Local Fleet Changes - August 2012

First South Yorkshire:
Expected to join this fleet are from Leeds 9 Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400, 14 Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Geminis & 19 Volvo B9TL Wright Geminis. This is to replace some older vehicles (Volvo Olympians, Wright Libertors). Repaited into new livery Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400 31786/31140 (YN53EOL/YU52VYR) 31786 becoming the first repaited at Doncaster after loosing its Frenchgate shopping allover advert. Also repainted are Volvo B7TL Plaxton Presidents 32108-10/32308-12 (LT02ZCY/DH/J/LK03NHH/J/M/L/N) And Volvo B7L Wright Eclipse Urban 60707-12/15/16/18/22/24 (MV02VAF/H/J/K/M/O/VBG/J/L/P/VCD). Marshall Capital 41780-8 (X513/781-5/514/787/8HLR) are expected to move to Rotherham from Sheffield allong with certain Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400. It is expected that a major allocation change is expected to occur shortly.

Sheffield Communtiy Transport:


The two new ADL Enviro 200 reported here are to the old style bodywork layout

Stagecoach Yorkshire:
Expected are 14 ADL Dart Enviro 200, 6 for Barnsley and 8 for Holbrook for routes 1 (Barnsley-Staincross) and 25 (Woodhouse-Bradway). At Chesterfield new Scania N230 ADL Enviro 400 15824-9 (YN12GYO/P/R-U) have enterd service with 15824-7 branded for route 43 (FourtyThree) and 15828/9 branded for Sheffield Megarider which can also be use on the Sheffield-Chesterfield services. All Barnsleys Dennis Trident ADL Enviro 400 we're returned form the Olympics on the 14/08 however 19559/60/4-6 (YN59EAF/G/W-Y) have returned to London and the Stagecoach Events fleet. In replacement Barnsley now have Scania N230 ADL Enviro 400 15688/90/1 (YN60ADX/Z/ADO) (The first of this type at Barnsley) and MAN 18.240 ADL Enviro 300 22546/7 (YN57MXO/P) and these have come from Chesterfield & Rawmarsh depots respectivly, Both part of Stagecoach Yorkshire. Dennis Dart SLF East Lancs Spryte 33234/41/5 (S134SHE/T141/5JKY) join the magic bus fleet at Rawmarsh in Rotherham, They have been reregistard 1975 HE/3141 HE/8054 HE respectivly. Reserve fleet Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer I 33082 (P978LNB) is in use at Rawmarsh but as i understand it, Based at Chesterfield. All Buses that went out on Olympic Cover to other depots have all returned, The only change saw Ecclesfield keep 22612-5 (YN08JGU/V/X/Y) and gained 22559 (YN57MYC) from Chesterfield, I understand more movements between Chesterfield & Ecclesfield regarding the MAN Enviro 300 could occur shortly. ADL Dart SLF Pointer 2 35236 (YN56OMS)

has returned to Rawmarsh after serious accident damage which it sufferd in Swinton. Holbrook DAF SB220 East Lancs Myllennium 26109 (W479MKU) has re-entred service after Fire damage having been repaired. I understand this is complete with Euro 4 emmisions Engine. Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 18125/6 (YN04KGK/P) have been repaited.Withdrawn are Dennis Dart SLF East Lancs Spryte 33229 (R129TWF) with Chassic corrosion. It is expected that on or around October 26th there will be a major fleet change due to the Sheffield Bus Partnership. Exciting times ahead me thinks...

