Bristol Omnibus MCW Metrobus DAE510W (BH6000)

In 1979 Bristol Omnibus Company announced the order of 5 MCW Metrobuses for service in Bristol alongside the usual intake of Bristol VRT's. These vehicles were part of the National Bus Company's vehicle evaluation trials of the time - pitting them against the groups standard VRT/ECW model. The buses were eventually delivered in 1980, but were not to see service in Bristol as intended due to the trade union objections of them being single, rather than dual door as per the standard option on Bristol Joint Services at the time. The buses were diverted to Bath and given fleet numbers 6000 - 6004 (DAE510-4W) and had 76 seat bodywork and Rolls-Royce engines. They were mainly used on Bath City routes 203/213 and all 5 started life in a variety of overall liveries advertising the company's various fare card/ticket offers. The buses passed to Badgerline in 1986 and were all eventually withdrawn in 1994. Three of the batch went on to see service with Capital Citybus which was eventually sold to Firstgroup in 1998 and the vehicles eventually ended up with First Southampton. DAE510W eventually became a First Southampton driver training vehicle before eventually being sold for preservation. Although restored cosmetically into Bristol Omnibus NBC leaf green, it was found to be in a poor condition bodywork/mechanically. It was sold on eBay in early 2012 as "suiting preservation" but was bought by T Wigley & Son in Barnsley for scrap. The first photo shows 6000 at Bath Bus Station on 17th July 1982 unusually working the Limited Stop service 809 to Bristol. The second photo shows the same vehicle in Bristol/NBC leaf green at the Bristol Bus Rally on 23rd May 2004. I am unsure if the vehicle was still in First ownership at this time or had already passed into preservation.

Alder Valley 975 CJH115V and 817 GGM87M, Lambourn 1983.

Two NBC Alder Valley Bristol VRT/ECW vehicles seen at Lambourn on 15th October 1983. On the right is 975, CJH115V and on the left is 817, GGM87M. Both display the Kennetbus local identity fleet names as carried on all Alder Valley vehicles operating from Newbury garage at the time.

Alder Valley Bristol VRT 975 (CJM115V). Lambourn.

Once there were two routes operated by Alder Valley (originally Thames Valley Traction Co in this area) between Newbury and Swindon. There was the 106 via Hungerford and Ramsbury and the 108 via Lambourn. Fall in demand for public transport in the area lead to the complete withdrawal of the 106 and the reduction of the 108 to two through journeys and four shorts each way on Saturdays only. Part replacement for  the services from the Swindon end were implemented as far as Lambourn on Mondays to Fridays by Thamesdown Transport. Proof of the low loadings can be seen in this view of Alder Valley Bristol VRT/ECW 975 (CJM115V) about to leave Lambourn with the 16:15 short working to Swindon on Saturday 15th Oct 1983. Note the Kennetbus local identity fleet name on the bus which is a local name for Newbury derived from the Kennet and Avon canal which runs through the town.

Bristol Omnibus Leyland Olympian/Roe 9529 LWS45Y

To spruce up the image of Bristol Omnibus Company's limited stop services from Bristol city centre to the outlying suburbs, the routes were launched as  the "Clipper" network in 1982 - also the year of Maritime Bristol. Seen in the latter part of 1982 when only a few days old is Leyland Olympian/Roe H47/29F 9529 (LWS45Y).

Western National 1022, VUH379J.

Western National 1022, VUH379J, is seen in Newton Abbot on 2nd August 1982 on service 121 to Torquay. This unusual (for Western National) vehicle was a rare Lowbridge Alexander bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/3, part of a batch of 5 delivered new to Western Welsh as their 379 in July 1971 and sold to Western National upon the company split in 1972. Less than 5 months after this photo was taken the vehicle was transferred to the newly formed Devon General Ltd, formed as part of the preparations for privatisation in 1986. This bus, and all transferred Atlantean's, were to see less than a years service with Devon General Ltd - all being withdrawn by the end of 1983. Apparently this batch - although pleasing to the eye - were heavy, underpowered and difficult to drive.

Grenville Motors, Troon, Cornwall RNR9G.

Grenville Motors of Troon, Cornwall, was formed in 1948 when four businessmen bought out local operators Berriman, Berryman's Motor Services and Godolphin Motors. Over the following decades various other operators were taken over, increasing the fleet until Grenville became Cornwall's largest independent operator. Eventually the company was bought out by Western National in March 1988, initially operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary but eventually being absorbed into the main fleet in April 1989. This view, taken on the 3rd August 1981 at the main depot in Troon near Camborne, shows RNR9G a Willowbrook bodied Bedford VAM70 fitted with 45 dual-purpose seats. This vehicle was new in 1969 to Gibson, Barlestone and was acquired by Grenville from Boyden, Castle Donington in 1978.

