Chell Road to Rugeley - 191 FJ58 HYP Volvo B7RLE Eclipse Urban

Departing about 15 minutes late, but picking up a good load at the various stops in the city centre before heading towards the chase. A nice ride, and we made up 10 minutes by the time I got off.



An interesting day, with a wide variety of vehicles and scenery. All drivers recognised the ticket (except Trent, obviously) and were friendly enough. Cleanliness an issue on some vehicles. I also noticed on the last bus that the cove panels were very discoloured, and I think other buses suffered from that too looking back. It was a nasty brown colour too (a had been removed, providing a before and after). More scrubbing needed!

If you can get yourself to Staffordshire, it is a great ticket to use for a good price.

Photos now attached!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I had some fun using a Staffordshire Knot ticket today, with the intention of travelling on at least one service of each participating operator. For those who don't know the ticket, for £7 you can travel across Staffordshire, but only on the vehicles of Arriva, Chaserider, D&G, First, Midland Classic, National Express West Midlands and Select Bus Services. Although I am very much an 'OS' person rather than a 'PSV Circle' one, and not a great photographer, I have attempted to take some vehicle photos today and will endeavour to add them to my report in the right places after doing the text!

Chaserider 828 - 0819 Rugeley to Lichfield Bus Station - 199 FN04 HTC Scania/Solar

The first bus of the day left a few minutes late, but had a good load when I got on with 21 other passengers, and excellent churn along the route, a further 13 boarding at some point, and only 4 left on at journey's end at Lichfield. The journey was pleasant enough, and the seats had been retrimmed relatively recently. Unfortunately, the handles on the top of each of the seats were very worn and grimy, and brought the image down. Not sure how to deal with that, other than replace all the seat frames, which no doubt would be pricey!

View attachment 111500

Select 36 - 0900 Lichfield Bus Station to Shenstone Cenotaph - 11 MX54 KYF Optare Solo

The displays at Lichfield Bus Station are generally very good, however the 36 used to be called the 35B when operated by Diamond Bus, who also run the faster 35 service, and the stand labelling has not caught up. However, Stand 3 was the one needed and I was on my own for the start of the trip. We picked up on other passenger on Falkland Road, and it was only when they boarded that I noticed the bus had no ticket machine! After the passenger alighted in Wall, the driver added the details to a clipboard. The bus felt cleaner than the first one, until you looked at the floor under the seats (as opposed to the central aisle), where a mop had obviously not been used for a long time. A shame, as it was a nice bus otherwise.

View attachment 111499

NXWM X3 - 0935 Shenstone (main road) to Lichfield Bus Station - 6809 SN66 WDO ADL Enviro 400 MMC

A nice walk through the village of Shenstone itself got me to the main Birmingham Road, and before too long a lightly loaded Platinum decker arrived. A smattering of other boardings on the way back to Lichfield, and a small delay at the roadworks by the new housing estates saw us arriving back at Lichfield almost on time. Clean and comfortable.

View attachment 111501

Arriva 765 - 0940 Lichfield Bus Station to Whittington Bell - 3728 YJ57 BUE VDL/Pulsar

I was due to have a break at Lichfield and catch the 1020 X65 as I was not due in until 0943, but the inbound Arriva vehicle was late, so I pressed on. A reasonable load of 13 joined me, and we made good progress to Whittington, where the full size single proceeded down roads that would probably only see a minibus for size reasons if brand new, but presumably buses have been going this way since the proverbial year dot. Although we were running late, it looked like the other bus on the circuit was also a bit late, so I went as far as The Bell as it seemed a nice place to wait a few minutes. The bus was nice inside, and even the fake leather seats seemed ok.

View attachment 111502

Arriva 765 - 1001 Whittington Bell to Lichfield Bus Station - 3504 YN08 HZR Scania Omnilink

Another nice vehicle, with 11 on board, and a further five waiting for it elsewhere in the village. Normal moquette seats on this, and generally very nice. The driver even lowered the bus for me to board! Again good progress made, and I was hopeful I might make another dubious connection at Lichfield. We were due in at 1015, but left Whittington more than 5 minutes late, so my desire to catch the 1020 service 12 was in the balance.

View attachment 111503

Midland Classic - 1020 X12 Lichfield Bus Station to Burton New Street - 25 YN64 FWW Scania Irizar i3

Sadly, as we pulled up to our bay, the 12 pulled away from the adjacent one spot on time. However, the X12 also due out at 1020 was not in sight and a queue remained on the stand. A couple of minutes later, it appeared. 15 boarded a bus that is nice inside, and looks striking externally, but a bit odd to my eyes (still). A good run on the X38, although I had to open the window for the old fashioned reason of being too hot, as the heating was on full!

View attachment 111504

I had an hour in hand on my plan due to all of this chopping and changing, so I had a look on the MyTrip app to see what vehicles Midland Classic had allocated on their Uttoxeter services. Lo and behold, if I waited in Burton an hour I would get a decker, and even better, I would end up on a decker from Uttoxeter too. Set out to find a decent sandwich, and ended up at Bargate. Feeling lazy, I thought I would catch an 8 back into town but it was running quite late, and a V3 turned up. The sharp eyed amongst you will notice that this is run by TrentBarton who were not on the list of operators I gave at the beginning. I tried my pass on the off chance, and unsurprisingly the driver didn't know about it. I offered to pay, but he decided to take me anyway. Unfortunately, the Solo concerned vibrated terribly when stood at lights and was very uncomfortable. I didn't record the details, but it was advertising 'Hugo'.

Midland Classic - 1210 402 Burton New Street to Uttoxeter Bus Station - 102 LH04 NNF Volvo B7TL/President

A driver changeover was taking place at Burton, where it seemed that 102 was an unplanned allocation that day, due to a last minute swap in the depot during run out. It was not a popular vehicle with either driver. Only 3 or 4 passengers got on at Uttoxeter, and were treated to an exceedingly spirited ride whatever road it was on. Nice views of Tutbury Castle. I don't know if the driver was convinced he was going to run late due to the vehicle, but we ended up arriving early. It seemed a reasonably vehicle though, and the scenery was quite nice. Also an interesting double run to HMP Dovegate, whose exit forces vehicles to turn left only. It seemed that a member of the local clergy found the temptation to turn right anyway too strong.

View attachment 111505

First Potteries - 1316 Kingfisher (32) Uttoxeter Bus Station to Hanley Bus Station - 32639 KP54 AZA Volvo B7TL/Eclipse Gemini

A bus branded for the 25 to Keele was my steed from the evermore down-at-heel Uttoxeter. Whoever designed these was obviously only 4' tall, as both pairs of front seats had abysmal leg room. Not many passengers, but a much more gentle run than the 402, to the extent that on the approaches to Hanley we kept waiting time at various bus stops. I was the only one left on board by then. Pleasant scenery but not outstanding.

View attachment 111506

D&G Bus - 1445 100 Hanley Bus Station to Stone Granville Square - 171 WT58 BUS - Optare Versa

An excellent vehicle that arrived on stand at departure time, liveried for cityrider - was that the tendered brand for Stoke on Trent Council? A strange arrangement at Hanley where the buses have to wait for a yellow light before reversing off the stand, made more strange by all the adjacent buses being allowed to reverse all at the same time. Eight passengers by the time we left the Stoke environs. Held up by two sets of temporary lights within quarter of a mile. Arrived at Stone with only two minutes to spare for my next bus.

View attachment 111507

Select - 1525 103S Stone Mill Street to Eccleshall Castle Street - 1 FJ55 BWA Dennis Pointer Dart

A quick sprint down the road, and I made the bus that had come down from Alleyn School by the skin of my teeth. One double seat not occupied by schoolkids, so grabbed that one. Good behaviour from those on board, but wow what a dirty bus! Needed a good scrubbing. If Arriva were running it like this too then that is really shameful. The 103S goes via Yarnfield exceptionally, and as it happens all the kids were for there, so I was on my own for the continuation to Eccleshall. Unexceptional scenery, though.

Chaserider - 1555 432 Eccleshall Castle Street to Stafford Chell Road - 67 KK63 WZK Wright Streetlite

A brief look around Eccleshall which is pretty if small, before my first time on a Streetlite, and it was nice. Two passengers on board when I started, who had arrived on the inbound working. They both alighted at Woodseaves. I was on my own after that.

A look on the app arriving in Stafford and the 826 I should have missed was not on it, which I took as promising. As we went past Gaol Square I saw it just pulling onto stand, so it was an easy change at Chell Road onto it.

View attachment 111508

Chaserider - 1610 826 Stafford Chell Road to Rugeley - 191 FJ58 HYP Volvo B7RLE Eclipse Urban

Departing about 15 minutes late, but picking up a good load at the various stops in the city centre before heading towards the chase. A nice ride, and we made up 10 minutes by the time I got off.



An interesting day, with a wide variety of vehicles and scenery. All drivers recognised the ticket (except Trent, obviously) and were friendly enough. Cleanliness an issue on some vehicles. I also noticed on the last bus that the cove panels were very discoloured, and I think other buses suffered from that too looking back. It was a nasty brown colour too (a had been removed, providing a before and after). More scrubbing needed!

If you can get yourself to Staffordshire, it is a great ticket to use for a good price.

