Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons. MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the October 2018 edition of Busmopolitan.
The bus and coach company landscape continues to change. NIBS (Nelsons Independent Bus Service) of Wickford has been sold to Eastern Transport Holdings, the parent of Stephensons of Essex. NIBS was a family business, founded by Bill Nelson and latterly managed by his son, Steve. Originally it had run buses and coaches, but latterly focused on the former only. In 2016, NIBS acquired the business of Amber, which comprised a coach/school contract operation at Rayleigh and a local bus undertaking at Mountnessing. Based at The Coach Station on the industrial estate at Wickford, NIBS has additional parking in the vicinity, firstly at an aggregates depot and more recently a car spares yard. At the time of sale, some school buses were also outbased at Brentwood Coaches at Hutton. The fleet is largely Scania and the yellow and red buses will continue to be a feature of Wickford, Basildon, Billericay and Brentwood, (plus further afield on Sundays and holidays).
Meanwhile, Ensignbus has increased its presence in Brentwood with the launch of a new commercial bus route – the 31; serving the north of this town, from 1st October. On the debit side, JR Executive Travel of Copdock, near Ipswich, brought in the receivers at the start of October. JR was originally a taxi and phv operator, but in the past five years expanded into full size coaches. JR’s work was mostly rail, schools and private charters. A new company has been formed to continue operations.
Up in the skies, Primera Air has been grounded. This Scandinavian low cost carrier, with big aspirations, had been running transatlantic flights from Stansted since June 2018. On 2/10/18, it was announced Primera had ceased operations, leaving many customers either stranded abroad or out of pocket, as well as staff out of a job. Then on 18th October, Cypriut low cost carrier Cobalt Air suspended operations.
On the rails, the first ex MTR TfL Rail Class 315 EMUs have gone for scrap. Three different dealers are buying them.
We also salute the end of a significant type of water transport in this issue. Busmopolitan does not normally cover maritime topics, but the retirement of the three current Woolwich Free Ferry vessels could not go unacknowledged. They had plied between the north and south banks of the River Thames in east London for 55 years. Early in 2019, two new ferries will arrive as their replacements.
Finally, October 21st saw a major shake up of bus stopping arrangements around Colchester town centre. Virtually all services had their stops changed, and in some cases, their stopping points reduced. Leaflets were issued to advise of the alterations, and council staff were initially on hand to assist. However there was criticism that not enough had been done to advise of the changes, especially to occasional bus users and those unfamiliar with the area.

Above: First Essex Wright StreetLite 63343 by numberless bus stops at Osborne Street, Colchester on 21/10/18. Destinations have replaced the numbers. (John Podgorski).

Above: Additional CBUS information poster. Seen at St Johns Street on 22/10/18. (John Podgorski).

24/7, STANSTED.
Sold is Vauxhall Vivaro EN13 GDU.

A2B BUSES, CAMBRIDGE.
Has ex Go-Ahead London Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capital LT02 NVJ – via Ensign.

ADVANCE, SOUTHEND.
Ex Astons of Worcester is Scania K400EB6/Irizar YT60 YZK.
Ex Craig of Campbeltown is Scania K360EB6/Irizar YR61 RWF.
Sold is Volvo B10M/Berkhof Axial R915 ULA.

APT COACHES, RAYLEIGH.
BMC850 BX08 EZR has been sold.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (COLCHESTER).

Above; 3419 at Osborne Street, Colchester on 27/10/18. (Simon Austin).

Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 3419 (SN54 HXF) has received a poppy themed livery, to commemorate 100 years of the end of Workd War 1.

DAF SB120/Wright Cadet 3524 (LJ51 DDX) is on loan for driver training. It was pictured at Shrub End Road on 23/10/18. (John Podgorski).

Above: Short Dennis Dart/Caetano Nimbus 1562 at The Commons, Prettygate on 6/10/18. (Daniel Pretty).

Odd sightings: P&R ADL/E200 4073 (SK15 GXT) on 900. 5/10/18: B7RLE/Wright 3825 (GN07 AVO) on 1. 6/10/18 (Saturday): SLF/MPD 1558 (KX56 HCP), short SLF/Caetano 1562 (RX07 KPG) on 1. 20/10/18: P&R ADL/E200 4072 (SK15 GXS) on 900. 26/10/18: B7RLE 3819 (GN07 AVF) on 1. 30/10/18: 4072 on 900.

