Another resplendent First Olympian!
Ian Moorcroft writes (16 August 2010):
Just to prove the First paint pot has more in it, another Olympian repainted. Scroll down the page for the first First repaint!
Ian Moorcroft added to website 17 August 2010
Latest TM Travel Solo
John Moore writes (15 August 2010):
TM Travel's latest Solo YJ56 WVN on the 9.3 today.
John Moore added to website 16 August 2010
NVQ Training bus?
Ian Moorcroft writes (14 August 2010):
This is Trent Barton Volvo 136 seen today in the afternoon sun in Chesterfield. I think this is on loan to TM Travel at the
moment for driver NVQ training hence it being here.
Ian Moorcroft added to website 15 August 2010
School buses rest during August
John Moore writes (14 August 2010):
Pictures taken today[14th]: Peak bus at Marehay, Derbyshire; Freeway at Pinxton, Derbyshire (on the Nottinghamshire border). These two companies appear to be associated.
NOTE: This is the Peak bus that was viewed on the TRANSPIRE evening tour on 10 August.
See TRANSPIRE website
HERE.
John Moore added to website 15 August 2010
Respendent First Olympian
Ian Moorcroft writes - with a hint of sarcasm (12 August 2010):
You don't see many First in Sheffield buses looking tidy and smart but this one does.
Volvo Olympian 30553 (N244 CMP) has been freshly painted and is seen here in Castleton this morning on its first run since the repaint, wonder
how long it will last looking like this !!
Ian Moorcroft added to website 14 August 2010
Nottingham City Transport new route branding?
John Moore writes (11 August 2010):
Seen in Nottingham today.
John Moore added to website 12 August 2010
Another Trentbarton Dart tansfers to TM Travel
Matthew Vernals writes (11 August 2010):
Yet another Ex-Trent Dart now in service at TM Travel - this time R931 RAU.
Matthew Vernals added to website 12 August 2010
Chesterfield today (Saturday 7 August 2010)
Colin Sellers writes:
A Pronto broke down on the stand (22773) in the Coach Station. This caused chaos! The last picture is of a clean Stagecoach Chesterfield
vehicle. Grime has been noticeable over the last few weeks while Stonegravels had the bus washes replaced with new machines.
They are now having a positive effect on the ingrained dirt.
Colin Sellers added to website 8 August 2010
A postcard from Essex!
Paul Smith writes (5 August 2010):
It's a beautful day here in Essex so thought I would take time out to do some bus photography in Clacton-on-Sea, mainly with a view
to adding the area's Hedingham operations to my portfolio.
However, I've stopped for a cuppa at the Marine Parade Cafe and about a hundred yards away is the town Coach Park, where I found the
Redfern-Johnson Scania/Irizar RT 123 hiding in the far corner. Couldn't resist sending you a snap!
Paul Smith added to website 6 August 2010
Surprise vehicle on Red Arrow (5 August 2010)
Photograph taken by John Moore on 5 August 2010 (Optare Solo 466)
John Moore added to website 6 August 2010
Leicester and Loughborough (5 August 2010)
Dennis Basford writes:
I had a quick trip to Leicester today (5 August 2010).
A lot of Arriva, bits of First, some Kinchbus and Centrebus.
I had to make a quick call in Loughborough which yielded three of the always immaculate Paul S. Winson fleet.
I would recommend Loughborough to anyone interested in buses. It is a compact town with a wide variety of operators present.
Dennis Basford added to website 6 August 2010
Bakewell Show
Photographs by Colin Sellers taken on 4 August 2010
Colin Sellers writes:
You can tell by the weather it's Bakewell Show!
The 10:05 170 Chesterfield - Bakewell was duplicated, but due to the weather wasn't needed, so it duped the 11:05 to Bakewell.
Hulleys are running 3 vehicles on the park & ride services for the show. The 3 are photographed at the Bakewell end of the run.
Colin Sellers added to website 5 August 2010
Red Arrow rides
Photographs by Oliver Foreman taken on 2 August 2010
Oliver Foreman writes:
On Monday 2 August David Boot and I took a 9.1 from Mansfield to Alfreton, David purchasing a £4.60 Zig Zag and me travelling on my OAP
pass. Our intention was to try out the new Red Arrow coaches (though in fact my two journeys were the 04 ones, missing the wow factor but
in other respects still very much up to the job). David went from Alfreton to Nottingham and back, while I headed north to Chesterfield and
return.