Photos now attached!

Thank you @asb for the write up, and then adding the photos. Sounds like you had a good day. I can only agree with you that the Knot ticket is a great value ticket; I've done a couple in recent years. As a former Staffs resident, I can vouch for the fact that whilst the Potteries may be a bit deprived in parts, and it's hard to find much to love about Hednesford, the county is actually a gem of a place.

Good to see you had a snap of Lichfield bus station. Almost unchanged from how it was 30 years ago! I'm amazed the council haven't flogged it off! As I've said before, Staffs is the home of basic unchanged bus stations - Uttoxeter is another as is Rugely. Other observations - those curious Irizar that Midland Classic have; I haven't enjoyed one yet and they look like they might be a solid, comfortable machine?

The services from Burton to Uttoxeter are actually really pleasant and glad you enjoyed Tutbury. Such a nice little place and I nearly ended up living there. However, I can only agree with you as to how down at heel the place is. Granted, the precinct from the bus station is 60's modernism and bereft of traders but the main town itself just seems like it's dying and depressed. This is in marked contrast to nearby Cheadle that you passed through on the KF. The good news is those B7TLs of First are going and they are very, very tired now. It's just personal opinion but I really like the Kingfisher route and the scenery.

Now, I'm jealous that you have managed to do what I hadn't as I've toyed with doing the back road service to Stone and then via Eccleshall to Stafford but not managed it yet. Instead, I've had to content myself with the 101 instead and go direct, so plaudits on that one. Stone is another lovely small vibrant town - cycled through it a few months ago and hadn't appreciated it fully before then. As for the ex Arriva Dart.... the Arriva Cannock fleet wasn't very smart but not as bad as you describe. I had chatted to a Chaserider driver and (Driver told me X and I believe them ALERT) he suggested the Darts were all on borrowed time though I thought they'd go for scrap rather than to Select for further service!

As I say, I can only agree with you and that the Staffordshire Knot is a super ticket and that the county has an array of verdant countryside like the Churnet Valley, post-industrial pain, the rugged beauty of the Moorlands etc and a number of very honest, quite sweet small and medium sized towns - it's incredibly varied and glad you experienced and enjoyed it.

 

[RELL6L]

I had some fun using a Staffordshire Knot ticket today, with the intention of travelling on at least one service of each participating operator. For those who don't know the ticket, for £7 you can travel across Staffordshire, but only on the vehicles of Arriva, Chaserider, D&G, First, Midland Classic, National Express West Midlands and Select Bus Services. Although I am very much an 'OS' person rather than a 'PSV Circle' one, and not a great photographer, I have attempted to take some vehicle photos today and will endeavour to add them to my report in the right places after doing the text!

Chaserider 828 - 0819 Rugeley to Lichfield Bus Station - 199 FN04 HTC Scania/Solar

The first bus of the day left a few minutes late, but had a good load when I got on with 21 other passengers, and excellent churn along the route, a further 13 boarding at some point, and only 4 left on at journey's end at Lichfield. The journey was pleasant enough, and the seats had been retrimmed relatively recently. Unfortunately, the handles on the top of each of the seats were very worn and grimy, and brought the image down. Not sure how to deal with that, other than replace all the seat frames, which no doubt would be pricey!



Select 36 - 0900 Lichfield Bus Station to Shenstone Cenotaph - 11 MX54 KYF Optare Solo

The displays at Lichfield Bus Station are generally very good, however the 36 used to be called the 35B when operated by Diamond Bus, who also run the faster 35 service, and the stand labelling has not caught up. However, Stand 3 was the one needed and I was on my own for the start of the trip. We picked up on other passenger on Falkland Road, and it was only when they boarded that I noticed the bus had no ticket machine! After the passenger alighted in Wall, the driver added the details to a clipboard. The bus felt cleaner than the first one, until you looked at the floor under the seats (as opposed to the central aisle), where a mop had obviously not been used for a long time. A shame, as it was a nice bus otherwise.



NXWM X3 - 0935 Shenstone (main road) to Lichfield Bus Station - 6809 SN66 WDO ADL Enviro 400 MMC

A nice walk through the village of Shenstone itself got me to the main Birmingham Road, and before too long a lightly loaded Platinum decker arrived. A smattering of other boardings on the way back to Lichfield, and a small delay at the roadworks by the new housing estates saw us arriving back at Lichfield almost on time. Clean and comfortable.



Arriva 765 - 0940 Lichfield Bus Station to Whittington Bell - 3728 YJ57 BUE VDL/Pulsar

I was due to have a break at Lichfield and catch the 1020 X65 as I was not due in until 0943, but the inbound Arriva vehicle was late, so I pressed on. A reasonable load of 13 joined me, and we made good progress to Whittington, where the full size single proceeded down roads that would probably only see a minibus for size reasons if brand new, but presumably buses have been going this way since the proverbial year dot. Although we were running late, it looked like the other bus on the circuit was also a bit late, so I went as far as The Bell as it seemed a nice place to wait a few minutes. The bus was nice inside, and even the fake leather seats seemed ok.



Arriva 765 - 1001 Whittington Bell to Lichfield Bus Station - 3504 YN08 HZR Scania Omnilink

Another nice vehicle, with 11 on board, and a further five waiting for it elsewhere in the village. Normal moquette seats on this, and generally very nice. The driver even lowered the bus for me to board! Again good progress made, and I was hopeful I might make another dubious connection at Lichfield. We were due in at 1015, but left Whittington more than 5 minutes late, so my desire to catch the 1020 service 12 was in the balance.



Midland Classic - 1020 X12 Lichfield Bus Station to Burton New Street - 25 YN64 FWW Scania Irizar i3

Sadly, as we pulled up to our bay, the 12 pulled away from the adjacent one spot on time. However, the X12 also due out at 1020 was not in sight and a queue remained on the stand. A couple of minutes later, it appeared. 15 boarded a bus that is nice inside, and looks striking externally, but a bit odd to my eyes (still). A good run on the X38, although I had to open the window for the old fashioned reason of being too hot, as the heating was on full!



I had an hour in hand on my plan due to all of this chopping and changing, so I had a look on the MyTrip app to see what vehicles Midland Classic had allocated on their Uttoxeter services. Lo and behold, if I waited in Burton an hour I would get a decker, and even better, I would end up on a decker from Uttoxeter too. Set out to find a decent sandwich, and ended up at Bargate. Feeling lazy, I thought I would catch an 8 back into town but it was running quite late, and a V3 turned up. The sharp eyed amongst you will notice that this is run by TrentBarton who were not on the list of operators I gave at the beginning. I tried my pass on the off chance, and unsurprisingly the driver didn't know about it. I offered to pay, but he decided to take me anyway. Unfortunately, the Solo concerned vibrated terribly when stood at lights and was very uncomfortable. I didn't record the details, but it was advertising 'Hugo'.

Midland Classic - 1210 402 Burton New Street to Uttoxeter Bus Station - 102 LH04 NNF Volvo B7TL/President

A driver changeover was taking place at Burton, where it seemed that 102 was an unplanned allocation that day, due to a last minute swap in the depot during run out. It was not a popular vehicle with either driver. Only 3 or 4 passengers got on at Uttoxeter, and were treated to an exceedingly spirited ride whatever road it was on. Nice views of Tutbury Castle. I don't know if the driver was convinced he was going to run late due to the vehicle, but we ended up arriving early. It seemed a reasonably vehicle though, and the scenery was quite nice. Also an interesting double run to HMP Dovegate, whose exit forces vehicles to turn left only. It seemed that a member of the local clergy found the temptation to turn right anyway too strong.



First Potteries - 1316 Kingfisher (32) Uttoxeter Bus Station to Hanley Bus Station - 32639 KP54 AZA Volvo B7TL/Eclipse Gemini

A bus branded for the 25 to Keele was my steed from the evermore down-at-heel Uttoxeter. Whoever designed these was obviously only 4' tall, as both pairs of front seats had abysmal leg room. Not many passengers, but a much more gentle run than the 402, to the extent that on the approaches to Hanley we kept waiting time at various bus stops. I was the only one left on board by then. Pleasant scenery but not outstanding.



D&G Bus - 1445 100 Hanley Bus Station to Stone Granville Square - 171 WT58 BUS - Optare Versa

An excellent vehicle that arrived on stand at departure time, liveried for cityrider - was that the tendered brand for Stoke on Trent Council? A strange arrangement at Hanley where the buses have to wait for a yellow light before reversing off the stand, made more strange by all the adjacent buses being allowed to reverse all at the same time. Eight passengers by the time we left the Stoke environs. Held up by two sets of temporary lights within quarter of a mile. Arrived at Stone with only two minutes to spare for my next bus.



Select - 1525 103S Stone Mill Street to Eccleshall Castle Street - 1 FJ55 BWA Dennis Pointer Dart

A quick sprint down the road, and I made the bus that had come down from Alleyn School by the skin of my teeth. One double seat not occupied by schoolkids, so grabbed that one. Good behaviour from those on board, but wow what a dirty bus! Needed a good scrubbing. If Arriva were running it like this too then that is really shameful. The 103S goes via Yarnfield exceptionally, and as it happens all the kids were for there, so I was on my own for the continuation to Eccleshall. Unexceptional scenery, though.