The latest crew ferry car is hired Vauxhall Mokka DV67 TVY.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (HARLOW).
ADL/Enviro 200MMC 3106 (YX17 NME), moved onto Arriva Midlands without being used here.
Optare Versas 4199 (YJ58 PFZ), 4236 (KX13 DHF) have transferred to Ware depot.

Above: Optare Solo M950 no 1453 at Harlow Bus Station on 20/10/18. This had been one of the last buses in Network Harlow (dark blue) livery. (John Podgorski).

Odd sightings: 20/10/18: Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3857 (KE54 LPC) on 59.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (SOUTHEND).
ADL/Enviro 400 MMC 6500 9SN66 WHT0 has received poppy themed livery.

Above: Prior to its poppy branding, ADL/Enviro 400MMC 6500 outside the Canvey Transport Museum on 14/10/18. It is on an open day shuttle between there, the seafront and Benfleet rail station. (Simon Austin).

Below: From the pre Arriva era is privately preserved AEC PRV Routemaster no 122. Seen at the seafront display of the Canvey Museum Open Day on 14/10/18. (Laurence Kinsella Ilot).

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH.
From Arriva London South is ADL/Enviro 400 T199 (SN08 AAE), now at Barking.
ADL/Enviro 200 ENL6 has moved from Barking to Enfield.VDL DB300/Wright Gemini DW500 is now at Edmonton.
Stored at Edmonton are DAF DB250LF/ALX400s DLA29/30 (S229 JUA), DLA128 (V628 LGC) and ex London South DLA34/45 (S234/45 JUA), DLA150 (V650 LGC).
The new style fleet name and logo is now appearing across this fleet. It has been particularly noted on DW Class VDL 300/Gemini2s, which are going through repaint.
Noted include DW206/7/26.
Overall adverts: LT216 – Talk Talk; LT225 – NARS Mascara; LT538 – Talk Talk; LT584 – Talk Talk.

ARROW TAXIS, MALDON.
One of the Mb Sprinters was stolen and found, in a damaged condition, at Dagenham. It was subsequently recovered to Orwell Trucks, Ipswich.

BEESTONS.

Above: Scania Omnidekka YN54 OCJ at Osborne Street, Colchester on 15/10/18 – on the 971 registered schools service. (Simon Austin).

BLUE TRIANGLE.
In from Docklands Buses is Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini WVL420. WVL 419 has returned to Docklands Buses. In from London General North are ADL/Enviro 400s EN18-24; from London General are E63-76.
Withdrawn are Scania N230UD/Olympuses 877/78/83/84/86-89/93/94.
Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capitals DMN4 (LN51 DWO),DMN7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 14, 13, 18 (LT02 NUM/O/V/U, NVE/H/J, WUO/P/R respectively) passed to Ensign after the loss of TfL 193 to Stagecoach. All were resold to Hardwick, Carlton (dealer) for scrap, except NVJ which went to A2B Buses at Cambridge. All remaining LDP Class Dart SLF/Pointers were also withdrawn, following the loss of TfL193 – including LDP191/98 (SN51 UAD/L) – which also went to Ensign, with LDP200 (SN51 UAO).
Also sold to Ensign are Scania N230UD/Olympuses 870-72 (PN09 EKR/T/U), 874-76 (PN09 EKW/X/Y), 885 (PN09 EMX), 890-92 (PN09 ENK/L/M), 895 (PO59 KFX).
The old Ferry Lane, Rainham site has been redeveloped as a warehouse building.

CHAMBERS.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 251 (PJ02 RHE) was briefly borrowed from Hedingham in early October. Scania Omnidekka 808 (YN55 PZL) replaced 806 (YN55 PZH) at Hedingham, Kelvedon in mid October.

Above: 808 at Hedingham’s Kelvedon depot on 20/10/18, with Hedingham Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 563. (John Podgorski).

Following the closure of the Dugard House office in Colchester, the legals have been changed to: HC Chambers and Son Limited, 5-7, John Goshawk Road, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1SY.

COBALT AIR.
Just after midnight on 18/10/18, all flights were suspended. The company subsequently ceased trading. A failure to gain extra finance was cited as the cause.

Above: Airbus A319 5B-DCU at Stansted on 7/1/17. (John Podgorski).

