Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the November, 2015 edition of Busmopolitan.
The picture of the editor (above), with Hedingham Omnibuses Volvo Olympians nos 92 and 76, is significant, because the marque will be phased out in 2016; in advance of the DDA deadline for this type of bus from 1st January 2017. Tollesbury and Kelvedon depots are the last to operate Olympians, and they will be replaced by low floor Dennis Tridents. The view was taken at Kelvedon on 18th November.

At First, hot on the heels of the new depot at Colchester, are some brand new buses. These are Wright Streetlite MAXs, and are the first “out of the box” deliveries to Colchester since 2003.

Stephensons has completed its takeover of Braintree area routes from First, which followed the closure of the former’s local depot from 1st November. Stephensons has been using a selection of saloons drawn from around its fleet, pending the arrival of new vehicles.

The Arriva ‘MAX’ brand has come to Essex; with it being launched in Southend on 30th November.

Big changes have been announced to certain bus routes across Essex, following a county council review. These would take effect from early April 2016.

Townlink at Harlow, has been the subject of a Public Enquiry (PI). This was connected with non operation of services, and not having a nominated Transport Manager.
It’s predecessors have likewise tussled with the authorities, in the past.

And on the railway, it’s the leaf fall season – and a farce. For a large part of November, buses had to replace trains of the Sudbury and Felixstowe branch lines, due to a shortage of diesel multiple units (dmus). The reason ? A large number of the dmus had flat tyres, due to the railhead conditions. An alternative theory was that they were “too lightweight” (!).

ABELLIO GREATER ANGLIA.

156418 has been named ‘ESTA 1965-2015’.
Buses/coaches replaced trains on the Marks Tey-Sudbury and Ipswich-Felixstowe routes on 11th to 22nd November, due to a shortage of Class 153 and 156 DMUs. This was due to several of these diesel units suffering flat tyres, due to poor track and adhesion conditions.
Operators noted on replacement road services, included Dons, Ensignbus, First, Flagfinders, New Horizon, Panther Travel, Regal and Simonds of Diss.

Top: 156402 heads “down” through Brentwood on 21/11/15; having been to the wheel lathe at Ilford, to attend to its flats.
Above: 153322 trails the same consist.

To the new livery are EMU 317503; DVT 82103 and FO 11098.

AIRPORT BUS EXPRESS.
A second route is A21 (Stansted-Stratford-London Bridge-Victoria). Easybus tickets are valid on this service, following the latter’s exit from Stansted Airport.

AMBER, RAYLEIGH.
Offered for sale are Bova Futura RIJ 4670; DAF MB/VH YNJ 214; Dennis Javelin/WS yellow school bus K662 PHW and Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President Y202 NLK.
Bova Futura Y8 AMS is withdrawn, but Dart SLF/Caetano KM51 BFY has been reinstated.
Sold is Leyland Olympian/ECW G723 XDL.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (NETWORK COLCHESTER).
From 8/11/15, there were fare changes to the Colchester Park and Ride, coinciding with the introduction of new ticket machines at Cuckoo Farm terminus.
The introductory fee has ended. Charges are now £3 per adult, £1 per child and free for under-fives. Concessionary and Blue Badge holders travel free after 0900, subject to registration.
Ex Fastrack Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3815 (GN07 AVB), has gone to Southend, after temporary use at Colchester.
Withdrawn are Dart/SLF/Plaxton Pointer 3191 (P191 LKJ) and SLF/Caetano 3411 (HX51 LRO).
Sunday/bank holiday service 70 (Colchester-Braintree), has gone over to saloon operation, ex double deck.