Chaserider - 1555 432 Eccleshall Castle Street to Stafford Chell Road - 67 KK63 WZK Wright Streetlite

A brief look around Eccleshall which is pretty if small, before my first time on a Streetlite, and it was nice. Two passengers on board when I started, who had arrived on the inbound working. They both alighted at Woodseaves. I was on my own after that.

A look on the app arriving in Stafford and the 826 I should have missed was not on it, which I took as promising. As we went past Gaol Square I saw it just pulling onto stand, so it was an easy change at Chell Road onto it.



Chaserider - 1610 826 Stafford Chell Road to Rugeley - 191 FJ58 HYP Volvo B7RLE Eclipse Urban

Departing about 15 minutes late, but picking up a good load at the various stops in the city centre before heading towards the chase. A nice ride, and we made up 10 minutes by the time I got off.



An interesting day, with a wide variety of vehicles and scenery. All drivers recognised the ticket (except Trent, obviously) and were friendly enough. Cleanliness an issue on some vehicles. I also noticed on the last bus that the cove panels were very discoloured, and I think other buses suffered from that too looking back. It was a nasty brown colour too (a had been removed, providing a before and after). More scrubbing needed!

If you can get yourself to Staffordshire, it is a great ticket to use for a good price.

Photos now attached!

What a great trip and excellent report and pictures. I agree with everything that @TheGrandWazoo has said about this including the state of the unreconstructed bus stations of Staffordshire. You didn't get a chance to explore Lichfield but, away from the bus station and over towards the cathedral, it is a pleasant town. Uttoxeter is down at heel, Cheadle is much better. Intrigued by the Potteries bus saying up to every 3 minutes on the front - it is a while since anything was that frequent except perhaps the Hanley bus station entry and exit roads! And the blind appears to show the number 3, or was it really showing 32? The route has been branded Kingfisher for some time now so its not good if some buses don't show it. I agree with @TheGrandWazoo that the Kingfisher/32 is actually reasonably scenic with some good distant views. Agree also on Stone, this is really decent around the canal and Eccleshall is good too. I managed to here on a twice weekly service from Market Drayton to Stafford before it was culled in a grand cutback around 2018. You did well to get and stay ahead of your schedule with tight connections. The Scania Irizar i3s look interesting as buses, not been on one.

 

[vlad]

Intrigued by the Potteries bus saying up to every 3 minutes on the front - it is a while since anything was that frequent except perhaps the Hanley bus station entry and exit roads!

That's on a vehicle that's branded as route 25, which is one of the services that connects Hanley and Stoke station. That's the claim that's being made: that buses to the station run up to every 3 minutes. However, that's very creative accounting! Firstly there are several different route numbers on that journey. Secondly, as the timetables on one service have nothing to do with the timetables on another, you might just have to wait 3 minutes if you just miss one bus - but on the other hand it might be quicker to walk than wait for the next bus!

 

[route101]

The Staffordshire Knot ticket, will have to add that to the to do list. Don't think I've been to anywhere in Staffordshire apart from Stafford!

Bit behind on my recent travels, but another from a few weeks back so I memory hazy !

Metrobus 400 Crawley to East Grinstead Double Decker, Scania perhaps.

Took the 400 as I have taken the 291 to East Grinstead before. This route omits Copthorne. Took a small break in East Grinstead.

Compass Bus 260 East Grinstead to Uckfield Eclipse

Took the compass route as its a weekday and this route does not run at the weekend. This was a scenic run, with a great view back to East Grinstead. I will do the Metrobus 270 the next time.

Brighton and Hove Buses 29 Uckfield to Lewes Gemini

I have done the full route of the 29 before, decent run down the A26 in a double decker. I decided to bail at Lewes. I love Lewes old bus station!

 

[asb]

Thanks for the kind words.

@TheGrandWazoo The Irizars are very nice inside, and didn't feel out of place on either the town sections or the fast bit (A38) of the route. Legroom was decent too. Only possible quibble is that you are very high up towards the back of the vehicle; I like being high, but it can feel disconcerting when it gets OTT.

@RELL6L The destination did show 32, but were set up like TrentBarton so 32 Hanley alternated with the Kingfisher logo every few seconds. I've never been a fan of it, tbh.

I'm hoping to do a trips with both a Worcestershire Connecta and WM Daytriper ticket soon, to see how many different operators I can use in one day with one ticket.

 

[RELL6L]

Another contemporary report from me. As I have mentioned I only like to go on bus trips when the weather is good – hence the blue sky in most of my photos. Last Friday looked good and I appeared to have a choice of going virtually anywhere. I always have one eye on potential adverse developments and had spotted the projected demise of the East Yorkshire 45 across the Wolds, at least as a through service, and so Thursday evening saw me staying at the delightful (sarcasm) Doncaster North services just off the M18. I was able to drive up a little earlier and visit three attractive locations I had identified from a previous trip, Howden, Rawcliffe and Snaith. Howden in particular is a delightful small town, my attempts to photograph it from a passing bus in 2020 had proved very poor so I took enough time to walk round properly. Rawcliffe and Snaith are also very pleasant villages. On my return I passed through another small town, Thorne, but I am afraid the same cannot be said here!

So sunrise on Friday saw me parked in Market Weighton, a town I had visited before on the trip I took in August 2020. This was to take the X46 to Hull, a route I also took (the other way) back then. This was on ADL E400 MMC 0925, one of the East Rider bike buses. It had a USB charger but it didn't work. Although we were 5 minutes late leaving we still had to wait time at Beverley, where the bus station is being resurfaced, meaning we stopped on the main road outside which saved a bit of time. Arrival at Carr Lane in Hull was four minutes early. I’ve been to Hull a couple of times before so this was a short stay before moving on.

All day I was using the East Yorkshire website and Bustimes to monitor vehicles and progress and had done my homework. I was now heading towards Withernsea but had identified that Hedon was an attractive village on the route and that route 79, departing Hull at 8.15 and running via Paull, was an interesting alternative to the main routes. I had also noted that the 79 journey had not run every day (eg 10, 11 and 15 March), and that when it did run its previous journey was the 277 at 07.20. So well before I got to Hull I had seen that the 277 journey was running and so followed this plan, getting the 79 at Alfred Gelder Street at 8.20. This takes an interesting route via Victoria Dock (now largely housing), the Siemens Factory entrance and the village of Paull right on the Humber Estuary. My steed was 0709, an 06-reg Volvo B7TL. For a bus that doesn’t run every day there were quite a few on board, mostly alighting at various stops on the way out of Hull.

I only had 10 minutes scheduled at Hedon but was pleased to have the opportunity as none of the bus routes actually go through the heart of the village. Happily we were 3 minutes early as I alighted at the last stop before the village and walked briskly through the village centre to explore, an attractive fairly prosperous village, with plenty of time to get to the Thorn Road stop to move further east. This was on a 75 which in fact was running five minutes late, although it was on time by the time we got to Withernsea. This was 0802, an MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B5TL, possibly the first time I had been on one of these. Seemed OK and the USB charger worked. I can’t say this is the most scenic of rides as the countryside is very flat, but reasonably pleasant villages on the way.

This was my first visit to Withernsea, it’s not that easy to describe as it isn’t really a resort although it is on the coast. It didn’t seem tacky and there are some nice shops – including a good bakery which I used for a snack and coffee – but it doesn’t seem to make much of its presence on the sea front. There’s an attractive lighthouse, but that’s some way inland! I had an hour here which is probably more than enough although I didn’t go as far as finding the EY depot on the edge of town. My next leg was on up the coast to Hornsea on the 129. Here my research on previous journeys etc was of no help because the 129 runs three round trips between the peaks using resources from other services, notably school contracts, in the peak hours, so my journey could have done any number of things in the morning. I was getting slightly concerned with no sign of anything on the EY website, Bustimes or the road until 8 minutes after the scheduled departure time, but then an 09-reg Volvo B9TL, 0755, appeared blinded for my journey. There were a couple more passengers from Withernsea and we picked up a handful more en route but this was a very quiet journey, presumably running at minimal cost due to the vehicle and driver being employed in the peak hours. Maybe in summer when the holiday camps are open it attracts more custom. Just out of Withernsea we went round Sand le Mere Holiday Village, a diversion taking several minutes due to the low speed ramps, but it looked closed and there were no passengers. Most of the 129 route is a little inland although we did a double run to Aldbrough Cliffs which was pleasant, although you cannot get that close to the edge anywhere up here due to coastal erosion.

Hornsea was quite a bit bigger, with a town centre on the main road inland and more of a coastal resort by the sea a good half mile away. I didn’t explore the main town centre, although this looked quite attractive, and went to the sea front area. The buses go further to Cliff Road which I am pretty certain is where there was a depot until pretty recently. The resort area had a lot more about it than Withernsea with a number of people out enjoying the sunshine. After 40 minutes here I moved on up the coast on the 130 to Bridlington. This time the 130, an 08-reg Volvo B7TL 0735, was visible on the EY website and Bustimes well before it set off – it looks like it had a 40 minute break at the old depot. This route runs closer to the coast and has double runs to holiday parks at Skipsea, Ulrome and Barmston Beach: people with caravans were beginning to arrive at these as if maybe it was the first day of the season. The map shows a road along the coast from Skipsea to Ulrome but it is apparent that it no longer exists! A handful of passengers on this service but not enough to justify on its merits, again maybe there are more in summer and it only runs between school times.

