Solent Bus News. Musterphantom at 30. Newsletter of the Solent Omnibus Club. Established

Transcription

1 Solent Bus News Issue 226 ~ August 2017 Newsletter of the Solent Omnibus Club. Established 1969 Musterphantom at 30 Front cover photographs by Chris Drew

2 Diary 2017 Most meetings are held at Portchester Community Centre 7.45pm. Editorial Rodney Barnes, 13 Whimbrel Close, Southsea, Hants, PO4 8YP. Telephone August 4 th 3 x Members half hour. David Welsher, Adrian Willats and Shaun Daniels. September 1 st Members evening ~20 years of Arriva. Slides and prints or your own computer presentation. October 6 th The return of Andy Warton. November 3 rd David Welsher and Roy Jetten s London. December 2 nd Christmas fun quiz. January 5 th 2018 Roger Watts New Years Address. February 2 nd 2018 AGM and presentation by last year s photographic competition winners. March 2 nd 2018 Robert Martin Buses I have known. Highway Travel Pilgrim Coaches The bus survey this time is from Portsmouth where it is reflecting on First s subtle reductions in service. In addition to reductions shown in the survey hour other cut backs occur such as earlier finishes, either the odd journey or significant chunks of the evening. My daughter moved to Bury St Edmunds in 2009, a noteworthy year in which the Queen attended the Maundy money ceremony and First started their policy of withdrawing from various locations across the country, which most recently continued in the Scottish borders. Consequently there is a reduced number of new buses bought as such closures can maintain the rate of withdrawals, which then do not need replacement. However there are over 200 ageing ex London double deckers in stock which will not be replaced automatically by other ex-london stock, as First no longer serves London. At the very least we will be enthused to see this situation unfold over the next few years. Ironically, Bluestar provided later journeys and other changes on a number of services from the beginning of June in Southampton and Stagecoach made some extra later journeys at weekends although the latter are making some reductions in our area. Read about this and Lucketts high profile coach in news from out area. Club News At our June meeting we were pleased to receive our guest speaker, John Horn, who gave the club an admirable presentation about his life and work in the bus industry. He explained that his interest in buses was awoken by the new fleet of Leyland Atlanteans bought by Portsmouth Corporation in 1963, which he would observe at the Leigh Park compound off Dunsbury Way. He described how he had started as an apprentice at Reading & Co., Hilsea, and moved to Wadhams to further his skill and knowledge (welding) before taking up engineering roles at United Auto and Luton & District, before moving back into manufacturing at Wadhams/U.V.G., Marshalls, East Lancs, Optare and Irizar, this time in sales roles. Enthusiasts could usually tell who he was working for, because he was normally able to bring a bus along to the British Coach Rally at Brighton, and stated that just one subsequent sale would pay for it. He explained how new jobs were usually obtained by meeting a man at an hotel although on one occasion the timing was poor, as the hotel was full of bus industry personalities attending a (quite separate) conference, thus exposing a supposedly discreet meeting! Cover blown, he took up the job offer anyway! He also reminisced about meeting some very nice people from the bus industry, which he liked to one big family, and explained one or two of their quirks. During this time he kept an interest as an enthusiast, joining preservation groups to whom his practical skills were invaluable and purchased Atlantean BBK 236B (later shared ownership), and continues to take it to running days, etc., whilst running the Lucketts body and paint facility at Priory s former operating centre in Gosport. (Roger Watts) Our July meeting saw a regular visit to the garage and home of Bob Gray with his two former Southdown coaches and various exhibits. The evenings was shared with Bob s contacts and other societies and over fifty attended the evening. Many thanks to Bob and to Sue for manning the kitchen. Both are thanked for their first class hospitality. Photographs from the John Bulman collection. Please Note: The Solent Omnibus Newssheet contains facts, views, opinions, statements and other content and links to external websites not controlled by the Solent Omnibus Club. The Club takes reasonable efforts to include accurate, current information but makes no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, value or safety of the published items. No liability or responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions. Under the Data Protection Act 1984 the SOC gives notice that membership details are held on computerised records. This information is not divulged without permission. M504 PNA Southampton City Council. Volvo B10B-58 with Wright body (delivered as DP50F). New to GM North in The vehicle is maintained by First Bus. Barry T. 2 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

3 Pictorial Quiz - "Ministry of the Interior" by Adrian Willats. Something a bit different - see if you can identify these types of bus or coach from the inside! (Answers on page 15) Left: Coliseum YR17 RJY. Scania K410EB4 C53Ft. Right: Lucketts BN17 JJV. Mercedes Benz Tourismo C53Ft. Barry T. Above: Princess MA17 YJB. Scania K410EB4 C53Ft. Departing Victoria Coach Station, London. Operating cruise passenger transfer for Queen Mary 2, June Barry T. Top right: Damory HX51 ZRG. Volvo B7TL with East Lancs H46/27F body. New in 2001 to Solent Blueline. Operating rail replacement inwinchester, May On the same day, Damory YJ05 PXM. VDL SBD250 with East Lancs H51/30F. New in 2005 to Marchwood Motorways. Barry T. August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 3

4 ~ Roger Watts (part 3) CURRENT CONNECTION WITH THE ROYAL NAVY In addition to the aforementioned Silver Jubilee operation, buses and coaches were connected with the Royal Navy in many ways at that time. One of the most important aspects was the operation of non-stop express coaches to destinations all over the country for naval personnel on weekend leave carried out by Southdown (whilst Hants & Dorset had equivalent services for army personnel). During the preparation of this short article it occurred to me that there is still a tenuous connection between buses and the Royal Navy with twenty-six Wrightbus StreetLite Max saloons carrying the name of a naval vessel three historic and 23 current. Interestingly, number carries the same name as one of the vessels reviewed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II on 28 th June 1977 HMS Kent. The name is only coincidence there have been twelve ships to have carried the name Kent, and the ship present at the Silver Jubilee naval review was pennant number D12 (a destroyer) whilst the current HMS Kent carries pennant number F78 (a frigate) and was one of the Royal Navy s first ships of the twenty-first century. Numbers 63042/3/8 carry the names of historic vessels, but whilst the Mary Rose was yet to be raised (1982) and HMS Warrior was still to be refitted at Hartlepool (coming to Portsmouth in 1987), HMS Victory was the only vessel of the 26 named, to have been in Portsmouth at the time of the Spithead review Mary Rose HMS Atherstone HMS Hurworth HMS Warrior HMS Lancaster HMS St Abans HMS Duncan HMS Brocklesley HMS Chiddingfold HMS Diamond HMS Richmond HMS Westminster HMS Dragon HMS Dauntless HMS Quorn HMS Kent HMS Tyne HMS Illustrious HMS Victory HMS Iron Duke HMS Defender HMS Cattistock HMS Daring HMS Severn HMS Ledbury HMS Mersey The Loline and FLF were in Portsmouth in June 1977 for the SJ park & ride operation. Unilink 1566 HJ63 JNX was in Portsmouth last year for the Americas Cup p&r and StreetLite carries the name HMS Daring currently. Alder Valley Loline was taken by Brian Short. Correction in part two: Western Welsh registration should be NDW 462R not NOW. 4 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

5 The "Horndean Harbinger" - notes by Adrian Willats. Seeing Robert Martin's photos takes me straight back to 12 May 1985, as I too travelled on that tour and remember it well - having taken, as I suspect a few others also did, some very similar views myself! Ably organised by Clive Wilkin, Southdown vehicles BUF 130C, CUF 404, MUF 488 and UF 4813 were joined by Provincial EHO 228 for a trip around various roads just north of Portsmouth. Starting from Hilsea, (west side), we headed for stops at Southwick and Hambledon, before continuing up to Petersfield - the furthest point reached - before returning to Hilsea via a final stop at Horndean. I believe, though my memory may be suspect as it is 32 years ago(!), that UF 4813 then made an extra journey on its own to Southsea and back, as I have a slide of it at South Parade Pier. The point of a 'multi-vehicle' tour was that participants could change between buses at the various stops, thereby taking the chance to ride on as many of the buses as possible. Most people did just that, but I do have a memory of it being slightly hampered by only 8 seats being available in CUF 404, as the interior was not yet fully restored and fitted out. Sadly the weather was NOT kind that day, with a dull and grey start giving way to actual rain by later on in the day, but those of us taking part still have our memories and photographs of a very enjoyable tour - all the more important as the time since that day gets ever longer. Photographs by Robert Martin BUF 130C and EHO 228 seen from onboard MUF 488, the other all five tour vehicles at Hambledon depot. Adrian Willats August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 5

