Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the July 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

The England Football Team reached the final of UEFA Euro 2020 on 11/7/21, but were defeated by Italy in an extra time penalty shootout. So near but so far for England, who last won (the then) World Cup back in 1966. Deepest commiserations to our national side, who have made progress since Gareth Southgate became the manager. Looking forward to UEFA Euro in 2022. This is the entrance to Wembley Stadium on 29/6/21. (Leah Harrison).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. P&R ADL/E200 P&R ADL/E200 4071 9SK15 GXR0 has transferred to AKT at Northfleet and received blue livery. 4073 (SK15 GXT) was loaned to Arriva Southend in early July, then returned in late July. Short Dart SLF/Caetano 1564 (HX04 HUH) has returned to pcv use, ex crew ferry. The Colchester Park & Ride contract has been retained and will receive new hybrid buses. Odd sightings: 1/7/21: P&R 4072 on 2; P&R 4075 on 77. 2/7/21: P&R 4071/74 on 2; 4075 on 77; 4261 on 1; 4262 on 1 + 133. 5/7/21: P&R 4071 on 2; 4075 on 77. 6/7/21: 4073 on 77; 4261 on 1; R133 4324 on 8. 4071 on 77. 8/7/21: 4075 on 77; 4224 on 1. 9/7/21: 4074 on 77. 10/7/21: 1565 failed at Middleborough at approx 1202 on Highwoods bound 2. Was still there at 2015 ! 12/7/21: 1565 on 8. 13/7/21: 4075 on 77. 14/7/21: 4075 on 77. 15/7/21: 1565 on 8; 4075 on 77; 4224 on 1. 16/7/21: 1565 on 1. 17/7/21: 1565 on 8. 19/7/21: 1565 on 1; 4075 on 77. 20/2/21: 3413 failed on High Street, near Castle on Highwoods bound 2 @ 1400. 21/7/21: 4074 on 77. 22/7/21: 3986 failed at Head Street on Highwoods bound 8 @ 1620. 4073 on 77. 23/7/21: 1564 on 1; 1565 on 8; 4075 on 77. 26/7/21; 4072 on 77. 28/7/21: 1565 on 8. 29/7/21: 4072 on 77. 30/7/21: 4074 on 77.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND.

Above: After a spell as a driver trainer, heritage liveried Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3816 is back in revenue service. It has also been named after a long serving employee (Jan Roy), and carries the latest Arriva branding. Pictured at Chichester Road on 6/7/21. (Daniel Pretty).

BLUE TRIANGLE. On 17/7/21, TfL routes 15 (Blackwall Trafalgar Square), N15 (Romford-Oxford Circus), 115 (East Ham-Aldgate), 649/650 (Romford-Emerson Park), 651 (Romford-North Romford), were transferred from River Road, Barking depot to the new Docklands Buses all-electric garage at Henley Road, North Woolwich. Part of the River Road site was leased, and the lease on that has now expired.

CARTERS HERITAGE BUSES, GREAT BROMLEY. Trident/ALX400s LK05 GFV, GGV have passed to Ensign for resale.

CENTRAL CONNECT. ADL/Enviro 200 LJ07 USU and Optare Solo KX57 KGA are via Ensign. From 26/7/21, Essex CC 418 (Loughton-Epping) passed to Stephensons on retender. The evening/Suns/hols 418B (Loughton-Epping-Harlow) remains here.

CHAMBERS.

Scania Omnidekka 804 (YN55 PZF) was loaned to Konect 3-4/7/21, for the Bubble Rush event park and ride at UEA (University of East Anglia), Norwich. Scania N230UD/Olympus 871 (PN09 ELU) was briefly loaned to Hedingham at Kelvedon in mid July. Sister 875 (PN09 ENE) was delicensed due to accident damage in mid July.

COMMUNITY 360. A new minibus is Peugeot Boxer HX70 BNB.

CROYDON TRAMLINK. CR4000 tram 2547 visited Bombardier Ilford depot for collision repairs in July. It arrived by road.

DAN’S COACH TRAVEL, NEEDHAM MARKET. Optare Solo YG52 DFX is ex Llew Jones, Llanwrst, Wales. Other recent additions are; Mercedes 0816D/Optare RY56 ERN – ex Anitas, Stansted and named ‘Hyacinth’; Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown V513 DFT – ex Stuarts of Mortimer.

DBS. 1/7/21: Blue 66005 on 4L45 Wakefield-FLX. 9/7/21: 66092/032/073/205 on Dollands Moor-Scunthorpe light loco via NLL. 29/7/21: 66006 on Mountsorrel-Chesterton Junction. 30/7/21: 66004 on 4L38 EM Gateway-FLX.

DOCKLANDS BUSES. On 17/7/21, the following TfL routes were transferred from Blue Triangle at River Road to the new North Woolwich facility. 15 (Blackwall-Trafalgar Square)/N15 (Romford-Oxford Circus), 115 (East Ham-Aldgate), 649/650 (Romford-Emerson Park, 651 (Romford-North Romford).

DON’S OF DUNMOW.

ENSIGNBUS.

Above: An open top ADL/Enviro 500 368 (68 EB) , is now here. It was new as an ADL Hong Kong development vehicle. It was acquired in closed top form in plain white, and converted/repainted. It was berthed at the Arriva Southend depot on 30/7/21. (John Podgorski).

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: Following its transfer from First Midlands, Trident/ALX400 33404 retains its Midland Red heritage colours. Pictured at Southend Travel Centre on 6/7/21, on route 26. (Daniel Pretty).

Essex Bus green Volvo B7RLE/Wright 69431 (AU58 FFT) was loaned by CF to HH on 7/7/21 only. Wright StreetLite 63332 (SK65 PXO) caught fire at Witham while on a Chelmsford bound 71 on 26/7/21. It suffered extensive rear end damage. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37027 (YJ06 XKS) returned to service at the end of July, ex long term VOR. Saturday journeys on Essex CC route 21 (Basildon-North Benfleet) passed to NIBS on retender from 31/7/21. Odd sightings: 1/7/21: 32673 on 103; 37020 on 64; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37136 on 65;42935 on 71A; 67191 on 31X; 67194 on 31C; 67195 on S33; 67197 on 42A. 2/7/21: 37015 on 104 + 175/174; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37138 on 88;R62 37139 on 75; 42955 on 71A; 67191 on 71A; 67194 on 31C; 67197 on 31X. 3/7/21: 32669 on 64A; 37010 on 67; 37036 on 64A; 37053 on 67/64A; R62 37135 on 70; R62 37138 on 102; 42927 on 71A; 66760 on 100. 4/7/21: 32485 on 64A; 37006 on 64; 37016 on 67B; 37062 on 64; R62 37135 on 64A;R62 37139 on 65. 5/7/21: 32669 on 67; 37010 on 64A; 37037 on 64; 37042 on 67; R62 37136 on 75; 476451/58 on 100; 67189 on S33; 67191 on 31C; 67192 on 36; 67196 on 31X. 6/7/21: 32642 on 525; 37010 on 67; 37015 on 175/174; R62 37135 on 61; 42944 on 71A; 47656 on 100; 67192 on 31X; 67193 on 31C; 67194 on S33; 67196 on 36. 7/7/21: 37004 on 64A; ; 37034 on 104; R62 37138 on 65/61/68; 37140 on 64; 47655/56 on 100; 67191 on 31X; 67194 on 31C; 67196 on 31X. 8/7/21: 32669 on 67; 37004 on 103; 37036 on 102; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37135 on 64A; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37139 on 75; 47655 on 100; 66760 on 100; 67198 on 31C; 67191 on 31X. 9/7/21: 32068 on 174/175; 32669 on 66; 37042 on 67; R62 37136 on 175/174; 42933 on 71; 47652/54 on 100; 67191/94 on 31X. 10/7/21: 32673 on 64; ; 37010 on 64; 37017 on 64A; R62 37133/35 on 61; R62 37136 on 174; 42941 on 71. 11/7/21: 31785 on 64A; 32628 on 67B; 37017 on 64A; 37054 on 102; 37062 on 64; R62 37135 on 65. 12/7/21: 31785 on 67; 37053 on 67; 37054 on 64; R62 37133 on 104; 42934 on 71A; 67191 on 42; 67192 on 31X; 67194 on 36. 13/7/21: R62 37135 on 67; 67196 on 31X. 14/7/21: R62 37135 on 67; 66196 on 31X. 15/7/21: 37037 on 67; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37135 on 67C + 75; R62 37138 on 70; 42936 on 71A; 47652 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 8; 67194 on 31C; 67195 on 31X. 16/7/21: 37006 on 67C am; 37035 on 67; R62 37135 on 67/75; R62 37138 on 65; R62 37139 on 67C pm/75; 42922 on 71B, 42936 on 71A; 66760 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 8A; 67189 on 31C; 67192/94 on 31X. 17/7/21: 37016 on 66; 37020 on 64; R62 37135 on 175/70/2A; R62 37138 on 175/174/1A; R62 37139 on 75; 42968 on 71; Airlink 67161 on 100. 18/7/21: 32547 on 64; 37004 on 64; 37017 on 67B; 37020 on 64A; 37042 on 66; R62 37139 on 65. 19/7/21: R62 37133 on 61; R62 37138 on 70 + 1A; R62 37139 on 88A; 67193 on 31X; 67194 on 31; 67195 on 31X. 20/7/21: 32068 on 67; 32629 on 64; 47657 on 100; 67195 on 31C; 67196 on 31X; 67197 on 36. 21/7/21: 37035 on 67; 66759 on 100; 67190 on 36; 67193/94 on 31X. 22/7/21:30564 on 66B; 32485 on 64; 37004 on 67; 37016 on 66; 42898 on 71; 42956 on 71D; 67191 on 31C; 67192 on 36; 67193 on 31X. 23/7/21: 32629 on 67; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37139 on 64A; 67190 on 31X; 67191 on 31C; 67193 on 36; 67197 on 31C. 24/7/21: 37016 on 64A; 37054 on 67; 42927 on 71; 47654 on 100; 67193 on 73. 25/7/21: 32478 on 64; 37004 on 64A; 37010 on 64A; 37015 on 66; 37016 on 64; 37035 on 67B; R62 37136 on 61. 26/7/21: 32673 on 67; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37138 on 64A; 42923 on 71; 67189 on 36; 67193 on 31C; 67194 on 31X; 67197 on 31C. 27/7/21: 32068 on 102; 32628 on 64; 37037 on 102; R62 37135 on 61; R62 37138/39 on 67; 42898 on 71; 66800 on 62; 67190 on 36; 67195 on 31C. 28/7/21: 30562 on 64; 32628 on 103; 37034 on 64; 37037 on 67; 37042 on 175; R62 37133 on 65 + 1A; 42968 on 71A; 47650/51 on 100; 67191 on 31C. 29/7/21: 30567 on 65; 32629 on 67; 37036 on 102; 37062 on 64; R62 37136/38 on 61; 47650/52 on 100; 67193/94 on 36. 30/7/21: 32628 on 104; 37016 on 66; 37053 on 67; 67189 on 31B; 67193 on 31X; 67196 on 31C. 31/7/21: 32068 on 64A; 37035 on 64; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37138 on 61; 42939 on 71; R37 44540 on 71A. 67191 on 40; 67193 on 42.

Above: In superb Eastern National Tilling era coach heritage livery; Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 37986 at Southend Travel Centre on 6/7/21. (Daniel Pretty).

FREIGHTLINER. Class 70 locos no longer appear on the GEML routes, due to local crew knowledge having lapsed. 1/7/21: 90008/010 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90009/012 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90016/046 on 4L97 Traffford-FLX. 90043/044 on 4L91. 7/7/21: 66591 on 4L89. 90042/047 on 4L91. 8/7/21: 66567 on 4L89 Crewe-FLX. 90007/049 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 90009/047 on 4L91. 90041/043 on 4M45. 9/7/21: 6659 on 4L89 Crewe-FLX. 90009/047 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 90041/043 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 10/7/21: 90009/014 on 4L91. 12/7/21: 66420 on 4L36 Wentloog-FLX. 15/7/21: 66414 on 4L89 Crewe-FLX. 90009/014 on 4L91. 16/7/21: 90009/014 on 4L91. 17/7/21: 90009/014 on 4L91 Trafford-Ipswich/FLX. 21/7/21: 90006/007 on 4S88 FLX-Coatbridge. 22/7/21: 90048 “up” through Marks Tey towing a GA Class 322. 24/7/21: 66546 on FLX-Leeds. 26/7/21: 90045 on “up” intermodal through Colchester @ 1936. 27/7/21: 66560 on 4L89. 90011/015 on 4L97. 90041/044 on 4M45. 90043/047 on 4M87 and 4L91 return. 28/7/21: 90014/043 on 4L91. 29/7/21: 66570 on Bury-Whitemoor with Railvac. 30/7/21: 66590 with intermodal in “down” goods loop at Colchester @ 1534. 31/7/21: 90005/012 on 4L97. 90046/043 on 4L91.

GBRf: 8/7/21: 66786 on 6L37. 12/7/21: 66706/767 on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 66747 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 17/7/21: 66720 on 4L05 Hams Hall-Parkeston. 21/7/21: 66707 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 29/7/21: 66767 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 31/721: 66785 in Coclhester “down” goods loop with intermodal @ 1400.

GREATER ANGLIA.

Class 720s are increasingly common on Southend Victoria services. 317887/889 to EMR, Kingsbury for scrap. 317891 to Sims, Newport for scrap. 321332/407 have gone to Worksop for store. 1/7/21: 321332/407 on 5Q16 Clacton-Worksop storage move behind ROG 37800. 3/7/21: 745101 on Norwich-Liv Sts. 8/7/21: 317887/889 on 5Q66 Ely-Kingsbury scrap move behind ROG 37800.10/7/21: 745004 on Stansted Express. 745102 failed and recovered to Norwich by ROG 37601. 12/7/21: 745104 failed at Harlow and recovered by ROG 37601 to Norwich. 20/7/21: 317891 on 5Q76 Ely-Newport scrap move behind ROG 37800. 30/7/21: 745107 on Liv St-Norwichs.

HEDINGHAM.

Above: 852 in Colchester on 7/7/21. (Nathaniel Mills).

Above: A freshly repaired 616 at Sible Hedingham depot on 23/7/21. The accident damage was around the lower rear (engine bay) area. (Laurence Kinsella Ilott).

Returned to service ex long term VOR are Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 514 (LB02 YXF) and Scania Omnicity ‘decker 852 (AO57 HCD). Accident damaged ADL/Enviro 400 616 (SN10 CCV) was repaired, and returned to service at HD in late July. Long ADL/E200 263 (EU59 AYM) was returned to HD from KN on 9/7/21. Chambers Scania N230UD/Olympus 871 (PN09 ELU) was briefly on loan at KN in mid July. Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President (W506 WGH) was withdrawn following major mechanical failure on 14/7/21. Two more ex London ADL/Enviro 400s and some Volvo B9TL/Gemini2s are due. From 22/7/21, 3 round trips on 63 were extended to/from East Mersea until 31/8/21. The Ramsey School, Halstead contract ceased at the end of the 2021 summer term, having been lost on retender to Flagfinders from September. Odd sightings: 2/7/21: 574 on 63. 7/7/21: 573 on 63. 8/7/21: 580 on X76. 12/7/21: 283 on 15 am – usually ‘decker. 13/7/21: 871 on TLA A pm. 25/7/21: Dart SLF/MPD 287 on 21. 28/7/21: Solo 911 – CN-KN and then on 63 + 83 + 82 + 15. 29/7/21: Solo 910 – CN-KN; 911 on 91 + 92 + 95. Omnidekka movements: 8/7/21; 811/12 – KN-CN; 813 – CN-KN. 12/7/21: 811 – CN-KN. 26/7/21: 813 – KN-CN; 815 – CN-KN. 27/7/21: 800 -KN-Chambers; 810 – Chambers-KN. 28/7/21: 817 – KN-CN. Ancillary vehicles: Withdrawn are Vauxhall Corsa van 9005 (GV57 LUD) and Renault Trafic minibus 9008 (LX09 EYT).

