Miscellaneous: A to H

Sunday 25 September 2022 – Showbus 50 Rally, Hertfordshire County Showground Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Company 425 (BF12 KWZ), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in March 2012, with branding for the ‘Recency Route’ (Brighton-Lewes-Tunbridge Wells service 29 and Brighton-Lewes-Ringmer service 28).

Sunday 25 September 2022 – Showbus 50 Rally, Hertfordshire County Showground Go Coach Hire Limited of Swanley YX66 WFF, an Alexander Dennis Enviro200D new to Abellio London (8345) in September 2016

Sunday 25 September 2022 – Showbus 50 Rally, Hertfordshire County Showground Go Coach Hire Limited of Swanley YX66 WFF, an Alexander Dennis Enviro200D new to Abellio London (8345) in September 2016

Easter Saturday 15 April 1995 – Rochdale attracted a number of different bus operators following deregulation. This view in the old bus station features buses of two of the independents along with a double decker of what had once been the major incumbent operator now GM Buses North. That vehicle is 4305 (MNC 505W), a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R which was new in August 1980 to the then Greater Manchester PTE. Bu-Val Buses (M Bull) L803 FBA, a locally built Mellor bodied Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12 new in June 1994. Pioneer Travel C41 HDT, an Optare bodied Dennis Domino that had been new to South Yorkshire PTE in August 1985. Pioneer was subsequently acquired by First Group in the late 1990s. The bus station (and the multi storey car park above it) along with the adjacent Council building (the ‘black box’) have all been demolished.

Easter Saturday 15 April 1995 – Bu-Val Buses (M Bull) E181 CNE, a Northern Counties bodied Iveco Daily 49.10 first registered by Northern Counties (as a demonstrator?) in May 1988, seen in Rochdale bus station. The bus station (and the multi storey car park above it) along with the adjacent Council building (the ‘black box’) have all been demolished.

Thursday 29 February 1996 – Bu-Val Buses L803 FBA seen in the Town Hall Square in Rochdale. It is a is a locally built Mellor bodied Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12 new in June 1994. I seem to recall that buses were using these temporary departure points during the upgrading of the bus station. History was repeating itself as in the very early 1970s similar stops were used during redevelopment of the town centre area was taking place. The bus shelter advertisement panel is for a Granary bread and features a model recreating the famous 1960s Christine Keeler pose with a caption ‘It tastes great with nothing on’.

Saturday 1 November 1997 - Two vehicles operated by Bu-Val Buses (M Bull) seen in Rochdale bus station. Left: L804 FBA is a locally built Mellor bodied Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12 new in June 1994. Right: E238 UWR is an MCW Metrorider that had been new to Yorkshire Rider (2038) in March 1988.

Thursday 8 November 2012 (approx 1030) - YN08 OCE, a rather brightly coloured Irizar PB bodied Scania K340 operated by Avensis Coach Travel of Romsey, Hampshire, that was new to Chambers of Moneymore in June 2008. Seen at Peterborough Service Area on the A1 in Cambridgeshire bound for Dover on a ‘Portlink’ service operated for Fred Olsen Cruises.

Saturday 10 November 2012 (0912) – WA56 ENW, a VDL Bova Magiq operated by Dartline of Clyst St Mary near Exeter, Devon seen waiting outside The Grand Hotel on St. Nicholas Cliff in Scarborough. It was new in October 2006 to Weaver, Newbury. KX08 OMD of Amport and District, based near Andover in Hampshire stands behind - and in a remarkably similar colour scheme. The Grand Hotel was completed in 1867, the ‘V’ shaped building pays homage to Queen Victoria, was designed around the theme of time with 4 towers to represent the seasons, 12 floors for the months of the year and 52 chimneys for the weeks. Originally there were 365 bedrooms - one for each day of a non-leap year. Apparently at the time it was opened it was one of the largest hotels in the world and one of the first giant purpose built hotels in Europe.

Tuesday 6 December 2022 (1518) – Freeway Coaches Limited of Pinxton YIL 2805 seen in Main Street, Blidworth working an afternoon school contract. It is an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Dennis Trident that was new to Isle of Man National Transport in July 2000 as their 53 registered EMN 53Y. Other registrations carried by this vehicle have been H1 FBT, W393 TBV and K2 TGE.

Tuesday 6 December 2022 (1519) – Freeway Coaches of Pinxton YK19 AVV seen in Main Street, Blidworth on a school contract working. It is a BMC 225 Condor that was new to CT Plus (Yorkshire) in April 2010.

Tuesday 6 December 2022 (1519) – Freeway Coaches of Pinxton YK10 AVV seen in Main Street, Blidworth on a school contract working. It is a BMC 225 Condor that was new to CT Plus (Yorkshire) in April 2010.

Wednesday 7 December 2022 (0837) – Freeway Coaches of Pinxton 33 (LR52 BND) seen in Main Street, Blidworth having completed a school contract working. It is a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new in October 2002 to Metroline London Northern (VP329) for Transport for London contracts.

Saturday 24 March 2012 (0835) - Daish’s Coaches Caetano coach picking up tour passengers in the morning mist at Bury St Edmunds bus station. The company, based in Torquay at the time operated tours to its own hotels in Torquay, Newquay, Bournemouth and Shanklin (Isle of Wight). In November 2020 Daish’s acquired Robinsons Holidays which expanded the business significantly.

Thursdays 10 May 2001 (0800) – A R Travel, Hemel Hempstead W7 ART, an Autobus Classique bodied Mercedes-Benz O 814D new in May 2000, seen near the Pig and Whistle pub in the Hertfordshire village of Aston when working a school contract.

Thursday 10 May 2001 (0800) – A R Travel, Hemel Hempstead W7 ART, an Autobus Classique bodied Mercedes-Benz O 814D new in May 2000, seen outside the Rose and Crown pub in the Hertfordshire village of Aston prior to the departure of a school contract working. Standing behind is Sovereign Bus and Coach 153(?) (L153 BFV), a Plaxton Premiere Interurban bodied Dennis Javelin that had been new to Stagecoach owned Ribble Motor Services in November 1993, working school service 889 to the Buntingford schools.

Approx 8 May 2001 (0800) – A R Travel, Hemel Hempstead W7 ART seen outside the Rose and Crown pub in the Hertfordshire village of Aston prior to the departure of a school contract working. An Autobus Classique bodied Mercedes-Benz O 814D new in May 2000. Standing behind is Arriva the Shires 3111 (L311 HPP), a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6 new in February 1994 working the Hertford to Stevenage service 390.

Sunday 30 November 1997 – Two Bova Futura coaches operated by Airport Coach Company, a business related to Biss Brothers Coaches Limited, which operated from Stansted Airport. I seem to recall this was somewhere close to the Victoria area of Central London. Nearest the camera is L343 RWF new in June 1994 to the related Biss Brothers Coaches. In September 1997 the Institute of Export made an evening visit to Stansted Airport and this coach conveyed the group round the site.