6 "Blue Line to Blue Star" - a 30th birthday is celebrated in Southampton. Adrian Willats reports... Not knowing quite what to expect from this event, (beyond the minimal route information that I distributed at our meeting two days before), I have to say that it made quite a pleasant way to spend a few hours on what turned out to be a dry and often bright Sunday! Displayed in front of the Bargate were a recent Blue Star double decker, (HF66 CFK), with Bristol VR NDL 637M (in original Solent Blue Line livery) next to it. A few yards away were minibus N243 PDL and a Blue Star single decker, together with a few stalls - one for Blue Star, one for Southampton Children's Hospital Charity and the rest of the usual transport-related variety. All three free bus routes could be boarded just across the park in Pound Tree Road, with the 'city tour' also calling at Bargate Street - just a short walk from the main focus of the event. As well as the various buses, both static and on service, two other photo opportunities were offered in the form of a large cake (I had a piece - very nice!) and a gathering of former Solent Blue Line staff. A very comprehensive programme was available for 5, giving full details of vehicles displayed and running, timetables for all three routes and a detailed history of the Solent Blue Line operation, with plenty of vehicle and route details. Collectors for the charity were on hand to accept donations from visitors to the event, and I hope that all buckets were nicely heavy with coins come the end of the day. I travelled (once each) on all three routes, the city tour I chose (11.10 from Pound Tree Road) being operated by 'partial' open-topper FDL 681V. Sitting upstairs in the open part, it was a very pleasant way to see parts of the city that I normally view either on foot or at 'car height' - including the first time for many years that I have crossed the Itchen Bridge, and in both directions at that! My final trip was a route 160 journey on Lodekka SDL 268, not remarkable in itself perhaps but very pleasant nevertheless - and by the way feeling like it reached the highest speeds of the three buses I rode on, despite being the oldest! Perhaps most unusual was my 'middle' journey, a route 140 operated by 'new bus for London' LT684 (LTZ 1684), concisely shown in the timetable columns as "NB4L". I am on record as not being a fan of these creations, (the legroom is inadequate and the seats too firm), but I decided that the novelty of riding on one around a south coast city was too good to miss. Certainly, I suspect that it was the first (and perhaps last) time that such a bus will have paused for a 'photo stop' at Townhill Park's Pinefield Road turning circle! Well done and thank you to all involved for enjoyable event. Happy Birthday Solent Blue Line! a most 6 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

7 "Blue Line Retrospective" - Adrian Willats looks back to To accompany my piece on the recent 30th birthday 'do' for Solent Blue Line, here are three of my slides taken in 1987, soon after the initial routes started. On a grey and miserable day at Ocean Village, we see fleet number 07, (SDL 637J), one of the Southern Vectis vehicles transferred 'across the water' for the new venture, together with 22 (JAH 402L) which came from Cambus. The Ocean Village complex was still very much taking shape at this time, hence the bare open spaces behind the flat fronted VR. Finally, in much better weather, 29 (XDL 379L) represents the new operator at the Southsea Spectacular, held on its traditional second Sunday in June. "One bus, two photos, too many years apart!" Adrian Willats explains... Southern Vectis 681, a Bristol VRT/ECW now in partial open-top form, was involved in the 30th birthday event for Solent Blue Line held in Southampton on 4 June In fact, as noted in my article about that day, I enjoyed a ride on this bus - the first time that I have done so. Looking through other digitally-taken photos (and scans of slides) on my computer revealed that I had also seen 681 on the Isle of Wight in May Here is the same bus in two shapes and two liveries - only twenty two years between them! Above: Newport Right: Southampton 2017 August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 7

8 8 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017.

9 Musterphantom Limited t/a Solent Blue Line ~ Brief history. 1987, Southern Vectis launch Solent Blue Line in Southampton. Formed by two ex-southampton Citybus men, John Chadwick and Peter Shelley. Services started to operate in Southampton on 25th May 1987, with three conductor-operated routes. 1987, acquired the business and vehicles of Basil Williams' Hants & Sussex Winchester/Eastleigh operation. 4th October 1987, purchased Stagecoach Hampshire Bus Eastleigh and Southampton depots, including the vehicles. The fleet increased overnight from sixteen VRT`s, to over 115 vehicles. In January 1988 the fleetsettled to 85 vehicles. 2003, Bluestar was introduced. 24th October 2006, acquired Marchwood Motorways. 2008, purchased by Go-Ahead Group. All photographs Barry T. Bristol LHS operated by Solent Blueline. Registration Chassis Date Acquired Date Sold Fleet No. Notes FDV793V Bristol LHS LHS/356 11/1988 (Southern Vectis 200) 9/1990 (Riggers of Birmingham) 200 LFJ849W Bristol LHS LHS/358 11/1988 (Southern Vectis 201) 9/1990 (Golden Coaches of Llantwit Fard 201 KDL204W Bristol LHS LHS/373 11/1989 (Southern Vectis 204) 9/1990 (Blandford Bus Company) 204 REU332S Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3826) 3/1988 (Teeside Motor Services) WAE189T Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3832) 9/1988 (Teeside Motor Services) 213 WAE191T Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3834) 7/1988 (Teeside Motor Services) 214 YAE511V Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3839) 3/1988 (Teeside Motor Services) 215 YAE516V Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3844) 4/1988 (Teeside Motor Services) 216 YAE518V Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3846) 9/1988 (Teeside Motor Services) 217 AFB586V Bristol LHS LH/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3848) 1/1989 (Teeside Motor Services) 218 REL745H Bristol LHS LH/302 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 9088) Not known (Non-PCV) Converted for use as a mobile offic August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 9

