Iveco Turbo City / Alexander R Type J80BUS (J227OKX)

J227OKX is the only Iveco Double Deck built for the UK bus market. New in September 1991 to Iveco/Ford as a demonstrator with an Alexander R type body with an H52/31F layout, it was an uneasy vehicle with the standard Alexander R type body having to be modified to accommodaite the Iveco front with an entrance needing three steps up to the lower saloon floor. It was a one-off expensive vehicle that was too heavy with a non standard interior layout based on a single deck vehicle. It was the only example built by Iveco as they wanted to enter the UK double deck market but launched at a time when Bus Grant had ceased and few were buying double deckers. After life as a demonstrator it was bought by Bluebird, Middleton. In May 2002 it was purchased by Somerbus (Paulton) for the school contract 997 Timsbury-Midsomer Norton to start in September 2002. Somerbus repainted it and re-registered it J80BUS and gave it considerable restoration. However difficulty in getting low trees cut and lower than expected loadings lead to it being quickly sold and replaced by a more practical Leyland Tiger/Alexander P B61F seated 12m single deck bus D615ASG. Sold to Alan Peters Abus operation in Bristol it remained with them until until 2004 when it was sold to Phoenix Travel (Wilts). Eventually passing to Calne Travel (Wilts) it was eventually scrapped after suffering a breakdown and accident damage. I am happy to be corrected/updated on this one as my knowledge of it's past is not 100%!

First 44902 WX08LNN

First Alexander-Dennis Enviro 200 B28F 44902 WX08LNN - one of 3 new in 2008 and allocated to Bath and liveried for use on Wessex Water contracts is seen in Bath in April 2009. 

First West of England Wright StreetLite DF 47553 SN14FGE

The bus routes between Portishead and Bristol were for a long time numbered 358 or 359 with the additional 357 route being introduced in 2008 to serve the new developments around Portishead Marina. In March 2013 these routes were rebranded as X2 and X3 and gave a 15 min daytime frequency from Portishead into Bristol along with earlier and later services each day. X numbered  routes were traditionally associated with limited stop express services, but in this case it was a simple renumbering with buses continuing to serve every stop - as with many other services in North Somerset around the same time. The service was originally marketed as having buses fitted with leather seats and wi-fi but at the time of launch these vehicles were still "in-build" and existing vehicles were utilised. I do remember one day seeing one of the earliest step entrance Dennis Darts still in service being used! In 2014 a batch of eight Wright StreetLife DF B37F buses fitted with leather seats and wi-fi were delivered and allocated to Marlborough Street for use on the routes and branded in the "Express Yourself" livery. Seen on a very dull and rainy Saturday 20th February 2016 Wright StreetLife DF B37F 47553 SN14FGE starts its descent down the steep Avon Way towards Combe Road and High Street Portishead whilst working an X2 towards Bristol. 

Western Greyhound 258 LFJ858W, Hayle

Western Greyhound 258 LFJ858W Bristol VRT/SL3 ECW. Parked up on Marsh Lane, Hayle behind the west Cornwall Shopping Centre on 12th June 2014. New to Western National as 1211 in Dec 1980, this vehicle was aquired from Emblings, Guyhirn in Sept 2009. 

First 33662 SN12AED, Falmouth

First Devon & Cornwall Alexander Dennis E400 33662 SN12AED is seen at Dracaena Avenue on the outskirts of Falmouth 30th April 2015. New to First Games Transport in March 2012 for use on Olympic Games duties, it is part of a batch of 9 that were transferred to FDC in August 2012 at the end of the Olympic games. Originally the batch were allocated to Plymouth but transferred to Cambourne in August 2014 when the former 41 and 88 routes were rebranded U1 and U2. Linking Falmouth with Truro and Redruth the routes serve the Penryn campus of Falmouth University. Formerly Falmouth College of Art it was granted full University status in 2012 and aims to become one of the top art universities in the world. The branding on the bus also names the University of Exeter in which Falmouth operates in a partnership. Note the slogan under the unibus branding - making it clear that services U1/U2 are available for everyone and not just university students!

Bristol - European Green Capital - 37007 WX55VHR

Bristol has been awarded the status of European Green Capital of 2015 - the first British city to be designated. As an official partner to the City Council, First have given 6 Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini's an allover green vinyl wrap (ex First London 32360 and native 37007/11-14). On Saturday 22nd August 2015, 37007 (WX55VHR) is seen heading past the Royal West of England Acadamy of Art and The Victoria Rooms at the bottom of Whiteladies Road. It is operating a shuttle service for the Bristol International Kite festival between Temple Meads, The Centre and Durdham Down where the festival has just moved to for the first time this year from it's previous home of Ashton court.

Vista Coachways, Yatton. Service 660 - Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12/Mellor B21D L932CTT.

Vista Coachways, Yatton, North Somerset commenced operations in 1988 with a restored Bedford OB that was originally bought by its proprietor Terry Jones in 1975. Originally offering private hires with this vehicle additional coaches and buses were purchased - and all presented to a high standard. In April 2004 Vista were awarded the contract to operate service 660 (North Weston/Portishead - Congresbury) on a Monday to Friday, extended to Monday to Saturday from April 2007. However, with the down scaling of the business the contract was eventually surrendered in April 2008 and the business ceased trading. The first three photos (not great quality, taken with a phone camera) show the company depot at Claverham Road, Yatton in June 2006. The final two photos show L932CTT, Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12/Mellor B21D named Exwick. This rare dual-doored minibus was new to Devon General in March 1994 as part of Harry Blundred's minibus revolution and acquired from Stagecoach Devon in March 2005. These photos show it at the North Weston, Portishead terminus of route 660 on 4th April 2008 in the last few days of trading.