Above: SLF 3191 at St Johns Street, Colchester on 15/10/15.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (SOUTHEND).
Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3815 (GN07 AVB), has been received from Colchester, and repainted into Arriva livery, along with 3822 (GN07 AVK) from Northfleet.
From 30/11/15, the ‘MAX’ brand was introduced to service 5 (Southend-Basildon). Ex Fastrack/Northfleet B7RLE/Wrights 3816 (GN07 AVC), 3820/1 (GN07 AVG/J), 3823/4 (GN07 AVL/M) are in ‘MAX’ livery.
Ex Fastrack Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 3801-14 have moved from storage at Short Street depot, back to Kent – to store at Aylesford. They are Kent County Council, rather than Arriva owned and will be redeployed to KCC contractors.
Withdrawals are of DAF SB220L/Plaxton Prestiges 3912/3 (T912/3 KKM).

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH.
Received from Arriva London South are DAF DB250L/Alexander ALX400 DLA384(LJ03 MYU) and ADL/Enviro 400 T65 (LJ08 CXV). They are at Barking (DX).
ADL/Enviro 400s T171/2/4-9 are now at Barking (DX), ex Ash Grove.
Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis VLW128/9 (LF52 UPC, LG52 DAA) also went to DX; before moving on to Arriva The Shires.
Several late model DW class VDL SB300/Wright Gemini2S, displaced from TfL149 at Stamford Hill (SF) by LT class New Routemasters, have reappeared at Enfield (E) , and can appear on TfL313 (Chingford-Potters Bar), which partially serves the area covered by ‘Busmopolitan’.

Above: DW564 departs Potters Bar, on 21/11/15.

BARKERBUS, ROYDON.
LDV Convoy MX53 UZG is ex Mitchell of South Croydon.
Acquired for spares only is Duple 425 D380 BMV; from Byley Garage, Cheshire.

BEESTONS.
Further ex Metrobus Scania Omnidekkas sourced through Ensign, are YN03 DFJ, PZW.
Arrived for spares only, are ex Go-North East Dennis Trident/ELs W862 PNL and W174 SCU.

BLUE TRIANGLE.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer LDP205 (SN51 UAU), has passed to London Central at Camberwell.

CARTERS OF CAPEL ST MARY.
Ex Stagecoach East London Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 LX03 BTF, has come via Ensign.
Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royale N589 BRH has passed to Dart Pleasure Craft, Totnews, Devon.

CEEFA, PITSEA.
Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere N559 SJF, is from P and M Coachlines, Wickford.

CHAMBERS.
Volvo Olympian/Plaxton President 577 (W518 WGH), has moved to Hedingham (qv).

CHARIOTS, STANFORD LE HOPE.
Volvo B10M/Van Hool L56 REW is now K11 FCL.

CHELMSFORD TAXIBUS.
Sold is Ford Transit 11 seater 134 (EJ55 DSY).

DONS OF GREAT DUNMOW.
Scania K410EB6/Irizar YT15 AVB has come from City Circle of Hayes.

DLR.
There was industrial action on 3rd and 4th of November, with replacement buses required. Contribution from local operators, included Beestons, Ensignbus, Panther Travel, Regal and Trustybus.
They boosted TfL routes at peak times; including 108 (Stratford-Lewisham) and 474 (Canning Town-Manor Park).

EASYBUS.
Service EB2 (London Old Street-Stansted Airport), was withdrawn from 14/11/15.
Thus Easybus no longer runs into Stansted, and instead tickets are valid on Airport Bus Express A21.

ENSIGNBUS.

Van Hool Astromega JEV 245Y has been named ‘In memory of Paul Francis Dipper 1958-2015’. Paul was well known in the bus community of south Essex and East London; being both a professional busman and enthusiast. His memorial vehicle is pictured (above), at Witham on an Abellio Greater Anglia e-rail, on 25th November.

Former temporary fleet member 912 (PK02 RDO), a Dennis Trident/Plaxton President, is now with First Bus Stop of Gravesend, while ADL/Enviro 200 8.8m 902 (YX11 HPU) , went to Grant Palmer at Dunstable.

Above: PK02 RDO in the “courtyard” at Ensign’s on 31/10/15; keeping company with ex Arriva London Volvo B7TL and DAF DB250L/Wright Geminis.