10 Registration Chassis Date Acquired Date Sold Fleet No. Notes SDL634J Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/171 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 634) 3/1989 (SCRAPPED) 4 SDL636J Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/173 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 636) 4/1989 (Preserved) 6 SDL637J Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/174 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 637) 3/1989 (SCRAPPED) 7 Bristol VRTs used by Solent Blueline SDL639J Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/176 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 639) 3/1989 (SCRAPPED) 9 DNG395K Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/244 5/1987 (Cambus 611) 8/1989 (SCRAPPED) 15 JAH399L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/312 5/1987 (Cambus 613) 3/1990 (SCRAPPED) 19 JAH400L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/313 5/1987 (Cambus 614) 3/1989 (SCRAPPED) 20 JAH402L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/406 5/1987 (Cambus 616) 8/1989 (SCRAPPED) 22 XDL377L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/301 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 630) 3/1990 (SCRAPPED) 27 XDL378L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/302 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 631) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 28 XDL379L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/303 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 632) 4/1989 (Non-PCV) 29 XDL380L Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/304 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 633) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 30 NDL634M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/593 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 634) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 34 NDL635M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/596 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 635) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 35 NDL636M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/597 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 636) 2/1991 (Preserved) 36 NDL637M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/598 5/1987 (Southern Vectis 637) 5/1989 (Taylor of Sutton Scotney) 37 NDL638M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/599 9/1987 (Southern Vectis 638) 3/1990 (SCRAPPED) 38 NDL639M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/600 8/1987 (Southern Vectis 639) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 39 NDL640M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/601 12/1988 (Southern Vectis 640) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 40 NDL641M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/602 1/1989 (Southern Vectis 641) 4/1990 (Seaview Services of Sandown) 41 NCD550M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/604 7/1987 (Brighton & Hove 550) 8/1989 (SCRAPPED) 50 NCD554M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/610 7/1987 (Brighton & Hove 554) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 54 GNJ566N Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/897 7/1987 (Brighton & Hove 566) 8/1989 (SCRAPPED) 66 Named "Calshot Lifeboat" JJT432N Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/110 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3317) 9/1989 (SCRAPPED) 62 GLJ468N Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/109 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3316) 3/1990 (SCRAPPED) 68 Named "Katie Louise Thorne" KRU439P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/111 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3318) 2/1990 (SCRAPPED) 69 NJT33P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/313 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3347) 3/1991 (SCRAPPED) 73 KPR35P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/112 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3319) 3/1991 (SCRAPPED) 75 KPR36P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/113 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3320) 3/1991 (SCRAPPED) 76 KPR37P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/114 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3321) 8/1989 (SCRAPPED) 77 Named "Royal British Legion" NEL118P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/282 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3344) 3/1991 (SCRAPPED) 78 NDL653R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/468 11/1990 (Southern Vectis 653) 10/1995 (Exported) 83 NDL654R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/469 11/1990 (Southern Vectis 654) 9/1997 (Alpine of Llandudno) 84 RPR715R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/725 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3369) 7/1995 (East End of Clydach) 85 NEL116P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/280 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3342) 3/1990 (SCRAPPED) 86 RPR717R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/727 10/1987 (Hampshire Bus 3371) 8/1995 (Exported) 87 VPR488S Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3389) 3/1990 (SCRAPPED) 88 Named "St John Ambulance" VPR489S Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3390) 7/1995 (East End of Clydach) 89 RFB614R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1992 (Southern Vectis 507) 7/1995 (SCRAPPED) 94 VOD595S Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1992 (Southern Vectis 510) 8/1995 (Exported) 95 Loaned from Southern Vectis, 9/1987 to 1/1988 BFX576T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3408) 9/1997 (Southern National 1121) 96 BFX577T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3400) 9/1997 (SCRAPPED) 97 PTT98R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/654 10/1992 (Southern Vectis 509) 9/1997 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 98 Loaned from Southern Vectis, 11/1987 to 1/1988 ODL660R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/746 6/1993 (Southern Vectis 660) 8/1995 (Exported) 100 ODL661R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/747 6/1993 (Southern Vectis 661) 9/1997 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 101 ODL662R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/748 6/1993 (Southern Vectis 662) 9/1997 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 102 ODL663R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/754 7/1993 (Southern Vectis 663) 9/1997 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 103 ODL664R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/755 6/1993 (Southern Vectis 664) 9/1997 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 104 ODL665R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/756 6/1993 (Southern Vectis 665) 9/1997 (Burgin of Darnall) 105 ODL666R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/757 7/1993 (Southern Vectis 666) 9/1997 (Burgin of Darnall) 106 ODL667R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/758 6/1993 (Southern Vectis 667) 9/1997 (Burgin of Darnall) 107 UDL668S Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1993 (Southern Vectis 668) 9/1997 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 108 UDL669S Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1993 (Southern Vectis 669) 9/1997 (Preserved) 109 DBV23W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1995 (Midland Red South 934) 9/1999 (SCRAPPED) 123 YDL676T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1996 (Southern Vectis 676) 12/2001 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 166 Loaned from Southern Vectis, 12/1995 to 1/1996 FDL678V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/2401 5/1996 (Southern Vectis 678) 6/2001 (SCRAPPED) 167 FDL680V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/2403 5/1996 (Southern Vectis 680) 12/2001 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 168 FDL677V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1996 (Southern Vectis 677) 12/2001 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 169 Loaned from Southern Vectis, 12/1995 to 1/1996 FDL679V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/2402 5/1998 (Southern Vectis 679) 12/2001 (Johnson of Hodthorpe) 170 UFX857S Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/934 12/2003 (Bath Bus Company) 10/2007 (Southern Vectis 991) 901 Renumbered 991, 7/2007 WTG360T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /2003 (Bath Bus Company) 10/2007 (Southern Vectis 992) 902 Renumbered 992, 7/2007 LHG449T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 6/1998 (SCRAPPED) 149 Named "Southampton Mencap" LHG450T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 7/1999 (SCRAPPED) 150 Named "Wendy Knight" LHG451T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 2/2002 (SCRAPPED) 151 LHG452T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 8/1999 (SCRAPPED) 152 LHG453T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 2/1996 (SCRAPPED) 153 LHG454T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 6/1998 (SCRAPPED) 154 Named "TS Astrid" LHG455T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 8/1999 (SCRAPPED) 155 Named "Jose Nicholls" LHG456T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 7/1998 (SCRAPPED) 156 LHG457T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 9/1999 (Brijan of Bishops Waltham) 157 Named "The Salvation Army at Street Level" LHG458T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 7/1997 (SCRAPPED) 158 Named "The Samaritans - Someone to Speak To" LHG459T Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 8/1999 (Brijan of Bishops Waltham) 159 Named "East Point" TRN460V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 12/1999 (SCRAPPED) 160 Named "Eileen Howlett (Ozy)" TRN461V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 4/2000 (SCRAPPED) 161 Named "British Diabetic Association, Southampton" TRN462V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 8/1999 (SCRAPPED) 162 Named "RSPCA Action for Animals" TRN463V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 8/1999 (SCRAPPED) 163 Named "Romsey Lions" TRN464V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 6/1998 (SCRAPPED) 164 Named "Mary Hill" TRN465V Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus) 7/1998 (SCRAPPED) 165 Named "Nicholstown & District Action Group" NDL642M Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/603 10/1989 (Southern Vectis 642) 12/1989 (Southern Vectis 642) 42 On loan from Southern Vectis HDL405N Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/ /1989 (Southern Vectis 643) 11/1989 (Southern Vectis 643) 43 On loan from Southern Vectis HDL411N Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/ /1989 (Southern Vectis 649) 12/1989 (Southern Vectis 649) 49 On loan from Southern Vectis HDL406N Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/ /1987 (Southern Vectis 644) 1/1988 (Southern Vectis 644) 56 On loan from Southern Vectis HDL409N Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/ /1987 (Southern Vectis 647) 1/1988 (Southern Vectis 647) 59 On loan from Southern Vectis HDL410N Bristol VRT VRT/SL2/ /1987 (Southern Vectis 648) 1/1988 (Southern Vectis 648) 60 On loan from Southern Vectis KRU842W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3442) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3442) 102 KRU843W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3443) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3443) 103 KRU844W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3444) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3444) 104 KRU845W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3445) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3445) 105 KRU846W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3446) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3446) 106 KRU847W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3447) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3447) 107 KRU852W Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/ /1987 (Hampshire Bus 3452) 1/1988 (Hampshire Bus 3452) 112 LOD726P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/174 11/1987 (Southdown 281) 1/1988 (Southdown 281) On loan from Southdown MOD567P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/301 11/1987 (Southdown 282) 1/1988 (Southdown 282) On loan from Southdown MGR671P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/153 11/1987 (Southdown 283) 1/1988 (Southdown 283) On loan from Southdown LOD721P Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/176 11/1987 (Southdown 284) 1/1988 (Southdown 284) On loan from Southdown PTT91R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/405 11/1987 (Southdown 285) 1/1988 (Southdown 285) On loan from Southdown PPM903R Bristol VRT VRT/SL3/810 9/1993 (Stagecoach South 942) 10/1993 (SCRAPPED) For spares 10 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

11 New vehicles delivered to Musterphantom/Solent Blueline Registration Chassis Chassis Number Body Body Number New Fleet No. G205YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G206YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G207YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G208YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G209YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G210YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G211YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / G212YDL Mercedes Benz 709D P Phoenix / J231KDL Iveco Car Chairs S / J232KDL Iveco Car Chairs S / J233KDL Iveco Car Chairs S / J234KDL Iveco Car Chairs S / J235KDL Iveco Car Chairs S / M241XPO Iveco European Coach Conversions 98/635 8/ M242XPO Iveco European Coach Conversions 98/636 8/ M243XPO Iveco European Coach Conversions 98/637 8/ M244XPO Iveco European Coach Conversions 98/638 8/ M245BPO Iveco Mellor / M246BPO Iveco Mellor / M247BPO Iveco Mellor / M248BPO Iveco Mellor / M249BPO Iveco Mellor / M250BPO Iveco Mellor / M251BPO Iveco Mellor / M252BPO Iveco Mellor / N253ECR Iveco Mellor / N254ECR Iveco Mellor / N255ECR Iveco Mellor / N256ECR Iveco Mellor / N257ECR Iveco Mellor / N258ECR Iveco Mellor / N259FOR Iveco Mellor / N260FOR Iveco Mellor / N261FOR Iveco Mellor / N262FOR Iveco Mellor / F281ODL Iveco Robin Hood / F282ODL Iveco Robin Hood / HW54BUU Dennis Dart SLF SFD6BACR44GW18040 Alexander 4223/5 12/ HW54BUV Dennis Dart SLF SFD6BACR44GW18039 Alexander 4223/6 12/ L526YDL Volvo B10B-58 YV3R13F10PA Alexander AF10/3093/1 3/ L527YDL Volvo B10B-58 YV3R13F13PA Alexander AF10/3093/2 3/ L528YDL Volvo B10B-58 YV3R13F1XPA Alexander AF10/3093/3 3/ SN03EBP Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87123 Transbus 2105/1 4/ SN03EBU Transbus Dart SLF FD6BACR33GW87124 Transbus 2105/2 4/ SN03EBV Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87125 Transbus 2105/3 4/ SN03EBX Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87126 Transbus 2105/4 4/ SN03EBZ Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87127 Transbus 2105/5 4/ SN03ECA Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87128 Transbus 2105/6 4/ SN03ECC Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87140 Transbus 2105/7 4/ SN03ECD Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87141 Transbus 2105/8 4/ SN03LDJ Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87142 Transbus 2105/9 4/ SN03LDK Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87143 Transbus 2105/10 4/ SN03LDL Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87144 Transbus 2105/11 4/ SN03LDU Transbus Dart SLF SFD6BACR33GW87145 Transbus 2105/12 4/ F706RDL Leyland ONCL10/1RZ ON11122 Leyland DD1055 5/ F707RDL Leyland ONCL10/1RZ ON11125 Leyland DD1056 5/ F708SDL Leyland ONCL10/1RZ ON11119 Leyland DD1052 5/ F709SDL Leyland ONCL10/1RZ ON11120 Leyland DD1053 5/ G721WDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11412 Leyland DD / G722WDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11413 Leyland DD / H728DDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11651 Leyland DD1148 4/ H729DDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11652 Leyland DD1149 4/ H731DDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11653 Leyland DD1150 5/ H732DDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11654 Leyland DD1151 5/ H733DDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11655 Leyland DD1152 5/ H734DDL Leyland ON2R50C13Z5 ON11786 Leyland DD1153 5/ R737XRV Volvo Olympian-50 YV3YNA410WC Northern Counties / R738XRV Volvo Olympian-50 YV3YNA415WC Northern Counties / R739XRV Volvo Olympian-50 YV3YNA410WC Northern Counties / R741XRV Volvo Olympian-50 YV3YNA412WC Northern Counties / T742JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20484 East Lancs C / T743JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20485 East Lancs C / T744JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20513 East Lancs C / T745JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20514 East Lancs C / T746JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20515 East Lancs C / T747JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20531 East Lancs C / T748JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20532 East Lancs C / T749JPO Dennis Trident SFD122BR1XGX20555 East Lancs C / August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 11