COLAS RAIL.
15/10/18: 66848 towing FL 66515 on Whitemoor-Hoo Junct.
23/10/18: 70817 on 6737 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor.
25/10/18: 70817 on 6L37.
29/10/18: 70817 on 6L37.

DANS LUXURY TRAVEL, WALTHAM ABBEY.
Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere R10 ETS is withdrawn.

DBS.
2/10/18: 66176 tnt 66188 on 3J33 RHTT at Royston.
8/10/18: 66176 tnt 66188 on 3J33 – and continued on this during October.
17/10/18: 66030 on 0341 London Gateway-Wakefield. 66091 at Bow East on 0836 to Calvert.
19/10/18: 66025 tnt 66133 on 3J33.
31/10/18: 66182 on Bow-Heck Plasmor

DKV ENTERPRISES, COPDOCK.
This is the new incarnation of JR Executive Travel, (see below).

Above: DKV is acquiring its own vehicles. This is ex Ingleby’s of York Mb 0816D WA06 NCC at Stutton on 10/10/18. (Chris Baines).

DOCKLANDS BUSES.
Scania Omnicity ‘decker 968 is reinstated.

DRS.
1/10/18: 37605 tnt 37606 on 3S60 Stowmarket RTT via Clacton, Ingatestone.
3/10/18: 37259 tnt 37602 on 3S01 Stowmarket RHTT. 37612 on 0Z37 Norwich-Doncaster via Stowmarket and Cambridge. 57002/3 on Stowmarket RHTT.
4/10/18: 37259 tnt 37602 on 3S60 Stowmarket-Wickford RHTT.
5/10/18: 37605 tnt 37606 on 3S60 RHTT at Ipswich.
6/10/18: 57002/3 on 3S60 RHTT, continued on this during October.
12/10/18: 37607/12 on test train at Cambridge. 57002/3 on 3S60 at Ipswich.
17/10/18: 47812 towing 365527 to Ilford (seen Stratford) @ 1340.
18/10/18: 37407 added to rear of RHTT set with 57002/3.
20/10/18: 37038 tnt 57301 on 3S60. 37716 on 5V91 Norich-Ilford ECS and returned light engine.
22/10/18: 37038 tnt 57301 on 3S60. 57007 tnt 57002 on 6Z23 Stowmarket-Ilford.
23/10/18: 37423 tnt 37606 on 3S60.
25/10/18: 37602 tnt 37259 on 3S60 at Ipswich en route to Clacton.
26/10/18: 37606 tnt 37423 on 3S60.
29/10/18: 57007 tnt 57002 on RHTT “up” through Marks Tey @ 1000.
31/10/18: 37405 on Willesden Brent-Stowmarket light engine.

EASTERN NATIONAL.

Above: Preserved Bristol VRTSL/ECW 3107 at the Canvey Museum Open Day on 14/10/18. (Laurence Kinsella Ilot).

ENSIGNBUS.
New commercial service 31 started from 1/10/18. It is a Brentwood town route, running between the railway station, Bishops Hall Estate and Pilgrims Hatch. It runs M-Sat every 20 mins daytimes. There are also additional 31X early morning journeys M-F. The three short ADL/Enviro 200s mentioned in September 2018 Busmopolitan are used, along with some existing vehicles. It competes against First route 37. Heritage fleet: AEC Regal IV/Metro Cammell MLL 600 has passed for further preservation.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 no 650 (DK09 OBH) on a southbound 31 at High Street, Brentwood on 4/10/18. This bus had previously been branded for the 99 Tilbury Town Circular. (Simon Austin).

Below: ADL/E200 no 602 at Purfleet depot on 14/10/18. (John Podgorski).

‘Contactless Payment’ branding is now appearing on ADL/E200s.

Short ADL/Enviro 200 602 has been re-registered CSK 282. ADL/E200 719 (SK15 HBB) has been VOR since June and will eventually re-enter traffic.
Scania Omnidekka 901 was on loan to First Bristol.

22/10/2018 saw the start of the UK Poppy Appeal, in advance of the centenary of the end of World War 1 on 11/11/2018. 26 Ensign buses were named in 2015 after fallen local troops.

(John Podgorski).

(John Podgorski).

Above: Sidney Biles was on of the fallen Purfleet soldiers commemorated by Ensignbus. He was not killed in action, but died from illness, caused by the unsanitary conditions in the trenches.