EOS LONDON, RAINHAM.
Ex Lothian Dart SLF/Super Pointer SK52 OKE, has passed to Centrebus.

EXECUTIVE MINIBUSES, AVELEY.
Mercedes Sprinter 416/Tawe EM06 BUS passed to Drew Wilson, Glasgow (dealer, and then to Chapman of New Stevenson. Also sold is Mb Sprinter 413/Excel EM54 BUS.

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES (IPSWICH).
Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400 32490 (AU53 HKH), now has a super rear advert for Pop Up Cinema.

FIRST ESSEX.
New Wright Streetlight Maxs for Colchester (CR), are 63328-34 (SK65 PXJ/L-P/R). They collected at Quayside depot for commissioning. 63328/31/2 entered traffic in mid November; observed on 61, 62, 63, 64/A, 65, 66/A, 83/A, 70, 88, 103/4.
However, 63334 soon moved to Basildon (BN), along with older Streetlites 47657/8 (SN15 AEX/Y)- the rest of the 47xxx batch are already at BN or Hadleigh (HH). Then 63338 (SM65 EEW), appeared at CR at the end of November. Others were being delivered at this time.

Above; A view of Braintree garage yard on 22/11/14, featuring withdrawn SLF/Pointers 43448 and 43474.

Braintree depot closed from 1/11/15. It has been replaced by an outstation, initially on the same site. This garage, on Springfield Drive opened as recently as 2011. The yard next door was the previous depot, between 2005 and 2011, which in turn had taken over from the (now demolished) former Hicks site at Fairfield Road, in Braintree town centre. The “new” site has been offered To Let, by its landlord, Braintree District Council. The outstation allocation started with Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 32480/3/4/5, 32651/2 plus Solo 53137, as a crew ferry. Vauxhall Zafira FG14 WUV has since taken over on BE staff shuttles.

Above: Trident/Plaxton President no 33088 at Braintree, on a westbound 70, on 2/2/13.

Most of commercial service 70 (Colchester-Braintree-Chelmsford) has moved to Colchester or Chelmsford depots. Braintree outbase retains 6 vehicles and 17 staff for some 70 workings, plus 352 (Chelmsford-Halstead) on evenings, Sundays and holidays. The remaining Essex CC sponsored route 21 journeys have been transfered to CF. Services 131/2 (Witham-Braintree-Halstead), passed to Stephensons of Essex (qv).
Vehicle movements linked to the above, are of Tridents 32810/56 to Basildon (BN); 33044/78/80/6/7, 33184/6/90/5/6 to Colchester (CR), and Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 32480/2-5, 32651/2/4 from CR to CF and Braintree outstation. Tridents 33001/2 went from BN to CR. Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 42489 (SN53 KJY) has moved BE to HH; sisters 42930/6 (SN05 EAM, DZS) and 43731 (S731 TWC) have moved BE to CF. The Vauxhall Zafira staff car FE14 WUV, went to CF, but subsequently resurfaced at BE (qv). SLF/Pointer 42934 went from BN to CF, but this was connected with the receipt of new Streetlites at CR, (see above).
Withdrawn are SLF/Pointers 43483/5 (R683/5 DPW).
Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultraflow 65573 (S573 TPW), has been collected by Alpha for scrap.

Above: SLF/Pointer no 42429 works a Halstead bound 132 along Collingwood Road, Witham, in March 2013.

Above: Aberdeen heritage liveried Volvo B10BLE no 62139, on a northbound 131, calls at The Broadway, Silver End, on 3/9/15.