At Bridlington I could have headed straight back to Market Weighton or spent three hours before the next journey that way. I chose the latter with a busy infill planned. Having been to Bridlington in 2017 I had identified the area of the Old Town, a good mile away from the main town centre and bus station, as worth exploring. I alighted from the 130 at the station and walked through to a road oddly named Quay Road. From here I took town service 4 to Old Town. On my last trip I vaguely lamented the decline in town services in many places, such as Newmarket, with parts being covered by sometimes very lengthy diversions on country services. Bridlington is a very honourable exception, with five pure town services, 2 to the south, 3 to the west, 4 to the north west, 5/5A to the north and 6 to the north east. I don’t know if there was ever a service 1 but logically, with this numbering, it would have gone out to sea! They all run hourly or half hourly, with some gaps at school times. My service 4, which I took for just 7 minutes from Quay Road to Westgate, was 0697, another B7TL, one of three buses (two of which were deckers) running the 4 and 5 circuit. A few passengers and others boarded and alighted even on this short trip.

Bridlington Old Town is really attractive. It is probably slightly forgotten for being off the beaten track but I walked along the road called Westgate from west to east and it has a lot of great well-kept Georgian buildings, some upmarket independent shops and others residential, then further east is the 12th century Monastic Gatehouse and Bridlington Priory, grand enough to be a cathedral. After nearly half an hour here I took a 5A back from Kirkgate to the bus station, both Bustimes and the EY website said it was 0702, a B7TL, but actually it was 0502, an E200, my only single decker of the day. Five other people boarded at my stop and others did later, then we had a driver change outside the town hall before getting back into town.

My next section in Bridlington was to take the 14 to Flamborough and back. This was the same B7TL I had ridden on the 130 earlier, something I was expecting as it seems to be normal that mid-afternoon the 14 changes vehicle (and no doubt driver). This was surprisingly busy with a good 25 people waiting at the bus station and passengers joining and leaving at several stops heading out of Bridlington and through Sewerby. Many remained as we went through Flamborough village, which is attractive, with most alighting at Thornwick Bay Holiday Village, which was open and bustling. After this we went down to North Landing and the route has views over to the lighthouse and coastguard tower near Flamborough Head, although the open top bus there only runs at weekends and in high summer. Back at Bridlington I then had 50 minutes to explore the harbour area, the only part I had been to previously. This was quite busy with day trippers and locals enjoying the sunshine although by now with a fair breeze off the North Sea.

Finally heading back to Market Weighton but first a brief pause in Driffield. To do this I took the 121 to Driffield, this on 0805, another MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B5TL. Oddly this one did not have a USB charger whereas older 0802 did. The driver said he was going to have to divert to miss out Carnaby due to a road accident. I could see from Apple and Google maps and tracking the incoming 45 that the problem had cleared and reported as such, the driver checked with HQ and agreed to follow the normal route. There was no delay although there were two somewhat bent cars beside the road. Even with Friday afternoon traffic we waited time at Nafferton and arrived at Driffield on time. Although perfectly pleasant I didn’t find anything spectacular in Driffield, although somehow I got confused as to where I was on the map and didn’t walk up to the church. Finally I took Enviro400 0929, the Bridlington-based 45 bus, on the final leg across the Wolds to Market Weighton. The good Wolds scenery starts after Bainton and it was getting pretty close to sunset as we got here but it was very attractive country, as were the villages of North Dalton and Middleton on the Wolds while the sunset views across the Wolds were pretty spectacular. Quite a few passengers, many looked like they were returning from a day at the seaside. It will be a shame when this is withdrawn with just a connecting bus across the middle section and it will take some careful scheduling to provide resilient connections at both ends with the X46 and 121. Back at Market Weighton almost bang on sunset and then home.

A great day out. The first single company trip for a while, a day ticket for £12.50, everything ran like clockwork and thoroughly enjoyable. As ever some pictures below!


Market Weighton


Hull


Hedon


Withernsea


Hornsea


Ulrome


Bridlington Old Town


Flamborough


Bridlington Harbour


Sunset over the Wolds

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Another contemporary report from me. As I have mentioned I only like to go on bus trips when the weather is good – hence the blue sky in most of my photos. Last Friday looked good and I appeared to have a choice of going virtually anywhere. I always have one eye on potential adverse developments and had spotted the projected demise of the East Yorkshire 45 across the Wolds, at least as a through service, and so Thursday evening saw me staying at the delightful (sarcasm) Doncaster North services just off the M18. I was able to drive up a little earlier and visit three attractive locations I had identified from a previous trip, Howden, Rawcliffe and Snaith. Howden in particular is a delightful small town, my attempts to photograph it from a passing bus in 2020 had proved very poor so I took enough time to walk round properly. Rawcliffe and Snaith are also very pleasant villages. On my return I passed through another small town, Thorne, but I am afraid the same cannot be said here!

So sunrise on Friday saw me parked in Market Weighton, a town I had visited before on the trip I took in August 2020. This was to take the X46 to Hull, a route I also took (the other way) back then. This was on ADL E400 MMC 0925, one of the East Rider bike buses. It had a USB charger but it didn't work. Although we were 5 minutes late leaving we still had to wait time at Beverley, where the bus station is being resurfaced, meaning we stopped on the main road outside which saved a bit of time. Arrival at Carr Lane in Hull was four minutes early. I’ve been to Hull a couple of times before so this was a short stay before moving on.

All day I was using the East Yorkshire website and Bustimes to monitor vehicles and progress and had done my homework. I was now heading towards Withernsea but had identified that Hedon was an attractive village on the route and that route 79, departing Hull at 8.15 and running via Paull, was an interesting alternative to the main routes. I had also noted that the 79 journey had not run every day (eg 10, 11 and 15 March), and that when it did run its previous journey was the 277 at 07.20. So well before I got to Hull I had seen that the 277 journey was running and so followed this plan, getting the 79 at Alfred Gelder Street at 8.20. This takes an interesting route via Victoria Dock (now largely housing), the Siemens Factory entrance and the village of Paull right on the Humber Estuary. My steed was 0709, an 06-reg Volvo B7TL. For a bus that doesn’t run every day there were quite a few on board, mostly alighting at various stops on the way out of Hull.

I only had 10 minutes scheduled at Hedon but was pleased to have the opportunity as none of the bus routes actually go through the heart of the village. Happily we were 3 minutes early as I alighted at the last stop before the village and walked briskly through the village centre to explore, an attractive fairly prosperous village, with plenty of time to get to the Thorn Road stop to move further east. This was on a 75 which in fact was running five minutes late, although it was on time by the time we got to Withernsea. This was 0802, an MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B5TL, possibly the first time I had been on one of these. Seemed OK and the USB charger worked. I can’t say this is the most scenic of rides as the countryside is very flat, but reasonably pleasant villages on the way.

This was my first visit to Withernsea, it’s not that easy to describe as it isn’t really a resort although it is on the coast. It didn’t seem tacky and there are some nice shops – including a good bakery which I used for a snack and coffee – but it doesn’t seem to make much of its presence on the sea front. There’s an attractive lighthouse, but that’s some way inland! I had an hour here which is probably more than enough although I didn’t go as far as finding the EY depot on the edge of town. My next leg was on up the coast to Hornsea on the 129. Here my research on previous journeys etc was of no help because the 129 runs three round trips between the peaks using resources from other services, notably school contracts, in the peak hours, so my journey could have done any number of things in the morning. I was getting slightly concerned with no sign of anything on the EY website, Bustimes or the road until 8 minutes after the scheduled departure time, but then an 09-reg Volvo B9TL, 0755, appeared blinded for my journey. There were a couple more passengers from Withernsea and we picked up a handful more en route but this was a very quiet journey, presumably running at minimal cost due to the vehicle and driver being employed in the peak hours. Maybe in summer when the holiday camps are open it attracts more custom. Just out of Withernsea we went round Sand le Mere Holiday Village, a diversion taking several minutes due to the low speed ramps, but it looked closed and there were no passengers. Most of the 129 route is a little inland although we did a double run to Aldbrough Cliffs which was pleasant, although you cannot get that close to the edge anywhere up here due to coastal erosion.

Hornsea was quite a bit bigger, with a town centre on the main road inland and more of a coastal resort by the sea a good half mile away. I didn’t explore the main town centre, although this looked quite attractive, and went to the sea front area. The buses go further to Cliff Road which I am pretty certain is where there was a depot until pretty recently. The resort area had a lot more about it than Withernsea with a number of people out enjoying the sunshine. After 40 minutes here I moved on up the coast on the 130 to Bridlington. This time the 130, an 08-reg Volvo B7TL 0735, was visible on the EY website and Bustimes well before it set off – it looks like it had a 40 minute break at the old depot. This route runs closer to the coast and has double runs to holiday parks at Skipsea, Ulrome and Barmston Beach: people with caravans were beginning to arrive at these as if maybe it was the first day of the season. The map shows a road along the coast from Skipsea to Ulrome but it is apparent that it no longer exists! A handful of passengers on this service but not enough to justify on its merits, again maybe there are more in summer and it only runs between school times.