In the Heritage fleet, Leyland Tiger TS7/Harrington 1179 (DUF 179) has a replacement engine and is back in use.

Odd sightings: 4/10/18: BCI Excellence 146 (LX17 DZG) on 81.

EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY.

Above: RT1700 at Pilgrims Hatch on 20/10/18, on the 339 Ongar-Shenfield shuttle.
(John Podgorski).

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES (IPSWICH).

Above: Ex First Essex Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32654 at Ipswich on GA rail replacement to Felixstowe on 21/10/18. (Daniel pretty).

FIRST ESSEX.
Scania L94UB/Wright Solars 65673/77 (SN51 UYG/L) have transferred to First Eastern Counties at Great Yarmouth, (on loan for a Bernard Matthews contract). Scanias at Colchester (CR) are being replaced by ex First Glasgow ADL/Enviro 300s; 67755/56 (SN62 ASO/U) being the first noted.
Dennis Trident/Plaxton President 33178 (LR02 LYX) moved from Basildon (BN) to CR.
Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 65672 (SN51 UYE) is delicensed at CR due to mechanical failure.
The remaining withdrawn yellow BMCs at Braintree have gone. 68508/9/32 passed to Truck and Plant (dealer). BMC 68551 was collected from CF by Alpha Recovery – for scrap. Dart SLF/Caetano 41520 also went from CF to Alpha for scrap, but 41521 remains active at CF.
Odd sightings: 4/10/18: X30 ADL/E200MMC 67168 on 42. 5/10/18: StreetLite 63341 on 67. 9/10/18: StreetLite 63343 on 67. 22/10/18: Route 62 B9TL 37139 (SN57 CHY) on 75. 26/10/18: X30 ADL/E200 MMC 67169 (YY66 PBZ) on 70. 31/10/18:X30 ADL/E200 MMC 66171 (YY66 PCO) on 70.

FLAGFINDERS.

Above: YN07 EYP is one of the pair of recently acquired ex Nottingham City Transport Scania Omnidekkas. it was pictured at Ipswich Museum on 5/10/18. (Tim Barltrop).

Scania Omnidekka YN07 EYP is allocated to Braintree, while YN07 EYT is at Halstead.
Also now at Halstead is Volvo Olympian/Alexander RL R758 DRJ.
Volvo Olympian/Alexander RL R141 EVX was at Tollesbury in early October, covering for a failed Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President. It moved to Kelvedon the following week.

Above: R141 EVX at West Mersea, turning from Chapmans Lane into East Road, on a morning East Mersea-Thurstable School journey on 5/10/18. (John Podgorski).

FREIGHTLINER.
1/10/18: 66599 failed at Maryland at 1000 on 0750 FLX-Lawley Street. Rescued by 66539.
2/10/18: 70005 on 4M81 FLX-Crewe.
3/10/18: 70006 on 0L89 IPS-FLX light loco.
4/10/18: 70007 on Trafford Park-FLX.
7/10/18: 66587 tnt 66536 on Stansted-Parkeston HOBC via Cambridge.
10/10/18: 66622 on Tunstead-Bow.
16/10/18: 66554 on 1Z99 to recover failed 4L85 at Stowmarket.
18/10/18: 70020 on 4L93 Lawley Street-FLX.
19/10/18: 66616 at Marks Tey Sand Yard @ 0910.
23/10/18: 66536 on Ipswich-Lindsay fuel tanks with 2 TDAs and 3 TTAs; returned light as 0L49.
25/10/18: 66505 on Doncaster-Chesterton Junc aggregates.
27/10/18: 66551 tnt 66552 on Whitemoor-Harlow Town engineers.

Above: 66616 at Marks Tey on 19/10/18. (John Podgorski).