Here is David's report:
I started on the Red Arrow at 12.18 (dead on time) at Alfreton bus station. I was very pleased to see that is was a 10 reg. When we
set off there were
about 8-9 passengers on the bus and it was very cool because of the air con. We got to Derby bus station about 13.00 where we had to wait about 5 mins
to get into the stand because it was very, very busy. A full load boarded to go to Nottingham. Finally we got to Nottingham at
13.35, 5 mins late, where I got off to wait. At 14.00 the Red Arrow going to Chesterfield came, but it was not a 10 reg. This time about
35 passengers got on. When we reached Derby a lot of people got off which left 12 passengers. Finally I reached Alfreton at about 15.15, five minutes late.
All in all it was a good time.
And now Oliver's journeys. I took the 12.40 to Chesterfield, setting off a couple of minutes late. Though there were not many passengers, there were several gettings offs and
ons along the way. I thought it interesting that in Clay Cross six people were waiting at the Red Arrow only stop, some way from the stop near
the shops where buses to Chesterfield are far more frequent, but, unlike the Red Arrow, take many deviations on their routes to town.
There was a large queue in Chesterfield for the return journey, with quite a bit of initial confusion on the stop until the 6, 39 and 97 pulled
away. I decided to wait half an hour to return on the 13.50.
The stop was very busy with other routes until just when my Red Arrow turned up. This was on the 'new' timing so it was all the more
surprising to find such a large queue. We left punctually and had a busy but uneventful journey to Alfreton, except for me nearly dozing off
in the sumptuous leather seat with, amazingly, plenty of room for my long legs!
I noted that on the two 04 coaches I travelled on the notice at the front that used to warn about non-availability of Zig Zags from Nottingham in the afternoon
peak had been covered over. On the new timetable leaflet there is no mention of this so it seems this unwelcome restriction has been lifted.
This was a normal Monday and the new timetable had been running for just one week. On that basis, loadings seemed promising. One point though:
both on the nines to and from Mansfield and on the Red Arrow we did not notice anybody using the web based MANGO discount card machine to be
found on every bus. (Actually, David has a MANGO card but he had let it run out of money. When you top up online, it takes up to 24 hours for it
to be credited to the card. We have not found any way, without getting on a bus, to find out when the money has gone onto the card. A big disadvantage.)
For more on Red Arrow on this website
CLICK
For getting from Chesterfield to Nottingham (October 2009) in
the archived section of the TRANSPIRE website
CLICK
David sets off for Nottingham aboard this stylish carriage
This older but most comfortable coach took me from Alfreton to Chesterfield. At last, it has been able to pull
into the stop and take on a good load for its return journey to Nottingham.
Fortunately the next red Arrow was a few minutes late arriving as the stop legitimately
has two other buses loading.
My coach for the return journey manages to get into the back half of the stop, but still sticking out into the road.
At least one Volvo B10M was on Red Arrow duties, though neither of us (unfortunately) travelled on it.
David (messing with his phone) gets off the Red Arrow after a good return journey to Nottingham.
Oliver Foreman & David Boot added to website 4 August 2010
A TM Mercedes in Wiltshire
Photographed by Phil G on 2 August 2010
Below is a photo taken today, of former TM Travel Mercedes W444 TMT in Trowbridge town centre. It is now owned by Faresaver of
Chippenham (and has been for at least a year, probably longer).
See also this ex G & J Holmes vehicle in Devizes
on the archived TRANSPIRE website sightings
HERE.
Phil G added to website 4 August 2010
DRS 37s at Chesterfield
Photographed by Liam Haslam
Liam Haslam added to website 3 August 2010
Chesterfield today (31 July 2010)
Ian Moorcroft writes (31 July 2010):
Another 10 plate coach in Chesterfield today, this time a new Van Hool Acron of Leons of Stafford.
Ian Moorcroft added to website 1 August 2010
TM Travel news (31 July 2010)
Matthew Vernals writes (31 July 2010):
Solo MX03 YDF, has been painted up for the new Doncaster Park and Ride Hospital contract (won from Veolia)
Newly acquired Solo YN04 XZC, will be the next one to be painted for Doncaster.
Another Solo has arrived, YJ56 WVN, in plain white.
And Ex-Trent Dart, R931 RAU, has been repainted into TM livery.
Matthew Vernals added to website 1 August 2010
Chesterfield today (30 July 2010)
Colin Sellers (first three photographs) and Dennis Basford (final three photographs) have been out with their cameras.
Dennis took a trip on a new Red Arrow coach today and comments: "I thought it a comfortable bus with a functional appearance.
There does however seem to be a growl under the floor somewhere."
Colin Sellers and Dennis Basford added to website 31 July 2010
Nottingham today (29 July 2010)
Richard Lomas writes:
Mention Nottingham and most enthusiasts will think of NCT and TrentBarton but there are an increasing number of small operators.
Red Arrow photographers' challenge
Richard Lomas writes (29 July 2010):
Here are two pictures of NET trams in Nottingham city centre advertising the new Red Arrow.