IPSWICH BUSES. The Chelmsford Park & Ride contract has been gained from First Essex. Odd sightings; 8/7/21; Scania Omnidekka 60 (PJ54 YZV) on 93. 12/7/21: Route 8 ADL/E200 108 (YX66 WCM) on 4 + 11. 13/7/21: Long ADL/E200s 75 (GD10 MVM), 82 (YX63 LGF) on 4 +11. 22/7/21: 82 on 4 + 11. 26, 27, 29/7/21: 75 on 4 + 11. 30/7/21: 82 on 4 + 11.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH.

LONDON OVERGROUND.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. 345069 was at Ilford depot on 24/7/21. 345055 was on Liv St-Shenfields on 30/7/21. 345058 was at Shenfield sidings on 31/7/21. Class 315 obs: 10/7/21: 315819 + 837 at Gidea Park yard. 315839 + 844 in Aldersbrook sidings. 315834 + 853 in Ilford depot. 315856 + 857 in Shenfield sidings. 17/7/21: 315834/37/39/48 all visible at London end of Aldersbrook sidings. 315857 + 858 in Shenfield sidings. 24/7/21: 315834 + 853 in Shenfield sidings. 315837 visible in London end of Aldersbrook sidings. 30/7/21: 315847 + 857 on Liv St-Shenfields.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Odd sightings: 24/7/21: Volvo B11RT/Levante SH211 (BX16 CMV) on A1.

NIBS, WICKFORD. From 31/7/21, Saturday journeys on Essex CC route 21 (Basildon-North Benfleet) were gained from First Essex. This means that NIBS now totally operates this route.

PANTHER TRAVEL.

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS. At the start of July, only one Yeoman JHA remained in the siding at Bow. A week later, it had been joined by a Tourax JHA.

ROG.

SOUTHEND PIER RAILWAY.

Above: One of the soon to be replaced Severn Lamb Diesel Multiple Units; ‘Sir William Heygate’ heads landward on 30/7/21. There are two of these, the other being ‘Sir John Betjeman’. They date from 1986. (John Podgorski).

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. Ex Stagecoach Cambridge Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini3 open toppers 13808/12 are additional buses for the Grupo Juliana City Sightseeing tour.

STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX. From 26/7/21, M-S daytime sex CC route 418 (Epping-Loughton) was gained from Central Connect.

TRANSPORT for LONDON. On 25/7/21, heavy rain caused flash floods across east and south London. Stratford was amongst those areas badly affected, with the railway station being flooded. Also awash were Pudding Mill Lane DLR station and Stepney Green Underground station. Hackney, Newham, Waltham Forest areas all suffered flash floods.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. Now here is Mb Sprinter/Ilesbus CN21 XJH. From 26/7/21, Essex CC route 381 (Harlow-Toot Hill), was gained from Ugobus.

WCR. On 19/7/21 the 1Z19 Torquay to Saltburn excursion ran via Stratford and Cambridge. Power was 47237 tnt 47746.

With thanks to: A Cook, AngliaGen, J Cole, EBN, L Harrison, D Pretty.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the June 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

From the August 2021 issue, Busmopolitan is going over to a new site – Busmopolitan Volume 2. This is because Volume 1 has now run out of space !

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER.

Above: 4039 at Horkesley Heath on 15/6/21. (Peter Cackett).

Ex Arriva KT Northfleet ADL/Enviro 200 4039 (GN09 AWM) is now here. Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 1559 (EU56 GVG) went to Northfleet in exchange. Ex Arriva Midlands Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 2151 (UUI 2906) was here, having come via the Kent fleets, but was quickly returned, unused. Odd sightings: 1/6/21: R133 StreetLite 4324 on 1. 3/6/21: P&R ADL/E200 4071 on 77. 4/6/21: Dart SLF/MPD 1559 on 1; P&R ADL/E200 4073 on 77; StreetLite 4224 on 2; R133 StreetLite 4324 on 1. 7/6/21: P&R ADL/E200 4071 on 77; StreetLite 4261 on 1; R133 4324 on 8. 8/6/21; P&R ADL/E200 4072 on 77; R133 4324 on 8. 9/6/21: Short SLF/Caetano 1565 on 1; 4071 on 77; R133 4324 on 8. 10/6/21: 4071 on 77; R133 4324 on 8. 11/6/21: R133 4324 on 8. 12/6/21: R133 4324 on 8. 14/6/21: Dart SLF/MPD 1559 on 8; P&R ADL/E200 4073 on 77; R133 4324 on 8. 15/6/21: R133 4324 on 8. 16/6/21: 4073 on 77; R133 4323 on 2; R133 4324 on 8. 17/6/21: 4073 on 77; R133 4323/24 on 8. 18/6/21: R133 4324 on 8. 19/6/21: R133 4324 on 8. 21/6/21: 4071 on 2; 4075 on 77; 4324 on 8. 23/6/21: 4224 on 1; 4324 on 8. 25/6/21: 4075 on 2; 4224 on 2. 28/6/21: P&R ADL/E200 4075 on 133. 29/6/21: P&R ADL/E200 4072 on 77; 4075 on 2; R133 StreetLite 4323 on 1. 30/6/21: P&R ADL/E200s 4071/74 on 2.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. The proposed Green Line route 720 from Stansted Airport to London has been officially dropped. It was due to start on 4/5/20, but the Covid pandemic prevented this.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND. ADL/Enviro 200 driver shuttle YX68 UUL has left Southend. Vauxhall Corsa car BV61 XER looked to replace it.

BOMBARDIER. RMS Locotech 08588 replaced 08871 at Ilford during June.

C2C.

CENTRAL CONNECT, ROYDON. Optare Solo RRZ 5463 has gone for scrap. Ex Go-Ahead London Dart SLF/EL Esteem PO56 JFE retains its ‘Here East’ wrap, from its Docklands Buses days.

CHAMBERS. Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 566 (W428 WGH) has gone to Alpha Recovery for scrap.

COLAS RAIL. 5/6/21: 70810 on 6C60 Whitemoor-Ripple Lane engineers. 11/6/21: 37240 + 9714 on 3Q69 Colchester and return via Norwich and Stansted. 12/6/21: 37240 + 9714 on 3Q66 Colchester-Derby via FLX, Liv St. 21/6/21: 37057 tnt 37254 on 1Q18. 26/6/21: 37057 tnt 37254 on 1Q18 test train. 29/6/21: 37219 on 3Q63 Derby-Colchester then 3Q64 Colchester-March.

DAN’S COACH TRAVEL, NEEDHAM MARKET. Recent additions are: Bova Futura YJ04 GYP; Mercedes 0815D/Plaxton Cheetah XIL 8515; Ex Squirrels of Hitcham Volvo B10M/VH SNZ 7183; Volvo B10M/VH T766JYB; Volvo Olympian/NC Platine II R371 LGH – named ‘George’

DBS. 3/6/21: 66097 on Ipswich Griffin Wharf-Neasden.

DOCKLANDS BUSES.

DRS. 2/6/21: 37424 tnt 37425 on 6P01 Wickford-Whitemoor engineers. 3/6/21: 37424 tnt 37425 on 6P02 Whitemoor-Rayleigh engineers. 28/6/21: 37425/402 on 0L37 Willsden-Norwich light loco via GEML.

ENSIGNBUS. Ex Tower Transit ADL/Enviro 400s SN11 BTU, BPY, SN12 EHC are in temporary use; numbered 901-903 respectively. Wright StreetDeck W651 (WJ 1984) has been acquired from Kowloon Motor Bus, Hong Kong, for use in this fleet following UK certification. Temporary ADL/E400 LK57 AXF has passed to Warrington’s Own Buses.

FIRST ESSEX.

Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 69431/33 (AU58 FFT/V) are now in green Essex Bus livery. 69515 (BJ11 ECN) was loaned by HH to BN for 27/6/21 only. Odd sightings: 1/6/21: 32087 on 102; 37006 on 66; 37007 on 67; 37054 on 103; R62 37136 on 61; 42968 on 71A; 67189 on 71B; 67195 on 42. Airlink 67161 on 8A. 2/6/21: 32673 on 174; 37016 on 67; 37042 on 64A; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37138 on 68; 42931 on 71A; 47657 on 100; 66816 on 62; 67193 on 36; 67194 on 71; 67197 on 31X. 3/6/21: 32477 on 103; 37036 on 67; R62 37135 on 1A; R62 37136 on 75; 42895 on 71A; 66798 on 75/A; 67193 on 31C; 67194 on 42. 4/6/21: 30785 on 103; 37020 on 67; 37035/053 on 64; R62 37138 on 61; 42922/968 on 71A; 47652/53 on 100; 67190 on 31X; 67194 on 31C; 67735/36 on 75; 67805 on 75. 5/6/21: 30567 on 61; 37005 on 67; 37015 on 64; 37035 on 67. 6/6/21: 32087 on 64; 32628 on 67B; 37005/007; 27020 on 64; 37036 on 64A. on 1027/6/21: 32485 on 103; 37015 on 104; 37017 on 17; 37053 on 102; R62 37133 on 65 + 1A; R62 37135 on 61; R62 37138 on 88; Airlink 67163 on 25; 67196 on 31C; 67197 on 31X. 8/6/21: 32485 on 102; 32628 on 104; 37010 on 66B; 37020 on 103; 37035 on 67; R62 37136/38 on 75; Airlink 67161 on 8A; Airlink 67163 on 8; 67193 on 31C; 67197 on 71 + 351. 9/6/21: 31785 on 103; 32478 on 64A; 32669 on 67; 37004 on 102; 37020 on 103; R62 37133 on 88; R62 37138 on 88A; 42935 on 71A; 67189 on 31X; 67196 on 71A; 67197 on 31C. 10/6/21: 32485 on 64A; 32547 on 67; 32669 on 102; 37017 on 103; 37054 on 17; 42895 on 71A; 67193 on 31C; 67196 on 31X. 11/6/21: 37015 on 103; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37135 on 65; R62 37136 on 64; R62 37138 on 75; 42939 on 71A; 42652 on 100; 67190 on 31C; 67194 on 31X. 12/6/21: 32628 on 102; 42935 on 71. 17/6/21: 32068 on 67; 32087 on 67; 32628 on 103; 37004 on 64A; 37015 on 174; 37017 on 64A; 37020 on 67; 37034 on 103 + 67C; 37054 on 64; R62 37138 on 104; 67190 on 31X; 67193 on 31C; 67190 on 31C. 18/6/21: 32477 on 67C; 32673 on 66; 37034 on 64; 37035 on 67; 37062 on 64; R62 37135 on 65; R62 37136 on 103; 42895 on 71; 47654/56 on 100; 67193 on 31C; 67195 on 351; 67197 on 31C. 19/6/21: 31785 on 175; 42929 on 71. 20/6/21: 37004 on 64B; 37005 on 64; 37006/007 on 64A; 37036/042 on 66; R62 37135 on 64; R62 37136 on 65. 21/6/21: 32087 on 67; 32547 on 67C + 17; 32669 on 17 am; 37016 on 67; 37140 on 175/174; 42937 on 71B; 42941 on 71A; 67189 on 31X; 67191 on 31B; 67193/94 on 31C; 67197 on 42B. 22/6/21: 37016/035 on 64A; 37037 on 67; 42944 on 71A; 47656/57 on 100; 67194 on 70; 67197 on 31C. 23/6/21:32551 on 71X; 32673 on 67; 37010 on 104; R62 37133/36 on 75; R62 37138 on 70; 42940 on 71A; 67189 on 42; 67190 on 31C; 67191 on 31X; 69433 on 72. 24/6/21: 32628 on 103; 37062 on 64; R62 37133 on 64A; R62 37136 on 88; R62 37139 on 75; 42922 on 71B; 67195 on 31C; 671296 on 31B. 25/6/21: 37015 on 67; 37035 on 104/103; 37062 on 64A; R62 37133 on 65; R62 37135 on 88; R62 37136 on 64A; 42941 on 71A; 47654 on 100; 67192 on 31C; 67193 on 31X; 672195 on 42; 67197 on 71B. 26/6/21: 37034 on 64A; R62 37136 on 70/74B; 42936 on 71.

FREIGHTLINER. 2/6/21: 90003/049 on 4L89. 90047/010 on 4L91. 3/6/21: 90010/046 on 4L91. 90015/011 on 4L89. 4/6/21: 90010/046 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 90041/045 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 5/6/21: 90003/009 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 90049/046 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 9/6/21: 66602 on 4L87 Leeds-FLX. 10/6/21: 90003/045 on Coatbridge-FLX. 90041/043 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford and 4L91 return. 11/6/21: 90015/011 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX.12/6/21: 90042/041 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 15/6/21: 66587 on Ipswich-Lindsay tanks. 21/6/21: 90044/004 on 4L91 then 4M87. 22/6/21: 90004 on 4L91. 90009/042 on 4L89. 23/6/21: 90004/047 on 4L91. 90014/048 + 90005 dit on 4S88, then 90048/014 on 4L89. 26/6/21: 90043/012 on 4L97. 90045/004 on 4L91. 28/6/21: 90016/046 on 4L91. 29/6/21: 90012/043 on 4M87, 4L91. 90048/014 on 4L89. 30/6/21: 90044/043 on 4M87, 4L91. 90045/004 on 4L89.

GALLEON TRAVEL, ROYDON. The Trustybus brand has been replaced by Central Connect (red/blue/silver livery) for the local bus services. Only two buses retained Trustybus red/yellow/blue colours in June.

GBRf. 4/6/21: 66733 on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 8/6/21: 66709 on 0Z66 Tonbridge-Colchester light loco. 11/6/21: 66726 on 4M23 FLX-Hams Hall. 16/6/21: 66715 on Harwich-North Walsham tanks. 21/6/21: 66722 on 6Z41 Long Marston-Harwich oil refinery with 10 VTG TEA bogie tankers. 24/6/21: 66724 on 6L37 Hoo-Whitemoor.

GREATER ANGLIA.

317710 is withdrawn. This was the last of the ‘317/7s. 317338 is back in use, ex store at Harwich International. 317888, 64664, 64707 have gone to Sims Metals, Newport, Gwent for scrap. Redundant Class 321s are now being stored at Gacoigne Wood and Worksop. 3/6/21: 321402/405 on 5Q16 Clacton-Gascoigne Wood scrap move behind ROG 57305. 755405 on Manningtree-Harwich Towns. 10/6/21: 3421428/432 on 5Q16 Clacton-Worksop scrap move behind ROG 37800. 11/6/21: 317732/729 on 5G46 Ilford-Ely for storage behind ROG 57305. 12/6/21: Stansted Express 745110 on Liv St-Ipswichs. 19/6/21: Stansted Express 745108 on Liv St-Norwichs. 23/6/21: 317710 on 5G46 Ilford-Ely storage move behind ROG 57312. 26/6/21: 317337 on Stratford-Meridian Waters shuttles. 30/6/21: 317888, 64664, 64707 on 5Q76 Ely-Newport scrap move behind GBRf 66724. 720560/566 on 5Q43 test train at Shenfield.

HARBACH, MANNINGTREE. Has Ford Transit 16 seater AY59 XJE, ex Ward’s of Alresford.

HARRIS BUS, GRAYS. Former Volvo Olympian/EL P340 ROO; latterly with Dunn of Stirling, ended up abandoned at the Cairns Services on the M74. It was subsequently removed to a yard at Annandale.

HEDINGHAM.