At Bridlington I could have headed straight back to Market Weighton or spent three hours before the next journey that way. I chose the latter with a busy infill planned. Having been to Bridlington in 2017 I had identified the area of the Old Town, a good mile away from the main town centre and bus station, as worth exploring. I alighted from the 130 at the station and walked through to a road oddly named Quay Road. From here I took town service 4 to Old Town. On my last trip I vaguely lamented the decline in town services in many places, such as Newmarket, with parts being covered by sometimes very lengthy diversions on country services. Bridlington is a very honourable exception, with five pure town services, 2 to the south, 3 to the west, 4 to the north west, 5/5A to the north and 6 to the north east. I don’t know if there was ever a service 1 but logically, with this numbering, it would have gone out to sea! They all run hourly or half hourly, with some gaps at school times. My service 4, which I took for just 7 minutes from Quay Road to Westgate, was 0697, another B7TL, one of three buses (two of which were deckers) running the 4 and 5 circuit. A few passengers and others boarded and alighted even on this short trip.

Bridlington Old Town is really attractive. It is probably slightly forgotten for being off the beaten track but I walked along the road called Westgate from west to east and it has a lot of great well-kept Georgian buildings, some upmarket independent shops and others residential, then further east is the 12th century Monastic Gatehouse and Bridlington Priory, grand enough to be a cathedral. After nearly half an hour here I took a 5A back from Kirkgate to the bus station, both Bustimes and the EY website said it was 0702, a B7TL, but actually it was 0502, an E200, my only single decker of the day. Five other people boarded at my stop and others did later, then we had a driver change outside the town hall before getting back into town.

My next section in Bridlington was to take the 14 to Flamborough and back. This was the same B7TL I had ridden on the 130 earlier, something I was expecting as it seems to be normal that mid-afternoon the 14 changes vehicle (and no doubt driver). This was surprisingly busy with a good 25 people waiting at the bus station and passengers joining and leaving at several stops heading out of Bridlington and through Sewerby. Many remained as we went through Flamborough village, which is attractive, with most alighting at Thornwick Bay Holiday Village, which was open and bustling. After this we went down to North Landing and the route has views over to the lighthouse and coastguard tower near Flamborough Head, although the open top bus there only runs at weekends and in high summer. Back at Bridlington I then had 50 minutes to explore the harbour area, the only part I had been to previously. This was quite busy with day trippers and locals enjoying the sunshine although by now with a fair breeze off the North Sea.

Finally heading back to Market Weighton but first a brief pause in Driffield. To do this I took the 121 to Driffield, this on 0805, another MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B5TL. Oddly this one did not have a USB charger whereas older 0802 did. The driver said he was going to have to divert to miss out Carnaby due to a road accident. I could see from Apple and Google maps and tracking the incoming 45 that the problem had cleared and reported as such, the driver checked with HQ and agreed to follow the normal route. There was no delay although there were two somewhat bent cars beside the road. Even with Friday afternoon traffic we waited time at Nafferton and arrived at Driffield on time. Although perfectly pleasant I didn’t find anything spectacular in Driffield, although somehow I got confused as to where I was on the map and didn’t walk up to the church. Finally I took Enviro400 0929, the Bridlington-based 45 bus, on the final leg across the Wolds to Market Weighton. The good Wolds scenery starts after Bainton and it was getting pretty close to sunset as we got here but it was very attractive country, as were the villages of North Dalton and Middleton on the Wolds while the sunset views across the Wolds were pretty spectacular. Quite a few passengers, many looked like they were returning from a day at the seaside. It will be a shame when this is withdrawn with just a connecting bus across the middle section and it will take some careful scheduling to provide resilient connections at both ends with the X46 and 121. Back at Market Weighton almost bang on sunset and then home.

A great day out. The first single company trip for a while, a day ticket for £12.50, everything ran like clockwork and thoroughly enjoyable. As ever some pictures below!

View attachment 111827
Market Weighton

View attachment 111828
Hull

View attachment 111829
Hedon

View attachment 111830
Withernsea

View attachment 111831
Hornsea

View attachment 111832
Ulrome

View attachment 111833
Bridlington Old Town

View attachment 111834
Flamborough

View attachment 111835
Bridlington Harbour

View attachment 111836
Sunset over the Wolds

The usual super photos from @RELL6L. Been a little while since I had an EYMS day out but some familiar spots other than Withernsea, which I've not been to since the days of VRs. I posted a trip report from 1987 that included that trip across the Wolds from Pocklington to Bridlington and it's a lovely trip out. You also point out the delight of Bridlington - much better than people generally realise. I also really enjoy Hornsea - was the old depot in Hornsea still standing? I remember doing a day out c.2010 in December - a freezing day in Hornsea is something that lives with me.

I can understand the challenge that EY have in making the 45 pay though but the truncated tendered version is just going to simply wither and die. The council are simply replacing that which is unserved otherwise but it misses the point of the service. Aside from the odd pensioner enjoying the limited delights of Driffield, it simply will not carry anyone.

As for the rest of your day, some really interesting journeys and appealing scenery. I can't say that I have any great love of Hull though. Remember having to do a few work trips there about 4-5 years ago and whilst I appreciate the work that has been done to smarten up the city, it still leaves me a bit cold.

 

[Wyrleybart]

First time I did the run from Dolgellau to Mach... it was a B series National but about 10 years later than this. They were crude machines really but interesting as a relatively rare beast away from London Country or Crosville. Never done the run over the top from Ruthin to Corwen (except in the car) and should really do it. You had the weather for it. Whilst you may have done the D94 on an RE, I would venture that doing it on one of the two Deltas that Crosville Wales had tops it. I know that's herecy but they were great when fairly young, belting up the A494. One fess up is that I never had one of the later ECW RE coaches; United was all bus shell and whilst Northern had some, they went very early.

Anyhow thanks for the fantastic memories.

My parents moved us to upper Corris in 1971 and back then the three service buses a day six days a week were Crosville MWs. Our Aberllefenni-Tywyn school bus until 1975 was generally a coach out of season and CMG523 sticks in my mind. During the summer months when the coaches were earning their crust we got a service bus, and several times it was a gutless Bristol SC4LK.

Crosville changed it's fleet and new shorty podless Nationals appeared. Our school bus was "privatised" and we got Ron Bott coaches with some rattly old Bedford contraption which I considered quite a climbdown from the lovely Bristols. Left school in 1978 and left Corris in 1980.

 

[RELL6L]

I kept the momentum going by taking two trips this week which I shall post about in more detail when time permits.

However I thought I would put together a little brain teaser where, with the help of Bustimes, you might be able to work out where I went. Both trips were in the northern half of England.

On Wednesday

• I started soon after sunrise at the end of the line (place 1)
• To places 2, 3 and 4, all small towns famous in days gone by for the same product, I took bus routes which might have been Mega, but weren’t, place 2 might have been named after an admiral but wasn’t, the trips to places 3 and 4 were two journeys on the same route in the same direction in quick succession.
• From place 4 to place 5 I took my only double decker of the day on a route with a silly name which didn’t live up to it at all (not the fault of the bus or the driver).
• I then took a Solo to place 6, which is an attractive small town seen fairly recently on TV which has been vetted for filming purposes pretending to be another fictitious place. When I post some pictures you will see there was a pub with two names, presumably as more filming is imminent. The real version of the fictitious place is in the same county but some way away.
• I then took a community minibus to a delightful place 7 where I spent 50 minutes (could have been with a well brewed cuppa but wasn’t) with a short walk before returning to place 6 for just over an hour.
• I then took a 3-day-per-week county council minibus which was full – exceedingly scenic route – to place 8, where it would be quicker with a calculator, before moving swiftly on to place 9.
• Place 9 is a small town and I took a short walk up out of the town. Not being a moron I wore a hat.
• I then returned through place 8 to stop off at another lovely small town, place 10, which has a splendid canalside setting. It has its own independent bus operator and I sampled its only service for a short journey up to place 11.
• From place 11 I took another two more not-Mega buses, with a very brief connection at the eastern end of place 3 before returning to place 1. I did this because I had seen a tweet that the next bus to place 1 was not running.