3 New Scania, A Bump and Alexandria

Monday... I did nearly write Saturday then was the day i choose to check out the new Scania N230UD ADL Enviro 400 at Chesterfield which all enterd service on Monday last week, However been on holiday i was unable to do anything about them until now. Starting with 47298 (YJ55BLF) into town and then getting Northern Rail 144017 into Sheffield on the 07:25 ex Barnsley and armed with my Stagecoach Day Explorer the first Scania that crossed my path was 15825 (YN12GYP) and the plan was to go full route on that one from Sheffield to Chesrterfield, I found the vehicle very nice to saw it had standard seating and they seemed to cope well with the hills at Dronfield Woodhouse, Near the fire station and with the 43 route in paticular. The upper deck was nice and layed out quite well. On the lower front window the words All Day, Every Day are showing as part of the branding but it doesn't obsure the view like the Arriva buses, here to take you there logo on the latist Arriva Yorkshire Branding which is on the bottom of the upper deck window. The upper deck air con is still on the panel under the front window which is about as usefull as a fan doing 2mph but apart from that the vehicle was clean, There was eveidance of people putting there muddy shoes up on the front of the bus which isn't too good given the vehicles have been in service a week yesterday. The vehicle coped well with the loading it got and i noticed more passengers went onto the upper deck then the lower deck which i found unusual for any route as normally the lower deck is full before passengers go up. Passing the B2Net Stadium in Chesterfield i was looking towards Tesco...
Normally looking to see what i could see Stobart wise however what i saw made me hit the bell, run down stairs and get off at the next stop, this was followed by some running and after about an half mile run i finally got there. Stobart MAN TGX Lowheight Tanker PX59AEG, H6139 (Alexandria 21) was delivering to Tesco Garage, Chesterfield. I could not believe my luck at spotting this fine machine at work, away from the normal Stobart depots where most spotters spot good stobarts like this. I was so chuffed at this spot i went into KFC and wacthed the tanker doing its work while eating. I was amazed at getting a top Stobart in Chesterfield and if i was on a Single Deck MAN E300 i wouldn't have seen the truck so credit for the decker there. After i got a 25 into Chesterfield, 33349 (R49 CBD) One of the Marshall Capitals in use with Stagecoach Chesterfield, This wasn't half as bad as i expected and was quite nice indeed. I have never really been a fan of the Marshall Capital, There small, light and weak not standing up well in RTAs and accidents. Photos from the web havn't helped my view on the vehicle type but 33349 seemed ok and looking into the drivers cab it was very well laid out and the driver gets a cracking view out the front window, Even if he did say it was a shed. Then after a while in Chesterfield Scania 15824
(YN12GYO) arrived and on this one i sat downstairs, I was very impressed at the Leather seating on the back with the Beachball pattern on it, I think it was excelrant and gave the leather seating more colour in appose the the normal dullness or gray that most operaters use, It was something i hadn't seen before the patternd leather and i think it works well with the interior giving all seats one colour and not having gray and the back and beachball all the way down. We got off this one at Woodseats and got 15828 into Sheffield, This one was also impressive but at the back some mindless fool and allready scrathed the real paneling with there shoes up on the seats and one of the rear seats had pop spilt all down it, Very sticky and not nice to sit on. Then as we came onto the Mall, Sheffield we saw an accident, First South Yorkshire 69028 had been hit by a Taxi down the side, The taxi had appered to overtake the First bus on a One way street, The driver not expecting to be overtaken on a one way street turned off and bang... After this it was 2 Freebess (44927 followed by 44926) and then waited for 26109 (W479MKU)
 which was involved in the fire in Sheffield city centre last year, this is now in service again and has a few new panels, the rest painted white but there are still signs of fire damage inside the vehicle, Branding is still visable on the sides which im supprised they havn't been forced to replace all the windows which were smoke damaged, there is a new rear desination desplay and some rear panels have been replaced, the fleetnumber as the photo shows is now above the windows, i like it there and I was impressed with the vehicels repair job. 22450 back to Barnsley and 47297 to complete a good day out.