Volvo B7RLE/Wright 470 (EU05 CLJ) is in the new livery. Scania Omnilink 454 (YT11 LVF) was borrowed from Chambers in early June and returned on the 16th. ADL/Enviro 400 613 (SN62 AVY) has returned to Konect at Dereham – off loan to HD. The ex London ADL/Enviro 400s LX56 EUC, LK08 FLL/N/P are going to Hants & Dorset Trim for refurbishment. LK08 FLL has been allocated fleet no 642. Gone for scrap to Alpha Recovery, were Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 288 (HW54 BUF); Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 577 (W519 WGH). From 21/6/21, Duty 2104 (16A + 82, 83) was temporarily transferred from HD to KN. Odd sightings: 2/6/21: B7TL/President 574 on 63. 7/6/21: B7TL/President 580 on 15 pm. 10/6/21: 454 on 901 am. 11/6/21: Omnidekka 815 on 15 pm. 14/6/21: Omnidekka 813 on PL3 am. 15/6/21: Omnidekka 809 on PL2 pm. 16/6/21: Omnidekka 815 on PL3 am. 21/6/21: ADL/E200 263 – HD-KN. 24/6/21: Vo VB7TL/President 571 on X76. 25/6/21: Dart SLF/Pointer 259 – HD-KN; 574 on 63. 26/6/21: 259 -KN-HD; B7TL/President 580 on 63. Omnidekka movements: 2/6/21: 811 – KN-CN. 8/6/21: 818 – CN-KN. 9/6/21: 809 – Chambers-KN. 10/6/21: 818 – KN-CN; 820 – CN-KN. 18/6/21: 815 – KN-CN; 818 – CN-KN. 21/6/21: 807 – Chambers-KN; 811 – CN-KN. 27/6/21: 810 – CN-KN; 818 – KN-CN. 28/6/21: 811 – CN-KN; 817 – CN-KN.

IPSWICH BUSES. Acquired via Ensign are ex National Express Volvo B11RT/Caetano Levantes BX65 WDA/D; ex Lothian Buses Volvo B7RLE/Wrights SN57 DCX/DDF. Withdrawn are Optare Versas 148/50/52 (YK08 EPE/J/V). 148 then passed to Stafford Bus Centre for resale. This left 149 (YK08 EPF) as the last of the IB Versas.

Route 2A Feering-Ipswich schools has been converted to coach, ex double deck bus. Odd sightings: 2/6/21: Versa 149 (YK08 YPF) on 4+11. 7/6/21: mid ADL/E200 77 (KX59 GNY) on 4 + 11. 24/6/21: Long ADL/E200 82 (YX63 LGF) on 4 + 11. 26/6/12: ADL/E200s 75 (GN10 MVM) and Nacton Nipper 81 on 93. 30/6/21: Long ADL/E200s 75, 84 on 4 + 11.

KEANE, STANFORD. Has ex Lothian Buses Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini SN57 DFK, via Ensign.

LONDON OVERGROUND.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE: Class 315 obs: 26/6/21: 315834/54 at Aldersbrook sidings; 315837/53 at Gidea Park yard; 315838/57 at Ilford depot along with 4 others; 315839/44 at Shenfield sidings.

MULLEYS, IXWORTH. Volvo B10M/Jonckherre Mistrals S595/98 KJF have been sold. They have been seen parked at the Missing Sock pub at Quy, Cambs, which operates them.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. More routes restarted from 20/6/21. There were two new services from Ipswich to London. 251 (Ipswich-Colchester-Braintree-Stansted-Heathrow-London) and 482 (Ipswich-Colchester-Braintree-Stansted-Stratford-London). Galloway of Mendlesham remains the contractor.

ROG. 23/6/21: 37800 on 0L50 Wembley-Gidea Park cs light loco.

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.

Above: ‘Javelin’ 395003 arrives at Stratford International on 12/6/21, on the St Pancras to Herne Bay 1506 departure. (John Podgorski).

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.

STEPHENSONS.

Dart SLF/Pointer 456 (GU52 HJX) has been withdrawn and cannibalised; its engine has gone into similar 457 at NIBS.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. Acquired are Mb Tourismos BP17 URH – ex Arriva The Shires; BF65 HVN – new to First Aberdeen; NH17 EFH, HFH from National Holidays. The last two are at Loughborough depot.

With thanks to: Angliagen, S Austin, P Cackett, J Coward, R Downton, D Pretty.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the May 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. Odd sightings: 4/5/21: StreetLite 4224 on 2. 11/5/21: Short Dart SLF/Caetano 1562 on 1. 12/5/21: StreetLite 4262 on 2. 17/5/21: StreetLite 4261 on 1. 19/5/21: Dart SLF/MPD 1559 on 1; R133 StreetLite 4324 on 8. 20/5/21: 1559 on 1. 21/5/21: Short Dart SLF/Caetano 1565 on 1; P&R ADL/E200 4075 on 77; 4324 on 8. 25/5/21: Short Dart SLF/Caetano 1562 on 1; P&R ADL/E200 4071 on 133. 27/5/21: R133 4323 on 8.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 3856-58 (KE54 LNR, LPC/F) were returned to Ware, off loan in early May. B7RLE/Wright 3820 (GN07 AVG) was transferred from Ware to Harlow in mid May. Repainted into the new livery were Optare Verseas 4231/32/38/9, leaving 4237 as the last of its type in the old scheme.

BEESTONS. New are Volvo B8R/Plaxton Panthers 226 LRB, 229 LRB. They are PSVAR compliant 59 seaters.

BURGERS WINGS AND RIBS, COLCHESTER.

C2C. Class 378301/02/06 were loaned to GWR, to cover for IEPs undergoing repairs to cracks in thier yaw damper mounts.

CENTRAL CONNECT, ROYDON. New are 9.75m ADL/Enviro 200 MMCs CC21 GAL, CE21 GAL.

COLAS RAIL. 17/5/21: 37421 + 975025 Caroline on 5Z21 Derby-Welwyn GC via Temple Mills. 24/5/21: 37254 tnt 37612 on 1Q90 on WGC-Cambridge via Audley End, Liv St, Hertford East. 26/5/21: 37254 tnt 37612 on 1Q97 Ferme Park-Cambridge via Liv St. 28/5/21: 37254 tnt 37612 on 1Q99 Cambridge-March via Felixstowe. 30/5/21: 37421 tnt 37219 on 1Q08 Derby-Ipswich.

DBS. 15/5/21: 66155 at Dagenham Dock.

DOCKLANDS BUSES.

From 1/5/21, TfL69 (Canning Town-Walthamstow) was gained from Stagecoach. There is a new all electric bus depot at North Woolwich (coded DS) for this, which will eventually replace the old one at Silvertown. BYD ADL/Enviro 400evs Ee50-69 are the new buses for this. Ee50 (LG21 JFZ), Ee51 (LG21 JGF), Ee52 (LG21 JGO), Ee53 (LG21 JGU), Ee54 (LG21 JGV), Ee55 (LG21 JGX), Ee56 (LG21 JGZ), Ee57 (LG21 JHA), Ee58 (LG21 JHE), Ee59 (LG21 JHF), Ee60 (LG21 JHH), Ee61 (LG21 JHJ), Ee62 (LG21 JHK), Ee63 (LG21 JHL), Ee64 (LG21 JHO), Ee65 (LG21 JHU), Ee66 (LG21 JHV), Ee67 (LG21 JHX), Ee68 (LG21 JHZ), Ee69 (LG21 JJE).

DRS. 10/5/21: 57002 on 0Z57 Willesden-Norwich light loco. 15/5/21: 88004/009 at Dagenham Dock.

ENSIGNBUS. An ex ADL demonstrator Enviro 200 has been registered E17 SGN and numbered 601. It has replaced ADL/E200 601 (CX65 BUF) as the dedicated route 99 Tilbury circular bus. CX65 BUF has been sold to Redline, Aylesbury. BCI Excellence 150 9LX17 GKL) is now blue/silver ex green/silver – but the blue is lighter than normal.

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES IPSWICH.

FIRST ESSEX.

ADL/Enviro 200MMC 67164 (YY66 PBF) has received the new green livery. In mid May there were some internal reallocations. Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32485 (AU53 HKC) – Chelmsford (CF) to Colchester (CR); ADL/E200s 44004-006 – Hadleigh (HH) to CF (44005/006 were already on loan at CF); StreetLites 63330/31 Colchester (CR) to Hadleigh (HH); Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 66759 (YJ05 VVA), 66872 CR to CF; P&R ADL/E200 MMCs 67195/97 back to CF from HH. Volvo B7TL/ALX400 31785 (YN53 EOK) entered service at CR from 24/5/21. Wright StreetLite 63344 (SM65 EFC) returned to service at CR in mid May, ex long term VOR following an engine replacement. ADL/Enviro 200 MMC 67194 (SN66 WKR) has lost its Park & Ride branding. Odd sightings: A greater variety of buses has been appearing on route 17 of late; not just 30564/67. 1/5/21: 32477 on 64; 32673 on 64A; 37004 on 102; 37016 on 64; 37017 on 64A; R62 37138/39 on 61; SLF/Pointer 42941 (WA56 OAO) on 71A; X10 67160 on 70; Airlink 67161 on 8A. 2/5/21: 32087 on 64A; 32477 on 64; 37016 on 64A; 37034 on 64; 37042 on 102; 37054 on 64A; R62 37133 on 66; R62 37135 on 67B; R62 37138 on 75; R62 37139 on 65; B7RLE/Wright 66730 (WX54 XCP) on 71C; Airlink 67161 on 100. 3/5/21: 32087 on 64A; 32477 on 66; 37005 on 64A; 37007 on 67B; 37015 on 102; 37034 on 64; R62 37135 on 75; Airlink 67161 on 100. 4/5/21: 37053 on 175. 4/5/21: 37020 on 67; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37135 on 64; R62 37139 on 68; SLF/Pointer 42937 (SN05 DZT) on 71A; X10 67160 on 40; Airlink 67163 on 25; 67189 on 31X; 67193 on 31C; 67194 on 42. 5/5/21: 32478 on 102; 32547 on 104; 37015 on 66; 37017 on 64; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37134/35 on 61; 42837 on 71A; 66189 on 31X; 67191 on 31C; 67192 on 31B; 67194 on 71A. 6/5/21: 32087 on 67; 37016 on 103; 37035 on 102; 37140 on 175/174; SLF/Pointer 42945 (WA56 OAV) on 71A; 67191 on 31B. 7/5/21: 32068 on 64; 32087 on 67C; 32547 on 102; 32629 on 103; 32673 on 66; 37015 on 103; 37035 on 64; R62 37135 on 65; R62 37138 on 75; SLF/Pointer 42922 (EU05 AUO) on 71A; 67190 on 71; 67193 on 71A; 67194 on 31X; 67196 on 31C. 8/5/21: 3707 on 64; 37010 on 64A; R62 37133 on 64; R62 37136 on 65; SLF/Pointer 42932 (SN05 EAP) on 71. 9/5/21: 32087 on 64; 32673 on 102;37007 on 66; 37010 on 64A; 37042 on 64A; 37062 on 67B; R62 37139 on 65; 37140 on 64. 10/5/21: 32547 on 103; 37005 on 174; 37007 on 67; 37042 on 175 + 103; 37053 on 102; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37135 on 61; R62 37136 on 65; SLF/Pointer 42933 (SN05 DZO) on 71A; 67189 on 31X; 67190 on 71A; 67192 on 31C; 67193 on 71B. 11/5/21: 32477 on 103; 32547 on 66; 37020 on 102; 37042 on 67; 37054 on 64A; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37135 on 64; R62 37139 on 75; SLF/Pointer 42898 (WX05 RVC) on 71A; 67191 on 71A; 67192 on 31X; 67193 on 71. 12/5/21: 32673 on 64; 37007 on 67C; 37010 on 67; 37042 on 102; 37054 on 66; R62 37134 on 75; R62 37135 on 70; R62 37138 on 61; SLF/Pointer 42933 (SN05 DZO) on 71A; Airlink 67163 on 8; 67191 on 31C; 67192 on 71A; 67194 on 31X. 17/5/21: 32068 on 64; 32485 on 103; 32547 on 67; 37004 on 17; 37017 on 64A; 37035 on 102; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37134 on 70; R62 37136 on 61`; R62 37138 on 75; 66189 on 42; 66190 on 36; 66195 on 70. 18/5/21: 32068 on 103; 32477 on 17; 37037 on 102; 37042 on 103; 37062 on 67; R62 37133 on 65; R62 37138 on 88; R62 37139 on 65; 37140 on 17; 67194 on 42. 19/5/21: 32485 on 104; 37004 on 64; 37006/007 on 67; 37017 on 17; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37134 on 103; R62 37135 on 74B; 42932 on 71A; 67189 on 42A; 67190 on 31X; 67194 on 31C; 67196 on 71A. 20/5/21: 32478 on 103; 32547 on 67; 32628 on 102; 32669 on 67C; 37020 on 17; 37035 on 17; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37135 on 65; R62 37136 on 75; 42933 on 71A; 67191 on 42A; 67192 on 31X; 67195 on 71; 67196 on 31C. 21/5/21: 32628 on 67; 32669 on 17; 37020 on 17; 37036 on 103; 37054 on 104; 42932 on 71; 67189 on 36; 67191 on 31C; 67192 on 31X; 67196 on 71. 22/5/21: 37042 on 102; R62 37133 on 175; R62 37136 on 75; R62 37139 on 64A; 42933/39/45 on 71. 23/5/21: 32485 on 67B; 37005 on 64A, 37006 on 64; 37016 on 102; 37053 on 64; R62 3713 on 64A; R62 37135/36/38 on 65; R62 37139 on 70; 66760 on 100. 24/5/21: 30564 on 175; 31785 on 17; 32629 on 17; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37135/36 on 75; R62 37138 on 65. R62 37139 on 70; 42939 on 71A; 67189 on 31C; 67192 on 31B. 67197 on 31X. 25/5/21: 31785 on 17; 32477 on 67; 32485 on 17; 37042 on 17; R62 37133 on 65; R62 37134 on 67; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37138 on 61; 42927 on 71A; 67191 on 31X; 67193 on 71; 67756 on 75. 26/5/21: 32485 on 175; 37017 on 103; 37042 on 102; R62 37133 on 65; R62 37138 on 75; R62 37139 on 65; 37140 on 67; 67193 on 31C. 27/5/21: 31785 on 65; 37016 on 103; 37016 on 67; 37054 on 102; 37062 on 67; R62 37136 on 17; R62 37139 on 65; 67194 on 31C; 67197 on X30. 28/5/21: 31785 on 67C; 32673 on 103; 37016 on 102; 37053 on 67; R62 37133/34 on 61; R62 37136 on 75; 42898 on 71; 67194 on 31C. 29/5/21: 37005 on 64A; R62 37134/36/38 on 61; 37140 on 64; 42933 on 71. 30/5/21: 32087 on 64; ; n32485 on 64A; 37005 on 66; 37007 on 67B; 37010 on 64A; 37016 on 102; 370452 on 64A; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37135/36 on 65; 37140 on 64. 31/5/21: 32478 on 64; 32485 on 64A, 37005 on 64; 37010 on 64A; 37016 on 67B; 37037 on 102; R62 37135 on 66; R62 37138 on 65.

FORDS, ALTHORNE. Supplied via Ensign were ex Lothian Buses Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis SK07 CBF/Y, CCD, SN57 DFC.

FREIGHTLINER.

The old style fleet name of yellow letters in a green rectangle, has now largely disappeared.

90014 is in the new orange livery, ex Greater Anglia.

