Newark 11 December 2010
Photographs by Richard Lomas (11 December 2010):
Newark was one big traffic queue in the middle of the day today. I attach some pictures I took between 12:00 and 13:00. I haven't written
any captions as I expect some of your readers are more familiar with Newark and its buses than I am.
Richard Lomas. Added to website 12 December 2010
Belper 9 December 2010
Photographs by Richard Lomas (Sent 11 December 2010):
Here are a couple of pictures taken in Belper last Thursday.
The first picture shows both the Solos with Sevens route branding together in Belper garage. This shouldn't happen. The reason was that the
one on the right had broken down.
The second is my favourite snow picture of this winter. The only snag is that it was 23 minutes late.
Richard Lomas. Added to website 12 December 2010
Lathkill Coaches of Monyash
Information from Ian Moorcroft (10 December 2010):
This operator has traded in his L registered Volvo/Plaxton and is now operating:
VOLVO B12B CAETANO ENIGMA FJ05 HXW (ex Lees of Durham)
in a similar all over burgundy livery with gold fleet names and has named it BILLY after the company's founder Billy Mycock.
Ian Moorcroft. Added to website 11 December 2010
A couple of interesting shots: Chesterfield 10 December 2010
Photographs taken by Colin Sellers:
A classy visitor and a double header Red Arrow (new & old)
Colin Sellers. Added to website 11 December 2010
Waiting for the bus 8 December 2010
Photographs taken by Richard Lomas:
We went to catch the 16:15 service 9.1 from Derby to Ripley today and I took some photographs while we were waiting. We finally left at just after 16:47. The 'camera' times are shown in brackets.
Webmaster's note: Wait for it . . . I am going to eat humble pie!! I was sceptical that Trentbarton were directing
people to the Mango Facebook page for updates on their services during the atrocious weather we have endured in the East Midlands. I can see
now that this provides a means of quickly getting up to date information to potential passengers with the opportunity for individual queries to be answered. Well done
Trentbarton! The page may be viewed
HERE.
Click on the update nearest the top of the page for more specific information.
The Facebook page has warned of severe delays in, amongst other places, Derby for reasons almost entirely beyond the control of Trentbarton.
Here Richard gives a pictorial account from the point of view of the passenger . . .
1. The first bus to arrive on the stand was the 16:05 H1 to Alfreton. (16:20)
2. A passing Black Cat due in the bus station at 16:15. (16:22)
3. Another H1 preumabably the 16:25 pulled in behind. (16:24)
4. The next bus to arrive was the 16:10 7.1 to Belper. (16:26)
5. A passing Allestree bus. (16:30)
6. A Red Arrow caught in the traffic. (16:32)
7. The 16:35 Amberline to Hucknall. (16:36)
8. A 9.3 the first two of three Nines arriving together. Two of them pulled onto the stand to load up but the third disappeared. (16:42)
9. The first Nine on the stand was the 16:35 9.3. (16:42)
10. Yet another H1 had arrived this must be the 16:45. (16:42)
11. Customers about to surge on to the 9.3. (16:44)
12. The 16:15 9.1 pulled in behind the 16:35 9.3. (16:45)
13. We all pile on. (16:47)
14. Picking up en route. (17:21)
15. We got off at the leisure centre and left the bus to fight it way into Ripley and on to Mansfield. (17:32)
Richard Lomas. Added to website 10 December 2010
Chesterfield 7 December 2010
Photographs taken by Colin Sellers:
Colin Sellers. Added to website 8 December 2010
Summing up last week
Photograph taken by Mark on 2 December somewhere near Bolsover, Derbyshire::
Mark. Added to website 5 December 2010
More buses in the snow
Photographs by Tony Wilson (final one Oliver Foreman) and slideshow by Colin Sellers (3 December 2010):
Tony Wilson writes:
Various services in the Chesterfield area got back into operation, although there was continued deviation and diversions. A few that
I saw today were the Clay Cross and Danesmoor 51 and 54, along with the 43s and the 82s etc all terminating and departing from New
Beetwell Street. I assume Lordsmill Street and St Mary's Gate was a no go area. Some buses used Park Road although the majority appeared
to use the full length of Markham Road via West Bars roundabout to arrive and depart from town.
Herewith below the first four images taken this afternoon on Markham Road.
The next three were taken in Park Road and New Beetwell Street. The Trent Spira does use Park Road normally but then runs across
the Markham Road junction and eventually uses Baden Powell Road. However, that is impassable and the route used Markham Road to Derby Road
and line of route. However, that said, I saw at least one Red Arrow come into Chesterfield via Baden Powell Road, but wisely depart
via Markham Road.
. . . and this photograph was taken by Oliver Foreman on 3 December in the car park at Tesco, Mansfield at 9.30am. The TM Travel Tesco bus arrives in good
time to take up its duties at ten o'clock running between Tesco's and Mansfield Bus Station.
. . . and this slideshow by Colin Sellers. Colin says:
December 3, 2010. With a respite from the snow, people needed to get out and about. Stagecoach Chesterfield offered more services today, mostly
operating along main roads, routes like the 74 serving only Inkersall Summerskill Green, then to Staveley via Troughbrook instead of
Middlecroft Road.
In Chesterfield, all bus services were being operated from New Beetwell Street, with the exception of Newbold route 10. Neither the coach station
nor Church Way were being used.
The selection of photographs show a variety of vehicles and routes being operated from New Beetwell Street.