12 New vehicles continued.. HX51ZRA Volvo B7TL YV3S2G61X2A East Lancs / HX51ZRC Volvo B7TL YV3S2G6182A East Lancs / HX51ZRD Volvo B7TL YV3S2G61X2A East Lancs / HX51ZRE Volvo B7TL YV3S2G6112A East Lancs / HX51ZRF Volvo B7TL YV3S2G6132A East Lancs / HX51ZRG Volvo B7TL YV3S2G6152A East Lancs / HX51ZRJ Volvo B7TL YV3S2G6172A East Lancs / HX51ZRK Volvo B7TL YV3S2G6132A East Lancs / M735BBP Volvo YN2RC16Z5 SLVYNF218SC East Lancs B / M736BBP Volvo YN2RC16Z4 SLVYNF21XSC East Lancs B / HX06EZA Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZB Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZC Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZD Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZE Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZF Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZG Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZH Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EZJ Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ HX06EYZ Mercedes Benz O530 WEB Mercedes Benz 3/ SN56AWX Volvo B7TL YV3S2G5225A Alexander Dennis 5417/1 9/ HF58GZP Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58KCA Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58KCC Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58KCE Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58KCG Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58KCJ Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58KCK Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZE Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZG Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZH Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZJ Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZK Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZL Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZM Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZN Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HF58GZO Scania N230UD SZAN4X Scania / HJ63JHV Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7396 Alexander Dennis D405/1 9/ HJ63JHX Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7397 Alexander Dennis D405/2 9/ HJ63JHY Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7398 Alexander Dennis D405/3 9/ HJ63JHZ Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7399 Alexander Dennis D405/4 9/ HJ63JJE Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7411 Alexander Dennis D405/5 9/ HJ63JJF Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7412 Alexander Dennis D405/6 9/ HJ63JJK Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7413 Alexander Dennis D405/7 9/ HJ63JJL Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFDGXD7414 Alexander Dennis D405/8 9/ HJ63JKX Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7375 Alexander Dennis D413/1 9/ HJ63JKY Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7377 Alexander Dennis D413/2 9/ HJ63JKZ Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7379 Alexander Dennis D413/3 9/ HJ63JLO Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7382 Alexander Dennis D413/4 9/ HJ63JLU Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7383 Alexander Dennis D413/5 9/ HJ63JLV Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7384 Alexander Dennis D413/6 9/ HJ63JLX Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7385 Alexander Dennis D413/7 9/ HJ63JMO Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7386 Alexander Dennis D413/8 9/ HJ63JMU Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7389 Alexander Dennis D413/9 9/ HJ63JMV Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7394 Alexander Dennis D413/10 9/ HJ63JMX Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7395 Alexander Dennis D413/11 9/ HJ63JNF Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7401 Alexander Dennis D413/12 9/ HJ63JNK Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7403 Alexander Dennis D413/13 9/ HJ63JNL Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7407 Alexander Dennis D413/14 9/ HJ63JNN Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7408 Alexander Dennis D413/15 9/ HJ63JNO Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7409 Alexander Dennis D413/16 9/ HJ63JNU Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7410 Alexander Dennis D413/17 9/ HJ63JNV Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7415 Alexander Dennis D413/18 9/ HJ63JNX Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7420 Alexander Dennis D413/19 9/ HJ63JNZ Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7421 Alexander Dennis D413/20 9/ HJ63JOA Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7422 Alexander Dennis D413/21 9/ HJ63JOH Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7424 Alexander Dennis D413/22 9/ HJ63JOU Alexander Dennis E40D SFD1DSBRFDGXB7429 Alexander Dennis D413/23 9/ HF64BOV Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFEGXD8048 Alexander Dennis E426/7 12/ HF64BPE Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFEGXD8049 Alexander Dennis E426/8 12/ HF64BPK Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFEGXD8054 Alexander Dennis E426/9 12/ HF64BPO Alexander Dennis E40D SFD4DSBRFEGXD8055 Alexander Dennis E426/10 12/ HF58HTG Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTJ Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTK Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTL Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTN Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTO Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTP Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTT Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF58HTU Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF61FWL Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HF61FWM Scania N230UB SZAN4X Scania / HJ63JOV Volvo B7RLE YV3R6R628DA Wright AJ425 10/ HJ63JPF Volvo B7RLE YV3R6R62XDA Wright AJ426 10/ Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

13 Being somewhat relieved that the weather had turned out better than forecast, I left my car at the Tipner Park & Ride site and caught one of the now familiar blue buses down to The Hard - this being the first time since the new bus station opened that I had actually used it as a bus passenger! I crossed the road to the stop outside the Co-op, having just missed riding on an open-top Southdown PD3! The next bus to come along was preserved Dart J501 GCD, which carried a capacity load, (including a lovely friendly dog called Toby in the seat in front of me!), to an already busy rally site - it being about by the time I set foot on the common itself. A good number of buses and coaches were already parked, with several more arriving after I did. I started by having a brief look around the traders' stalls, mixed in with the odd photo here and there of buses which particularly interested me. During the day, I met up with various familiar faces and took a couple of lunch breaks to keep me going! I spent money at several stalls, adding some more prints and slides to my collection, together with five books. A selection of photos are shown to give a flavour of the variety of buses on site. Two specially liveried Stagecoach buses and a brand new one for Wheelers look good in the Southsea sunshine! My ride back to The Hard was on the Wheelers vehicle - most enjoyable! Southampton 289 looked great with its fleetnames and numbers now applied, while Southdown 731 continues to look a bit 'bare' without them! A bus from Swindon reminded us that Thamesdown has become the latest former municipal fleet to sell out - in this case, to the Go-Ahead group while Southdown 75 brought memories of times when such buses passed the rally site every day. Finally, a quick view from onboard the Wheelers bus at about 4.00pm, when vehicles were starting to leave. Thank you to all concerned for a most enjoyable day. August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 13