10/5/21: 90004/044 on 4L91 – from Wembley to FLX. 90014/043 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 13/5/21: 90003/009 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90042/006 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 90043/014 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 90047/008 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 14/5/21: 90003/009 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90014/043 on 4M87. 90041/011 on 4L89. 90042/006 on 4L97. 15/5/21: 66613 at Bow @ 1545 bound for Tunstead. 90042/006 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 90043/014 stabled in Colchester yard. 17/5/21: 90008/047 on 4L91. 90043/014 on 4Z97 Colchester Loop-Ipswich Yard. 18/5/21: 90007/045 on 4L89. 90014/043 on 4L91 and 4M87 return. 19/5/21: 90014/043 on 4L91 and 4M87 return. 90041/011 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 24/5/21: 90009/013//049/011 on 4L89. 25/5/21: 66413/597 on 4L89. 90012 on 4L91 and 4M87. 26/5/21: 90012/001 on 4M87. 90041/045 on 4l89.L27/5/21: 90012/011 on 4L91. 90014/007 on 4L89.

GBRf.

(John Podgorski).

1/5/21: 66744 on engineering at Stratford with JHAs. 3/5/21: 66741 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 8/5/21: 66788 on engineers’ “up” through Colchester @ 1447. 12/5/21: 66767 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 13/5/21: 66773 on Hams Hall-FLX. 26/5/21: 66708 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks.

GREATER ANGLIA.

Stored at Harwich International during May were 317338/40, 714/21, 883. 317714/23 were then returned to Ilford. The last Class 317/6s have gone for scrap – 317662/63. 31772 has also gone for scrap. All of these 317s went to Eastleigh Works for scrapping. 321408/31/39/443/44/45 have gone to Booth, Rotherham for scrap. 321365 has gone to Wabtec, Doncaster. 321335/433/447 have been debranded. Class 720s are now appearing on London to Ipswich and Clacton services. 720517/537 have been used on driver training. 1/5/21: Stansted Express 745104 on Norwich-Chelmsfords. 5/5/21: 317663 on Ely-Eastleigh scrap move behing ROG 57305. 7/5/21: 321365 on Clacton-Doncaster Wabtec move behind ROG 57305. 8/5/21: Stansted Express 745103/04/05 on Norwich-Chelmsfords. 13/5/21: 321439/443 on 5Q16 Clacton-Gascoigne Wood for storage then scrap behind ROG 57305. 14/5/21: 317662 on Ely-Eastleigh scrap move behind ROG 57310. 18/5/21: 317714/23 on 5V01 Harwich International-Ilford ECS. 20/5/21: 321408/44 on Clacton-Gascoigne Wood storage/scrap move behind ROG 57305. 21/5/21: 317722 on 5Q86 Ely-Eastleigh scrap move behind 57310. 26/5/21: 720557/563 on 5Q14 Liv St-Ely, then 5Q15 Ely-Cambridge North Sidings. 27/5/21: 321431/445 on 5Q16 Clacton-Gascoigne Wood storage/scrap move behind ROG 57305.

HEDINGHAM.

ADL/Enviro 200 365 (EU10 AOX) has received the new fleet livery. ADL/Enviro 400 LX56 EUC is ex Blue Triangle at Barking. ADL/Enviro 400s LK08 FLL/N/P are ex London Central at Bexleyheath. ADL/Enviro 400 613 (SN62 AVY) is on loan at Sible Hedingham from Konect at Dereham, covering for E400 616. ADL/Enviro 400 616 (SN10 CCV) is being repaired by an outside contractor. Short ADL/E200 296 (SN10 CCY) was transferred from Clacton to Kelvedon in early May, with 283 (OU57 FGV) returning to Clacton. They were both swapped back on 26th May. Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President open topper 500 (PL51 LDJ) has been vinyled for the Octopus Ahoy ! art trail and re-entered traffic for the summer at Clacton from 29/5/21. Scania Omnicity ‘decker 852 (AO57 HCD) is VOR following engine failure. Scania Omnidekka 815 (YN55 PZW) is repaired following its low bridge collision. Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 285 (SN03 EBV) has gone to Alpha recovery for scrap. From 29/5/21, the Clacton Breeze open top service restarted and route 7 was withdrawn between St Osyth and Brightlingsea. Odd sightings: 10/5/21: B7TL/President 574 on 19+63; B7TL/President 588 on TLA C am. 24/5/21: Omnidekka 812 on TLA B pm. 25/5/21: B7TL/President 580 on TLA C pm. 26/5/21: Omnidekka 814 on PL3 am. 28/5/21: 574 on TLA C return. Omnidekka movements: 6/5/21: 810 – KN-Chambers; 813- CN-KN. 7/5/21: 814 – CN-KN. 13/5/21: 812 – CN-KN. 20/5/21: 813 – KN-CN. 26/5/21: 814 – KN-CN; 815 – CN-KN. 27/5/21: 813 – CN-KN. The Covid school duplicates ceased after 28/5/21, as the year 11s left, only to return for their exams after half term.

IPSWICH BUSES. Odd sightings: 8/5/21: Short ADL/E200 71 (LX58 LMO) on 93. 25/5/21: Versa 150 on 4+11.

LONDON GENERAL. SE Class ADL/Enviro 200 MMCs are now frequently appearing on TfL108 (Lewisham-Stratford) alongside the MEC Class Mercedes Citaros.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE: A quick update for Crossrail / Elizabeth line showing the current training plan for this year. (345s now cover both FLU and RLU as most drivers are now passed out on both). Old Oak Common – Shenfield/Abbey Wood to Reading/Heathrow. 345 only. Maidenhead – Abbey Wood to Reading/Heathrow. 345 only. Abbey Wood – Abbey Wood to Heathrow. 345 only. Plumstead – Abbey Wood to Heathrow. 345 only. Ilford – Shenfield/Abbey Wood to Paddington plus ECS to Old Oak Common Depot. 345/315 (due to leave soon). Plus a few also sign 710s for Romford/Upminster but due to be overtaken by London Overground. Gidea Park – Shenfield/Abbey Wood to Paddington plus ECS to Old Oak Common Depot 345/315 (due to leave soon) Shenfield – Shenfield/Abbey Wood to Hayes and Harlington. 345/315 (due to leave soon). This means that currently Old Oak depot will be the only depot to sign the entire route for the time being. Although Shenfield will sign the ETCS system, they have no diagramed work past Hayes.

From w/c 23/5/21, 9 car Class 345 sets began to appear on Shenfield-Liverpool Street – 345021/43/65 being noted. 22/5/21: 315818/819 stabled at Shenfield. 315839/857 stabled at Gidea Park. 26/5/21: 345042 – OC-IL behind ROG 37611 as 5Q50. 29/5/21: 315834/844 stabled at Shenfield.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. New at Start Hill are Scania K410EB6/Caetano Levante IIIs 306-319 (BF21 CYK/L/O/P/T-X/Z, CZA-D).

OLST – ORIGINAL LONDON SIGHTSEEING TOUR. Resumed during May.

PANTHER TRAVEL.

Volvo B12B/VH Alizee YJ05 XXB is now here, ex Henshaws, Moreton in the Marsh. Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther VB08 PAN has received fleet livery, ex Scottish Citylink.

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS. By the end of May, only the MRL and Yeoman JHAs remained at Bow. There is a CAIB JNA which has been in the headshunt at Marks Tey Yard, for a while now.

ROG: 12/5/21: 37601 replaced 37608 as Orient Way Thunderbird. 19/5/21: 37884 on 0Z50 Derby-Ilford light loco.

SIMONDS, DISS.

SOUTH EAST COACHES, WICKFORD.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.

Above: During the lockdown, the Megasightseeing E400s were used for socially distanced meal reliefs around East London. 19132 was at Mile End on 3/4/21, providing such accommodation for Bow garage. (John Podgorski).

The Megasightseeing brand has ceased and been replaced by a joint venture with City Sightseeing and Grupo Julia. The City Sightseeing name and red livery will be used. ADL/Enviro 400 open toppers 19131-36 have transferred to the new venture, but will remain based at Leyton (T). This started on 20/5/21.

STEPHENSONS. Acquired is Scania Omnicity N270 ‘decker 7056 (YN56 FEO). It has been converted to a mobile Covid vaccination centre. Bury St Edmunds outstation closed at the start of May. Its 4 buses and work moved to the parent depot at Haverhill. This was a secure yard on the Moreton Hall Industrial Estate shared with a car wash. The Bury Breeze services were worked from there. During 2020, routes 383/384 also ran from Bury – on behalf of Galloway. In mid May, Galloway VDL SB180/MCV AY09 BYC was on loan, and appeared on route 38 (Witham-Braintree-Halstead), while sisters 204/05 (YJ60 GDO, GFA) were on loan to Haverhill and used at Bury.

UNO.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD.

Optare Solo demonstrator OP07 ARE has been returned off loan to Optare. It was replaced by Optare Solo M850 fleet no 299 (KX55 PKK), new to Stagecoach United Counties.

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS. 18/5/21: 172218 on Ilford-Tyseley ECS.

With thanks to: Angliagen, S Austin, J Cole, M Jones, L Kinsella Ilott, J Needham, D Pretty, T Smethers, K Weaver.

• 

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the April 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

A2B, BARBRAHAM. From 12/4/21, Herts CC SB10 (Stevenage Old Town circular) was gained from Centrebus.

ACME BUS, MOLEHILL GREEN. From Quick, Ludgvan, Cornwall was Mb 0814D/Plaxton Cheetah X173 BNH.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. Park and Ride ADL/Enviro 200s 4072/73 (SK15 GXS/T) and short Dart SLF/Caetano 1565 (HX04 HUK) have returned from Arriva Southend. Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 1559 (EU56 GVG) and short Dart SLF/Caetano 1562 (RX07 KPG) are back from Guildford. The Colchester Park & Ride resumed from 12/4/21. Odd sightings: 14/4/21: P&R ADL/E200 4071 on 77; R133 StreetLite 4324 on 2. 15/4/21: 4071 on 77; 4075 on 1+ 133. 16/4/21: 1565 on 8; 4075 on 77. 19/4/21: 4075 on 77; 4262 on 1. 20/4/21: 4071 on 77; 4261 on 1. 21/4/21: 4262 on 1. 26/4/21: R133 4324 on 8.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. On loan from Ware in late April were Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 3856-58 (KE54 LNR, LPC/F). Mercedes Sprinter 1012 (BF67 WGZ) was transferred in later in April, as an ancillary vehicle for route 724.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND. Subsequent histories: ADL/Enviro 200s resold via Ensign. GN08 CGX/Y/Z, CHD -to Thandi, Smethwick.

ARROW, MALDON. Ex Hallmark Connections, Heathrow was Mb Sprinter 513/Atlas RX67 OPU.

BLUE TRIANGLE. TfL396 (Ilford-Goodmayes Hospital) continues to host the odd old Enviro 400 ‘decker alongside its usual E200 saloons. ADL/E400 E76 – still with London General fleet names, was seen on 3/4/21. E70 was on the 396 on 10/4/21.

CHAMBERS. From 12/4/21, there were further service increases in line with Government Covid relaxations. Scania N230UD/Olympuses 873/77 (PN09 EMV, ENO) are back in service following engine replacement and accident repairs respectively.

COLAS RAIL. 2/4/21: 37610 tnt 37254 on 1Q99 Cambridge-March via KLN/IPS/NOR/COL/FLX. 30/4/21: 37175 tnt 37099 on 1Q99 Cambridge-March via Ipswich, Felixstowe, Colchester, Mistley.

DBS. 12/4/21: 92032 on 0L10 Wembley-Iford light loco.

DON’S OF DUNMOW.

DRS: 11/4/21: 37402 tnt 37425 on 6P01 Great Bentley-Whitemoor engineers. 27/4/21: 88006 at Dagenham Dock. 29/4/21: 37423 on 0Z37 Willesden-Norwich light loco via GEML.

FIRST ESSEX.

The Chelmsford Park & Ride resumed from 12/4/21. The second bus into the new green livery is ADL/Enviro 200 MMC 67162 (YY66 OZX). ADL/E200 MMCs 67161/62/64 have all moved from Basildon (BN) to Chelmsford (CF). Low height Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32476 (AU53 HJK) has gone to First Eastern Counties at Ipswich in exchange for full height ex First Potteries/South Yorkshire Volvo B7TL/ALX400 31785 (YN53 EOK). Accident damaged Wright StreetLite 63340 (SM65 EEY) has been repaired. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37027 (YJ06 XKS) is long term VOR at CR after failing on route 70. From 12/4/21, 71E (Colchester-Chelmsford – schooldays only) was renumbered 72. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 66860 has been convered to a driver trainer and repainted red. Resold by Ensign: Trident/President 33178 (LR02 LYX) – to Shelton Motors, Ely for scrap. Odd sightings: 1/4/21: 32547 on 175; 37034/062 on 64; R62 37135 on 65; R62 37138 on 64A; R62 37139 on 75/A; Dart SLF/Pointers 42937 (SN05 DZT), 42944 (WX56 OAU) on 71A. 2/4/21: R62 37134 on 70; R62 37136 on 653/4/21: 32673 on 64A; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37139 on 61; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 8. 4/4/21: 32476 on 64A; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37138 on 61. 5/4/21: R62 37135 on 65; 67737 on 62. 6/4/21: 32087 on 64A; Dart SLF/Pointer 42968 (WX06 ONC) on 71A. 7/4/21: 32478 on 64A; 37006 on 103; 37017 on 64; 37062 on 104; R62 37139 on 61; Airlink 67161 on 8; X10 67164 on 8. 8/4/21: 32478 on 64A; R62 37134 on 74B; 42936 (SN05 DZS) on 71A. 9/4/21: 37004 on 64A; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37138 on 75/A; 42932 (SN05 EAP) on 71A; Airlink 67163 on 5B. 10/4/21: R62 37135 on 2A; Airlink 67163 on 8. 12/4/21: P&R 67190 on 71. 13/4/21: 32669 on 67; 37042/053 on 103; R62 37133 on 64; R62 37135/39 on 61; 42927 (SN05 EAF) on 71A; Airlink 67163 on 65; X10 67164 on 36; P&R 67192 (SN66 WKO) on 71; P&R 67193 (SN66 WKP) on 73. 14/4/21: 32068 on 175; 32673 on 67; 67062 on 103; R62 37133 on 65; 44900 (AY08 EKP) on 71A; X10 67160 on 71; Airlink 67161 on 25; 67162 on 40; P&R 67192 on 31X. 15/4/21: 32476 on 175; 37054 on 67C; 37042 on 103; 44900 on 71A; X10 67160 on 71A; Airlink 67161 on 8A; X10 67164 on 36; P&R 67190 on 71; P&R 67192 on 31C. 16/4/21: 32087on 103; 32477 on 67; 32673 on 67; 37005 on 103; 37007 on 104; 37016/017 on 66; 27020 on 102; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37139 on 1A; 42923 (EU05 AUP) on 71A; Airlink 67161 on 8; P&R 67191 on 31C; P&R 67192 on 31X; 67735 on 62. 17/4/21: 32478 on 64; 37006 on 64A; 37017/020 on 103; R62 37133 on 65; 37140 on 67; X10 67164 on 40. 18/4/21: 32478 on 64; 32669 on 67B; 32673 on 64; 37004 on 64A; 37010 on 102; 37035 on 66; 37042 on 102; R62 37139 on 61. 19/4/21: 37004 on 102; 37005 on 103; 37016 on 64A; 37017 on 175/174; 37036 on 67; R62 37133 on 61; 42968 (WX06 ONC) on 71A; X10 67160 on 71A; Airlink 67161 on 100; P&R 67192 on 31X; P&R 67194 on 31C. 20/4/21: 32087 on 67C; 32629 on 64; 32669 on 175; 37016 on 103; 37037 on 67; 37054 on 102; R62 37134 on 61; 42932 (SN05 EAP) on 71A; X10 670160 on 40; P&R 67190 on 31X; P&R 67193 on 31C. 21/4/21: 32669 on 102; 37020/37 on 103; 37053 on 64; 37140 on 67; 42931 (SN05 EAO) on 71A; X10 67160 on 40; P&R 67193 on 31X; P&R 67194 on 31C. 22/4/21: 32087 on 64; 37005 on 17; 37006 on 175/174; 37037 on 102; 37042 on 103; R62 37134 on 88; 42922 (EU05 AUO) on 71A; X10 67160 on 40; P&R 67190 on 31c; P&R 67193 on 31B. 23/4/21: 37004 on 67; 37005 on 17; 37053 on 103; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37134 on 88/A; R62 37139 on 61; 42934 (SN05 DZP) on 71A; P&R 67193 on 31C; P&R 67194 on 31B. 24/4/21: 37007 on 64A; R62 37136 on 70; R62 37138 on 68; R62 37139 on 61; 37140 on 64. 25/4/21: 37015 on 67B; 37034 on 66; 37042 on 64A; 37062 on 64; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37136 on 65; 37140 on 102; P&R 67190 on 8A.26/4/21: 32477 on 102; 37010/015 on 67; 37020 on 175/174; 37062 on 103; 42936 (SN05 DZS) on 71A; P&R 67191 on 31C; P&R 67194 on 31X.27/4/21: 32068 on 174; 32477 on 67C; 32478 on 66; 37004 on 102; 37016 on 10; 37017 on 64; 37054 on 67; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37136 on 88; R62 37139 on 65; 42927 (SN05 EAF) on 71A; P&R 67189 on 31X; P&R 67191 on 31C; P&R 67192 on 31B.3 28/4/21: 37015 on 103; 37037 on 67; 37054 on 102; R62 37133 on 67C; R62 37134 on 65; R62 37138 on 75; 37140 on 66; 66872 on 75; P&R 67191/94 on 31X. 29/4/21: 32669 on 64A; 37004 on 67; 37017 on 102; R62 37133 on 67C + 75; R62 37134/35 on 61; 42933 (SN05 DZO) on 71A; X10 67160 on 71A; P&R 67189 on 31X; P&R 67190 on 31C; P&R 67191 on 31B. 30/4/21: 32087 on 104/102; 32628 on 64; 37005 on 104/175/174; 37016 on 103/175; 37042 on 66; 37062 on 104/103; r62 37133 on 61; R62 37134 on 75; R62 37138 on 61; x10 67160 on 40; Airlink 67163 on 100; P&R 67190 on 31X/B; P&R 67192 on 71; P&R 67193 on 31X; P&R 67196 on 42A/31B/X.