GBRf.
1/10/18: 66765 on 7P65 Harwich-N Walsham light loco.
2/10/18: 66765 on 6A32 N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 66766 on 6L36 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor.
3/10/18: 66708 on 4Z33 FLX-Doncaster. 66710 on 4L02 Hams Hall-FLX. 66714 on 4Z26 FLX-Masboro. 66732 at Temple Mills on RHTT. 66765 on N Walsham-IPS light loco.
5/10/18: 66702 tnt 66732 on Cambridge RHTT. 66710 on 4L02 Hams Hall-FLX.
6/10/18:66721/26 on 3S70 RHTT.
8/10/18: 66710/68 on 0l33 PBO-IPS-FLX light loco. 66721/26 on 3S81 RHTT.
10/10/18: 66701 on Hams Hall-FLX. 66721/26 on 3S81.
11/10/18: 66702/32 on 3S81 RHTT at Cambridge and continued on this during October. 66772 on IPSW-N Walsham light loco.
13/10/18: 66713/701 on 4L07 Hams Hall-Parkeston. 66721/26 on 3S70 RHTT at Wickford. 66773 on 4L29 Birch Coppice-FLX.
14/10/18: 66752 on Ipswich-Parkeston tank.
15/10/18: 66768/59 on 0L33. 66777 on 6L36 Whitemoor-Hoo Junct.
16/10/18: 66732 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks.
18/10/18: 66773 on Parkeston-N Walsham light loco.
19/10/18: 66789 on 6O35 Whitemoor-Hoo Jct.
21/10/18: 66713/59 on 0L33 PBO-IPS light engine.
22/10/18: 66713/59 in IPS-FLX light engine.
25/10/18: 66747 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 66771 on 4Z26. 66789 on 4L22.
26/10/18: 66746 on 4Z33 FLX-Doncaster. 66789 on 4L22 return to FLX.
28/10/18: 66759/37/14 on 0L33 PBO-FLX light engine.
29/10/18: 66705 failed on 4R03 Harwich-N Walsham tanks at Manningtree and rescued by FL 66533/60/54 and forwarded to IPS. 66714/37 on 0L33 IPS-FLX. 66759 on 0P41 Parkeston-Ipswich light engine, then light to N Walsham.
30/10/18: 66726 on 4L02. 66745 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 66789 on 6Y34 Whitemoor-Parkeston.
31/10/18: 66702 on RHTT at Ilford. 66744 on 4Z80 FLX-Masboro.

GREATER ANGLIA.
321322/26-28 at Doncaster for Renatus conversion.
321403 has gone to Scotrail to become a Class 320/4 – see below.
1/10/18: 90002 on 0Z41 Norwich-Bounds Green light engine. 321325 on Doncaster-Ilford ECS. 321329 on Ilford-Doncaster ECS.
2/10/18: 321335/63 at Norwich.
3/10/18: 90003 on Norwich-Bounds Green light engine. 317885/6 on 1B07 Stansted Express.
6/10/18: 321435/442/436 stabled in Platform 5 at Shenfield, due to engineering work on the Southend Victoria line.
8/10/18: 317506 on 5N09 Ilford-Carlisle ECS and then hauled onwards to Kilmarnock. 321403 towed away to Kilmarnock behind ROG 37884.
15/10/18: 90012 + 37605 + 90008 on Norwich-Crewe light loco via GEML.
24/10/18: 90015 with 90003 dead in tow on 1P54 London-Norwich.
25/10/18: 90008 on 0Z90 Crewe-Norwich light engine via GEML.
27-28/10/18: 156418 ‘ESTA’ on Marks Tey-Sudbury (weekend).
29/10/18: 321301/5 on 0900 NOR-LST.
30/10/18: 153322 on Marks Tey-Sudbury (weekday).

Above: 321403 will join “native” Class 320s in the Glasgow area once converted to 3 cars by Barclays at Kilmarnock. This is 320321 at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level in April 2001. (John Podgorski).

HEDINGHAM.
Following the closure of Dugard House office in Colchester, the legals have been changed to: Hedingham Omnibuses Limited, 5-7 John Goshawk Road, Dereham Norfolk.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 251 (PJ02 RHE) was briefly loaned to Chambers during the second week of October.
Scania Omnidekkas 802/6 (YN55 PZD/H) came from Chambers on 4/10/18, with 805/10 (YN55 PZG/O) returning. 808 came from Chambers on 19/10/18. These are/were at KN. 800 (YN53 RYP) continues on loan from Chambers and at HD. CN Volvo B7TL/President 584 (PJ02 REU) appeared at KN on 9/10/18, but went back to CN on 12/10/18. The same date saw Omnidekka 802 go back to Chambers in exchange for 810. On 19/10/18, 806 returned to Chambers in exchange for 808 (YN55 PZL). In the last week of October, 812/13 both briefly went to Chambers, before returning to KN.
Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 525 (LX05 EZH) has returned from Konect, off loan. 521 (LX05 EZD) entered service from CN on 25/10/18, its first duty being on the X76.
Ford Transit 16 seater BU14 ENT has returned to Robertson Van Hire – off loan.