All Washed up... Holiday Bashing

As previously mentioned ive been on Holiday this week, Returning home to South Yorkshire about 2 Saturday afternoon. Last Saturday and Sunday we're bus less as i was enjoying myself in Skegness. Monday however was the trip to King's Lynn to meet a good friend, Ian Wiseman, This started with a walk into Skegness, As the dog had woken me up at the hour of 4am i walked into Skegness hoping to get some photos before catching the 07:20 7 to Boston. However upon arrival i noticed the 06:20 X7 to Boston pulling onto stand, I never expected catching this, I jumped aboard. My bus Volvo B7TL East Lancs Vyking 16914 (FX54AOD). The driver was female and hadn't done the X7 before. She did very well and didn't get lost once, She was a very good driver overtaking 2 tractors and keeping to the timetable. We arrived in Boston at 07:03, I was very annoyed with the lack of anything at Boston Bus Station. I walked around the car parks and stands, No information regarding Timetables or Stands services departed form. It surely is the worst bus station in England, Wales or Scotland for that matter i have ever visited or seen.
The stands were in a poor state of repair and nobody seemed to be in charge or have any ownership what so ever. The Stands where all painted in Dark Blue, It was very dull in Boston Bus Station, The bus station was not clean at all and was quite a discusting place to be. Some effort could have at least been made to keep the traveling public happy. Let allone safe, i was constantly wacthing my back there. Another point to make regarding Boston Bus Station was the number of stands for the number of buses that operate there, While i was there between 07:03 and 07:40 16914 left of stand 4 and a Kimes Olympian came in with a 59 to Spalding on Stand 7, That left and then nothing else came in until my service 113 to Spalding from Boston, This was X324NNO. This was quite good given its time in London with Stagecoach before sale to Brylaine. Seemed a quallity bus, Then it was with a minutes worth of connection onto Nofolk Green 105 (YK57FHM) to King's Lynn. I was very impressed with my first Norfolk Green vehicle, An operator ive always liked but never before used. As i was making my journey i got a very amusing text message for Ian saying "I assume you mean skegness to boston... or you are wayyyy ahead of time", He was still in bed and after i arrived about 10 minutes after he did so we went and did new ADL Enviro 400 21 (SN12EHM). I was very impressed at Norfolk Greens new ADL Enviro 400s, Very good buses indeed. Then it was onto Tempo 112 (YJ57EHX) on the 11 back to Kings Lynn, This was very full as went around the Sandringham Estate owned by the royal family, There was a offroad turning circle here which provided a good ammount of dust which followed the vehicle all the way around, The vehicle was thrown about over the bumps going around the circle... Very intresting indeed never really been on a leaning Tempo beforehand. Then some bashing around King's Lynn commenced, While there we did the following vehicles:
Optare Versa 504 (YJ10EYG) on the Fairstead 1
Optare Solo 620 (AU53KSO) on the North Lynn Too!
Optare Versa 501 (MX09HJJ) on the Pandora Four
Irisbus Agoraline 130 (FE52HFR) on the Fairstead 1
Optare Solo 606 (YN03NCV) on the North Wooten Three