FOURWAYS, CHELMSFORD. Ex Bear Busers, Shepperton, via Ensign is Trident/ALX400 V479 KJN.

FREIGHTLINER. 1/4/21: 90006/003 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90009/045 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX – with 90008 added on 4M87 return. 90016/046 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90049/047 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 8/4/21: 90009/045 on 4L89. 90003/043 on 4L91. 90041/010 on 4L97. 90049/047 on 4M45. 9/4/21: 90003/043 on 4L91 and 4M87 return. 90008/004 on 4L89. 10/4/21: 90041/010 on 4L97. 12/4/21: 66593 + 90014 DIT + 66512 on 4M63 FLX-Trafford. 90044/006 on 4L91. 13/4/21: 90006/0454 on 4L91. 90009/016 + 90005 DIT on 4L89 Crewe-FLX failed at Ilford with flat on wagon 93484 and eventually recovered to Ilford. 90013/007 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 19/4/21: 900044/06 on 4M87. 28/4/21: 90003/042 on 4L91. 90045/009 on 4L89. 29/4/21: 90003/042 on 4L91. 90012/011 on 4L89. 30/4/21: 66510 on 4L91/4M87. 90008/049 on 4M45. 90016/017 on 4L89.

GBRf. 1/4/21: 66728 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 6/4/21: 66722 on 4L04 Hams Hall-FLX. 7/4/21: 66742 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 8/4/21: 66757 on 4L02. 10/4/21: 66746 on 4L43 Doncaster-Parkeston. 12/4/21: 66750 on 6L37 Hoo-Whitemoor. 13/4/21: 66721 on 4L02 Hams Hall-FLX. 66725 on 4L28 Doncaster-FLX. 29/4/21: 66761 on London Gateway-Masboro. 30/4/21: 66766 on 4L28 Doncaster-FLX.

GREATER ANGLIA.

Class 317s are now in steep decline, as more new Class 720s come on stream. The Stratford-Meridian Waters shuttle is now worked by Class 379s. 317505/649/60/64/65/67/68/70, 321346/352/53/55/59/61/62, 321422 have gone to Sims Metals, Newport for scrap. 317654/61/69 to Eastleigh Works for scrap. 3/4/21: 720547/553 stabled in Colchester yard. 7/4/21: 317670/505 on 5Q35 Ely-Newport scrap move behind GBRf 66711. 9/4/21: 321346/353 on Clacton-Newport scrap move behind ROG 37884. 10/4/21: 720547/553 stabled in Colchester yard. 12/4/21: 317667/65/64 on 5Q30 ELY-Newport scrap move behind GBRf 66713. 13/4/21: 317654/61 on 5Q42 Ely-Eastleigh scrap move behind ROG 37884. 321422/352 on 5Q76 Clacton-Newport scrap move behind ROG 57312. 17/4/21: 317515 on Liverpool St-Hertford Easts. 720542 + 556 in Colchester yard. 745107 on Liverpool St-Norwichs. 20/4/21: 717710/709 on 2H04 LST-Cambridge. 720549/551 on training on Lea Valley lines. 23/4/21: 321359/55 Clacton to Newport for scrap behind ROG 57312. 24/4/21: 317340 on LST-Hertford East; 317884 on LST-Cambridge North; 745005 on Stansted Express. 26/4/21: 317649 from Ely to to Sims for scrap behind ROG 37884. 28/4/21: 317668/660 Ely-Newport for scrap behind ROG 57312. 29/4/21: 317669 on Ely-Eastleigh for scrap behind ROG 57312. 30/4/21: 321361/62 towed Clacton-Newport for scrap behind ROG 37884.

HEDINGHAM. There were further service increases from 12/4/21, in line with Government Covid 19 guidelines. Volvo B7TL/EL 506 (PJ02PYW) is on loan Konect and at Sible Hedingham (HD), covering for long term VOR B7TL/Gemini 514 (LB02 YXF). Ex Carousel short ADL/Enviro 200 283 (OU57 FGV) was delivered to Sible Hedingham in early April, and soon appeared at Kelvedon (KN). Sister 284 (OU57 FGX) is at HD awaiting entry to service after refurbishment – which includes fitting of a new floor in the forward low floor section. Scania Omnidekka 815 (YN5 PZW) collided with the low railway bridge at Kirby Cross, and is now under repair. Accident damaged ADL/Enviro 400 616 (SN10 CCV) is being repaired at Clacton workshop. Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 291 (EU06 KCX) is parked up at HD with a failed engine. Scania Omnilink 457 (AU61 AVK) is again loaned by HD to Clacton (CN), with Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 525 (LX05 EZH) coming to HD in exchange. Odd sightings: 13/4/21: B7TL/President 574 on TLA C pm; B7TL/President 575 on 15 pm; Omnidekka 820 on TLA A am. 23/4/21: B7TL/Gemini 527 on 15 pm. 27/4/21: B7TL/President 580 on 74 + X76. 29/4/21: B7TL/President 580 on 63 + 19. Omnidekka movements: w/e 10/4/21: 820 – CN-KN. 16/4/21: 810 – Chambers-KN. w/e 17/4/21: 820 – KN-CN. 19/4/21: 800 – KN-Chambers; 809 – Chambers-KN. 21/4/21: 800 – Chambers-KN; 809 – KN-Chambers; 814 – KN-CN. 27/4/21: 800 – KN-Chambers; 806 – Chambers-KN.

IPSWICH BUSES.

Optare Solo 241 has received fleet names, some time after its repaint. Pictured (above) on Felixstowe Road, Ipswich on 3/4/21. DAF DB250LF/EL 56 has received the new livery, ex the classic green/cream scheme. Only a few double deckers remain in the old “battenberg” green/light blue/white livery. Odd sightings: 14/4/21: Tempo 87 (YJ12 GWA) on 93. 15/4/21: Long ADL/E200 74 (DU60 LOJ) on 4 + 11. 23/4/21: Long ADL/E200 75 (GD10 MVM) on 4 + 11.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH. Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis WVL358/59 (LX60 DWJ/K) have moved to Metrobus at Croydon fro use on ex RATP TfL schools service 633.

LONDON UNDERGROUND. A refresh programme has begun for the Central Line 1992 Tube Stock.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. Possible newcomers to the east side are Aventras 345017/031/038/056. 24/4/21: 315856 + 838 on Shenfield to LSTs – very unusual for a Saturday now. 315826/51 have gone to Sims Metals at Newport for scrap. 15/4/21: 315826/51 – Ilford to Newport for scrap.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. From 12/4/21, services 075 (Cambridge-London), 737 (Stansted-Oxford), 777 (Birmingham-Stansted) resumed, along with new route 076 (Cambridge-Stansted).

NIBS, WICKFORD.

PANTHER TRAVEL.

SV08 GXP is an ex Stagecoach Bluebird/Scottish Citylink via Coach Hire Surrey Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther, which has been re-registered VB08 PAN. Ex Stagecoach East Scotland Volvo B12T/Panther SJ57 AAY is also here (via Ensign), but for spare parts only. Leyland Olympian/ECW coach D510 PPU has been acquired as a heritage vehicle; this had latterly been in Norfolk. Ex Arriva London ADL/Enviro 200s re-registered are LJ09 KPR to DB09 PAN, LJ09 KPT to AS09 PAN, LJ09 KPU to AB09 PAN, LJ09 KRD to VB09 PAN. The previous ADL/E200 carrying DB09 PAN was re-registered back to YX10 BDY and then to DB10 PAN. LJ09 KPR/T were initially used in London red on rail replacement. All are now receiving single door conversion and Panther fleet livery. Trident/ALX400 V130 MEV is now BIG 7596. Optare Solos CE52 UWR, FY52 RZC have been sold, unused to Trustybus/Central Connect, Roydon. Also sold are ADL/Enviro 200s YX10 BFJ ex DB10 PAN, YX62 FCA ex DC62 PAN – both to Taw & Torridge Coaches.

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS. Three JHA type bodie hoppers in siding at Bow by mid April. 1 MRL, 1 Tourax and 1 Yeoman.

ROG. 8/4/21: 37884 on 0L52 Leicester-Colchester light loco. 57002 on 0M80 Norwich-Willesden light loco via GEML and NLL. 57312 on 0Z05 Norwich-Clacton light loco.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.

It has been announced that the heritage Routemaster worked TfL 15H route (Tower Hill-Trafalgar Square) will not run again. It had not operated since 2019 – pre Covid-19.

STEPHENSONS. A 2nd Omnidekka on loan to Galloway was 639 (YN55 NKK).

TG TRAVEL/A1 COACH COMPANY, COLCHESTER. Volvo B12B/Sideral FJ10 DNU is back in use. It had been SORNED during the Covid lockdowns.

THORNS OF RAYLEIGH. The depot has moved to Rawreth Industrial Estate from Bowers Gifford (the old S&M base).

TOWER TRANSIT. Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis resold by Ensign: BJ11 DSX – to Tyrers, Manchester; BJ11 DVX – Shiel Buses, Fort William; BJ11 DZY, EBP – London Borough of Havering; BJ11 EAF – ASD, Strood.

Above: The ADL/Enviro 400s which passed to Go-Ahead London in 2019, have since been spread far and wide across this fleet. TT DN33614 now GAL EN28, was originally posted to Orpington (Metrobus), then at Bexleyheath (London Central), but had moved to Merton (London General), by the time it was spotted in Tooting on 3/4/21. So this bus has been more travelled with its subsequent owner ! It had only worked from Lea Interchange when with Tower Transit and before that First Capital. (John Podgorski).

TRUSTYBUS/CENTRAL CONNECT, ROYDON. Ex Arriva London ADL/Enbviro 200 LX58 AVE is via Ensign. From 12/4/21, the following Herts CC contracts were gained from Centrebus. 308/380 (Hertford-Cuffley), 333 (Pinehurst-Bengeo), 378/379 (Hertford-Stevenage), M1-5 (Ware Town Services). This was due to Centrebus closing its Stevenage depot from 10/4/21.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. From 6/4/21, new commercial service 62 (Blackmore-Edney Common) commenced.

• 

With thanks to: S Austin, C Barham, T Cullum, L Harrison, A Hazell, D Pretty, R West.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the March 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

AJK, ILFORD. Ex Dan’s of Waltham Abbey Yutong Tc9 YC15 WCT is here. School contracts resumed from 8/3/21.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. Loaned to Arriva Guildford were Dart SLF/MPDs 1558/59 (KX56 HCP, EU56 GVG) and short Dart SLF/Caetanos 1562/63 (RX07 KPG/J). Odd sightings: 19/3/21: P&R ADL/E200 4071 (SK15 GXR) on Staff Shuttle. 26/3/21: P&R ADL/E200 4074 (SK 15 GXU) on Staff Shuttle. 31/3/21: 4075 (SK15 GXV) on Staff Shuttle.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. From 1/3/21, new LEZ regulations in Greater London meant that non compliant buses could no longer serve Heathrow Airport on route 724. As a result, Mb Citaros 3891-97 (BU06 HSD-G/L), 3909 (BD12DHV) were transferred to Arriva Guildford. 3897 was the last Citaro used on 724 on 14/2/21. To replace them, ADL/Enviro 200 MMCs 4093/95-99 (YX17 NYG/K-O) came from Arriva Maidstone, and 4101/02 (YX17 NYS/T) from Arriva Gillingham. 4102 was subsequently destroyed by fire while on route 724 at Harlow on 31/3/21..

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND. Heritage liveried Volvo B7TLE/Wright 3816 re-entered passenger service in mid March. Subsequent histories: Ex TfL contract ADL/Enviro 200s ENL91/92 (orig 4011/12) – GN58 BUP/U; have been loaned by Ensign to Go-Ahead London for meal relief use at Bexleyheath and Stockwell.

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH. Sold to Ensign for scrap are ex Grays depot Volvo B7TL/ALX400s LJ05 BLZ, BKF/L/U.

CHAMBERS. From 8/3/21, normal school day timetables resumed. Scania N230UD/Olympus 873 (PN09 EMV), which had been long term VOR, had a replacement engine fitted by mid March. Sister 877 (PN09 ENO), collided with a fallen tree on the A134 near Sudbury and was subsequently VOR’d for repairs.

COLAS RAIL.

4/3/21: 37175 tnt 37099 on NR test train along GEML. 10-11/3/21: 66849/50 on 6C64 Upminster/Barking-Whitemoor engineers. 13/3/21: DR73906 ‘Panther’ in Marks Tey engineers siding. 14/3/21: 66850 on 6C60 Ripple Lane-Whitemoor engineers. 15/3/21: 37421 + 975025 Caroline on 5Z1 Derby-Grantham via Temple Mills. 29/3/21: 37610 tnt 37254 on 1Q90 Derby-Welwyn via Cambridge, Broxbourne, Liv St.

DAN’S COACH TRAVEL, NEEDHAM MARKET. Ex UNO, Hatfield DAF DB250LF/Optare Spectra YJ53 VBN, has passed to MP Travel, Warrington, where it became W10 MPT.

DBS. 2/3/21: 66050 failed at Felixstowe on 4L45 and replaced by FL 66515. 3/3/21: FL66515 + 66177 on 4L45. 17/3/21: 66088 on 6L07 Hoo Junct-Ipswich Griffin Wharf VSTP.

DOCKLANDS BUSES. Subsequent history: Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini WVL413, latterly with Metrobus at Orpington, is now a meal relief bus with London General at Morden Wharf.

Above: WVL413 at Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich on 27/3/21. (John Podgorski).

DONS OF DUNMOW.

Above: New Mercedes Tourismo DH21 DON arrived on 1/3/21. Pictured at Birchanger Services. (Shaun Kinsella Ilott).