Some views of the remodelling at Clacton depot.

Above: The refurbished staff room.

Below: The new traffic office.

Above: The cashing up area.
(All pictures taken by John Podgorski on 24/9/18).

Odd sightings: 4/10/18: B7TL/President 569 on 83.

IPSWICH BUSES.
Scania Omnicity ‘decker 46 (YR61 RPX) has been named ‘Kevin Beattie – ITFC No 6 1970-1982’, after a famous Ipswich Town football player.

JOHN JAMES, DAGENHAM.
Mb 1018L/UNVI SN05 YKS is now with Hardhill Privayte Hire, Bathgate, Scotland.

JR EXECUTIVE TRAVEL, COPDOCK.
This operator has gone into administration. A new company, called DKV Enterprises has been set up to continue operations, but on a smaller scale. Some school contracts have passed to other operators.
Volvo B12M/Sunsundegui JR05 BUS was at HB Commercials, Ipswich as this time and remained there.

Above: Setra S315 C3 PRP at Marks Tey, on Greater Anglia rail replacement on 1/9/18. (John Podgorski).

KLARNERS, COLCHESTER.
Setra S415 T50 KCL – the Essex Cricket team coach, has been re-registered ES53 XCC.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH.
In is ADL/Enviro 200 SEN38.
Scania Omnicity 945 is reinstated.
Ex Blue Triangle Dart SLF/Marshall DMN17 has resurfaced here.
Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capitals LN51 DWO, LT02 ZDR passed to Ensign. They were resold to Hardwick, Carlton (dealer).

Above: Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini WVL189 at Northumberland Park depot on 25/10/18. This was one of the ex Putney WVLs transferred for TfL257 (Walthamstow-Stratford). When 257 was lost to Stagecoach, WVL189 was one of a few retained, and now appears on TfL20 (Walthamstow-Debden) and TfL191 (Edmonton-Brimsdown). (John Podgorski).

MTR TfL RAIL.

Above: 315860 forms the rear of a Shenfield to Liverpool Street service, as it departs Brentwood on 16/1/16. (John Podgorski).

315832/35 have gone to Sims Metals, Newport (Gwent) for scrap.
315850 has gone to Booth, Rotherham for scrap.
315860/61 have passed to EMR, Kingsbury for scrap.
3/10/18: 345005 failed at Liverpool Street on 0934 from Shenfield. Rescued by 345006 and recovered to Gidea Park.
4/10/18: 345017 on 5C91 Gidea Park-Gas Factory Junction ECS. Had been at OC until recently.
16/10/18: Severe disruption to west side services after 500m of OLE brought down by GWR IEP test train near Ealing Broadway. Problems continued into following day.
20/10/18: 315850 towed from Wolverton to Rotherham by ROG 37800.
29/10/18: 315860/61 towed from Wolverton to Kingsbury by 37800.
30/10/18: 315832/35 towed from Wolverton to Newport (Gwent) by 37800.

NATIONAL EXPRESS OPERATIONS.
New are Scania/Caetano Levante IIIs SH244 (BF68 LDA), BF68 LDC/K.

NEW HORIZON, FRATING.
Volvo B10M/Jonckherre Mistral W864 AAY has passed to a dealer in Leicestershire.

Above: Ex Morebus Volvo B7RLE/Wright HF54 HGY at West Mersea on 5/10/18, on the morning 177 service to Colchester. (John Podgorski).

NIBS, WICKFORD.
Has been sold to Eastern Transport Holdings; also owners of Stephensons. The fleet has been renumbered into the Stephensons fleet number series.

Above: NIBS runs local bus routes and school contracts, mostly around Basildon and Brentwood. Ex Go-Ahead Docklands Buses Scania Omnicity LX08 ECE was at Basildon Bus Station on 14/7/16, on former District Bus route 104. (Simon Austin).

Below: The Wickford sub yard on 14/9/14; with then recently acquired Omnicity LX08 ECD and soon to be withdrawn Scania N113/Alexander RH G603 KTX. (John Podgorski).