With the end of First routes 131/2 and the commencement of Stephensons 38/A, there were also changes on the Chelmsford-Witham-Colchester corridor.
47 (Chelmsford-Broomfield) was replaced by 72 (Chelmsford-Witham (New Rickstones Academy)). However, 47 continues in truncated form, as an Essex CC funded Chelmsford-Springfield Sainsburys route, at reduced frequency. 71 (Chelmsford-Colchester) has also changed. The 71A variant has ceased, as 72 now covers the Boreham Village loop, and 70 the Tollgate Retail Park at Colchester. Aditionally, there is a new 71B from Chelmsford to Chelmer Village (M-F). This has partly replaced the old 72 service.
Also from 1st November, Colchester route 61/A (University-North Station) was extended to/from Wivenhoe in the east, and Highwoods in the west. There was a slight frequency reduction on 65 (Highwoods-Stanway) as a result. 106 (Colchester-Harwich direct) ceased. This was basically used for positioning journeys for first and last buses to/from Harwich, after Harwich depot closed in June 2014. Early morning workings on 66 (Colchester-Rowhedge), now start at Old Heath (Whitehall Road), rather than running light into town. This is achievable due to the location of the new Quayside depot. 67 (West Mersea-Colchester) ceased to run beyond the town centre (Head Street) to the General Hospital, as this is now covered by an increased 61 and 65.
Then from 16th November, First regained 73 (Maldon-Boreham-Chelmsford) on Essex CC contract, after Stephensons pulled the plug – having only run the 73 commercially since 1/9/15.

CR based Green Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 66798, 801/4/7/9/10/6/28, have received ‘Lower Emissions, for a Greener Colchester’ branding on sides and rear. However 66801 received none, and 66803 only on its nearside. 66807 was pictured (above), at Head St on 24/11/15.
Accident damaged Optare Solo 53128 (EO02 NFK) has been repaired, and treated to Refreshed colours.
Volvo B10BLE/Wright Axcess Ultraflows 66168/9 (W368/9 EOW) subsequently returned to First Eastern Counties. Similarly bodied Scania L94UB 65589 (V589 DVF), has passed into the custody of the Ipswich Transport Museum.
Withdrawn are the very last Volvo Olympian – NC bodied 34305 (L305 PWR); Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Mini Pointer 43365 (V356 DVG); SLF’/Marshall 43679 (R679 MEW); SLF/Pointer 43734 (S734 TWC); Aberdeen liveried Volvo B10BLE/Wright Axcess Ultraflow 62139 (X618 NSS), “Barbie” liveried sisters 62195/7 (X689/92 ADK)- 62197 was briefly used in service at CR after BE; Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultraflow 65565 (S565 TPW); similarly bodied Volvo B10BLEs 66177/9 (W377/9 EOW).
Olympian 34305 has joined the Yeldham Transport Collection for preservation. One of a batch transferred from First Calderline in 1998; not only had it spent considerable more time in Essex than its native Yorkshire, but had outlived its sisters by some three years.
It is pictured (below), at London Road, Stanway on 9/3/15, during a spell on loan from CF to BE.

Another Vauxhall Zafira staff car is FG14 XHY, at CF.

Above: Volvo B10BLE/Wright 66177, picks up at Crouch Street, Colchester on 2/11/15. It is unusually on route 63; normally the preserve of Wright Streetlites. Local bus personality David Edwards is driving.

FOURWAYS, HIGHWOOD.
Volvo Olympian P167 BTV has been sold.

FREIGHTLINER.
Ex Heavy Haul 66518/32/47, have appeared on Intermodal work, on Great Eastern metals.

Above: 66518 at Ipswich fuelling point, on 13/11/15.

GOLDEN BOY, HODDESDON.
Mercedes 0814D/Sitcar Beluga OO04 BOY, has been offered for sale.

HAILSTONE TRAVEL, WICKFORD.
Offered for sale are Iveco 45C minicoaches BU07 CPZ, MX07 UFB and MX57 FGD.

HEDINGHAM.

Another Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL from Chambers is 577 (W518 WGH); now at Sible Hedingham (HD). It was pictured (above), in Chambers days at Southway, Colchester in January 2015; on a school contract.
Scania Omnidekka 1520 (YN06 JYD), has entered service from Clacton (CN).
Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 737 (T107 DBW), returned to service at Tollesbury (TY) in late November.
Volvo Olympian/NC 66 (P602 CAY), is to be donated to a school, for static use – after parts recovery.
Ford C Max staff car GU09 MTF has transferred to Konect at Dereham.
Ford Focus estate car GP07 HTL has been sold.