Above: The last Leyland Olympian active at Don’s is H816 CBP, seen on 4/3/21. Alexander RL bodied and new to Stagecoach South. Probably the last Leyland Olympian in regular pcv use in Essex. (Laurence Kinsella Ilott).

DBS. 22/3/21: 37424/424 on 6P01 Whitemoor-Thorpe le Soken engineers.

ENSIGNBUS.

The Southend seafront service 68 (Leigh on Sea-Pier West) resumed from 29/3/21. Initially running daily until 11/4/21 – the Easter school holiday period, there will be a further resumption from May to September. The three former City Sightseeing Volvo B7TL/Ayatt open toppers – 369-371 (EU05 BZM, VBL/O), were reacquired from Bath Bus Company, and are being used as the main vehicles. Into stock are ex Tower TransitVolvo B9TL/Wright Geminis BJ11 DTK, DVR.Sold are: Volvo B7TL/ALX400 109 (LJ54 BDO)- to Barway Services, Ely; ADL/E200s 719-721 (SK15 HBB, YX09 FLD, YX11 HNT) – to East Yorkshire. Fire damaged BCI Excellence 145 (LX17 DZF) has been written off.

(David Hewitt).

New are Wright StreetDecks 161-167 (LX21 CHH/J/K/L/N/O/V). They are part of a cancelled Arriva Yorkshire order. They entered traffic on 1/3/21. 163 is depicted at Grays on 3/3/21.

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: Wright StreetLite 63335 (SK65 PXS) on Lexden Road, Colchester – eastbound, in November 2020. On a Highwoods bound 65 working, it is passing the Gainsborough Business Centre – formerly Lexden Court. (Will Jesney).

There is a new fleet livery of 3 tone green with ‘Essex Bus’ fleet names in yellow. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 69421 (AU58 FFH) was the first recipient. ADL/Enviro 200MMC 66170 (YY66 PCF) was destroyed by fire at Danbury on 19/3/21, while on route 31B. Volvo B7TL/ALX400 30564 (WU02 KVE), was back in service at the start of March. Sister 32476 (AU53 HJK) returned to traffic in mid March. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 66873 has gone to PVS, Barnsley for scrap. Odd sightings: 1/3/21: 37006 on 75 – usually saloon at present – back to regular ‘decker from 10/3/21. 2/3/21: 32477 on 64A; 32673 on 175/174. 3/3/21: 37062 on 64A. 4/3/21: 37007 on 67; 37020 on 64; 37037 on 66; 37062/140 on 64A. 5/3/21: 37004 on 64; 37016/35 on 67. 8/3/21: 37005 on 64. 9/3/21: R62 37133 on 65. 10/3/21: 37027 on 67. 11/3/21: 32485 on 175/174; R62 37133 on 70; R62 37134 on 75A. 12/3/21: 32087 on 67; 37020 on 175/174; R62 37139 on 70. 13/3/21: R62 37133 on 88. 15/3/21: R62 37135 on 70 + 75. 16/3/21: R62 37133 on 175. 17/3/21: 37005 on 175/174. 18/3/21: R62 37138 on 175. 19/3/21: 32477 on 174 pm;R62 37135 on 75; R62 37138 on 175 am; R62 37139 on 75; 67741 on CR Staff Shuttle. 20/3/21: R62 37133 on 88. R62 37135/38 on 1A. 23/3/21: 63333/39 on 75. 24/3/21: R62 37139 on 174. 25/3/21: 37006 on 67C; 37036 on 174. 26/3/21: 37016 on 102. 27/3/21: 37053 on 67; R62 37135 on 61; 67739 on 75A. 28/3/21: 32673 on 66; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37134/36/39 on 65; StreetLite 47656 on X10. 29/3/21: 32547 on 64A; 37016 on 102; 37042 on 64A; R62 37138 on 74B; Dart SLF/Pointer 42945 (WA56 OAV) on 71A, Airlink 67161 on 8A; X10 67164 on 5. 30/3/21: 32087 on 64; 32477 on 104; 37004 on 102; 37053 on 64A; R62 37134 on 174; R62 37138 on 68; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 8A. 31/3/21: 32477 on 64; 32547 on 102; 32673 on 104; 37034 on 66; R62 37134 on 66; Dart SLF/Pointer 42934 (SN05 DZP) on 71A; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 5.

In mid March, it was announced in the local press, that the old bus garage in Queen Street, Colchester (closed August 2015), was to be redeveloped into “12 creative spaces” by 2022.

FREIGHTLINER. 90008 currently retains its ‘The East Anglian’ name plates. 1/3/21: 90044 on Ipswich-Norwich crew trainer and return. 2/3/21: 66523 on Ipswich-Lindsay tanks. 3/3/21: 90044 on Ipswich-Norwich crew trainer and return. 8/3/21: 90048/046 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 9/3/21: Pink 66587 on 4L87 Leeds-FLX. 90014/009 on 4L98 Coatbridge-FLX. 90046/048 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 10/3/21: 90013/045 on 4797 Trafford-FLX. 90043/042 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90046/048 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 11/3/21: 90014 (orange)/009 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 12/3/21: Pink 66587 on 4L41. 13/3/21: 90010/012 on 4L91 Trafford-Ipswich. 900013/045 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 16/3/21: 66542 + 90008/007 on 4L89. 90013/045on 4L91. 90042/043on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 17/3/21: 90007/008 on 4L91/4M87 FLX-Trafford. 90010/012 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 18/3/21: 90007/008 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 22/3/21: 90008 on Ipswich-Norwich route learner and return. 24/3/21: 90049/014 on 4L89. 25/3/21: 90012/009 on 4L89. 90014/049 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford and 4L91 return. 26/3/21: 66537 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 90004/006 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90049/047 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 29/3/21: 90012/019 on 4L91.

GBRf. 3/3/21: 66777/83/67 on 4L04 Hams Hall-FLX. 4/3/21: 66751 on 6P41 Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 8/3/21: 66773 + Colas 66850/49 on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 66788 on 4E21 FLX-Wakefield. 9/3/21: 66773/705 + FL 66544 on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 10/3/21: 66773 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 13/3/21: Biffa liveried 66783 on 4L29. 15/3/21: 66750 on 6X37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 24/3/21: 66764 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks.

GREATER ANGLIA.

The Clacton resignalling was completed 21/3/21. A number of warm stored Class 321s are stabled end to end along the siding parallel to the running line east of Harwich International. Several more warm stored Class 317s and ‘321s are in Parkeston Quay Yard. 317659/671 to Eastleigh Works for scrap. 321325/49/64/66 to Sims Metals, Newport for scrap. 4/3/21: 317346/652 towed by ROG 57312 Ilford-Ely for storage. 5/3/21: 317??? dragged by ROG 57312 Ilford-Ely for storage. 13/3/21: 317515 on Ilford depot. 745005/006 on Stansted Express. 19/3/21: 321349/366 on Clacton-Newport scrap run behind ROG 57312. 20/3/21: 745103 on Norwich-Liverpool Streets. 24/3/21: 720553/56 on 1Y33 Ipswich-Liv St. 25/3/21: 317659/671 on 5Q86 Ely Papworth-Eastleigh Arlington scrap move behind ROG 37884. 26/3/21: 321364/325 on 5Q76 Clacton-Newport scrap move behind ROG 57312.

HEDINGHAM.

Above: A newly repainted 262 at Mason Road, Colchester on 9/3/21. (Alex Law).

Ex Carousel short ADL/Enviro 200 OU57 FGV has received the new fleet livery and been numbered 283. ADL/Enviro 200s 262 (EU58 JCJ), 264 (EU59 AYM), 265 (EU10 AOX) are in the new livery. Short ADL/Enviro 200 296 (SN10 CCY) entered service at Clacton (CN) in mid March. As a result, Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 286 (HW54 BTY) was withdrawn, and sold for preservation. Sisters 285 (SN03 EBV), 288 (HW54 BUF) have been stripped for parts at CN. Omnilink 457 (AU61 HVK) was on loan to CN from Sible Hedingham (HD) during March. ADL/Enviro 400 616 (SN10 CCV), suffered rear end accident damage and has gone to Clacton for repairs. Following accident damage, Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 586 (X584 EGK) had the plain window in the former centre exit bay replaced by an opening one. Sister 568 (W458 WGH) is now being stripped for parts at CN. Normal school day timetables resumed from 8/3/21. Omnidekka movements: 1/3/21: 810 – Chambers-KN. 2/3/21: 813 – KN-Chambers. 16/3/21: 800 – KN-Chambers; 801- Chambers-KN. 17/3/21: 812 – KN-CN. Odd sightings: 4/3/21: B7TL/President 586 on D1/D2 following failure of ADL/E200 293 at Maldon Tesco. 8/3/21: Solo 910 on 19B pm + 63/A. 11/3/21: B7TL/President 580 on 15 pm. 15/3/21: Omnidekka 814 on PL3 am. 16/3/21: B7TL/President 571 on 19B pm + 63/A. 17/3/21: Dart SLF/Pointer 260 on 19B pm + 63/A; Omnidekka 812 on 95A pm; Solo 911 on 50, 69 etc. 18/3/21: Omnilink 457 CN-KN then on 903 pm. 19/3/21: B7TL/Gemini 521 on TLA B pm; 810 on TLA A pm, then D1. 22/3/21: Omnilink 457 on 88 duplicate am, then KN-HD; 580 on TLA C am. 23/3/21: 812 on TLA C pm.

The old Tollesbury depot (closed July 2016), was completely demolished during March. The site on New Road, is to be redeveloped as housing.

IPSWICH BUSES.

Above: YX21 RPO on Queen Street, Colchester on 26/3/21. (Will Jesney).

On loan from ADL was E200 MMC demonstrator YN21 RPO, with temp fleet no 501. Ex Arriva Medway Towns (via Ensign) is Scania Omnidekka 63 (YN06 TFZ). 84 (MX09 HHS) is an ex Faresaver, Chippenham ADL/Enviro 200. Ex Lothian Volvo B7RLE/Wright SN57 DDF is on loan from Ensign with temp fleet no 2. The DAF DB250LF/ELs 55-59 have returned to service – mostly on schools. Optare Versa 145 was sold in mid March. Odd sightings: 3/3/21: Versas 145, 149 on 4 + 11. 11/3/21: Versa 152 on 4 + 11. 12/3/21: Versa 150 on 4 + 11.

L&R TRANSPORT, WICKFORD. Has ceased trading following revocation of its O Licence. The closing fleet was Neoplan Tourliner A20 LNR; Volvo B10M/Plaxton Excalibur K20 LNR; Neoplan Skyliner N66 SUN and Volvo B11RT/Jonckherre T9 LNR. All these were quickly sold. The depot was shared with Kevendy’s Coaches.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH. From 13/3/21, new TfL route 456 (Crews Hill-North Middlesex Hospital) replaced W10 (Crews Hill-Enfield). Wright StreetLites WS49, 50, 61-64 were used in this conversion. WS61-64 came from Metrobus.

LONDON OVERGROUND. Soon to sign Romford to Upminster also for Stratford drivers the handover is just delayed due to covid. Also all Stratford/Euston drivers sign Gospel Oak – Barking. Stratford: 710 & 378 East Ham depot – Upney Jct; Barking – Gospel Oak; Stratford-Richmond; Willesden Junction-Clapham Junction. Some Euston drivers also sign GPO-BKG.

MARC1 TRAVEL, BILLERICAY. Ex Connexions Buses Scania L94UB/Wright Solar M14 TVL has been repainted white; ex green/red/white as acquired.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. By w/e 13/3/21: 345054 – OC-IL. On 14/3/21, 345067 was used on a test run from Stratford to Abbey Wood. The Stratford tunnel portal is now officially open.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Services resumed from 29/3/21. These were those serving Stansted Airport – A6 (Stansted-London), A9 (Stansted-Stratford), 491 (Gt Yarmouth-London). Frequencies will increase as lockdown restrictions are further lifted. London Victoria Coach Station reopened from the same date. Paper timetables are no longer available, and the only remaining customer service point is at the main entrance. Several retail outlets remain closed.

PANTHER TRAVEL. Ex Arriva London short ADL/Enviro 200 LJ09 KPR, has appeared in temporary use on rail, but will eventually join the main fleet after single door conversion and repaint. Acquired via Ensign for spares only is ADL/E200 LJ07 ECZ. Ex Flagfinders Leyland Olympian/Alexander tri-axle J590 CEV has been sold, unused to a private buyer for conversion to a caravan. Weeley site has closed and the A Barham & Sons engineering arm has ceased. All ops are now focussed at Parkeston and the outstation at Colchester.

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS: Yeoman JHA bogie hopper 19155, in the siding at Bow, in mid March.

Above: This MKIII ex HST rake carriage was seen in Halstead on 11/3/21. En route to the Colne Valley Railway at Castle Hedingham. (Simon Austin).

ROG. The Class 47s – 47812/13/15/48 have been sold to WCR; being replaced by Class 57/3s hired from DRS. 11/3/21: 37608 on Ely Papworth-Orient Way light loco.

SBC LEISURE, WICKFORD. Has ex Go North East/National Express contract Volvo B11RT/Caetano Levante BV17 GVD – via Ensign.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. TfL173 (Beckton-Goodmayes) began receiving its new BYD/ADL/Enviro 400 evs from 1/3/21, to replace the borrowed and temporary ADL/Enviro 40Ds. In practice there is some intermixing on TfL174 (Harold Hill-Dagenham) also. 173 BYD/ADL obs: 1/3/21: 14114/16 (LF70 YUK/N), 14118/19 (LF70 YUR/S), 14122 (LF70 YUW), 14125/28 (LF70 LF70 YVA/D) on 173. 3/3/21: 14111 (LF70 YUG) on 174; 14113 (LF70 YUJ)on 173. 5/3/21: 14133 (LF70 YVK). 11/3/21: 14121 (LF70 YUV) on 173. 12/3/21: 14117 (LF70 YUO) on 173. 13/3/21: 14112 (LF70 YUH) on 174. 15/3/21: 14123 (LF70 YUX0 on 173. 16/3/21: 14115 (LF70 YUL) on 173. 17/3/21: 14124 (LF70 YUY) on 173. 18/3/21: 14120 (LF70 YUU on 173; 14126 (LF70 YVB) on 173. 20/3/21: 14129 (LG21 HZP) on 173. As a result, the temporary ADL/Enviro 400s were replaced. Those borrowed from RATP were returned, with ADE40458 being the last in use with East London. 80417/18/56/60/61 (YX12 FNZ, FOA, YX62 BJF, BKO, BLZ) were returned to RATP London United in March. Transferred to Selkent were ADL/E400 19744 (LX11 BBO), ADL/Enviro 200s 36572/73 (LX13 CZP/R). Internal transfers were of Scania Omnicity ‘deckers 15024/73 to Barking; 15025/26/30/33/48 to West Ham; ADL/E40 19847 to Leyton; ADL/E200s 36345/66 to Barking; ADL/E200 MMC 48025 to North Street; 48025/31 to Barking. Delicensed were Optare Versas 25303-05. ADL/Enviro 400 19000 (LX55 HGC) ‘Spirit of London’ has passed for preservation, to the London Transport Museum, having previously been “semi preserved” by Stagecoach.

STEPHENSONS. ADL/Enviro 200 no 467 (SN66 WKF) still has the old fleet names. Odd sightings: 9/3/21: Scania N230UD/Olympus 509 (YN07 LHP) on 39.

SWIFT TRAVEL ESSEX, COLCHESTER.

Above: Swift Travel Essex is what was Roman Coaches. Neoplan Tourliner PJ12 ATN was seen in Halstead on 22/3/21. Swift occupies the old Roman Coaches depot at Commerce Way, Colchester. (Simon Austin).