NORTHERN RAIL.
9/10/18: 322481 on Ilford-Doncaster ECS.

Above: The Class 322s worked on West Anglia and Great Eastern earlier in their careers; then Scotrail before reaching Northern. Here is 322485 at Manningtree in June 2004, on a Harwich Town branch line service. (John Podgorski).

OLYMPUS, HARLOW.
The yard at Parkway remains the same with Dart SLF/Mini Pointer V196 ERG; SLF/Pointer Y161 NLK and Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther CN05 DZF still there in October.

OSBORNES OF TOLLESBURY.

Above: Preserved RT LYR 997 at the Canvey Museum Open Day on 14/10/18. (Simon Austin).

P and M COACHES, BASILDON.
Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere N46 MDW, is now with Graham of Orpington.

PANTHER TRAVEL.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 DB09 PAN takes a break at Parkeston, Harwich depot in late October 2018. (Chris Sampson).

Above: SB09 PAN at Manningtree on 23/10/18. It is on the 2 Mistley-Clacton service, which is subcontracted from First Essex. (Steve Barham).

A third ex Metroline ADL/Enviro 200 now at work is SB09 PAN (ex YX09 FLE) – named ‘Stephen’.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer BIG 9248 has reverted to S303 JUA, and been sold to Hams of Flimwell, East Sussex. Hams has increased its local bus activities, by winning council tendered routes from Arriva and Renown. (Some years ago, Renown had an Essex outpost).
Leyland Olympian/ECW “Big Bertha” double deck coach BIG 4005 has reverted to its original B693 BPU identity and been sold to a preservationist.
The “spares only” ex Scraggs of Stoke Plaxton Primo L12 PPN has gone to Walton Salvage for scrap, while ex Jones of Braintree, (unused) Primo YX07 HNP went to Takeley Metals, also for scrap. Unused Primo YX55 DSE passed to M and D Travel, Stockton – for spares.

Above: L12 PPN at Walton on 5/10/18. (Steve Barham).

Dennis Javelin/Plaxton Premiere 350 BIG 9895 was destroyed by fire after passing to Maya Travel, Wolverhampton. Its remains passed to Lloyd of Hixon for breaking.

PRIMERA AIR.
This Danish low cost airline, who ran a Stansted-New York and Stansted-Washington DC service, suddenly ceased trading on 2/10/18. Many customers were left stranded or out of pocket. Primera is the fifth airline to have attempted transatlantic services from Stansted in the past two decades. It blamed flight delays and late delivery of new Airbus aircraft as contributing to its failure.

Above: Primera Boeing 737 OY-PSC. (World of Aviation Blog.com).

ROG.
1/10/18: 47848 at Ilford depot.
5/10/18: 37611 towed 345002 on 5Q50 OC-IL.
8/10/18: 37884 towed GA 321403 to Kilmarnock.

RONDA COACHES, SOUTHEND.
Ex Bovington of Cliftonville is Mb 614D/Crest S217 TKR.

RYANAIR.

Above: Boeing 737-800AS EI-EBD at Stansted on 27/10/18, on FR6036 from Rimini. (John Podgorski).

STAGECOACH CAMBUS.
On loan from Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire is MAN18.220/Alexander ALX300 trainer 22141 (S141 TRJ).

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.
Received from Selkent are ADL/Enviro 40Ds 10137/38 (LX12 DFO/P), 10197-200 (SL14 DDE, SL64 HYX/Y/Z), 10202(SL64 HZB). 137/38/97/98 are at Barking; the rest at Rainham.
Withdrawn are ADL/Enviro 200s 36556-69.
Rainham (RM) depot, no longer operates Tridents.
Overall adverts: LT242 – Talk Talk; LT386 – Royal British Legion; LT390 – Talk Talk. LT256 – back to red.
Sold is Trident 18493 (LX06 AGY).

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 36354 at ADL, Harlow on 20/10/18. This has finished its days in London, and awaits use elsewhere. (John Podgorski).

Below: ADL/Enviro 400 no 19782 at ADL, Harlow on 20/10/18, with Reading Buses ADL/Enviro 400 City no 717. (John Podgorski).

STEPHENSONS.

Above: Scania N230UD/Olympus 510, working from Clacton outstation, at Lexden Road, Colchester on 15/10/18, on registered schools service 702. (Simon Austin).