Stagecoach had helpful members of staff directing the public to their respective buses.
Tony Wilson, Colin Sellers and Oliver Foreman. Added to website 4 December 2010
Helping tow for Red Arrow
By Tony Wilson (2 December 2010):
Around 8.30am today (2nd December), Trent's Scania Red Arrow coach number 73 received a helping hand from E-ON in the shape of a Unimog
all-terrain vehicle. Having lost traction on the incline in Park Road up from Chesterfield town centre, apparently local 'Old Bill' knew that an
engineer was nearby with the useful vehicle. And in a trice the vehicle pulled the coach in reverse to the top of the hill by Summerfield Road
and the stranded vehicle was soon back on its way south towards Derby and Nottingham.
Webmaster's note (2115hrs Thursday 2 December 2010):
Unfortunately, my prediction 12 hours ago (below these photographs) became true and by early afternoon Trentbarton had stopped running Red Arrow and
Spira into Chesterfield. Stagecoach in Chesterfield, according to their website, have continued a modified service throughout the day and evening,
whereas in Mansfield in mid afternoon Stagecoach withdrew all bus services as conditions were deteriorating following continuous snow all day up
to tea time.
The depth of snow for this time of year is amazing, though it has now stopped falling in Mansfield but is very, very cold. We will have to see what tomorrow
brings.
Tony Wilson. Added to website 3 December 2010
Snow trains
By Martin Arrand (1 December 2010):
Webmaster's note (0915hrs Thursday 2 December 2010):
Having just checked the websites of Trentbarton, Stagecoach Mansfield, Stagecoach Chesterfield and Stagecoach Sheffield, far more services are running today
(though by no means all) than yesterday, though I wonder if this will continue because out of the window in my Mansfield home I see a very dull sky (sunny yesterday)
and snow continuing to fall and drift. Well done all who are trying to keep services running! See report posted yesterday on TRANSPIRE website by Stagecoach in Chesterfield
Operations Manager
HERE.
In the meantime, enjoy Martin's railway photographs below.
1. Royal train livery 67-005 Edinburgh - Southampton special crosses the frozen Chesterfield canal.
2. EM trains passing.
3. 158 leaves Chesterfield
4. X country approaches Chesterfield
5. Another X country approaching.
6. Cross Country.
7. EM trains 158 through the snow.
Martin Arrand. Added to website 2 December 2010
More Snow!
Sent in by postman Martin Arrand (30 November 2010):
Webmaster's note (1 December 2010):
The bus photographs below could not have been taken this morning as Stagecoach, SY Transport and Trent Barton have withdrawn all services in
the Mansfield, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster area (though the situation is under review). I wonder if Martin got through in
his mail van?
Martin Arrand. Added to website 1 December 2010
Snow!
Richard Lomas writes (30 November 2010):
I went to Crich this morning to take a few pictures for my tram blog
(HERE)
and stopped off in Ripley on the way.
My reaction is that the buses were running remarkably well in Ripley with only the 9.3 being delayed. I should have seen all three YourBuses at Crich but didn't see
any nor did I see the 12:13 141 in Ripley so I suspect that they wern't running.
Webmaster's note: I suspect (through no fault of the bus companies) timetables fell apart soon after Richard's
photographs as
the appalling conditions that were in my locality Mansfield first thing spread west and continued all day. Full marks to Stagecoach. I went
on their website to see what was happening in Mansfield, and
found a full list of where services were and were not serving. I then tried Stagecoach in Chesterfield and found a similar list. Unfortunately, it took
me at least 30 attempts (over several hours) to get on to the Trentbarton website (presumably not enough bandwidth available for the demand). When I
at last got it to open at 1640 I was redirected to their Mango Facebook page where indeed services were listed. [Sending people to Facebook? How
professional is that!] It seems Red Arrow stopped serving Chesterfield after Richard's picture was taken. Also the 9.3 from Mansfield was going
direct via the A38 mid-afternoon, with many other restrictions on services, including no service between Mansfield and Chesterfield, Rainbow 1 not going
beyond Eastwood at one point, restrictions on the Sixes and the 90 suspended. Well done Stagecoach and Trentbarton for passing on information! How well do bus
companies keep you informed in your area?
Postscript from Richard Lomas (30 November 2010 1808): My report of buses running to time in the middle of the day
painted too rosy a picture. By 1700 Heanor was gridlocked and my daughter in law has been sitting on a Ripley bound Rainbow 1 at Langley Mill
that hasn't moved for a long time and now the battery on her mobile has gone flat..... Oh dear!
1. The 11:02 Sixes to Derby arriving in Ripley on time.
2. The road from Crich towards Matlock at 11:30. I didn't see any YourBus buses in Crich.
3. Back in Ripley and this Rainbow 1 was on time.
4. A Solo returning from the Elms Estate to become the 12:30 to Mansfield. Again on time.
5. I think this 9.3 was running about 25 minutes late.
6. The same bus as the previous photograph.
7. This northbound 9.3 was also running late. Note it has a 'UK Bus Awards Winner' banner in the top of the windscreen.
8. The 12:30 1A arrived on time or perhaps even a smidgit early.
9. The 12:30 Red Arrow right on time.
10. Another punctual bus - Doyles 12:32 for Crich via Whatstandwell. I wonder if it made it?
11. The 12:31 from Ripley to Alfreton via Pentrich about one minute late.
12. Finally the 12:32 6.3 to Derby setting out right on time.
Richard Lomas. Added to website 1 December 2010