14 Two years later at Commercial Road, Portsmouth ~ Rodney Barnes In the 27 months since the last survey the median age has only increased by one month. Back it the good old days (whoops sorry, municipal days) a few new buses a years tended to be common. In Portsmouth large numbers of new buses had tended to arrive within a few years and we will have a period of stability (certainly with First). There are very few reallocated buses these days virtually all being new to the area. The main changes since 2015 is the replacement of X4 s Scania Omnicities by a batch of 65 registered StreetLites and the withdrawal of First s X9 to Denmead and continuing a national policy of reducing costs wherever they can which started in Naming the garages disposed of since then would be an interesting and viable question on BBC s Pointless. First s 19 around eastern Portsmouth was also lost although th1s resulted from a Portsmouth City Council instruction, as they had subsidised the two hourly route, despite the route being modified and the frequency increased over the years. We will start the descriptions with route 1. This circular service to the south of the city starts and finishes at Gunwharf Quays although there is no room for it in the new bus station which opened in May. The Clockwise journey has been made to stop in the street near to the naval dockyard gate whereas route 2, whose route it shares for about ten minutes is in the bus station. Surely this is a planning error but should keep the bus station supervisor occupied! Both directions now show Eastney as a destination, which is probably an even worse scenario as they take completely different routes. Imagine a stranger being confused. Numbering the two directions differently, as is done with two other such routes in Portsmouth would solve any problems but as both directions start on the road, at least the staff in the bus station will have fewer interruptions when passengers had been put out in the street. The operating pattern of linking routes 1 and 3 continues. The whole return from and back to Fareham takes about four hours and uses about 24 buses. Although the timetable would expect 18 departures in the hour, no less than 24 journeys passed through the junction. The buses were fewer because of the proximity of the terminus and comprised six StreetLites 47579/80/2/3/93/4, surprising Optare Solo 53601(for this time of day) and nine Scania Omnicities, all of which batch regularly appear on these services following their displacement from the X routes to Southampton, 65010/2/4/5/6/7/8/23/4, one more bus in total than was seen that seen in All the StreetLites and the Solo on these routes had 14 registrations and the Scania 54. Route 2 is worked from Portsmouth s Hilsea depot. Some have a yellow route branding on the roof panels. The route runs wholly within the city of Portsmouth between Gunwharf Quays and Paulsgrove. The ten minute service provided eight Wright StreetLites, one more that last time. There were 47413/4/5/33/4, 63 registered ones which have been at Hilsea since new and 14 registered 47574/5/7 which were new to Fareham but have drifted over to Hilsea, Fareham used to operate a few of the workings on the route. These increases in vehicles seen probably to indicate better timekeeping rather than service improvements. Route X4 runs to Southampton every 30 minutes increasing to every 15 from Fareham with the X5 which comes from Gosport en route to Southampton. Since the last survey the prime buses on this route are 65 registered, long Wright SteetlLites which has led to the Scania Omnicities diverting to local routes, mainly in Portsmouth. This can be seen in the statistics where the type has increased from four to nine. The two StreetLites seen were and 63300, Incoming buses avoid the survey point. The X9 which follows a similar pattern with its journey has now been withdrawn south of Waterlooville (and renumbered beyond it) has now been withdrawn which would have created -2 on the bus count but for the increase in buses seen on the 1/2/3 (but also see 13/14 below) Route 7 and 8 go via Waterloovile with major individually to each route and minimal common routing, The 7 southern route to Southsea from the survey place takes over half an hour and only two buses were able to go to Southsea and return within the hour. Therefore ten buses were due to be seen in the hour and were. Eight long StreetLites were from the long 630xx versions to be expected and were 63044/6/9/53/7/62. These are blue and each bear the name and description of a Royal Navy ship. It is not uncommon to see conventional buses on the route and on the survey day these comprised long StreetLite which Portsmouth collected, alongside two others when Slough garage rejected them, and one of the StreetLites that have trickled into Hilsea from Hoeford. Route 8 produced six buses for the eight journeys due. The route only goes to Gunwharf Quay which means a quick return to the survey point and uses the A3 bus lane. The six Royal Navy buses were 63042/56/9/60/3/7. There were no alien buses. Routes 13 and 14 to eastern Portsmouth, which now start at the city centre, now have Wright StreetLites as the regular buses. Interestingly these routes have had their frequencies reduced from 30 minutes each to every hour, but only to every 40 minutes in the peak hours. It is rather rare to come across routes these days where a frequency is specifically enhanced in the peaks. There should therefore be three buses to be seen during the survey. These routes have suffered a savage reduction, something which First have been making nationally to varying degrees over the last seven years and they have indicated a propensity to continue the practice. The StreetLites were 47412/6/588 Route 15 to Fort Cumberland Road is an hourly route to the east and was operated by former Truonian Optare Solo. The bus was and despite its disguised registration of T77TRU, (it should be an 04) it remained the oldest bus of the day! Stagecoach routes 20 and 21 are normally run by 13 registered Enviro 300s. Although branded for both routes they are scheduled separately. On the ran with 04 registered Pointer Dart providing the other journey. This was a carbon copy of 2015! The Dart was new in the north east and Based at Sunderland. This service runs every thirty minutes and. Route 21 to Anchorage Park or Havant from Gunwharf Quays provided us with eight buses in the hour. The anticipated 13 registered buses in the hour were 27861/5/7/9/72/3/4. The 0ddity (there also seems to be one) was 36825, a shorter E20D being from a batch which normally operates the 39 from Havant to Wecock Farm via Waterlooville and has a 62 registration. The Leigh Park to Southsea 23 route saw 11 buses for 12 journeys with the journey to Southsea taking not that much less than an hour. All the buses were Enviro 300 with eight as acquired for the route. Branded 58 registered 27554/7/8/60/1/5/6/7 were joined by the Southdown liveried and which is unbranded and one of the 13 registered batch which serve the 20/21. The 20 minute frequency route 700 produced four buses and the only double deckers. A Coastliner liveried of blue and white adorned 15601, a Scania with Enviro body which was new to the route in 2010; 10001, a similarly bodied Enviro 400 which has the second lowest fleet number to be found on a Stagecoach bus across the nation. The bus is at Chichester depot /77 are two Enviro bodied Trident 2s which were based in Ashton under Lyne in Greater Manchester before coming south. The route now runs Portsmouth to Bognor Regis, with onwards connections to Brighton Every 30 minutes an Enviro 200 with 63 registration runs a service connecting with the hovercraft service to the Isle of Wight. This bus was singly allocated to Portsmouth for the purpose. Buses adjacent to are allocated to Basingstoke and Oxford is heavily decorated externally for its work. It may be internally as well but I have never been on it. A Megabus used to be seen at this junction, but for a couple of years it has not. It must not have had any pre booked tickets (generally from The University) so taken a direct route our of the city and away from the city centre. We have now passed through the period of route alteration and vehicle replacements of the last two surveys. We will be likely to go through a period of relative stability for the next few years, although having said that Stagecoach s 58 registered on the 23 are scheduled for displacement later this year. Big places seem to have a lot of buses, bur are we in a period of decline? The harsh fact is that over the last fifteen years of these surveys the number of buses to be seen has declined by 8% down from Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

15 Quiz answers. 1. Volvo B10M/Northern Counties (specifically F309 MYJ). 2. Leyland National (specifically KPA 369P). 3. RML Routemaster (specifically RML2412). 4. Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 2 (Gosport-Fareham busway). 5. Bristol RE/ECW bus body (specifically UEL 564J). 6. Bristol RE/ECW coach body (specifically LDV 467F). Facts and Figures (2017, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2008, 2006, 2004 in order). Venue Commercial Road/Station Street, Portsmouth Date.Wednesday 7 June 2017, Thursday 9 April 2015 Tuesday 19 February 2013, Tuesday 11 January 2011 Tuesday 16 September 2008 Tuesday 9 May 2006 Friday 30 April 2004 Time Number of Journeys. 102, 102, 107, 105, 99, 107, 100. Number of different buses.69, 72, 80, 74, 73, 76, 75. Median Age September 2013 (3 years 9 months) August 2013 (1 year 8 months) November 2004 (8 years 3 months) January 2004 (7 years); August 1999 (9 years I month); July 1998 (7 years 10 months: August 1998 (5 years 9 months) Oldest Bus First Optare Solo T77TRU (new in 2004) First Pointer Dart R647DUS First Marshall bodied Dart SLF (P247OEW) First Volvo B10M (H681THL) First Pointer Dart (M320YOT) First Leyland Lynx (K801CAN) First Wright Handybus Dart JDZ2300 Newest Bus...First StreetLite (SN65OLB) First StreetLite SN14ECY Stagecoach Enviro GX62BDV Stagecoach Enviro GX1OKZD: Stagecoach ADL Trident GX06DXZ First Optare Solo YJ05HXOP Stagecoach Transbus Dart GX53MWZ Number of liveries 5, 6, 8, 6, 4, 6, 9. Percentage of low floor 100%, 97%, 84%, 75%, 52%, 48%, Most distant destination.southampton, Southampton, Leeds, Leeds, Brighton (shown as Chichester), Brighton, London. Wright SteeetLIte Analysis of Buses Chassis No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Enviro Scania OmniCity 9 13.O O.O Dennis Dart & succession Trident & succession Optare Solo Scania N Volvo B10BLE Mercedes Vario Volvo B7RLE Volvo B12M Mercedes 709D Volvo B10M Volvo B Volvo Olympian O Iveco Turbo Daily Leyland Lynx Leyland Olympian Volvo B Bodies Wright Enviro O Scania 9 13.O O Optare Plaxton O O Alexander Marshall O O Jonckheree UVG Northern Countiees East Lancs Leyland Mellor 3 4.O Operators First Hampshire and Dors Stagecoach Telling Golden Miller Hellyers Solent Blue line Type of Vehicle Single Deck O Double Deck Minibus O Coach August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 15