Quantock Motor Services YN55RDV, Minehead (Somerset).

Quantock Motor Services Coastal Link service 300 running from Minehead (Somerset) to Lynmouth (Devon) has received numerous accolades along the lines of "Britain's most scenic bus service" - running alongside the spectacular Exmoor Coastline. For a number of years until 2012 the regular performer on this route was YN55RDV, a Scania N94UD/East Lancs partial open top bus (PO43/26F) new to Quantock in October 2005 and eventually replaced in 2012 by rare single deck Alexander PS semi open top Volvo B10M R928XVM. Quantock Motor Services, Bishops Lydeard (Somerset), was established in 2001 as an associated company to specialist rail plant machinery manufacturer Rexquote Ltd - a business owned by Stephen Morris that also owned and operated a number of heritage buses for private hire and tourist services. Sadly, at the time of writing (Sept 2014), it appears that QMS have ceased trading due to problems obtaining insurance cover. The heritage vehicle operation of Rexquote remains unaffected. This view of YN55RDV was taken in Minehead on Good Friday, 21st March 2008.

First Somerset & Avon 38005

Open top buses have operated in Weston-super-Mare along the sea front to Sand Bay every summer for many years. The service was started by Bristol Tramways in 1950 and has been operated by it's various successors as service 1 until 2013 when the service was withdrawn. Local independent operator Crosville Motor Services started their similar service 100 in 2012 which still operates at the time of writing. Seen at the Sand Bay terminus on a cloudy Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August 2012, is First Somerset and Avon Volvo B10M Citybus/Alexander 38005 D705GHY. This vehicle, originally fitted with 82 coach seats, was new to Badgerline in May 1987 as 5705 and was part of a batch of 10 similar vehicles.

Eurotaxis Solo, Portishead - Service 695

As part of the development conditions of the old Portishead Harbour/Power Station area into the new residential development of Portishead Marina and Village Quarter, the developers involved had to provide funds to North somerset council for the provision of a new bus service that linked the area to Bristol. The new route would differ to the existing Portishead - Bristol bus services in that it would run via the M5 Avonmouth Bridge and The Portway into Bristol rather than follow the traditional route along the A369 as per First's 358 & 359. The tendered contract was won by Eurotaxis, (Westerleigh near Yate) and commenced in September 2004 as service 695. Eventually in 2008 the service was retendered and won by First who incorporated the 695 into their existing Bristol - Portishead routes as service 357. Crucially, this meant that the route followed the A369 from Portishead into Bristol and whilst the new 357/8/9 routes gave an improved 20 min headway (up from half hourly), it did mean that the connections from Portishead to Avonmouth and Shirehampton were lost. This view, taken in 2008 shortly before the 695 ceased to become the 357, sees Eurotaxis Optare Solo M850 MP51BUS leave Portishead heading through the new development towards Bristol. This vehicle was new to Perry, Bromyard (in which livery it still carries) in October 2001 and was acquired by Eurotaxis in October 2004 for service 695.

Bristol Marlborough Street Bus Station, July 1982.

A busy scene inside Bristol's Marlborough Street bus Station on 17th July1982. The Olympian on the left JHU902X (MH9502) was new to Bristol Omnibus the previous month. This photo was taken on a busy summer saturday when the bays at Marlborough Street would have been full and buses and coaches on summer saturday duplicates were double parked at the rear of the depot. This photo is out of focus and over exposed, yet every time I look at it it makes me smile - there are twelve vehicles in this simple shot with a wide variety of chassis, bodywork and owners!

Western National Bristol Lodekka 824 KDV, St Ives, Summer 2014.

For the Summer season 2014 First South West has split the previously circular service 300 into three parts. The remaining service 300 links Land's End with St Just and St Ives. Service 1/1A serves Penzance - Land's End and service 17 serves St Ives - Penzance, with 17B providing open top services also serving Marazion. To promote the service First are also trialling the use of a vintage bus on the 300. On Tuesday 12th August 2014, preserved 1963 Western National Bristol Lodekka 824 KDV prepares to turn right onto Tregenna Hill from Gabriel Street, St Ives, and make it's way up to The Malakoff bus station. I am pleased to say, that on this occasion at least, the bus was carrying a very healthy load.