On Thursday, in a different area

• I started at place 1, again just after sunrise, I think that in the 1970s a few double deck bus chassis may have been made in this town.
• I took a bus on a route on which two operators run hourly in competition, but at different times, along the whole route, to place 2, a larger town, I’m afraid this place is rather a ****h0le and the bus station plus abandoned depot is really awful. Demolition can’t come soon enough and it looks like it won't be long. Didn’t stay long here.
• I had hoped my next bus would be a double decker as long journeys on this route generally are, but it wasn’t. I took this basically hourly route to a largish village (place 3) where I changed direction and took a bus on a divine and godly bus company (other plays on words are available) to place 4. My trip today was a figure of eight and place 4 was at the centre of it, both times I arrived in place 4 were from the west.
• My next own bus was running very late, pretending to be an animal on the route on which it departed place 4 but not on the variation on which it arrived (very confusing). The driver said he had been delayed by three swing bridge openings. We left about 30 minutes late but made up some time as one village at which we should have visited the roads were closed. We were not as late arriving at place 5, a large town. I should have had 38 minutes here but in the end it was quite a bit less.
• My route from place 5 to place 6, another large town, is another where two operators compete on the same route with the same number. The one I took runs every 40 minutes, the other at varying frequencies between 75 and 105 minutes but only between 09.03 and 16.10.
• I have visited place 6 fairly recently so when it was clear I could make a minus 10 minute connection onto the next leg of my journey I took it as it looked like the route was late and getting later (although actually the next bus was OK). I stayed long enough at place 7 only to change buses to get to place 8, close to place 7 but across a bridge (actually a choice of bridges).
• Place 8 was new to me and had some canal close to the two centre I wanted to see as well as sitting almost underneath the (old) bridge. Place 7 was in the news fairly recently with the demise of a bus company while place 8 has made its own way in the bus world. I spent a while here before moving on to place 9. From places 7 to 8 to 9 there was a choice of routes including services with A and C suffixes which started their journeys in the same large city. Both my journeys were on the C variant, 40 minutes apart.
• Nothing to keep me here, I hate shopping, so I moved on to place 10 on a bus not powered by diesel. I only got this as it was 10 minutes late (having come from place 5), otherwise I would have got another bus half an hour later run by a different company which, most unusually I think, was a double decker.
• Place 10 is an upmarket small town. I also caught a glimpse of this town on a TV drama not long ago and I think @TheGrandWazoo went here last year. In the end I had nearly an hour here before catching a Stagecoach E200 back to place 4. This is a route Stagecoach have only recently started operating and I don’t believe they have ever served place 4 before.
• Finally from place 4 I took a bus back to place 1, its final destination. To my surprise this was a double decker, with leather seats, one a batch with ‘personalised’ registrations refurbished for one route but then replace by new ones and redistributed. I had intended to stop off for half an hour at a town in the Middle of the route but as another route, with an even stranger suffix, was missing several journeys I would have ended up there until after dark – perhaps another time.

Hardly saw a First bus and very few Stagecoach. The only place I went to with a league football team (soccer) was place 2 on day 2. A different sport is more popular in the area of day 2. I think there is probably enough information here for anyone determined, with the aid of Bustimes, to work out both of my entire trips.

Will explain all in due course – if anyone is interested – and solve some of the horrible plays on words and provide a more standard commentary and pictures next week!

 

[NorthOxonian]

That was a very good brain teaster - I think I've got all of them but not sure of one or two (mainly place 2 on Wednesday - which I thought was named after an admiral!).

I look forward to reading the full report; it's not a part of the country I know too well so it'll be interesting.

 

[RELL6L]

That was a very good brain teaster - I think I've got all of them but not sure of one or two (mainly place 2 on Wednesday - which I thought was named after an admiral!).

I look forward to reading the full report; it's not a part of the country I know too well so it'll be interesting.

Glad you enjoyed it.

My apologies- place 2 was indeed named after the admiral- or technically after a pub which had been named after the admiral. I assumed it had been around rather longer but it appears it hasn’t, or at least not with that name. Well done!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I kept the momentum going by taking two trips this week which I shall post about in more detail when time permits.

However I thought I would put together a little brain teaser where, with the help of Bustimes, you might be able to work out where I went. Both trips were in the northern half of England.

On Wednesday

• I started soon after sunrise at the end of the line (place 1)
• To places 2, 3 and 4, all small towns famous in days gone by for the same product, I took bus routes which might have been Mega, but weren’t, place 2 might have been named after an admiral but wasn’t, the trips to places 3 and 4 were two journeys on the same route in the same direction in quick succession.
• From place 4 to place 5 I took my only double decker of the day on a route with a silly name which didn’t live up to it at all (not the fault of the bus or the driver).
• I then took a Solo to place 6, which is an attractive small town seen fairly recently on TV which has been vetted for filming purposes pretending to be another fictitious place. When I post some pictures you will see there was a pub with two names, presumably as more filming is imminent. The real version of the fictitious place is in the same county but some way away.
• I then took a community minibus to a delightful place 7 where I spent 50 minutes (could have been with a well brewed cuppa but wasn’t) with a short walk before returning to place 6 for just over an hour.
• I then took a 3-day-per-week county council minibus which was full – exceedingly scenic route – to place 8, where it would be quicker with a calculator, before moving swiftly on to place 9.
• Place 9 is a small town and I took a short walk up out of the town. Not being a moron I wore a hat.
• I then returned through place 8 to stop off at another lovely small town, place 10, which has a splendid canalside setting. It has its own independent bus operator and I sampled its only service for a short journey up to place 11.
• From place 11 I took another two more not-Mega buses, with a very brief connection at the eastern end of place 3 before returning to place 1. I did this because I had seen a tweet that the next bus to place 1 was not running.

On Thursday, in a different area

• I started at place 1, again just after sunrise, I think that in the 1970s a few double deck bus chassis may have been made in this town.
• I took a bus on a route on which two operators run hourly in competition, but at different times, along the whole route, to place 2, a larger town, I’m afraid this place is rather a ****h0le and the bus station plus abandoned depot is really awful. Demolition can’t come soon enough and it looks like it won't be long. Didn’t stay long here.
• I had hoped my next bus would be a double decker as long journeys on this route generally are, but it wasn’t. I took this basically hourly route to a largish village (place 3) where I changed direction and took a bus on a divine and godly bus company (other plays on words are available) to place 4. My trip today was a figure of eight and place 4 was at the centre of it, both times I arrived in place 4 were from the west.
• My next own bus was running very late, pretending to be an animal on the route on which it departed place 4 but not on the variation on which it arrived (very confusing). The driver said he had been delayed by three swing bridge openings. We left about 30 minutes late but made up some time as one village at which we should have visited the roads were closed. We were not as late arriving at place 5, a large town. I should have had 38 minutes here but in the end it was quite a bit less.
• My route from place 5 to place 6, another large town, is another where two operators compete on the same route with the same number. The one I took runs every 40 minutes, the other at varying frequencies between 75 and 105 minutes but only between 09.03 and 16.10.
• I have visited place 6 fairly recently so when it was clear I could make a minus 10 minute connection onto the next leg of my journey I took it as it looked like the route was late and getting later (although actually the next bus was OK). I stayed long enough at place 7 only to change buses to get to place 8, close to place 7 but across a bridge (actually a choice of bridges).
• Place 8 was new to me and had some canal close to the two centre I wanted to see as well as sitting almost underneath the (old) bridge. Place 7 was in the news fairly recently with the demise of a bus company while place 8 has made its own way in the bus world. I spent a while here before moving on to place 9. From places 7 to 8 to 9 there was a choice of routes including services with A and C suffixes which started their journeys in the same large city. Both my journeys were on the C variant, 40 minutes apart.
• Nothing to keep me here, I hate shopping, so I moved on to place 10 on a bus not powered by diesel. I only got this as it was 10 minutes late (having come from place 5), otherwise I would have got another bus half an hour later run by a different company which, most unusually I think, was a double decker.
• Place 10 is an upmarket small town. I also caught a glimpse of this town on a TV drama not long ago and I think @TheGrandWazoo went here last year. In the end I had nearly an hour here before catching a Stagecoach E200 back to place 4. This is a route Stagecoach have only recently started operating and I don’t believe they have ever served place 4 before.
• Finally from place 4 I took a bus back to place 1, its final destination. To my surprise this was a double decker, with leather seats, one a batch with ‘personalised’ registrations refurbished for one route but then replace by new ones and redistributed. I had intended to stop off for half an hour at a town in the Middle of the route but as another route, with an even stranger suffix, was missing several journeys I would have ended up there until after dark – perhaps another time.

Hardly saw a First bus and very few Stagecoach. The only place I went to with a league football team (soccer) was place 2 on day 2. A different sport is more popular in the area of day 2. I think there is probably enough information here for anyone determined, with the aid of Bustimes, to work out both of my entire trips.

Will explain all in due course – if anyone is interested – and solve some of the horrible plays on words and provide a more standard commentary and pictures next week!

Well, as for Wednesday, I suspect that places 2, 3 and 4 may have been historically served by BCN (but not in that order) and that you wizzed across to town 5. Place 8 is known for its lack of takeaways, and 9....well the old bus depot now has a Wetherspoons on it, and where one of my best friends lives in the shadow of that notable hill. The day was a war of the Roses!

Thursday nearly had me but as soon as I worked out that the chassis maker was more famous for other commercial vehicles, then 2 was blindingly obvious. Place 4 is a former home of mine but then again, I've lived in a lot of places. The route from 5 to 6, I think I did last year on the same day as the trip to place 10 - home of a tax dodging, multiple Ivor Novello winner. And indeed, 7 and 8 were also sampled on that day and yes, I think you've elevated part of that route to a higher level.

A few places on Wednesday that I couldn't quite work (7?) but otherwise, I think I got them. Look forward to the big reveal.

Means I'll have to keep my latest trip under wraps

 

[RELL6L]

Well, as for Wednesday, I suspect that places 2, 3 and 4 may have been historically served by BCN (but not in that order) and that you wizzed across to town 5. Place 8 is known for its lack of takeaways, and 9....well the old bus depot now has a Wetherspoons on it, and where one of my best friends lives in the shadow of that notable hill. The day was a war of the Roses!