IPSWICH BUSES.
DAF DB250L/EL Vyking 54 (PF04 VML), has donned an overall advert for Town FM radio.

Above: Ipswich Buses no 25 is one of the Dennis Trident/Plaxton Presidents recently acquired from Lothian Buses. It is pictured departing Ipswich Railway Station on 30/10/15.

JOHN JAMES, DAGENHAM.
Mercedes 0814D/ACI E6 JJT is now T43 RJL; while Mercedes 614D/Crest BF52 KHX has become E6 JJT.

JR EXECUTIVE TRAVEL, COPDOCK.
Has been sold to two members of its existing management team.

KEVENDYS, WICKFORD.
Sold is MAN 24.400/Noge Catalan tri-axle S605 VAY.

L and R TRAVEL, BASIDON.
Sold is Volvo B10M/Plaxton Paramount F401 UAD.

LONDON CENTRAL.
All electric Optare Metrocity demonstrator OE1 (YJ65 EOV), is being trialled on TfL108 (Lewisham-Stratford). It is allocated to the NX175 M-F peak hour duty.
An interesting arrival from London General is Mercedes Citaro MEC1 (BG09 JJK). It too, was observed on the 108, on 8/11/15. It returned to London General later in the month, but other Citaros are due.
The appearance of the Mercedes could be an answer to the capacity problems, which have afflicted route 108 in recent months. Due to the Blackwall Tunnel, and physical restrictions at Bromley By Bow; the choice of larger buses is somewhat limited.
Also, the southern terminus of 108, has temporarily moved from Lewisham Station, Loampit Vale to Lewisham High Street, Lewis Grove.

Above: Former Blue Triangle Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer no DP192, crosses Blackheath, on a Stratford bound 108 working, on 8/11/15.

LONDON OVERGROUND (LOROL).
Now in fleet livery are 315806 and 321414.
378223/4/5 have been strengthened to 5 cars, ex 4.

LONDON UNDERGROUND.
New S7 stock delivered is 21487/8; 21489/90; 21491/2.
The latest D78 stock withdrawals are of 7003 + 17003 + 8003; 7009 + 17009 + 8009; 7015 + 17015 + 8015; 7050 + 17050 + 8050; 7063 + 17063 + 8063; 7074 + 17074 + 8074; 7088 + 17088 + 8088; 7094 + 17094 + 8094; 7113 + 17113 + 8113; 7514 + 17514 + 7515.
VivaRail has taken 7003 + 17003; 7009; 7015 + 17015; 7050 + 17050; 7063 + 17063; 7074; 7088 + 17088; 7094; 7113 + 17113; 7514 + 7515.
To Booth Roe at Rotherham for scrap, went 8003/15/50/63/74/88/94/113, 17009/74/94, 17514.

Above: D78 7074 at Upminster in August 2007, when recently refurbished.

Below: In original condition, D78 7094 tails a Wimbledon to Tower Hill service, departing Monument in December 2000.

MALCOLMS BUS SERVICE, CLACTON.
Mercedes 609D/Reebur E343 TYD has passed to A1 Truck and Van (dealer), Clacton, while also sold is Toyota Optima/Caetano M9 KFC.

NATIONAL EXPRESS OPERATIONS.
Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 116 (FJ60 KVS) has come from City of Oxford. It is allocated to Sipson Road (SR).

OLYMPIAN/ROADRUNNER, HARLOW.
Reinstated are Dart SLF/Pointer Y542 XAG, and SLF/Alexander ALX200s LX51 FGN/O.
Sold are Iveco Eurorider/Beaulas MKZ 6312, and Scania K114/Irizar PB YN04 GPF.

PANTHER TRAVEL.