THORNS OF RAYLEIGH. The depot has moved from Benfleet to Rayleigh.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON. Via Ensign are ex Arriva London ADL/E200s LJ09 KPG, KRE; ex Metrobus Dart SLF/EL Esteem PO56 JFE. Ex Midland Red South (for spares only) is Optare Solo KN04 XKL.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. On loan from Optare is Versa demonstrator OP07 ARE. From 8/3/21, new commercial service 14 (Waltham Cross-Upshire) started.

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS: 20/3/21: 172006 + 217 at Ilford depot for tyre turning.

With thanks to: Anglia gen, S Austin, J Cole, S Barham, R Downton, Ensign, D Hewitt, W Jesney, L Kinsella Ilott, S Kinsella Ilott, A Law, London’s Transport, D Pretty, G Trotter, R West.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the February 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

We’re pushing a few boundaries this month, by featuring a historical connection between public transport and football, and because it’s February (and Valentines) – an alternative version of ‘Brief Encounter’ – featuring a bus instead of a train.

Early February saw some more significant snow fall. It happened on Sunday the 7th and into Monday 8th, and caused much travel disruption. On the 7th, some bus routes finished early. On the 8th more snow had fallen overnight. The Tendring Hundred peninsular was particularly hit. Hedingham Clacton depot was “snowed in” first thing, and sections of several routes in Clacton could not be served. This was likewise for Panther route 2 in Harwich and Dovercourt, while its 80/A were curtailed to run Colchester-Boxted and 81/A via Dedham suspended. Stephensons was unable to run its 9, 105 and 107 routes in Tendring. Greater Anglia train services were also stopped along the Colchester to Clacton and Walton, plus Manningtree to Harwich lines due to frozen points.

Ipswich Buses stopped all of its Suffolk rural routes and instigated a Sunday schedule on many of its urban ones; Essex CC contracts ran as normal. Stephensons also suspended several of its rural services around the Essex/Suffolk borders. Hedingham was able to run most of its mileage on its mid Essex network, with a few exceptions, due to minor roads being impassable. First and Arriva appeared to cope with relatively minor delays only.

Above: A picturesque Friday Woods, Colchester on 7/2/21. (Margaret Jones).

Above: Hedingham short ADL/Enviro 200 no 292, at a snowbound Kelvedon depot on 8/2/21. (John Podgorski).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 4071 on Staff Shuttle on 24/2/21. (Simon Austin).

Colchester Park & Ride was temporarily suspended from 6/2/21, with the ADL/E200s being used on Staff Shuttles for the moment. Odd sightings: 2,3/2/21: R133 StreetLite 4324 on 8. 4/2/21: 1559, 1562 on Staff Shuttles. 5/2/21: 1562 on 1. 6/2/21: R133 4324 on 8. 8/2/21: 1559 on 8; 1563 on 1; 4224 on 1; R133 4324 on 8. 9/2/21: 1562 on 8. 10/2/21: 1558 on 77; 1559 on 1. 11/2/21: 1558 on 1; 1562 on 1. 15/2/21: 1562 on 77; R133 4323 on 8. 16/2/21: P&R ADL/E200 4075 (SK15 GXV) on Staff Shuttle; 4323 on 8. 17/2/21: 4261 on 1. 18/2/21: 1559 on 8; 1563 on 1; 4071/75 on Staff Shuttle; 4323 on 8. 19/2/21: 1558, 1563 on 1. 20/2/21: 1558 on 1. 22/2/21: 1558/59 on 1; 4075 on Staff Shuttle. 23/2/21: 1558/59 on 1; 1562 on 1; 1563 on 8. 24/2/21: 1558/63 on 1.

Above: Dart SLF/Pointer 3418 at Crouch Street, Colchester on 6th November 2020. One of a batch new to TGM Colchester in autumn 2004, and most are still there. (Will Jesney).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. Received from Arriva Kent and Surrey were ADL/Enviro 200 MMCs 4088-93/95-99/101/02 (YX17 NYB-D/F/G/K-O/S/T). They are mainly for use on 724 (Harlow-Heathrow, which now needs ULEZ vehicles. They have replaced the Mercedes Citaros, which went the other way.

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH. Short ADL/Enviro 200 (LJ58 AVT) is now at Barking, ex Dartford.

Above: Volvo B5H/Wright Gemini 3 HV204 (LK66 HCJ) at Stratford on 6/2/21, on ex Stagecoach TfL158. (John Podgorski).

BALFOUR BEATTY.

Above: Windhoff electrification OHL MPV DR98003 ‘Anthony Wrighton 1944-2011’ at Stratford on 6/2/21. It is leading 98004/08 and 98019. (John Podgorski).

BLUE TRIANGLE. Internal transfers in are ADL/Enviro 400s E65, E75 from London General, while Volvo B5H/Wright Gemini WHV67 has come from Docklands.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 SE35 is now with London Central; initially at Bexleyheath. Seen on Morden Wharf staff bus/meal relief duty at Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich on 6/2/21. (John Podgorski).

C2C.

Above: Electrostar 357005 ‘Southend 2017 Alternative City of Culture’ at Mile End Park on 20/2/21. (John Podgorski).

COLAS. 1/2/21: 37610 tnt 37612 on 1Q90 Derby-Ferme Park via Cambridge and Liv St. 3/2/21: 37610 tnt 37612 on 1Q97 Ferme Park-Cambridge via Stanford, Liv St, Harwich Town. 10/2/21: 37418 tnt 37116 on 1Q25 Liv St-Peterborough. 18/2/21: 37421 propelling inspection saloon 975025 ‘Caroline’ on 5Z12/552V Temple Mills-Grantham @ 1429. 19/2/21: 37610 + 9708 on 3Q66 Colchester-Liv St, then 3Z66 to Derby.

DAN’S COACH TRAVEL, NEEDHAM MARKET. Has ex UNO, Hatfield DAF DB250LF/Optare Spectra YJ53 VBN.

DBS. 3/2/21: 66206 on FLX-East Midland Gateway. 9/2/21: 66155 unusually ran around at Europa Junction for 6M45 Barham-Mountsorrel, due to Claydon being unavailable due to weather.

DCR. 10/2/21: 60055 on 0Z61 Willesden-Cambridge light loco.

DOCKLANDS BUSES. Volvo B5H/Wright Gemini WHV67 came from Metrobus at Croydon, but quickly moved on to Blue Triangle.

Above: The last Scanias with Go-Ahead London are at Docklands. Omnicity 970 was at Mile End on 20/2/21. (John Podgorski).

DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY.

Above: Unit 08 trails 05 – Stratford bound, at Langdon Park on 13/2/21. This is on the alignment of the old North London Railway, and the grade at this point is slightly upwards, towards the bridge over the Limehouse Cut canal. (John Podgorski).

Above: Once upon a time, Don’s operated ex West Midlands PTE former Walsall Corporation Daimler Fleetline CRC-36/NC XDH 56G. It was seen in its WMPTE days, (and still in Walsall livery) on 13/2/1972. It is now preserved at Wythall Museum in Worcestershire. (Roger Pope).

DRS.

Above: 37425 “up” at Chitts Hill on 9/2/21. (John Podgorski).

6/2/21: 66422/32 on 086P Willesden-Stowmarket light loco via Cambridge and Bury, due to GEML engineering blockade. 8/2/21: 37425 on 0Z99 Ipswich-Felixstowe snow clearance, then onto Clacton branch. 37601 on West Anglia snow clearance. 9/2/21: 37425 on 0P01/02 Norwich-Shenfield light loco and return. 11/2/21: 66432 tnt 37425 on 6P03 Gt Bentley-Whitemoor engineers. 18/2/21: 37425 on on Norwich-Willesden light loco past Lea Junction @ 1552. 23/2/21: 37425 Norwich-Willesden Brent light loco with 37424 in opposite direction.

ENIGMA TRAVEL, COLCHESTER. Has ceased operations. It was founded as TJ’s Travel in 1991, by ex Eastern National employees Tim and Jan Waller. The Enigma name came when it changed ownership in the 2000s – being bought by Mr Seadon. The registered office was originally in Wivenhoe, but the depot was always in Colchester – in the Hythe area. Firstly, vehicles were parked off Maudlyn Road (shared with Tony Glew), then from 1997 – due to redevelopment of that site, this moved to Fieldgates on Haven Road. At its peak, the fleet was 6 vehicles, but on average, 2 were operated at any one time. The opening fleet was Ford Transit 11 seater E558 LFA. The closing fleet was Iveco Eurorider/Beaulas FD02 VCO and Mercedes 814D/Plaxton Cheetah T638 JWB. FD02 VCO remains parked in the yard.

ENSIGNBUS. BCI Excellence 145 (LX17 DZF) has been withdrawn due to fire damage. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 101 has been re-registered from PIJ 601 back to LG52 DDA.Sold are Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 101 (PIJ 601) – to Warwickshire Travel; Volvo B7TL/ALX400 110 (LJ54 BDV) – to P Lee Services, St Ives, Cambs; ADL/Enviro 200 716 (YX60 EOR) – to Faresaver, Chippenham.

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: In early February, a burst water main closed St Johns Street in Colchester. As a result, bus routes had to be diverted along Southway. Here is ADL/Enviro 300 no 67742 at the Butt Road/Headgate junction on 8/2/21. (John Podgorski).

From First Worcester is Trident/ALX400 33402 (VX54 MTY) – allocated to Hadleigh (HH). Chelmsford Park & Ride was temporarily suspended from 6/2/21, with the ADL/E200 MMCs being used on normal services for the moment. Transfers are of ADL/E200 MMC 67162 (YY66 OZX) – BN-CF; ADL/E30H 67902 – CF-BN. Hadleigh’s Dart SLF/Pointer 42487 (SN03 WME) is SORNED due to Covid service reductions. Colchester based Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 32068/087 (KP51 VZS, WBZ), 32477/78 (AU53 HJN/O); Volvo B7TL/Geminis 32547 (SN54 OSK), 32669/73 (SN55 HDZ, HFA) were similarly stood down, but back in use by mid to late February. Resold by Ensign to Shelton Motors, Ely were Trident/Presidents LN51 GNF, LT52 XAA. Odd sightings: 1/2/21: B7TL/Gemini 32629 on 64A; 37006 on 67; 37034 on 64A; 37062 on 102; R6237134 on 64; R6237138 on 68; 37140 on 104; Dart SLF/Pointer 42934 on 71A; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 8; P&R ADL/E200 MMC 67189 on 70; 67191 on 31B; 67192 on 71A. 2/2/21: 37007 on 64; 37034 on 64A; R62 37134/36 on 64A; R62 37138 on 61; X10 67162 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 8A; X10 67164 on 8; P&R 67189 on 71 + 31C; 67190 on 71; 67192 on 42A; 67196 on 31B. 4/2/21: 37004 on 64A; 37007 on 175; R62 37133 on 65; R62 37138 on 61. 5/2/21: 37010 on 67; 37016 on 175; R133 37138 on 67. 6/2/21: R62 37133 on 1A. 7/2/21: X10 67164 on 25. 8/2/21: R62 37138 on 65. 10/2/21: P&R 67189/92 on 42. 11/2/21: R62 37133 on 65; R62 37139 on 70. 12/2/21: 37004 on 175; 37007 on 64; P&R 67192 (SN66 WKO) on 71A. 13/2/21: 37034 on 66; Dart SLF/Pointer 42932 (SN05 EAF) on 71. 15/2/21: 37006 on 67; 37027 on 64; 37054 on 64; 66801 on CR Staff Shuttle. 16/2/21: 37004 on 67; 37034 on 64A; 42923 on 71; 67189 on 71; 67737 on CR Staff Shuttle. 17/2/21: 32068 on 174; 41521 on CR Staff Shuttle; 67192 on 71. 18/2/21: 37016 on 64A; 37017 on CR Staff Shuttle; 67193 on 71. 19/2/21: 32068 on 64; 37136/39 on 61. 20/2/21: 37017 on 64; R62 37138 on 66B; 66803 on CR Staff Shuttle. 21/2/21: 32629 on 64. 22/2/21: 37004/005 on 64; 37016 on 67; 37034 on CR Staff Shuttle; 37140 on 64A; 63333 on CR Staff Shuttle; 67191 (SN66 WKM) on 71. 23/2/21: 32478 on 174/175; 37004 on 67. 24/2/21: 37007 on 67. 25/2/21: 32547 on 67; 37005 on 64. 26/2/21: R62 37133 on 175/174.

Above: ADL/Enviro 300 67741 (SN62 AKJ), at Great Totham south on 9/2/21. (Will Jesney).

FLAGFINDERS. Dart SLF/Pointer X963 VAP appeared at Kelvedon depot during February.

FREIGHTLINER. The use of Class 86s has continued. 86613/32 were on FLX-Garstons at the start of February. 1/2/21: 90003/049 on 4L90 Trafford-FLX. 90006/044 on 4L91 Wembley-FLX, then 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 2/2/21: 86613/632 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90003/049 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 90008/009 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90044/006 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 5/2/21: 90008/009 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90012/003 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 90044/006 on 446P Trafford-FLX. 8/2/21: 90007/041 om 4L91 Wembley-FLX. 9/2/21: 90042/047 on 4L91Trafford-FLX. 90048/016 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 10/2/21: 66522 on 4E24 FLX-Leeds. 90008/046 on 4M87. 90042/047 on 4L97. 90045/013 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90046/008 on 4L91. 11/2/21: 66549 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 90012/003 + 65549 dit on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 90013/045 on 4M45. 90041/007 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90042/047 on 4L97. 15/2/21: 90003 on Ipswich-Norwich crew trainer. 16/2/21: 66526 on 4E56 FLX-Doncaster. 66585 on 4E64 FLX-Tees. 900012 on Ipswich-Norwich crew trainer. 18/2/21: 90008/007 on 4M45. 90010/049 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 90013/045 on 4L89. 90044/046 on 4L97. 90047 on 4Z84 Crewe-Ipswich. 19/2/21: 66506 and 66552 in Colchester down goods loop @ 1642. 66555 on 4L912. 90007/008 on 4M45. 90043/004 on 4L89. 90044/046 on 4L97. 90047/012 on 4M87. 25/2/21: 66513 on 4L91. 90005 on 0Z90 Ipswich-Norwich and return crew trainer. 90013/045 on 4M45. 90044/012 on 4L97. 90016/006 on 4L89. 26/2/21: 66502 on 4L97. 90009/014 on 4L89. 90013/045 on 4M45. 90049/003 on 4L91. 27/2/21: 90044 on 0Z90 Ipswich-Norwich and return crew trainer.

GARDNER, CHELMSFORD. Withdrawn is Scania/Irizar GRZ 1301 T49 CNN.

GBRf. 1/2/21: 66727 on 6L37 Hoo Jct-Whitemoor. 66737 on Peterborough-FLX. 66755 on Peterborough-Clacton route learning. 66784 on FLX-Doncaster. 2/2/21: 66704 on Peterborough-Clacton route learner. 66727 on 6L37. 3/2/21: 66748 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 66765 on Peterborough-Clacton route learner. 4/2/21: 66727 on Peterborough-Clacton route learner. 9/2/21: 66701 on 6L37. 66704 on 0Z38 Peterborough-Clacton route learner.16/2/21: 66767 on 4M02. 16/2/21: 66707 on 4E42 FLX-Doncaster. 66769 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 17/2/21: 66789 on 4E20. 20/2/21: 66753 in Colchester down good loop with 6T62 Whitemoor-Clacton engineers @ 1310.66790/738 on 6T63/60 Whitemoor-Clacton engineers. 21/2/21:66708 on 6T64, 66729 on 6T62 and 66782 on 6T63 Whitemoor-Clacton engineers. 24/2/21: 66743 on 6T74 Whitemoor-Clacton engineers. 66779 on 6T75 whitemoor-Clacton engineers. 66790 on 6T75 Whitemoor-Clacton engineers.