Thursday nearly had me but as soon as I worked out that the chassis maker was more famous for other commercial vehicles, then 2 was blindingly obvious. Place 4 is a former home of mine but then again, I've lived in a lot of places. The route from 5 to 6, I think I did last year on the same day as the trip to place 10 - home of a tax dodging, multiple Ivor Novello winner. And indeed, 7 and 8 were also sampled on that day and yes, I think you've elevated part of that route to a higher level.

A few places on Wednesday that I couldn't quite work (7?) but otherwise, I think I got them. Look forward to the big reveal.

Means I'll have to keep my latest trip under wraps

Everything you say is clearly right and you have cracked almost all of it. Wednesday place 8 you had me going for a minute - very funny!

On Wednesday place 7, if you know where place 6 is I think you need to look where I might have gone - on a community minibus - for precisely 50 minutes before returning to place 6. Then maybe you’ll groan at my not very good play on words.

I’ve checked who lives at Thursday place 10 and you can take that you are right.

My big reveal won’t be until at least Monday, don’t let me delay telling us where you have been!

 

[43055]

I kept the momentum going by taking two trips this week which I shall post about in more detail when time permits.

However I thought I would put together a little brain teaser where, with the help of Bustimes, you might be able to work out where I went. Both trips were in the northern half of England.

On Wednesday

• I started soon after sunrise at the end of the line (place 1)
• To places 2, 3 and 4, all small towns famous in days gone by for the same product, I took bus routes which might have been Mega, but weren’t, place 2 might have been named after an admiral but wasn’t, the trips to places 3 and 4 were two journeys on the same route in the same direction in quick succession.
• From place 4 to place 5 I took my only double decker of the day on a route with a silly name which didn’t live up to it at all (not the fault of the bus or the driver).
• I then took a Solo to place 6, which is an attractive small town seen fairly recently on TV which has been vetted for filming purposes pretending to be another fictitious place. When I post some pictures you will see there was a pub with two names, presumably as more filming is imminent. The real version of the fictitious place is in the same county but some way away.
• I then took a community minibus to a delightful place 7 where I spent 50 minutes (could have been with a well brewed cuppa but wasn’t) with a short walk before returning to place 6 for just over an hour.
• I then took a 3-day-per-week county council minibus which was full – exceedingly scenic route – to place 8, where it would be quicker with a calculator, before moving swiftly on to place 9.
• Place 9 is a small town and I took a short walk up out of the town. Not being a moron I wore a hat.
• I then returned through place 8 to stop off at another lovely small town, place 10, which has a splendid canalside setting. It has its own independent bus operator and I sampled its only service for a short journey up to place 11.
• From place 11 I took another two more not-Mega buses, with a very brief connection at the eastern end of place 3 before returning to place 1. I did this because I had seen a tweet that the next bus to place 1 was not running.

On Thursday, in a different area

• I started at place 1, again just after sunrise, I think that in the 1970s a few double deck bus chassis may have been made in this town.
• I took a bus on a route on which two operators run hourly in competition, but at different times, along the whole route, to place 2, a larger town, I’m afraid this place is rather a ****h0le and the bus station plus abandoned depot is really awful. Demolition can’t come soon enough and it looks like it won't be long. Didn’t stay long here.
• I had hoped my next bus would be a double decker as long journeys on this route generally are, but it wasn’t. I took this basically hourly route to a largish village (place 3) where I changed direction and took a bus on a divine and godly bus company (other plays on words are available) to place 4. My trip today was a figure of eight and place 4 was at the centre of it, both times I arrived in place 4 were from the west.
• My next own bus was running very late, pretending to be an animal on the route on which it departed place 4 but not on the variation on which it arrived (very confusing). The driver said he had been delayed by three swing bridge openings. We left about 30 minutes late but made up some time as one village at which we should have visited the roads were closed. We were not as late arriving at place 5, a large town. I should have had 38 minutes here but in the end it was quite a bit less.
• My route from place 5 to place 6, another large town, is another where two operators compete on the same route with the same number. The one I took runs every 40 minutes, the other at varying frequencies between 75 and 105 minutes but only between 09.03 and 16.10.
• I have visited place 6 fairly recently so when it was clear I could make a minus 10 minute connection onto the next leg of my journey I took it as it looked like the route was late and getting later (although actually the next bus was OK). I stayed long enough at place 7 only to change buses to get to place 8, close to place 7 but across a bridge (actually a choice of bridges).
• Place 8 was new to me and had some canal close to the two centre I wanted to see as well as sitting almost underneath the (old) bridge. Place 7 was in the news fairly recently with the demise of a bus company while place 8 has made its own way in the bus world. I spent a while here before moving on to place 9. From places 7 to 8 to 9 there was a choice of routes including services with A and C suffixes which started their journeys in the same large city. Both my journeys were on the C variant, 40 minutes apart.
• Nothing to keep me here, I hate shopping, so I moved on to place 10 on a bus not powered by diesel. I only got this as it was 10 minutes late (having come from place 5), otherwise I would have got another bus half an hour later run by a different company which, most unusually I think, was a double decker.
• Place 10 is an upmarket small town. I also caught a glimpse of this town on a TV drama not long ago and I think @TheGrandWazoo went here last year. In the end I had nearly an hour here before catching a Stagecoach E200 back to place 4. This is a route Stagecoach have only recently started operating and I don’t believe they have ever served place 4 before.
• Finally from place 4 I took a bus back to place 1, its final destination. To my surprise this was a double decker, with leather seats, one a batch with ‘personalised’ registrations refurbished for one route but then replace by new ones and redistributed. I had intended to stop off for half an hour at a town in the Middle of the route but as another route, with an even stranger suffix, was missing several journeys I would have ended up there until after dark – perhaps another time.

Hardly saw a First bus and very few Stagecoach. The only place I went to with a league football team (soccer) was place 2 on day 2. A different sport is more popular in the area of day 2. I think there is probably enough information here for anyone determined, with the aid of Bustimes, to work out both of my entire trips.

Will explain all in due course – if anyone is interested – and solve some of the horrible plays on words and provide a more standard commentary and pictures next week!

A very good brain teaser. I think I got the area from the 'route with a silly name' but I'm not familiar with the area.


With a day off yesterday and need to get a mothers day present I decided to take myself for a day out on some of Midland Classic's routes useing the £5.70 Day plus ticket.

0958 401 Hatton-Burton
After parking in the station car park at Hatton my first journey would be on former First London E400 67 (SN11 BND). This working comes off a school working to Ashboune and also proves useful for shoppers as we up at most stops in Tutbury and on the way into Burton. By the hospital the Midland Classic van was out with someone up a ladder replacing the former arriva stickers with Midland Classic some 6 years after the take over. We arrive in Burton just after half 10 with 30 mins until my next jouney.

1105 12 Burton-Lichfield
I could of gone straight down the A38 with the X12 but decided to get the 12 as I knew that there is regularly a decker on this particular journey and sure enough Omnicity 61 (YN08 MKO) turned up just after 11 for the hour trip via the villages. I took the front seat on the top deck and sure enough there were some good views as we weaved our way round the villages. Internally though I did notice some of the branding is still present from it's Reading Buses days on the pink routes.

1250 X12 Lichfield-Burton
After some lunch in Lichfield it was time to head back on the X12. E200 1 (JB14 MCL) got me to Burton in just under 25 mins even with a very busy A38 and surprisingly for a warm day I didn't stick to the leather seats.

1325 21 Burton-Swad
(or Swadlincote if you prefer). The 21 is Midland Classic's original route which started 15 years ago which takes in Stapenhill, Linton and Church Gresley. Just after I arrived off the X12 one of Scania 19 (YN17 ONL). This example being another ex Reading vehicle. On the way out of Burton a few got off in Stapenhill before joining the A444 to Linton where the route does a big loop before heading towards Swadlincote with no takers which helped make up the small delay coming out of Burton. I'm still a little unsure about these vehicles as they doe look good but from this trip I wasn't so sure about the interior. It might just be the seat as it was higher up with a sloping window and floor.

1410 9 Swad-Burton
Returning to Burton on the 9 I was hoping for a Metrocity but never the less another Scania 24 (YN64 FWV) turned up. Unlike the ex Reading vehicles this batch has had an internal refurbishment and fitted with more coach style seats. Similar to @asb 's reprot last week this vehicle also had the heating on. It was a fairly relaxed run into Burton with a few pick up's in Winshill arriving at New Street some 6 mins early.

1440 401 Burton-Hatton
Finally it was time to head back to Hatton. For this trip I had one of the older members of the fleet Scania 82 (FX55 VLO). With a decent load on board we commenced our jouney via the Town Hall and the back streets to the Hospital where we got stuck due to parking and a driver blocking us turning right. After a quick sprint to Tutbury we followed the Burton bound 401 round the loop before dropping me off in Hatton. Even at 17 years old I still think these Scanias are decent vehicles.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A very good brain teaser. I think I got the area from the 'route with a silly name' but I'm not familiar with the area.


With a day off yesterday and need to get a mothers day present I decided to take myself for a day out on some of Midland Classic's routes useing the £5.70 Day plus ticket.

