1. RVO 668L a 1973 Leyland Leopard with a Plaxton C53F body delivered to Barton Transport of Chilwell, one of a very large number of similar Leopards and Bedfords with Plaxton and Duple bodies to bus grant specification which were to replace the motley collection of vehicles operated by the company and which transformed the still independent Barton fleet. No doubt this coach worked into Derby many times.

2. LRC 454 a 1958 Leyland Titan PD3/4 with a Willowbrook H73RD body still owned by Trent as a heritage vehicle and really at home in Derby.

3. URE 281 is an AEC Regal III with a Harrington "Fish tail" coach body preserved in the livery of its only PSV operator Lymers of Tean.

4. Two former Midland General vehicles, DNU 20C is a Bristol MW6G with a dual purpose ECW body which was the standard single decker for the fleet in the late 1950s to the mid 1960s and one of the last Bristol Lodekkas built, YNU 391G, an FLF6G model with ECW H70F body. A pity they have not had their destination blinds set to show 44, the only Midland General route to reach Derby!

5. HRC 102C is another Ex Trent vehicle which was no doubt seen in Derby many times, it is a Leyland Tiger Cub with an Alexander coach body.

6. A pair of Leyland Leopards with Marshall dual purpose bodies of a type favoured by Midland Red in the early 1970s, GOH 357N dates from 1974 and JHA 227L from a year earlier, both being preserved in NBC dual purpose livery.

7. J864 TSC is a current member of the Notts and Derby fleet being an Ex Lothian Leyland Olympian with Alexander body, of a type very popular with operators looking for high capacity double deckers, no doubt due in part to Lothians high maintainence standards.

8. MWG 941X is a former Yorkshire Traction VR with ECW body which came from the Sheffield museum at Tinsley and replaced another vehicle booked in, TWJ 340Y, an Ex Chesterfield Dennis Falcon which is still undergoing restoration. It carries the livery of its last PSV operator, Emblings/Judds of Guyhirn.

9.

9 & 10 show ACH 627, a Daimler CVD6 with a Brush body built in Loughborough which was new to Derby Corporation and shown in the olive green and cream livery.

10.

11. RNA 2367J is a Daimler Fleetline with a Park Royal dual door body built to the standard "Mancunian" design first introduced by Manchester Corporation although this particular vehicle was delivered new in SELNEC PTE livery and never carried the red and white corporation livery. It is seen about to depart on the service to Derby city centre.

12. An Optare solo in Derby University livery registered A12 UOD. Nothing more known.

13. M135 PRA is one of the well known (and long lived) batch of Volvo B10Bs with Northern Counties bodies delivered new to Trent in 1993-4. This one is now part of the Notts and Derby fleet and is in Unibus (University of Derby) livery.

14.

14 & 15: This is a Daimler Fleetline with a Roe dual door body new to Chesterfield Corporation in 1973 and registered NNU 124M. This was its first outing since a new engine was fitted and was used as a "test run"by its owners, the Chesterfield 123 Preservation Group (named after similar bus NNU 123M which is also owned but preserved in green and cream). It has probably been seen in Derby before as it was at one time owned by Camms of Nottingham who at that time operated local services in Derby. The "test run" was most successful!

15.

16. YJ09 LBK is an Optare Versa route branded for the X38 Derby - Burton express service operated by Stevensons of Uttoxeter (part of Arriva). Does anyone know why this Arriva company maintains its original name and is not called something like Arriva East Staffordshire?

17. NNU 124M loading up for a run into Derby.

18. Another view of JHA 227L the dual purpose Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard new to Midland Red.

19. X998 WRA is an Optare Excel in the Notts and Derby fleet again route branded for the service between Derby Train station and Derby University.

20. Another view of AEC Regal URE 281 leaving the rally site. The name "tail fin" or "dorsal fin" comes from the style of Harrington bodywork at the back shaped to resemble a fish tail. It is thought to have something to do with ventilation.

21. Operated by Arriva Midlands North (soon to come under German control!) is FJ08 LVO a Volvo B9TL with Wright bodywork, which is usually found operating between Tamworth and Birmiungham.

22. Another view of MWG 941X operating on the free service to Derby city centre. This was amongst the last Bristol VRs built.

23. A view of Volvo B9TL again with Wright bodywork of Arriva Derby route branded for service 38.

24. A bedford YRQ (I think, or could it be a YLQ?) which must have been amongst the last to be registered with this style of Plaxton body. It is preserved in the livery of Middletons of Rugeley.

25. A view of TOE 527N, one of the batch of three Volvo Ailsas with Alexander bodies delivered to West Midlands PTE in 1974, the forerunner of a batch of 50 similar vehicles. At this time, the PTE were standardising on Daimler Fleetlines but I suspect that Volvo offered quicker delivery times as the PTE needed vehicles quickly to replace some of the motly collection of vehicles taken over from Midland Red a short time before.

26. A view of Marshall bodied GOH 357N, an Ex Midland Red Leyland Leopard leaving the rally site.

27. A view of YJ59 BVG, an almost new DAF with Wright bodywork, which, despite what it says on the electronic blind, is believed to be operated by Arriva Midlands North and not Arriva Midlands. I wonder if the new German owners will introduce any form of local identities, it might make my job a bit easier!