16 FIRST HAMPSHIRE & DORSET LIMITED. Vehicle and route news from Robert Smith & John Kirby. VEHICLES ON LOAN TO FIRST BRISTOL LIMITED , and ere on loan to First Bristol Limited, Bristol (32809, 32855, 33002) and allocated to Lawrence Hill while on loan. These buses were used on special services in connection with the Undergraduate Open Day at the University of West of England, Bristol, on 17/6/17. FIRSTSOLENT BUS SERVICES. W2 (WHITELEY WARSASH) (PH /442) Outward: Diverted from Locks Road via Warsash Road, Church Road, Osborne Road, Pitchponds Road and Newtown Rod to Warsash Road from Saturday 10/6/17. Return: No change to return route from Saturday 10/6/17. ALLOCATIONS. Fleet No. Date From To Note /6/17 morning Hoeford Hilsea /6/17 evening Hilsea Hoeford /6/17 morning Hoeford Hilsea /6/17 evening Hilsea Hoeford /6/17 Weymouth Hoeford See below /6/17 Hoeford Weymouth /6/17 Weymouth Hoeford See below /6/17 Hoeford Weymouth /6/17 Weymouth Hoeford See below /6/17 Hoeford Weymouth /5/17 Hoeford Southampton /5/17 Southampton Hoeford /5/17 Hoeford Hilsea /5/17 Hoeford Southampton /5/17 Southampton Hoeford /8/16 Hoeford Hilsea /7/17 Hilsea Hoeford Correction /7/17 Hilsea Hoeford /7/17 Hoeford Hilsea /7/17 Hilsea Weymouth /6/17 Weymouth Hilsea See below entered service at Hilsea on 7/7/ , and were used by Hoeford to assist Southampton Depot with a park and ride service for a Robbie Williams concert at St Mary s Football Stadium on 6/6/17. MODIFIED VEHICLE. Converted to driver training vehicle and painted in First UK Bus Driver Training Livery (the livery used on previous conversions) in 6/17: MAJOR ADVERTISEMENT revised all-over advertisement (green leafy pictorial base) in 5/17 for Marwell Wildlife T/A Marwell Zoo, Colden Common, Hampshire. ALTON BUS RALLY & RUNNING DAY 16/7/ and were static exhibits at the Alton Bus Rally & Running Day on Sunday 16/7/17. ANCILLARY VEHICLE Transferred to Ancillary Fleet and allocated to Hoeford 6/17. FIRSTSOLENT BUS SERVICES CORRECTIONS. W2 (WARSASH WHITELEY) (PH /442) New service on contract to Whiteley Shopping Centre. Hourly on Saturdays only from Saturday 29/4/17. The first journey in the morning starts from WHITELEY, TESCO EXTRA, so the service should be presented as shown below. Delete reference to Sweethills Crescent in both directions. Return route from Locks Road should be as follows. Locks Road Warsash, Warsash Road Church Road Osborne Road Pitchponds Road Newtown Road Warsash Road WARSASH, CLOCK TOWER. Thus corrected full details of the original outward and return routes are as follows. W2 (WHITELEY WARSASH) (PH /442) Outward: WHITELEY, TESCO EXTRA private road Bluebell Way Whiteley Way Parkway Rookery Avenue Yew Tree Drive Whiteley Bus Gate Swanwick, Botley Road Duncan Road Swanwick Railway Station Duncan Road Botley Road Park Gate, Hunts Pond Road Locks Heath, Church Road Centre Way Locks Heath, Locks Heath Centre Centre Way Locks Road Warsash, Warsash Road circumnavigate the roundabout at the junction with Shore Road Warsash Road WARSASH, CLOCK TOWER. Return: WARSASH, CLOCK TOWER Warsash Road Lockswood Road Peters Road Heath Road Locks Heath, Locks Road Centre Way LOCKS HEATH, LOCKS HEATH CENTRE Centre Way Locks Road Park Gate, Admirals Road Swanwick, Hunts Pond Road Botley Road Duncan Road Swanwick Railway Station Duncan Road Botley Road Whiteley, Whiteley Bus Gate Yew Tree Drive Rookery Avenue Parkway Whiteley Way Bluebell Way private road WHITELEY, TESCO EXTRA. Variation: One journey starts from WARSASH, CLOCK TOWER, then operates via standard route to terminate at LOCKS HEATH, LOCKS HEATH CENTRE. Operating Depot: Hoeford. Normal Vehicle Types: Dennis Trident 2, Alexander Dennis Trident 2. E1 (GOSPORT FAREHAM) (PH /313) Outward and return: Minor early timetable changes for Mondays to Fridays from Monday 4/9/17. No route alterations from Monday 4/9/17. E2 (GOSPORT FAREHAM) (PH /313) Outward and return: Minor early timetable changes for Mondays to Fridays from Monday 4/9/17. No route alterations from Monday 4/9/17. 7A (SOUTHSEA CROOKHORN) (PH /340) Outward: No change of timetable from Monday 4/9/17. No change of route from Monday 4/9/17. Return: From Monday 4/9/17, both journeys will be retarded to start from CROOKHORN, OAKLANDS ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM COLLEGE (SCHOOL GROUNDS) at One bus will operate via standard route to SOUTHSEA, SOUTH PARADE PIER, but the other will operate via standard route to terminate at PORTSMOUTH, CITY CENTRE SOUTH. HMS Collingwood Open Day 2017, Fareham. The annual Open Day was held on Saturday 3/6/17. Special service C1 was operated by and Mutiny Festival, Cosham, Portsmouth. The fourth annual Mutiny Festival took place on King George V Playing Fields, Cosham, on Saturday 27/5/17 and Sunday 28/5/17. An innovation this year was the use of Farlington Playing Fields as a campsite for people attending the Festival. First Hampshire & Dorset Limited was awarded a contract to operate a bus service linking the two sites on both days. It operated every ten minutes on both days as follows. Mutiny Festival Campsite Service Outward: FARLINGTON, EASTERN ROAD {JUNCTON WITH WALTON ROAD) FOR FARLINGTON PLAYING FIELDS A27 Portsbridge Roundabout Cosham, Northern Road private road COSHAM, LYNX HOUSE CAR PARK FOR KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS. Return: COSHAM, LYNX HOUSE CAR PARK FOR KING GEORGE V PLAYING FIELDS private road Western Road Portsbridge Roundabout A27 Eastern Road FARLINGTON, EASTERN ROAD (JUNCTION WITH WALTON ROAD) FOR FARLINGTON PLAYING FIELDS. The Eastern Road stop was as close as buses could get to Farlington Playing Fields. Her Majesty s Revenue & Customs Office at Lynx House and its car park are adjacent to King George V Playing Fields. At least in Urban livery and and in Eclipse livery were used on this service. Falklands Conflict 35 th Anniversary Parade, Gosport. The 35 th anniversary was commemorated with a parade at the Falkland Gardens, Gosport, on Sunday 21/5/17 between 0830 and Parts of Mumby Road and South Street were closed to traffic and Gosport Bus Station was closed during that period. Bus services were affected as follows. E1, E2, 9 & 9A (GOSPORT FAREHAM) & X5 (GOSPORT SOUTHAMPTON) Shortened to start from a temporary waiting area in South Street, then operated via Creek Road to Walpole Road. E1, E2, 9 & 9A (FAREHAM GOSPORT) & X5 (SOUTHAMPTON GOSPORT) Diverted from Stoke Road via Shaftesbury Road to South Street to terminate in a temporary waiting area therein. Road Traffic Accident in Northern Parade, Portsmouth. A car and moped collided in Northern Parade at the junction with Oakwood Road at about 1530 on Tuesday 13/6/17. Northern Parade was blocked until about Bus services were affected as follows. 8 (PORTSMOUTH CLANFIELD) Diverted from Rudmore Roundabout via Kingston Crescent, London Road, North End Junction and London Road to Portsbridge Roundabout. 8 (CLANFIELD PORTSMOUTH) Diverted for Portsbridge Roundabout via London Road, Copnor Road, Old London Road, London Road, North End Junction, London Road and Kingston Crescent to Mile End Road. The News, 14/6/17 page 5. Road Works on Fratton Bridge, Fratton, Portsmouth. Fratton Bridge was closed to road traffic from 1945 until 0500 each night from Monday 15/5/17 until Friday 19/5/17. Bus services were affected as follows. 1 (PORTSMOUTH SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH) (CLOCKWISE) Diverted from Bradford Junction via Holbrook Road, Arundel Street, Fratton Road, St Mary s Road, Milton Road and Priory Crescent to Goldsmith Avenue. 1 (PORTSMOUTH SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH) (ANTICLOCKWISE) Diverted from Goldsmith Avenue via Priory Crescent, Milton Road, St Mary s Road, Fratton Road, Arundel Street and Holbrook Road to Bradford Junction. 13 (PORTSMOUTH BAFFINS) Not affected service had finished for the day before the road closures took effect. 13 (BAFFINS PORTSMOUTH) Not affected service had finished for the day before the road closures took effect. 18 (SOUTHSEA PAULSGROVE) Diverted from Elm Grove via Victoria Road North, Bradford Junction, Holbrook Road and Arundel Street to Fratton Road. 18 (PAULSGROVE SOUTHSEA) Diverted from Fratton Road via Arundel Street, Holbrook Road, Bradford Junction and Victoria Road North to Elm Grove. 16 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