0958 401 Hatton-Burton
After parking in the station car park at Hatton my first journey would be on former First London E400 67 (SN11 BND). This working comes off a school working to Ashboune and also proves useful for shoppers as we up at most stops in Tutbury and on the way into Burton. By the hospital the Midland Classic van was out with someone up a ladder replacing the former arriva stickers with Midland Classic some 6 years after the take over. We arrive in Burton just after half 10 with 30 mins until my next jouney.

1105 12 Burton-Lichfield
I could of gone straight down the A38 with the X12 but decided to get the 12 as I knew that there is regularly a decker on this particular journey and sure enough Omnicity 61 (YN08 MKO) turned up just after 11 for the hour trip via the villages. I took the front seat on the top deck and sure enough there were some good views as we weaved our way round the villages. Internally though I did notice some of the branding is still present from it's Reading Buses days on the pink routes.

1250 X12 Lichfield-Burton
After some lunch in Lichfield it was time to head back on the X12. E200 1 (JB14 MCL) got me to Burton in just under 25 mins even with a very busy A38 and surprisingly for a warm day I didn't stick to the leather seats.

1325 21 Burton-Swad
(or Swadlincote if you prefer). The 21 is Midland Classic's original route which started 15 years ago which takes in Stapenhill, Linton and Church Gresley. Just after I arrived off the X12 one of Scania 19 (YN17 ONL). This example being another ex Reading vehicle. On the way out of Burton a few got off in Stapenhill before joining the A444 to Linton where the route does a big loop before heading towards Swadlincote with no takers which helped make up the small delay coming out of Burton. I'm still a little unsure about these vehicles as they doe look good but from this trip I wasn't so sure about the interior. It might just be the seat as it was higher up with a sloping window and floor.

1410 9 Swad-Burton
Returning to Burton on the 9 I was hoping for a Metrocity but never the less another Scania 24 (YN64 FWV) turned up. Unlike the ex Reading vehicles this batch has had an internal refurbishment and fitted with more coach style seats. Similar to @asb 's reprot last week this vehicle also had the heating on. It was a fairly relaxed run into Burton with a few pick up's in Winshill arriving at New Street some 6 mins early.

1440 401 Burton-Hatton
Finally it was time to head back to Hatton. For this trip I had one of the older members of the fleet Scania 82 (FX55 VLO). With a decent load on board we commenced our jouney via the Town Hall and the back streets to the Hospital where we got stuck due to parking and a driver blocking us turning right. After a quick sprint to Tutbury we followed the Burton bound 401 round the loop before dropping me off in Hatton. Even at 17 years old I still think these Scanias are decent vehicles.

I prefer Swad but only as the pronunciation. As a former East Staffs resident, I really like Burton and Midland Classic are a really professional outfit. All areas I know very well and I could almost have bumped into you in Burton yesterday...

 

[Redmike]

The Badgerline REs survived on the 126, and the 163 Wells to Taunton, which is where I had my final trips IIRC. The National 2s were moved to Bath where they would work out to places like Chippenham and Devizes, I think replaced on the 376 by Lynxes (which were another guilty pleasure of mine).

The best rides ever - Leyland engines thrashing round Somerset! I also recall REs putting in appearances on the 173 to Bath even after Lynxes and Darts had appeared.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The best rides ever - Leyland engines thrashing round Somerset! I also recall REs putting in appearances on the 173 to Bath even after Lynxes and Darts had appeared.

The REs were certainly visitors to Bath working with the Lynxes though in later days, they were most often on the 126 and 163.

However, my last Bristol RE journey in proper service (i.e. not a running day) was a Leyland engined one but not in Somerset...

 

[RELL6L]

Here’s my report on the first day, Wednesday, of my two days of trips last week, with the explanation of the brain teaser. If, like me, you want to do something in the region of 20 trips a year and insist on doing them only on good weather days then you have to be prepared to take full advantage of the good weather when it comes. Hence three trips within a week, the first being my Market Weighton trip the previous Friday. And, before the clocks go forward, early starts are required to make the best of the daylight hours.

The start was at Trawden, Lancashire – ‘because it’s there’ is the only reason I can give for starting there. The end of the Burnley Bus Company Mainline (the line) service M3, this seems quite an up-and-coming village, but not many bus passengers at 6.30 am although several joined at Colne. I took three M routes (not Mega) in former territory of Burnley, Colne and Nelson, but not to all those places – I didn’t visit anywhere with a league football team – I took an M3 to Nelson, a short M5 to Colne and another M5 to Barnoldswick, all famous for cotton in years gone by. And sorry but yes, Nelson is named after a pub which was named after the admiral. All still pretty quiet as it was early but Barnoldswick had an attractive market square area. The M5 to Barnoldswick ahead of mine had not run and we had quite a few passengers who were not best pleased and at Earby there were passengers gathering at the tiny bus station for the bus back which wasn’t going to run. All the Mainline vehicles I took were Versas but I did see two old but immaculate Volvo B10BLEs, one in Nelson on regular service and one in Barnoldswick on a school service.

After half an hour at Barnoldswick I took a Volvo B7TL decker on the silly named Wizz route to Skipton. It didn’t wizz – there were road works on the A56 and we were 20 minutes late getting to Skipton and some students were very late for school. Still time to grab a coffee, bacon roll and some lunch and briefly visit the lovely canalside area. On from here on a Solo on the Keighley and District 72 to Grassington. Here I stepped off the bus and straight onto a 72B run by Upper Wharfedale Venturer, which their website describes as a community minibus. The minibus was actually owned by North Yorkshire County Council as their own vehicle was in for service – clearly they have some kind of arrangement with the council for such things; the driver said she was a volunteer. The passengers were all walkers heading off into the hills, locals would be on different journeys heading into Grassington. I could have gone all the way to Buckden and spent 30 minutes there but decided instead to stop off at Kettlewell (well brewed cuppa – yes appalling I know) for 50 minutes. What a lovely village, I managed a short walk up out of the village to the east and then went down to the river by the bridge. Then back to Grassington.

This time I had over an hour at Grassington, a lovely small town. It has featured recently in the Channel 5 version of the James Herriot vet books (vetted for filming), All Creatures Great & Small, pretending to be the town of Darrowby. The pub in the market square, as well as its own sign high up, had an old fashioned sign claiming to be the Drovers Arms, as used in the stories – see the picture below - so presumably filming of a new series is ongoing. The real Darrowby, where the real James Herriot practised, is Thirsk, but Grassington is much more suitable for filming. A lovely stroll round the town (or maybe it is a village) and I ate my lunch.

The next leg was the three days a week North Yorkshire County Council run 74A towards Ilkley. A similar 16 seat minibus and there were 16 passengers, but luckily no-one was left behind. Several were walkers having walked one way, only one true ‘local’. A glorious ride on fairly minor roads through Wharfedale and past Bolton Abbey. I didn’t go all the way, I alighted at Addingham (adding ‘em - quicker with a calculator – lack of takeaways – thank you @the GrandWazoo!) and had a quick look round the church area before continuing to Ilkley on a Keighley & District 62 – a Volvo B7RLE.

Ilkley is an attractive small town where I had 46 minutes and I had decided to take a walk up onto the moor as far as a viewpoint named White Wells. With deference to the song “On Ilkley Moor Bar t’At” – Bar t’At meaning without a hat – I wore a baseball cap to protect against the sun. I’m not too unfit but was pleased I managed to walk from the centre of town to the viewpoint – nearly a mile and mostly upwards - in 13 minutes. I took a little longer walking down to divert past a couple of small lakes. From Ilkley I took another B7RLE on another 62 back in the direction of Keighley, through Addingham, getting off at Silsden. This is a pleasant small town enhanced by a stream in the town centre and its setting on the Leeds & Liverpool canal. I had originally planned to take another 62 on to Steeton but a Jacksons of Silsden 903 Mercedes Sprinter with Mellor Strata presented itself – their only bus (according to Bustimes) on their only route - so I sampled this. It visited a large estate on the east of the town with no passengers (now in West Yorkshire so more subsidised services) before heading up the hill to Steeton. I saw a few school service double deckers from Keighley and District around this time - they still have a good number of 20+ year old Volvo B7TLs in service on schools. From Steeton - nothing to see here - I took a Burnley M4 and then an M3 back to Trawden – two more Versas - changing at the very east end of Colne with just a 4 minute connection. Just as well that worked as the next M3 to Trawden was showing as missing on Bustimes and as cancelled on the Burnley Bus website.

Most buses I took were Transdev ones and I was able to use a Transdev Daytripper for £10 which covered the lot. I though the Wharfedale Venturer at £5.70 return and the NYCC 74A at £5.40 were quite expensive, but great scenery justifies the price on a sunny day. An excellent day out!

Day 2 to follow – tomorrow hopefully.

Memorabilia of times past in Trawden


Barnoldswick Market Square


Skipton


Kettlewell from above


Kettlewell and the river Wharfe


Wharfedale from between Kettlewell and Grassington


Grassington - the Devonshire also claiming to be the Drovers Arms!


Wharfedale from the 74A heading towards Bolton Abbey


From White Wells looking over Ilkley


Silsden, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The best rides ever - Leyland engines thrashing round Somerset! I also recall REs putting in appearances on the 173 to Bath even after Lynxes and Darts had appeared.

Absolutely!