Trivia : "Endangered Species" of buses

[Strathclyder]

@Jordan Adam I see, cheers for the additional info there. Bains isn't a operator I'm that familiar with personally, but their enthusiasm for BMCs and other smaller/oddball manufacturers & models, though somewhat reduced from previous years, predeces them to say the least.

The vast majority of Condors were built with 3x2 seating specifically for school services iirc.

All except the Peoplesbus example cited by @73001 in post #18 were built as such, that particular example (S80 BUS/BV57 MPU) was new as a BMC demonstrator, being built with standard 2x2 seating (linked image copyright of Flickr's transportofdelight), which I think it still retains (pretty difficult to find a pic that shows off the seating arrangements lol)

PeoplesBus S80 BUS

Substituting for the non available Solo, BMC Condor S80 BUS put in a full day on the new route 4 yesterday. The view here encompasses Albert Dock, Dukes Dock, and the filled in Kings Dock.

www.flickr.com

 

[Eyersey468]

How many Plaxton Presidents are left in service on registered services? I am not counting school buses in with that.

 

[Strathclyder]

How many Plaxton Presidents are left in service on registered services? I am not counting school buses in with that.

Do open-toppers count? For the big groups, First still have quite a few dotted around the country employed on such work (Edinburgh, Exeter & Kernow all spring to mind, though I understand the Exeter example is off the road awaiting parts at present). For regular stagecarriage work, First Eastern Counties still have a handful of closed-top survivors I believe, and Glasgow is not long after withdrawing it's last 5 Volvo Presidents which were still in regular service up until the beginning of this month.

 

[Eyersey468]

Do open-toppers count? For the big groups, First still have quite a few dotted around the country employed on such work (Edinburgh, Exeter & Kernow all spring to mind). For regular stagecarriage work, First Eastern Counties still have a handful of closed-top survivors I believe, and Glasgow is not long after withdrawing it's last 5 Volvo Presidents which were still in regular service up until the beginning of this month.

Yes I suppose they would if it is a service registered with the traffic commissioner. Thanks.

 

[fgwrich]

As we've just talked about them on another thread, the humble Plaxton Pointer SPD. I think somewhat unfortunately the long length examples suffered from corrosion (eg Stagecoach X registered and former Lothian examples). Are there many left?

 

[Strathclyder]

As we've just talked about them on another thread, the humble Plaxton Pointer SPD. I think somewhat unfortunately the long length examples suffered from corrosion (eg Stagecoach X registered and former Lothian examples). Are there many left?

Up until fairly recently, the aforementioned JMB Travel still had about a few ex-Lothian examples in service, but I think these gave way to the brand-new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8s the company recently took delivery of. They may be a few still going with other independents across the country, but not much else other than that.

 

[RustySpoons]

How many Plaxton Presidents are left in service on registered services? I am not counting school buses in with that.

Transdev Keighley have a few that mostly do schools work but do occasionally make their way into public service.

Burnley also have one that is often out on public services, but this is one they heavily rebuilt a number of years ago - fleet no. 2706.

 

[Strathclyder]

Transdev Keighley have a few that mostly do schools work but do occasionally make their way into public service.

On that note, is it Transdev that have that silver ex-First President Trident? Was a spare/backup vehicle if I recall correctly.

 

[LUYMun]

As we've just talked about them on another thread, the humble Plaxton Pointer SPD. I think somewhat unfortunately the long length examples suffered from corrosion (eg Stagecoach X registered and former Lothian examples). Are there many left?

A number of Pointers still operate with Stagecoach South, predominantly my local Aldershot garage, filled with either 06 or 56 reg examples. But I do think they'll be getting replaced in the near future.

 

[RustySpoons]

On that note, is it Transdev that have that silver ex-First President Trident? Was a spare/backup vehicle if I recall correctly.

It is, there's a few of them at Burnley. Not sure how many though without checking the fleetlist, but there's more than one that's regularly out.

 

[Strathclyder]

It is, there's a few of them at Burnley. Not sure how many though without checking the fleetlist, but there's more than one that's regularly out.

Ah, didn't realize they had more than one example. Good to hear they're still earning a coin.

 

[Grahamk748]

How many Plaxton Presidents are left in service on registered services? I am not counting school buses in with that.

Stagecoach East Midlands still have about 20 left at Worksop,Mansfield,Lincoln and Gainsborough. 3 of them even painted in the new colours.

 

[Jordan Adam]

@Jordan Adam I see, cheers for the additional info there. Bains isn't a operator I'm that familiar with personally, but their enthusiasm for BMCs and other smaller/oddball manufacturers & models, though somewhat reduced from previous years, predeces them to say the least.

I'd still say their desire for oddball vehicles is just as strong! The entire service fleet is made up for BMCs, plus a pair of King Long's (SV12BVC & BX15MKZ) and a Mercedes 614D (SV56EOR)

All except the Peoplesbus example cited by @73001 in post #18 were built as such, that particular example (S80 BUS/BV57 MPU) was new as a BMC demonstrator, being built with standard 2x2 seating (linked image copyright of Flickr's transportofdelight), which I think it still retains (pretty difficult to find a pic that shows off the seating arrangements lol)

PeoplesBus S80 BUS

Substituting for the non available Solo, BMC Condor S80 BUS put in a full day on the new route 4 yesterday. The view here encompasses Albert Dock, Dukes Dock, and the filled in Kings Dock.

www.flickr.com

The newest of the Condors at Bains BX60CKK which was acquired last year as the replacement to Falcon BX54VNV along with it's sister vehicle BX60CKL were the last Condors built for the UK and are dual door with 2x2 seating.

Bains Coaches BX60 CKK - 3/2/2021

Bains Coaches of Oldmeldrum BMC Condor BX60 CKK seen on Urquhart Road in Oldmeldrum whilst operating service 240 from Oldmeldrum to Kemnay.

www.flickr.com

Having had a quick look on Bus Lists On The Web there was also a some examples around the same time built to single door with 2x2 seating new to CT Plus (FJ59 UYE/F/G/KL & YK10 AVV) & Houstons Coaches (BX10DHF/G).

 

[Strathclyder]

I'd still say their desire for oddball vehicles is just as strong! The entire service fleet is made up for BMCs, plus a pair of King Long's (SV12BVC & BX15MKZ) and a Mercedes 614D (SV56EOR)

Touché lol Like I say, not all that familar with Bains as a whole.

The newest of the Condors at Bains BX60CKK which was acquired last year as the replacement to Falcon BX54VNV along with it's sister vehicle BX60CKL were the last Condors built for the UK and are dual door with 2x2 seating.

Bains Coaches BX60 CKK - 3/2/2021

Bains Coaches of Oldmeldrum BMC Condor BX60 CKK seen on Urquhart Road in Oldmeldrum whilst operating service 240 from Oldmeldrum to Kemnay.

www.flickr.com

Having had a quick look on Bus Lists On The Web there was also a some examples around the same time built to single door with 2x2 seating new to CT Plus (FJ59 UYE/F/G/KL & YK10 AVV) & Houstons Coaches (BX10DHF/G).

Shows how much I need to get up to speed with BMC's British output, the only ones I was really familar with were the two ex-Silverdale Hawks McGill's inherited (the latter - BX60 CKP/0201 - being the last of the type to enter public service in September 2010; linked image of it with McGill's copyright of Flickr's Gobbiner).

McGills Bus Services C0201 BX60CKP on Airdrie local services.

New to Silverdale Coaches of Airdrie and acquired by McGills on takeover of Silverdale's bus services.

www.flickr.com