17 Road Works in Isambard Brunel Road, Portsmouth. Isambard Brunel Road was closed to traffic from 2000 to 0500 each night from Monday 15/5/17 to Wednesday 17/5/17. Bus services were affected as follows. 1 (PORTSMOUTH SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH) (CLOCKWISE) & 2 (PORTSMOUTH PAULSGROVE) Diverted from Commercial Road [South] via Station Street, Arundel Street, and Holbrook Road to Bradford Junction. 1 (PORTSMOUTH SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH) (ANTICLOCKWISE) & 2 (PAULSGROVE PORTSMOUTH) Diverted from Bradford Junction via Holbrook Road, Arundel Street and Station Street to Commercial Road [South]. 7 (SOUTHSEA WECOCK FARM) Diverted from King Richard I Road via Winston Churchill Avenue, Bradford Junction, Holbrook Road, Arundel Street and Station Street to Commercial Road [South]. 7 (WECOCK FARM SOUTHSEA) Diverted from Commercial Road [South] via Station Street, Arundel Street, Holbrook Road, Bradford Junction and Winston Churchill Avenue to Lord Montgomery Way. Road Works in Wych Lane. Gosport. Most of Wych Lane was closed traffic for resurfacing from 2000 to 0600 each night from Wednesday 31/5/17 to Friday 9/6/17. Early morning services were affected as follows. 9 (GOSPORT FAREHAM) Not affected. 9 (FAREHAM GOSPORT) Diverted from Fareham Road via Cunningham Drive, Gregson Avenue and Wych Lane to Tukes Avenue. 9A (GOSPORT FAREHAM) Diverted from Tukes Avenue via Wych Lane, Gregson Avenue, Cunningham Drive and Fareham Road to Gosport Road. 9A (FAREHAM GOSPORT) Not affected. Road Works in Barncroft Way, Leígh Park. Barncroft Way was closed to traffic for kerb and carriageway resurfacing from 0730 to 1700 on Saturday 20/5/17 and Saturday 27/5/17, then from 0930 to 1600 on Tuesday 30/5/17, Wednesday 31/5/17, Thursday 1/6/17 and Friday 2/6/17. Bus services were affected as follows. 27 (ROWLAND S CASTLE EMSWORTH) Diverted from Dunsbury Way via Bedhampton Way, Petersfield Road and Elmleigh Road to Civic Centre Road, where the bus waited until scheduled departure time. 27 (EMSWORTH ROWLAND S CASTLE) Diverted from Civic Centre Road via Petersfield Road to circumnavigate the roundabout at the junction with New Road, then via Petersfield Road and Bedhampton Way to Dunsbury Way, where the bus waited until scheduled departure time. Road Works in Bowes Hill, Rowland s Castle. Bowes Hill was closed to traffic between its junctions with Uplands Road and The Green between 0800 and 1700 from Tuesday 2/5/17 to Friday 12/5/17. Bus services were affected as follows. 27 (ROWLAND S CASTLE EMSWORTH) Curtailed to start from The Green. 27 (EMSWORTH ROWLAND S CASTLE) Diverted from Redhill Road and The Green to terminate at The Green. Traffic Disruption in Southsea. The Spring Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 26/5/17 to Monday 29/5/17) was beset with sporadic bouts of severe traffic disruption in Southsea, causing a complete standstill at times. The roundabouts at King s Road Junction and Cambridge Junction were particularly affected. Bus services were severely disrupted at times and were diverted ad hoc by control staff. The traffic problems were caused by high volumes of traffic compounded by the construction of a new link span and a multi-storey car park at the Gunwharf Isle of Wight Car Ferry Port on the Sunday. 7 (SOUTHSEA WECOCK FARM) Diverted from Clarence Parade [diversionary route] via Duisburg Way, Pier Road, Bellevue Terrace, Jubilee Terrace and King s Terrace to Museum Road. 7 (WECOCK FARM SOUTHSEA) Diverted from Museum Road via King s Terrace, Jubilee Terrace, Bellevue Terrace, Pier Road and Duisburg Way to Clarence Parade [diversionary route]. 18 (SOUTHSEA PAULSGROVE) Diverted from Clarence Parade [diversionary route] via Duisburg Way, Pier Road, Bellevue Terrace, Jubilee Terrace, King s Terrace, King s Road and Elm Grove to Outram Road. 18 (PAULSGROVE SOUTHSEA) Diverted from Outram Road via Elm Grove, King s Road, King s Terrace, Jubilee Terrace, Bellevue Terrace, Pier Road and Duisburg Way to Clarence Parade [diversionary route]. Road Works in Cavell Drive, Cosham, Portsmouth. Cavell Drive was closed to traffic for resurfacing by Colas Limited between 2100 and 0500 each night from Monday 26/6/17 to Wednesday 28/6/17. Bus services were affected as follows. 2 (PORTSMOUTH PAULSGROVE) Diverted from Pasteur Road via Nightingale Road, Southwick Hill Road, London Road, Northern Road, Southampton Road, Pasteur Road and Sevenoaks Road to Peterborough Road. 2 (PAULSGROVE PORTSMOUTH) Diverted from Peterborough Road via Sevenoaks Road, Pasteur Road, Southampton Road, Northern Road, London Road, Southwick Hill Road and Nightingale Road to Pasteur Road. 3 (FAREHAM PORTSMOUTH) Diverted from Peterborough Road via Sevenoaks Road, Pasteur Road, Southampton Road, Northern Road, London Road, Southwick Hill Road and Nightingale Road to Pasteur Road. 3 (PORTSMOUTH FAREHAM) Diverted from Pasteur Road via Nightingale Road, Southwick Hill Road, London Road, Northern Road, Southampton Road, Pasteur Road and Sevenoaks Road to Peterborough Road. Recently converted driver trainers wit First Hampshire & Dorset. Photographs by SHAUN DANIELS Paulsgrove & Wymering Carnival, Portsmouth. The annual Paulsgrove & Wymering Carnival took place between 1000 and 1700 on Saturday 24/6/17. Consequently, the whole of Hempsted Road was closed to traffic, along with Elkstone Road and Ludlow Road between their junctions with Collington Crescent and Allaway Avenue. Bus services were affected as follows. 2 (PORTSMOUTH PAULSGROVE) Diverted from Ludlow Road via Credenhill Road, Allaway Avenue, Woofferton Road, Deerhurst Crescent, Woofferton Road and Allaway Avenue to Paulsgrove Shops. 2 (PAULSGROVE PORTSMOUTH) Diverted from Allaway Avenue via Credenhill Road and Ludlow Road to Washbrook Road. 3 (PORTSMOUTH FAREHAM) Diverted from Ludlow Road via Credenhill Road to Allaway Avenue. 3 (FAREHAM PORTSMOUTH) Diverted from Allaway Avenue via Credenhill Road to Ludlow Road. 18 (SOUTHSEA PAULSGROVE) Diverted from Allaway Avenue via Woofferton Road and Deerhurst Crescent to Hillsley Road. 18 (PAULSGROVE SOUTHSEA) Diverted from Hillsley Road via Deerhurst Crescent and Woofferton Road to Allaway Avenue. Southsea Food Festival, Southsea. The annual Southsea Food Festival took place between 0500 on Saturday 15/7/17 and 1930 Sunday 16/7/17. Clarendon Road (between its junctions with Palmerston Road and The Vale), Osborne Road (between its junctions with Palmerston Road and Portland Road) and Palmerston Road (between its junctions with Osborne Road and Auckland Road West) were closed to traffic. Bus services were diverted as follows. 1 (PORTSMOUTH SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH) (CLOCKWISE) Diverted from South Parade via Clarence Parade to Duisburg Way. 1 (PORTSMOUTH SOUTHSEA PORTSMOUTH) (ANTICLOCKWISE) Diverted from Duisburg Way via Clarence Parade to South Parade. 7 (SOUTHSEA WECOCK FARM) & 18 (SOUTHSEA PAULSGROVE) Diverted from South Parade via Clarence Parade and Osborne Road to Portland Road. 7 (WECOCK FARM SOUTHSEA) & 18 (PAULSGROVE SOUTHSEA) Diverted from Portland Road via Osborne Road and Clarence Parade to South Parade. Severe traffic congestion throughout both days, worse than in previous years, built up at the junction of Osborne Road and Portland Road. This was exacerbated by 1730 on the Sunday when vandals threw missiles from a disused building at the junction of Osborne Road and Clifton Road onto traffic. Thus the following extra diversions were necessary from 1730 to Ticket Machines. New Ticketer ticket machines allowing contactless payment are due to be introduced on Sunday 6/8/17. They were made by Corvia Limited, Marlborough House, Charnham Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0EY. August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 17

18 Stagecoach South Ltd Fleet News from Andy Warton Fleet No. Registration Vehicle From To Notes GX53 MWK Dart SLF Winchester Reserve GX53 MWO Dart SLF Portsmouth Reserve GX53 MWO Dart SLF Reserve Chichester PVR Increase FoKAB Bygone Britain-Yesterday s Transport GX53 MWZ Dart SLF Chichester Reserve GX53 MWZ Dart SLF Reserve Chichester Goodwood FOS GX04 EXJ Dart SLF Winchester Reserve GX04 EXU Dart SLF Chichester Reserve GX56 KVU Guildford Portsmouth GX56 KWL Portsmouth Guildford On Monday 10 th July 2017, Winchester Bus Station closed for approximately eight weeks with buses being relocated to The Broadway. On Sunday 25 th June, Friends of King Alfred held a Bygone Britain-Yesterday s Transport film show at the Discovery Centre, Winchester. The afternoon started with a brief introduction from James Freeman, followed by a short promotional film of May s running day. In keeping with the theme of the afternoon, this had been shot by the FoKAB secretary and projectionist for the afternoon, using a cine camera. James then introduced Ray Foxson, a cine film archivist from Leicester, who showed ten films in chronological order. First, a film from the late eighteen hundreds shot from the top deck of a moving tram. The film captured various street scenes including horse and steam trams. Road to the sea was a film charting the development of the road and transport network from London to Portsmouth, starting with the Romans and ending with the electrification of the train line. How to pass the driving test in 1935 was a film produced in conjunction with the Ford Motor Company that caused some hilarity, but proved that despite the test being over eighty years old, it has failed to improve standards. How does a trolleybus work was a film from the Saturday morning cinema era, explaining to young people how the power drove a trolleybus. Winchester 1930 Gaumont film filler looking at a visit to Winchester. Stagecoach introduced new timetables on routes 1, 3, 5, 66 and The Spring from 23rd July. Whilst on the same date in Portsmouth & Havant routes 20, 21, 23, 37 and 39 had timetable amendments. Next came a local film in Southampton and featured cruise ships, trams running under the Bargate and views of the steam driven floating bridge. Moving on to 1948 and a post war February holiday for Londoners to Hampshire, Dorset and Devon on board an Essex County Coach Bedford OB. Plenty of exterior and interior shots of the coach, including one as it attempts to use the Sandbanks ferry. A full colour film from 1951 made to commemorate the Public Transport Association AGM held in Bournemouth, and showing plenty of trolleybuses and buses from the Bournemouth fleet and the occasional glimpse of a Hants & Dorset vehicle. NCH Ashwood in Surrey had ex Southampton City Transport AEC Regent and a professional promotional film was made with the bus being prominent throughout. Finally, celebrating fifty years of electrification on the Waterloo-Bournemouth railway line on 5 th July 1967 was a British Railways film showing both types of locomotion, but more importantly for those present, a visit to the three major towns on the route with local street scenes from the time. All told, it was not a bad way to spend a summer Sunday. Well done FoKAB. 18 Solent Omnibus Club August 2017