Ex Hedingham Dart SLF/Plaxton Mini Pointer W339 VGX, has joined the operational fleet as BIG 9248, and is named ‘Philip’. The Volvo B6/Plaxton Pointer which previously bore the BIG 9248 mark, has reverted to its original identity of M832 CVG, and passed to Turners of Wickham St Paul. This was also a one time Hedingham bus.
Acquired from a preservationist, is former Southdown ‘Queen Mary’ NC convertible open top bodied Leyland Titan PD3/4 BUF 426C.
Dennis Javelin/UVG BIG 8796 has been offered for sale.
Volvo B10M/VH VLT 177 has been re-registered back to P521 PRL, and sold to Eagle of Castle Acre, Norfolk.
Withdrawn Leyland Olympian/ECW CWR 512Y, is now a seat store at Matching Tye site.
The Mercedes Sprinter engineers’ van, KY08 NMX – is re-registered to AD08 PAN.
Dart/Dash BIG 8843, has been loaned, short term to Malcolm’s Bus Service, Clacton; on various occasions.

REDBRIDGE TRANSPORT.
Volvo Olympian/Alexander RH S290 YOO, is now with Imperial of Southall.

REGAL BUSWAYS.
Dart SLF/Mini Pointer EK51 XXC, has returned to Ensign, off loan.

REGENCY CARRIAGE COMPANY, ROCHFORD.
Mercedes Sprinter 416/Stanford minicoach MP53 SDV has been re-registered EX53 ELM.

SOUTH EAST COACHES, SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS.
N100 SST is a Setra S415, ex Meadway of Yardley, Birmingham. It entered service in plain metallic grey.

STAGECOACH CAMBUS.
MAN18.220/Alexander ALX300 22331 (AE51 RZO), has gone to Stagecoach Manchester South.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.
Ex Selkent Scania Omnicity 15040 has moved from West Ham (WH) to Bow (BW). Trident 17837 (LX03 BYN) is now at Barking (BK) ex Leyton (T).
Tridents 17838/40 (LX03 BYP/S), have been returned to Selkent.
New Routemasters LT264, 315/59/67 (LTZ 1264 etc), have lost their overall adverts for standard red livery. Meanwhile, LT272 (LTZ 1272) has donned an overall scheme for Nat West Bank.
Ex Selkent Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 34357 (LV52 HKJ), has been repainted plain white.

STANSTED CITYLINK.
The new Mercedes Tourismos are BG65 VXA-F/H/J/K/L; replacing the older temporary coaches.

STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX.

The replacements for First 131/2 Braintree to Witham routes, commenced on 2/11/15.
They are numbered 38/A and are effectively extensions of Witham town services. Dart SLF/Caetano no 453, was pictured (above), at Collingwood Road, Witham on 13/11/15.
38 runs as Halstead-Gosfield-Bocking-Braintree-Freeport-Silver End-Witham-Allectus Way.
38A operates as 38, but via Stubbs Lane in Braintree instead of Freeport.
The Bocking-Braintree section replaces that part of First 21/A, although First will still work that as an Evening/Sun/hol Essex CC contract.
The 38/A are commercial services, on a combined 30 minute Headway, day times Mon to Sat. The Eberneezer Close to Collingwood Road section of 38 in Witham, was renumbered 40, and subbed to Arrow Taxis of Maldon, from 2nd November.
Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 417 (EU07 FRN) and short ADL/Enviro 200 421 (EU09 NYO), have moved from Rochford to Haverhill.
Further movements to Braintree from Haverhill, are of Dart SLF/ALX200 435 (LX51 FGE) and SLF/Super Pointer 455 (EG02 NZD).
Dart SLF/Super Pointer 459 (GU52 NKD) is back in use, after collision repairs.
Various buses from Boreham depot have also appeared on the Braintree services, since the start of November. Noted have been Solo 322 (EU07 FVM); SLF/Caetanos 453/4 (HV52 WTC/E); SLF/Pointer 459; ADL/E200s 422 (EU60 CAV), 423 (EU64 CVT), 464/6 (EU62 FDF, FBO). One line is run from Boreham, so buses at Braintree site can be swapped for maintenance. From 30th November, a 38A am peak working, became double deck.
Operation of commercial service 73 (Maldon-Boreham-Chelmsford), ceased after 13/11/15. First Essex took it back, under Essex CC contract, from 16th November.
ADL/E200 465 was the regular route 247 bus for much of November.
3 (Colchester-Hythe) and 506 (Colchester Schools-Heybridge), are now double deck worked, ex saloon.
Short ADL/Enviro 200 YY15 NJO is now in stock, ex loan and has fleet no 427.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 no 464 on 38, at Silver End Broadway, on 18/11/15.