Then after a great day with Ian it was time to head back to Skegness again, ZF powerd Spectra 7 (YJ51ZVF) was my bus back to Spalding on the 505, Leaving King's Lynn we got stuck in traffic for the roadways up near the Arch. We were therefor a good 10-15 minutes behind out timetable however the driver did an excerlant job getting back on time before Spalding allowing me to make my connection. The Norfolk Green driver was excerlant and certainly could drive at speed safely, Unlike the idiot who was driving my Brylaine service back to Boston, This was X304NNO and also got stuck in traffic, The driver was therefor late, And was driving fast however decided it was a good idea to cross the white line in the road twice before finally doing it on a blind cornor, There really was no way he could have seen anything coming at him before it was too late and this caused uncomfort between passengers. I must say the Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 coped fine with the speed and reminded me how good the older Tridents really are however i was glad to be away from the driver. About a 40 minutes wait in Boston, The worst Bus Station ive been to in the UK and Stagecoach DAF SB220 East Lancs Myllennium 26122 (X852HFE) arrived, I was glad to finally see something beachball before my eyes again and with a double crew we set off to Skegness with the last IC7 of the day. We took a brake in Wainfleet of 5 minutes to let the bus cool down, These Myllenniums used to been on the Seafront Service 1 (Skegness-Ingoldmells-Chaple St Lenords) and not the high speed 7 (Boston-Wainfleet-Skegness). We got into Skegness 6 minutes late but that allowed for a connection onto 21212 (), That took me back to Winthorpe on Route 3 (Skegness-Ingoldmells-Anchor Ln).
This is one of the rare Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urbans in the fleet which i do like very much. I took the time to notice the Blue lighting instead of the normal boreing white lighting on Stagecoach Skegness vehicles... Its very nice and should go fleet wide but thats just opinion. That concluded Monday which was an excerlant day, Great to finally meet Ian too. Tuesday saw me do too more buses, 16940 (FX06AOB) into Skegness and 16093 (R93 XNO) back to Winthorpe. Both impressive vehicles with the interior of 16940 impressing me the most, The seating was brilliant and i can see why there so popular. 16093 was operating the 19:15 off Skegness bus station and became very very full with standing passengers, That made it hard to battle off at Winthorpe but for a trip on a Volvo Olympian its worth that. Wednesday was the day i choose to do a Lincolnshire Day Out ticket on Stagecoach Skegness, I travelled on most the fleet and certainly too much to list but ive managed to get all DAF SB220 East Lancs Myllenniums, Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urbans and Open Top Dennis Tridents at Skegness Depot. I got Olympians 16093/16147/16817 the latter two been on loan for the summer season and Volvo B7TL 16914, 16940/2. I didn't manage to do much InterConnect stuff but there is allways next time. Most services operating on Skegness seafront were ether full and standing load passing potential passengers or following another bus, 1s we're often late because of Traffic at the popular resort of Ingoldmells and this is really unavoidable. 3s we're running its 2s and 3s battleing with the Traffic at Ingoldmells/ Skegness like the 1s but also getting passengers and young families wishing to get Open Top deckers which all ended up full and running in pairs or threes...
Me i was happy with the Olympians. If it was me choosing what to do i would allocation Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban 21211-6 to Skegness for Winter services and Summer extras with the rest been decker, I would also operate routes 1/3 every 8 minutes if possible but in Skegness with its traffic cahos not much ever operates ontime. Stagecoach drivers in Skegness are very friendly, Some of the best ive experanced and there were able to deal with the Traffic and passengers wanting to get here and back the cheapist way, Most passengers didn't know what tickets they wanted and don't when boarding buses in Skegness and Ingoldmells most stating Caravan sites or Hotels and then expecting the driver to know them. and the nearist stopping point. I really do think Stagecoach should prise drivers in Skegness as i would compair the job to driving in London City Centre on tourist routes. My driver on 16817 shouted to a member of staff montoring while he was stuck in Traffic at Fanatsy Island "I'm Late, Very late, 20 Minutes Late"
     However what could he have done differently. Not at all much. On Thursday i did nothing bus wise but Friday saw me do 21214 to Skegness and 17675 back to Winthorpe, 26122 to Skegness and 26126 back to Winthorpe. Saturday morning i went into Skegness and got 26124 there with 17673 back, Its allways nice to sit at the back of an Open Top decker in the wind.... A Good time had by myself me thinks and for those on my facebook, Pics are up. Please visit my You tube to see the videos i filmed dueing my time in King's Lynn and Skegness, Link Below....

YT03AYF Videos :- http://www.youtube.com/user/YT03AYF?gl=GB


Note: Videos will all be uploaded on 19/08/12, Please remember to check on 20th for ones you may miss/ have missed.

Few Notes and Updates

The new ADL Enviro 200 vehicles are expected to start arriving very shortly. These i suspect should follow each other Registation wise and should be as posted about 3 or 4 months ago (Stagecoach Yorkshire new vehicles) I think i called it, Never the less Barnsleys (6) should start arriving from August 16th and Holbrooks (8) from August 23ed, These may run up to 2/3 week late due to ADL been busy currently. It is now expected that the Scania Enviro 300 vehicle expected at Holbrook will be diverted leaving the M.A.N 18.240 ADL Enviro 300 to cover in there place, These are currently allready at Holbrook depot. I understand Holbrook may become 100% ADL Enviro 400 Hybrid over the next few years however i cannot confirm this at the current time.

BL Travel have gained a new member to the fleet, This been YJ12GVO, An Optare Versa V1100 which follows a succsessfull trail period with this operater of a similar Demonstation vehicle, This is the vehicle photoed in this blog post.

Finally, I will be going away this week visiting Skegness & Kings Lynn mainly, This will also see me at Spalding, Boston and probably Lincoln, Mablethorpe etc travelling about the Interconnect network in Lincolnshire and the Wash.... Should be a good week for me and meeting a great friend of mine too, Can't no longer wait so i will catch you lot later. Expect there will be a big right up on my movements, views and everything else when i return from my outing.