PHOTOGRAPHERS' CHALLENGE: Can someone get a Red Arrow tram and a Red Arrow coach on the same picture where their paths cross in Parliament Street?
Colin Sellars reports (29 July 2010):
In this week's BUS & COACH BUYER there is an article in which Trenbarton claims that the introduction of the improved Red Arrow not only
has created jobs but will provide a welcome boost to the local economy.
See the report on the improved Red Arrow on this website
HERE.
Richard Lomas and Colin Sellers added to website 30 July 2010
Chesterfield 29 July 2010
Colin Sellers writes (29 July 2010):
An Iveco mini coach along with a new Volvo 9700 Prestige. Then a Trentbarton liveried Excel on West Bars working for TM Travel.
Colin Sellers added to website 30 July 2010
Chesterfield on Medieval Market Day (27 July 2010)
Colin Sellers added to website 28 July 2010
Around Derbyshire 27 July 2010
Richard Lomas writes:
YourBus were running 1008, 3001 and 3003 on the Crich services this morning. Top two photographs)
Don't forget that the Red Arrow stops at Alfreton Bus Station in both directions now. I wonder if
Trentbarton are trying to attract more Alfreton - Chesterfield customers? (Bottom two photographs)
1008 followed by 3003 approaching Crich Market Place
1008 approaches Town End
'Old' coach 64 northbound - I had to wait as the destination was scrolling between
'Red Arrow', 'Every 30 minutes' and 'Chesterfield'
New coach 72 southbound - more people got off than on.
Richard Lomas added to website 28 July 2010
Added to website 27 July 2010
Around Chesterfield area for the week or so up to 26 July 2010
Ian Moorcroft writes:
Visiting was this Iveco / Beulas Cygnus of Travelsure from Northumberland (26 July 2010)
Matthew Vernals writes:
Ex-Kinch Bus Dennis Dart, P411 BNR, has now been repainted and is in service at TM Travel, looking very smart.
. . . and Colin Sellers found it at Chesterfield Station.
Colin Sellers took these photographs over the past week:
Colin Sellers saw this Network Rail Liveried Diesel 31465 paired with Electro Diesel 73138 as he left Derby for Chesterfield on 23 July 2010:
Matthew Vernals, Colin Sellers, Ian Moorcroft, added to website 27 July 2010
This summer in Chesterfield
For starters, here is one bus from each operator who runs into Chesterfield on stage carriage services . . . and something else too!
Photographs by Colin Sellers taken in June/July 2010 (except where otherwise stated). Captions by Oliver Foreman
The largest bus operator in the town is Stagecoach in Chesterfield, part of Stagecoach Yorkshire. Here is
Optare Excel 35006 YN51 VHP showing off its recently applied 44 route branding. The company awaits the arrival of ten new Scania
double deckers to use on a new X17 service linking Matlock, Chesterfield and Sheffield. New Volvo's for National Express work are
also expected soon.
Hulleys is a long established firm based in Baslow on the edge of the Peak District. Here is their latest acquisition on service in Chesterfield,
MAN / MCV EVOLUTION B40F AE05 EVC fleet number 2.
Now based at Halfway near Sheffield, TM Travel has grown considerably in recent years and runs several services, mainly tendered, into Chesterfield. The company
was taken over by the Wellglade Group at the beginning of 2010. Here Optare Solo 1164 (MX03 YCP) shows off its newly applied
livery for the 33 Chesterfield orbital service. This sells through tickets to the Red Arrow service run by
Trentbarton, also a member of the Wellglade Group.
G & J Holmes of Clay Cross runs one tendered service from Chesterfield, though their modern fleet of Optare Solo's may be
found in Matlock where Holmes runs the town services. Here is their newest coach on a school service in Chesterfield. It is
YN10 AAU, a Volvo B7R Plaxton 57 seater.
Chesterfield lies on the edge of Trentbarton territory. The Red Arrow coaches are to be increased to every 30 minutes to
Alfreton, Ripley, Derby and Nottingham. Photograph Oliver Foreman September 2009
PRONTO (Chesterfield - Mansfield - Nottingham) is a joint service in common livery between Stagecoach East Midlands and
Trentbarton. Here a Stagecoach MAN prepares to leave Chesterfield Coach Station. Photograph Oliver Foreman September 2009
Johnson's of Hodthorpe near Worksop and its subsidiary Redfern's of Mansfield are often to be found in Chesterfield on school runs and
the Bingo bus. Here is a superbly presented Bristol VR captured on film in July 2010.
Veolia reaches Chesterfield on just one Friday return journey, bringing shoppers from the Nottingham and Mansfield areas. Often it is
a coach, occasionally a double decker and for at least two Fridays this summer this vehicle.
No, we no longer are restricted to buses and coaches. Colin Sellers photographed this above Staveley.