SULLIVAN BUSES.
From 21st November, TfL school services 692/9 (Winchmore Hill-Dame Alice School) were taken over from Go-Ahead London General North, on re-tender.

SUPREME COACHES, RETTENDON.
Sold is MCW Metrobus C439 BUV.

SWIFT TRAVEL, NORTH WEALD.
Mercedes 0815D minicoach Y1 CHT is now S29 NFT.

TALISMAN COACHLINES, GREAT BROMLEY.
CAZ 2747 is a Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen, ex Washington Coaches of Philadelphia; that’s the one in Tyne and Wear, rather than the USA !

THORNES OF RAYLEIGH.
Volvo B10M/VH H181 DVM, is now with Pearson of Old Whittington, Derbyshire.

TOWER TRANSIT.
New are Enviro 400-VE virtual electric hybrids DH38501 (SN65 ZGO), 38502/3 (SN65 ZGP/R) and ADL/Enviro 20Ds DMV45112-4 (YX65 RLY/Z, RMO), DM45115-20 (YX65 RMU/V/Y/Z, RNA/E). All are at Lea Interchange (LI). DH38501 is being trialled on TfL69 (Canning Town-Walthamstow).
The remaining borrowed ex Stagecoach East London TAL class Trident/ALX400s, TAL33200-4/6-9 have been returned to Ensign. They were replaced by DN class ADL/Enviro 400s, made surplus by the loss of TfL295 (Clapham Junction-Ladbroke Grove), to Metroline.

TRUSTYBUS, HARLOW.
New from 16/11/15, are commercial routes 419 (Harlow-Epping) and 420 (Harlow-Ongar). Both are half hourly daytimes, M-Sat. Additionally, 392 (Harlow-Rye Park) and 410 (Harlow-Waltham Cross), have gone over to double deck, ex saloon.
Vehicles acquired through Ensign are ex Metrobus Scania Omnicities YN53 RXF/G/H/M/P/R/T – these retain dual doors, but are now led destination fitted; former Ealing Community Transport Dart SLF/Caetano KX03 HZH; ex Stagecoach East London Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 LX04 FXV. The Omnicities have received fleet colours, but the other remain London red. The Trident additionally has led destinations as well as keeping 2 door layout.
On loan from Ensign, was Dart SLF/Caetano LK53 FDP.
Optare Solo V679 FEL is now UNZ 8067.
Withdrawn is Dart SLF/Marshall MDS14 (LT02 ZDO).

TURNERS OF ESSEX, WICKHAM ST PAUL.
Now withdrawn is ex Florida Coaches Dennis Dart/EL 2000 M462 LLJ.
Mercedes 207D minibus Y148 ESG has been sold; along with Volvo B10B/Wrights M518 WHF, M547/8 WTJ. Accident damaged M548 WTJ went to Lloyd, the Hixon, Staffordshire dealer, for resale as repairable salvage.

VICEROY OF ESSEX, SAFFRON WALDEN.
BMC 850 AE05 MZL is now with Perrys of Woolpit, Suffolk.

With thanks to: ‘District Dave’, Ensignbus, Essex Buses Yahoo, A Hazell, Panther Travel, PSVC, RM, M Stokes, S Spencer.