19 News from our area. Rodney Barnes. (First fleet and route news and Stagecoach fleet news will normally be found elsewhere in this newssheet) Bluestar has cancelled the Brockenhurst College routes (which are slightly different from those shown under First) as from 4 September (?) and are; operating between Hythe/ Langley and Brockenhurst College/ Totton Shopping Precinct given service number C1 / C2 / C4; operating between Marchwood and Brockenhurst College given service number C3; operating between Dibden, Garden City and Brockenhurst College given service number C5; operating between Romey and Brockenhurst College given service number C7; operating between Milford on Sea, Downton Lane and Brockenhurst College given service number C8/C9; operating between Burgate School, Fordingbridge and Brockenhurst College given service number C15; operating between Ringwood, Meeting House Lane and Brockenhurst College given service number C16/C18; operating between Southbourne, Fishermans Walk and Brockenhurst College given service number C11; operating between Wimborne Square and Brockenhurst College given service number C13; operating between Brockenhurst College and Salisbury Castle Street given service number X70 Bluestar 1 Earlier journeys Saturday & Sunday mornings. The 1920 journey from Winchester is extended beyond Chandlers Ford to Southampton The 0035 Friday and Saturday nights only journey from Winchester run every day (Monday to Saturday) Bluestar 2 New improved Sunday frequency with buses running up to every 30 minutes throughout the day. Revised timetable for reliability every day, in particular Monday to Friday morning and afternoon journeys. Some journeys will have School/Non School day variations to account for increased traffic during school days. The 0025 Friday and Saturday night only journeys between Southampton to Eastleigh will run at 0030 and run every day (Monday to Saturdays), giving a later service throughout the week. An extra morning journey at 0855 is in place from Fair Oak to Southampton Bluestar 5. The 1345 from Eastleigh on College Days will no longer operate beyond Romsey to Wellow. An extra journey added at 1709 Monday to Friday from Templars Way to Eastleigh Bluestar 7. Morning journeys towards Southampton between 0710 & 0845 will be diverted away from Portsmouth Road via Obelisk Road to avoid traffic queue. Bluestar 11/12 Timetable changes for improved reliability Monday - Sunday Bluestar 18 Earlier journeys every day from both Millbrook and Thornhill areas. Emsworth and District has withdrawn former Bournemouth East Lancs, bodied Darts M456 LLJ in 2/17 and P991 AFV in 6/17.Ex First (originally Truronian) Pointer bodied Darts Y461/2 JAE have not yet entered service. First Hampshire (Southampton) has registered a number of services to Brockenhurst College on college days from 8 September as follows; from Langley, Farm & Stores to Brockenhurst College via Blackfield no C4; from: Hythe/ Marchwood to Brockenhurst College via: Dibden Purlieu nos. C1/C2,C3,483; from Alderbury, Whaddon P.O to Brockenhurst College via Salisbury No.C19; from Marchwood to Brockenhurst College via Cadnamn No.C5; from North Baddesley to Brockenhurst College via Romsey, Totton no.c7 Lucketts Travel has added an Irizar i8 which comes with a fullyfitted Neff kitchen, seven flat-screen HD TVs and the option of an onboard host to its 110-vehicle fleet. Costing 400,000 the Irizar i8 seats 36 people in the space normally used for a 53-seater in reclining leather seats. The coach also has Wifi, USB ports, power sockets, DAB radio and Chromecast for guests to stream entertainment from their phone to the screens. Press reports indicate one of its uses is conveying Portsmouth Football Club players to away games. Work to demolish the garage at Winchester Bus Station through which buses passed started in July. During this time, buses are using the Broadway plus 3 temporary stops outside the Guildhall. Once complete by September, buses will be re-routed from the High Street and those on the routes effected will leave on the northern side into Friarsgate and make their way to bus stops besides the Brooks Centre. It sounds as though my survey point will need revising! Stagecoach introduced revised timetables on some routes in Winchester from 23 July The changes mainly affect the Saturday service, although there are minor changes to the weekday timetable on some routes. Full details of the changes are as follows: 1 (Stanmore - Winchester - Winnall) Minor changes will be made to the timetable on Saturday afternoons. 3 (Winchester - Harestock) and 5 Winchester Badger Farm Revised timetables introduced, with buses running every 12 minutes all day on Saturdays. Spring (Winchester - Springvale) Minor changes to the timetable on Saturday afternoons, and to evening journeys on Mondays to Saturdays. 66 (Winchester - Romsey) A revised timetable will be introduced. Most daytime journeys from Romsey towards Winchester on Mondays to Saturdays will run 10 minutes earlier. Other changes were made throughout Hampshire. These effect south east Hampshire. 21 (Portsmouth - Anchorage Park - Leigh Park - Havant) A revised timetable introduced, including extra time on morning peak journeys. The from South Downs College on schooldays has been withdrawn and will now start from Farlington. An improved evening service will be introduced, including a new journey at from The Hard on Friday and Saturday nights. New late evening journeys from Havant to Portsmouth will also be introduced, departing Havant at (Monday to Saturdays), (Fridays & Saturdays) and (Fridays & Saturdays). 23 (Southsea - Portsmouth - Cosham - Havant - Leigh Park) Journeys which started or finished at Drayton, South Road now operate to and from Farlington, Rectory Avenue. 37 (Havant - Waterlooville - Petersfield) A revised timetable was introduced on weekdays and Saturdays. The on weekdays from Cowplain to Havant was extended to start at Clanfield, Rising Sun. Buses on Saturdays now leave Petersfield at 20 minutes past the hour during the daytime. There is an extra journey on Saturdays at from Havant to Petersfield. 37X (Clanfield - Petersfield - Alton) This service now starts and finishes at Cowplain Shops instead of Keydell Nursery. To coincide with changes at Alton College from September 2017, there will be two morning journeys to Alton College and two return journeys back from Alton College. 38 (Alton - Liss - Petersfield) One extra journey in each direction will be introduced to coincide with changes at Alton College from September In Alton, route 38 will no longer serve Nursery Road and Geale's Crescent. These areas will instead be served by a new Alton shoppers' service 9. 38X (Petersfield - Liss - Bordon - Alton) This service is withdrawn and replaced by journeys on routes 13, 13X, 18X & 38. The section of route between Greatham and Bordon will no longer be served. 39 (Havant - Waterlooville - Wecock Farm) A revised timetable will be introduced, including an extra early morning journey from Wecock Farm. New late evening journeys from Havant to Wecock Farm will be introduced on Fridays and Saturdays, leaving Havant at and During Saturday daytimes buses will now run every 12 minutes. 737 (Whitehill - Liphook - South Downs College) The first morning journey from Whitehill to South Downs College will depart 10 minutes earlier. The from Petersfield to South Downs College will be withdrawn. The from South Downs College to Whitehill will operate a more direct route in Bordon & Whitehill, no longer serving Hollybrook Park. 11 June saw the Southsea bus rally with Wheelers new Enviro 400, mentioned in the last edition, in attendance. Xelabus showed Enviro , YY17GRZ not of the MMC style. These follow on from identical which are registered YY66PDV/Y/Z PEO PFA/O/U/V, Numbered 440 and not already reported was SN60CNU a Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE, similar to Princess Coaches had taken three Scania Interlinks. that used a lot by the big fleets throughout the country. As indicated this Scottish bus came from Docherty of Auchterarder. Wherever that this, it Stagecoach. In the report on Chichester last time mention was made of has a Perth postcode. Xelabus is assembling a very modern fleet. Also from a Stagecoach Gold Enviro 300 running into Portsmouth on route 700. On 9 the same source is 441 SN60CNV have not yet been received. June, two such liveried vehicles were operating the service into Also at the Show was one (of eight) of Go Ahead South s new enviro 200s Chichester. On three Fridays in June, to serve Goodwood Races a series of for its newly acquired Swindon fleet. It too was of the original body style. special routes ran in addition to their shuttle from Chichester. These were The vehicle is reported here as it has a standard Go Ahead South fleet numbered respectively from Petworth, Bognor Regis, Petersfield, number of 2764, the batch going through to Portsmouth and Gosport. The last is interesting in that Stagecoach buses are not normally to be found in Gosport. One of the buses seen on either Xelabus is operating a service from Winchester Rail Station to Chilcomb, the 914 or 915 route on 9 June was Scania/Enviro , a sister Boomtown Festival Site as a limited stop numbered X90 It will operate vehicle to that seen on the Stagecoach depot visit. It was in Stagecoach from 9 August 2017 until 14 August 2017 only. Gold livery and was lettered for route 10 running through Gloucester and onto Cheltenham. Information on these services were found on the Thanks this time to all contributing members. Goodwood website August 2017 Solent Omnibus Club 19

20 Photographic competition st David Etheridge 2 nd Robert Smith 3 rd Shaun Daniels