Prompted by postings on the Focus Flickr site by Colin Sellers and Martin Arrand, I chose to seek out the former Go-Ahead London Volvo B7TL/ALX400 now operated by Hulleys of Baslow. Acquired for a Derbyshire County Council contracted school service the bus operates between the peak times on the 272 Sheffield-Castleton, a route run jointly with FirstGroup’s Yorkshire subsidiary. Thus from my home town I boarded the 1020 ex.Chesterfield X17 (Stagecoach Scania/E400) to Sheffield. Into the Interchange at 1100, and time for a comfort stop (free – older reader/riders need to know these things). This also gave me the opportunity to observe the new Alexander Dennis Enviro200s on the First ‘Freebie’ city centre service and the Stagecoach hybrid Enviro400s on the 120.

Eventually I caught the Hulleys decker on the 1145 departure of route 272 (Bay B6 from the Interchange), for a top deck run to Castleton. I was joined up the front on the Sheffield outskirts by a family on holiday from Germany intrigued by our British double-deckers. Apparently they do not get much opportunity to ride 'on top' at home. Bit misty over the tops but a splendid run nevertheless and explained to them how we can get some really nasty frosty conditions at times. I mentioned the hoar, but think I got away with it!

Between Hathersage and Bradwell the Hulleys buses bifurcate via Bamford and do an 'in service' reversing manoeuvre on the north side of the village. The First buses do not do this; instead they run short and use the turning circle on the south side of the railway station.

Moving on and another bifurcation this time where all buses serve the village of Bradwell. Here we passed by the former outstation, still there, but regrettably without a Trent double-decker on the forecourt.

Through the village buses have to negotiate some really narrow streets to make the turn back to the main thoroughfare.

As already indicated FirstGroup share the operation of the 272 service and one of them, a former London Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties bodywork, squeezes itself through the narrow gap between the buildings.

Whilst here at Bradwell a diversion from the narrative, in more ways than one on the 272 route. Back in March 2002 workings in the crucial one-way area meant that buses had to make alternative arrangements to turn around. Without any suitable location available in the vicinity, it meant that for a while buses had to travel through the village and continue further south along the B6049 to a large lay-by area in order to turn round. Unfortunately this lay-by was about 2-miles distance away and added time to the schedule. To illustrate this an MCW Metrobus number 1949 still with the previous Mainline livery evident sped south through a sylvan setting towards the turnaround point.

Other obstacles on the route are bridges. Between Hathersage and Castleton there are two that carry the railway from Sheffield to Manchester over the route, both shown as 14'3", and there was certainly not much distance left between us and the brickwork as we passed beneath each of them.

It is quite fascinating what one can observe from the top deck of a bus. No, not an earlier mode of transport on the 272 service, just some local inhabitants out for a jaunt with a less polluting alternative form.

To Castleton at 1255 where one can connect rather nicely with Hulleys route 173 to Bakewell.

Time for a stretch and a quick comfort stop (free), before both buses departed for their respective destinations at 1300-hours. There was more splendid scenery to view as I rode the Solo via the breathtaking Monsal Head, to Bakewell with an arrival there at 1350. For the spotters and photographers alike, this time coincides with the appearance in service of no less than six Hulleys buses and three Trent buses through the Square. Non-sunny day though for the photographers. Time here for a snack, a short stretch along the banks of the River Derwent and another comfort stop (free), before my last Hulleys bus of the day, an MCV bodied Dennis Dart on the 1410 departure of route 170 back to Chesterfield. Upon which subject . . .

After years where half-cabbed, front engined double-deckers were operated by Hulleys, much time passed before there was a requirement again for the type. However, when they did, this time entrances and power units had been swapped around and an Eastern Coachworks bodied rear-engined Bristol VR was acquired. When it arrived the bus was quickly pressed into service prior to a repaint into fleet livery. Assigned fleet number 20 the bus is seen here at New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield on route 170 in the colours of a previous operator in April 1994. The bus was one of twelve originally delivered to the South Wales subsidiary of the National Bus Company back in late 1976 early 1977.

However, by July the same year it had received the company’s fleet livery then of blue and white. It was observed departing for Chesterfield on an afternoon school run from Lady Manners School on the south side of Bakewell, just before the end of the summer term.

As the 1990s drew to a close there was still a requirement by Hulleys for a double-decker. Following the demise of the Bristol VR, another product from the Eastern Coachworks bodybuilders was acquired. However, the mechanics beneath were those of a Leyland Fleetline. Not just any old Fleetline though. This was apparently the very last such vehicle of the type to come off of the production line and had been delivered to the South Notts company based in Gotham, Nottinghamshire in May 1982. Here the bus made an entrance back into Bakewell on the August 1999 Bank Holiday weekend. Whether the current double-decker will make an appearance on the 170, only time will tell.

So now we are back in Bakewell on this month’s jaunt. As an alternative had the time been available, I could have wandered around a bit more and then taken a Trent R61 or TransPeak service direct through Darley Dale to Matlock.

Or better still a meandering Hulleys 172 via Stanton and Birchover, again to Matlock, all to link up with the other end of the X17 back to Chesterfield.

But wait a moment. There appears to be something missing from the last time that I visited Bakewell. I wonder what it can be. Perhaps the next selection of images might provide the answer.

Of course it is the tree that has stood for years as the backdrop to many a photographers picture. Apparently a few weeks ago it was discovered to be rotten within and a danger to the public, thus it was removed by tree fellers (well actually I think there were more than three!).

Perhaps it is time for me to get my hat and coat, but not before I tidy this feature up with a mention for the bus that began by journey, one of the Enviro400 bodied Scanias operated by Stagecoach on their route X17.

Had I chosen to extend the day via Matlock, then I would have gone full circle of sorts on the route.

Perhaps next time. Worth the run any time of the year, but be aware that connections might get a bit tight at the height of the summer season.