SUFFOLK NORSE.

Above: Some DAF DB250LF/Alexander ALX400s are on hire. Ex Holmeswood Coaches LJ03 MDX departs Stutton on 15/10/18. (Chris Baines).

The Ipswich depot is currently at Whitehouse. Consideration is being made to move it to Copdock.

SULLIVAN BUSES, SOUTH MIMMS.
MAN12.240/MCV Evolution MM788 (LK57 EHY) has been scrapped.

SWALLOW, RAINHAM.
Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano Nimbuses LK53 FDC/F have passed to Ensign.

TALISMAN, GREAT BROMLEY.
A visit to the depot on 12/10/18, found the following vehicles present:
Leyland Titan A620 THV; Setra S315 VSU 803; Setra S416s BJ08 KNM, UL11 ULM, BU14 SYE; Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royales N119/20 UHP. Setra S416 BU13 ZUA was on loan to Angus, Needham Market. VH Astromega FUH 933 was at HB Commercials, Ipswich in October.

Above: The Talisman yard on 12/10/18. (John Podgorski).

TENDRING TRAVEL, THORPE LE SOKEN.

Above: KV09 EJK is a Mb 0816D/Plaxton Cheetah. It was seen at Colchester on Greater Anglia rail replacement to/from Ingatestone, on 7/10/18. (Simon Austin).

Below: Ex Stagecoach Scotland West Volvo B12T/Plaxton Panther SF57 DPX on GA RRP to/from Ipswich, at Norwich on 13/10/18. (John Podgorski).

THAMESWAY.

Above: Preserved Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 909 at the Canvey Museum Open Day on 14/10/18. This was new to Ponders End for LRT 214 (Parliament Hill Fields-Liverpool Street) and moved to Eastern National at Colchester in 1998. It was withdrawn from Clacton in 2009, and has been restored to original condition. (Simon Austin).

THOMAS COOK AIRLINES.

Above: Airbus A321-211 G-TCDL arrives at Stansted on MT1957 from Fuerteventura on 27/10/18. (John Podgorski).

TOWER TRANSIT.
ADL/Enviro 40H DNH39113 (SN12 ARF) has an overall advert for The Poppy Appeal.
Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2 VN36154 (BJ11 EAA) is in an overall scheme for Call of Duty – Black Ops.
Sold to Ensign were ADL/Enviro 400s SN11 BML/U/V/Y, BNA/B/D/E/F/J/K/L/O/U/V/X/Y/Z, BOF/H/J/U/V, BPE/F.
Resold by Ensign to Go-Ahead London were SN11 BMY, BNB/F/K/O/U/Z, BOF/H/J/U/V, BPE, where they will join the EN Class of other former First London E400s.
SN11 BNF was exported to City Sightseeing, Malta and SN11 BNJ to Gozo Coaches on Malta. Sullivan Buses of South Mymms took SN11 BNV/X.

TRANSPORT for LONDON.
The Becontree Heath bus terminus is temporarily closed for building works.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON.

Above: Ex Metrobus Scania Omnilink/EL Esteem YM55 SXB at Harlow Bus Station on 20/10/18. (John Podgorski).

ULTIMATE, CRAYS HILL.
Mb Sprinter 516 EO15 HPN has passed to Vale Cars, Stalbridge, Scotland.

VIRGIN TRAINS.
4/10/18: 221101 at Ilford, Bombardier.

WOOLWICH FREE FERRY.
The three 1963 built vessels were withdrawn after service on 5/10/18. The ferry was then suspended for 3 months, pending delivery of the two new ships. They were John Burns, Ernest Bevin and James Newman. They were built by the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Dundee. A French dealer purchased them for scrap.

Above; All three of the old Woolwich Free ferries seen on 24/9/18. (A Christy/The Liquid Highway).

Above: On the car deck of Ernest Bevin, on the final day of operation, 5/10/18. (The Liquid Highway).

Above: John Burns being towed away from Woolwich on 7/10/18. (Lucas B/The Liquid Highway).

With thanks to: Anglia gen, S Austin, Lucas B, C Baines, A Barham, S Barham, T Bartrop, J Brown, EBN, Ensign, A Hazell, Hedingham, L Kinsella Ilot, LOTS, D Pretty, A Short, The Liquid Highway, World of Aviation Blog.

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