M.A.N Movements, Chesterfield style

Last Year, Chesterfield depot decided to move the passenger stopping lights from behind the driver onto the front of there M.A.N 18.240 ADL Enviro 300. This was because the drivers stop light was very dim and obstucked by the streering wheel. This seemed a good idea and at the time others throught Chesterfield really had lost it, However it became clear to me recently that there is a need for this as 1/5 times drivers of M.A.N 18.240 at other depots passed, totally missed or overshot stops after passengers has pushed the bell. Now Stagecoach have jumped onto the bandwaggon and now the first example at Barnsley depot has now had its stopping light moved. This is 22630 (YN08JFK) and the new stopping light is very oddly persittioned. Believe it or not it took me a good 10 minutes to notice and i noticed when i relised the fleet number onboard was lower then normal, Personally i like it better there and as i got off i decided to take a more detailed photo.

This Photo shows where the sign used to be, Its 22544 this time.

Fleet Changes - July 2012

First South Yorkshire:
Volvo B7L Wright Eclipse Urban 60721 (MV02VBO) Is the first Single Decker in the South Yorkshire fleet to be released in the new livery for route 52 (Hillsborough-Sheffield-Crookes). The vehicle looks stunning and i must say i like the new first livery, Simaler 60707/9 (MV02VAF/J) is expected to be the next one to imerge in this livery. Allready Repainted are Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 37257/8/61-5/472-99/509-18/25/29 (YN07MKX/Z/LJ-L/O/U/YN08NLL/M/O/P/R/T/U/V/X-Z/NMA/E/F/J/K/M/U/V/X
/Y/PLF/ERX/PLO/U/ERY/PLX/Z/YN58ERZ/ESF/G/O/U/V
/Y/ETA/D/E/ETY) of which 37257/8/61-5/487-97/509/11/12/37529 carry X78 Brandings (Sheffield-Doncaster) & 37472-84/513-18 carry 75 Brandings (High Green-Lowedges) & Dennis Trident Plaxton President 33061/3-71/9/82-4/99/123-9/30 (LN51GKU/X-Z/GLF/J/K/V/GKA/NK/NV/X/ME/LZ/LT02NVK/N-P/R/S/WXH). Certain of those are expected to gain brandings for routes 47/48 (Ecclesfield-Herdings Park) within the week, I expect these will be 33061/3-71/82-4/99/123-9. Volvo B7L Wright Eclipse Urban 60729-31/33-41/43 (MV02VCK/L/DD/F/G/L-O/T) have moved to Midland Rd, Rotherham from Olive Grove, Sheffield for the summer period. It was expected that Midland Rd would then place there Volvo Olympian Northern Counties Palatines into Reserve however there still out and outbound it seems.

Sheffield Community Transport:
Two New B29F Seated Alexander Dennis Enviro 200s are here, They are MX12GGE & MX12CGE and are operating in Dealer White.

Stagecoach Yorkshire:
Due here are 14 ADL Enviro 200 for Barnsley (6) and Holbrook (8). Optare L1180 Excel 35005 (YN51VHO) was distroyed by fire in Coal Aston. Holbrook M.A.N Enviro 300 22560-2 (YN57MYD/F/YN08JBZ) have gone on loan to Chesterfield to cover a vehicle shortage. New Scania Enviro 400 15824-9 (YN12GYO/P/R-U) are been deliverd and 15826-9 have brandings for route 43 (Chesterfield-Dronfield Woodhouse-Sheffield). They have standard seating so did not as expected replace simaler vehicles on the X17 (Sheffield-Chesterfield-Matlock).

Tate's Travel Group:
New here is ADL Enviro 200 1121 (YN12HVH), This has a small plack above the last window on the sides celebrating 10 years of service. This shows (2002-2012) however there website says they started in 2003. Simaler 1101 (VT10JPT) also joined this fleet and is in full fleet livery.

BL Travel, Featherstone:

Reported new here and in BL Coaching Livery is Optare Versa YJ12GVO, This follows a demonstation period where simaler YJ61JHF was used and supplyed by Optare.