Above: 66753 at Colchester on 20/2/21. (John Podgorski).

GREATER ANGLIA.

Above: Clacton signal box on 12/2/21. (John Podgorski).

From 20/2/21, the Clacton-Colchester line was closed for two months,to enable a major resignalling of the Clacton area. 321344/48/56/58, 321438/42 have gone to Sims Metals, Newport, Gwent for scrap. Just one Class 317/6 now remains active – 317652. 2/2/21: 317651/54 on 5E46 Ilford-Ely for storage behind ROG 37884. 5/2/21: 321350/351 Clacton-Newport Gwent for scrap, behind ROG 37884. 6/2/21: 745106 on Ingatestone-Norwichs. 8/2/21; 720558/551 on 5Q26 Ilford Shenfield ECS. 9/2/21: 755418 on 1P47 Norwich-Colchester – due to heavy snow; 745 onwards to London. 13/2/21: Inter-City 745003/005 on Stansted Express. 19/3/21: 321356/438 on 5Q76 Clacton-Newport for scrap behind ROG 37884. 23/2/21: 321344/358 on 563X Parkeston-Newport scrap move behind ROG 37884.24/2/21: 317509/649 526Y Ilford-Ely ECS behind ROG 57305. 26/2/231: 321348/442 on 5Q76 Parkeston-Newport for scrap behind ROG 37884. 27/2/21: 745005 on Stansted Express. 745102 on Liv St-Ipswichs.

Above: One of the now diminishing Class 317s. 317884 at Stratford on 20/2/21; on the Meridian Water shuttle.

Above: Ex London Overground 317710 at Liverpool Street on 27/2/21. It is on the rear of the 1442 departure to Hertford East, with 317507 leading. (John Podgorski).

HEDINGHAM.

(Alex Law).

Ex Carousel Buses is green liveried ADL/Enviro 200 502 (OU57 FGV) – pictured above on collection on 25/2/21 – it is to join the Hedingham fleet as fleet no 283 after repaint. Sister OU57 FGX has also arrived – to become no 284. All Scanias are now in the new fleet livery. The last to be done was Omnilink 457 (AU61 AVK). Demolition of the old Tollesbury depot (closed July 2016), commenced at the end of February. Omnidekka movements: 2/2/21: 811 – KN-CN on tow. 3/2/21; 811 – CN-KN. 9/2/21: 800 – KN-Chambers; 808 – Chambers-KN. 17/2/21: 800 – Chambers-KN; 808 – KN-Chambers. Odd sightings: 3/2/21: 588 on TLA am; 811 on TLA pm. 10/2/21: 812 on D2. 11/2/21: Dart SLF/MPD 286 on X76; 808 on TLA am, Stanway School pm. 12/2/21: 588 on TLA; Solo 910 on X76. 22/2/21: Dart SLF/Pointer 253 on 50B etc.

Above: Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 574 at Scott Drive, Home Farm, Colchester on 16/2/21. The Busmopolitan editor is driving. (James Cole).

IPSWICH BUSES. Has ADL/Enviro 200 83 (KX58 GUW), ex Completely Coaches, Norwich. The Wright StreetDeck saloon demonstrator XUI 8501, is on loan from Translink Ulsterbus. Mercedes Citaros 153-155 have gone on hire to Ensignbus (with Ipswich Buses drivers) for LUL Central Line rail replacement. They are being berthed at Ensign’s Purfleet depot. ADL/E200 106 (YX66 WCK) has been repainted. Odd sightings: 11/2/21:ADL/E200 88 on 92. 19/2/21: Versa 148 on 4 + 11. 24/2/21: ADL/E200s 101, 108 on 4 + 11.

LONDON CENTRAL. Odd sightings: 19/2/21: ADL/E200 SE152 on 108.

Above: Mercedes Citaro MEC6 in Blackheath Village on 6/2/21, on a full length 108 working. Some are Lewisham to North Greenwich shorts. (John Podgorski).

Above: Ex London General North originally First Capital ADL/Enviro 200 SEN17 at Westcombe Park Road, Blackheath on 6/2/21. One of several transferred for the gain of the circuitous TfL386 from Stagecoach. (John Podgorski).

LONDON GENERAL NORTH. From 6/2/21, TfL184 (Barnet-Turnpike Lane) was taken over from Arriva London North. New for this were BYD ADL/200evs SEe123-143 (LF70 YVA-E, YWG, YWH/J-P/R-X). Initially, some non electric saloons were also used on the 184, including ADL/Enviro 200 MMC SED1 (YX17 NKZ). TfL444 (Chingford Station-Turnpike Lane) is also seeing these new SEes.

LONDON OVERGROUND.

Above: Mural on Stratford bound platform at Hackney Wick, 13/2/21. (John Podgorski).

LONDON UNDERGROUND.

Above: Upton Park station on 3/2/16. The picture is dated by the West Ham United FC direction sign. The Boleyn ground moved to the London Stadium at Olympic Park at Stratford in August 2016. (Leah Harrison).

Above: The same location on 30/1/21. (John Podgorski).

Below: The Boleyn stadium on Green Street. Taken on the same date as above. The old London Transport Upton Park (U) bus garage on Priory Road/Redclyffe Road (closed 2011) was a close neighbour. Boleyn and the bus garage both suffered the same fate – redevelopment for housing, retail and leisure. Alight here from TfL bus routes 58, 104, 330, 376. (Leah Harrison).

Above: The same location on 30/1/21. (John Podgorski).

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. 345042 OC-IL by 27/2/21. 345064 OC-IL by 13/2/21.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Ancillary vehicles: BT70 WLO is a Ford Transit Connect engineers van at Start Hill.

NETWORK RAIL. 23/2/21: 313121 at on Ferme Park-Ilford move.

NIBS, WICKFORD. Ex Omniserv ADL/Enviro 200s 438/39 (YY15 FZC/D) have been allocated here, by parent company Stephensons.

OSBORNES OF TOLLESBURY.

Above: Osbornes operated Leyland Atlantean/Massey JKE 341E in the early 1980s. It is depicted in its original guise as no 41 with Maidstone Corporation on 5/1/1972. Sisters 36 and 38 later worked for Theobalds of Long Melford. In addition, Colchester Corporation had 2 batches of these vehicles. Only Colchester and Maidstone Corporations bought this combination new. Osbornes sold to Hedingham in 1997. (Roger Pope).

PANTHER TRAVEL. Is the main contractor for the Greater Anglia Clacton to Thorpe Le Soken rail replacement, which is operating from 22/2/21 until late April 2021. This is to do with the resignalling project at Clacton. Acquired via Ensign are ex Arriva London ADL/Enviro 200s LJ09 KPR/T/U, KRD.

ROG. 16/2/21: 37601 on 0M00 Norwich-Orient Way light loco.

Above: 37884 comes off the loop from the GEML Main Line onto the Clacton branch at Colchester on 5/2/21. It is en route to Clacton to collect GA 321350/51 for scrap for Sims Metals at Newport, Gwent. Also see Greater Anglia. (James Cole).

Above: 57312 “up” past Chitts Hill on 9/2/21. It had apparently gone to Clacton to collect scrap Class 321s, but the weather had stated otherwise. Was returning to Wembley. (John Podgorski).

Above: 37884 draws scrap GA Class 321s off the Clacton branch and onto the GE Main Line at Colchester on 23/2/21. En route from Clacton to Sims Metals at Newport, Gwent. (James Cole).

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. BYD/ADL400ev 14110 (LF70 YUE) entered traffic on TfL174 on 26/2/21.

Above: The site of Upton Park garage, looking from Redclyffe Road to Priory Road; 30/1/21. (John Podgorski).

Above: Upton Park garage on its final day of operation; 16th September 2011. The Redclyffe Road exit. It was intended to retain it for the 2012 London Olympics and then sell the site. (John Podgorski).

Above: Ex Stagecoach East London Leyland Titan T876, with former bus owners co operative A1 Service, Ardrossan, Scotland, after Stagecoach took it over. Pictured at Irvine on 2/2/1995. In London it latterly worked at Barking, but originally with Selkent at Catford. It was one of the small batch of LT Titans fitted with Leyland TL11 as opposed to Gardner 6LXB engines. (Murdoch Currie).

STEPHENSONS.

Above: Ex Yourbus, Heanor ADL/Enviro 200 no 470 in Halstead on 27/2/21. (Simon Austin).

TOWER TRANSIT. Resold via Ensign are Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis BJ11 DUH, DVN/O/T – to Faresaver, Chippenham.

Above: Tower Transit ADL/Enviro 200 DM44267, at Grove Road, Mile End on 20/2/21. (John Podgorski).

TRUSTYBUS, ROYTON. Via Ensign is ex Arriva London ADL/Enviro 200 LJ09 KPG. Re registrations are of Optare Solos WX05 RUO/C to SGZ 2223/21 respectively. Optare Versas YJ12 PKX/Y, PLF have passed to Deal, Elstree. Sold for scrap were Scania L94UB/Wright Solars NK53 UNW/Y, YN04 GMG, GNU.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. A new fleet livery of two tone blue has appeared. Recipients are Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 302/03 (BK13 NZR/S).New routes registered from 1/2/21 were 21, 22 (Chipping Ongar-Epping Hospital), SW1A (Lt Chesterford-Joyce Franklin School), SW2A (Gt Chesterford-Saffron Walden County High School).

A BRIEF ENCOUNTER.

Above; Canary Wharf skyline, 23/8/20. (Leah Harrison).

Above: Ensignbus Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royale 126, September 2010. (John Podgorski).

It’s a pleasant early spring evening just after dusk. I’m heading west in my blue and silver Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royale double deck bus. It’s actually quite high spec, with coach seats, silver wheel trims and a good top speed. It also has a radio. I cruise over the A13 Canning Town viaduct listening to ‘Smooth Operator’ by Sade, as an illuminated and glittering Canary Wharf looms on the skyline to my left. I then continue onto East India Dock Road, before turning right onto Chrisp Street and past the neon clock tower. I then pause at a zebra crossing to let a pedestrian cross. That person is a blonde lady. who looks me in the eye and gives me a lovely smile. I nod and give a little wave in acknowledgement. As I power away, I glimpse to my right and see the lady walk away into the night. “She’s quite nice” I thought, and then to the “music” of the Volvo D10A-245 diesel engine and ZF Ecomat gearbox, I continue on my way, to Morris Road, over the Limehouse Cut canal and into Violet Road then along Campbell Road, and right onto Bow Road, heading for Stratford. Fast forward 5 and a half years, and I encounter her again, socially and by complete chance…. and, there’s a good ending x.

Above: Chrisp Street, 13/2/21. (John Podgorski).

AND FINALLY.

Top and above: Sible the snowman is a temporary recruit to Hedingham Buses Sible Hedingham depot during the ‘big freeze’. Before the thaw set in , Sible ‘flew away’ (like the character in the children’s story ‘The Snowman’), with his scarf left on the driver’s seat of one of the buses. Pictured with colleague Steve Garner. (both: Jack Lomas).

With thanks to: Angliagen, Bustimes, J Cole, M Currie, L Harrison, W Jesney, M Jones, A Law, J Lomas, London’s Transport, R Pope.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the January 2021 edition of Busmopolitan.

Above: Tenerife, October 2015. (Leah Harrison).

So the end of a tempestuous 2020, and the start of a new year – 2021, and a new beginning – we hope, with a vaccine for Covid-19 and a mass immunization, so society can regain a pre Coronavirus normality. Toasting in a (potentially) Happy New Year, where we can resume some familiarity – including the reopening of transport museums, the restarting of rallies and gatherings, plus the ability to meet up socially once more.

However, before that, another UK National lockdown was enforced, from 5/1/21, until at least early March but likely for longer.

On the railway, Greater Anglia has dispatched the first Class 321 EMUs for scrap. Most of these now 30 + year old trains will be replaced by new Class 720 Bombardier ‘Aventras’. Only the 30 refurbished ‘Renatus’ ‘321s will continue.

In the western borders of Busmopolitan, from 4/1/21, Arriva lost its last direct competitor in Stevenage. Centrebus ceased its 178 town service from that date. Over the past two decades, Centrebus, Stansted Transit and Shephall Express had all vied for custom along this corridor. Centrebus then announced it would be closing its depot in Stevenage, focussing operations on Luton.

24/7, stansted. Peugeout Boxers YJ12 RPY, YJ62 LFZ have passed to Manheim, Frating (dealer).

AIRPORT BUS EXPRESS, STANSTED. The coach fleet is being sold off. Scania K340EB4/Caetano C650s BX65 WBJ/T are now with Premier, Luton.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE. From 17/1/21, all group companies went over to a reduced and temporary Covid timetable.

(Via Tim Webb).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. One time operated Scania Omnidekka YN06 TFZ, latterly with Arriva Medway Towns, has passed to Ensign for resale. Odd sightings: 4/1/21: Dart SLF/MPD 1559 on 8; short Dart SLF/Caetano 1563 on 8. 5/1/21: 1563 on 8. 6/1/21: 1562/63 on 8; StreetLite 4261 on 2. 7/1/21: 1563 on 8; 4261 on 1. 8/1/21: 1558 on 8. 14/1/21: 1559 on 8. 15/1/21: 1559 on 8; 3418 on Staff Shuttle. 19, 22, 23, 25/1/21: R133 4323 on 8. 25/1/21: StreetLite 4224 on 1. 28/1/21: 4262 on 1. 29/1/21: 1559 on 1.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. Green Line route 724 (Harlow-Heathrow) is replacing its Mercedes Citaros with ADL/Enviro 200 MMCs from Arriva Kent and Surrey at Maidstone. The Citaros have relocated to Guildford for local bus duties. This is because the Citaros no longer comply with new Low Emissions rules in Greater London, (Uxbridge and Heathrow). It looks like the proposed Stansted Airport-London Green Line is now on hold indefinitely. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3873 (KE57 EPA) has returned to Harlow from Ware.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND.

Above: 4229 arrives at Southend Travel Centre on 9/1/21. (John Podgorski).

On loan from Arriva Guildford were Optare Versas 4214, 4227 (KX62 JRZ), 4229 (KX 62 JUV). All in the latest livery. They were moved on to Maidstone on the 19th of January. Heritage liveried Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3816 (GN07AVC) is withdrawn.

Above: Arriva London ENL81 ex Arriva Southend 4001, at Bluewater on 29/7/17. (Simon Austin).

Subsequent histories: The ADL/Enviros 200s which had been originally used on TfL contracts 66 and 370 from Grays, but later transferred to Arriva Kent Thameside (later Arriva London) at Dartford (as ENL80-95); are withdrawn, following TfL contract losses to Go-Ahead, from 23/1/21.

Above: Park and Ride liveried ADL/Enviro 200 4073, one of two on loan to Southend from Colchester, at Chichester Road on 9/1/21. (John Podgorski).

ARROW, MALDON. Ex Hallmark Connections is Mercedes Sprinter/Atlas RX07 OPU.

BEESTONS, HADLEIGH, SUFFOLK. ADL/Enviro 400 MMC YX18 KOH has passed to Roberts of Hugglescote, Leics, and been re registered OO07 RTG.

BLACKWELLS, EARLS COLNE.

Above: Remembering this Essex independent, who sold to Hedingham Omnibuses in 1965, along with its Halstead-Colchester 88 bus route. This is all lowbridge Leyland Titan PD2 EUH 973, new to Western Welsh and acquired in 1963. (Clive Porter).

C2C.

Above: Bombardier Electrostar 357027 east of Southend Central on 9/1/21. (John Podgorski).

CHAMBERS. School holiday frequencies were introduced from 11/1/21.

COLAS. 4/1/21: 37254 tnt 37099 on 1Q90 Derby-Liv St-Ferme Park. 6/1/25; 37254 tnt 37099 on 1Q97 Ferme Park-Cambridge via Stanford, Liv St, Harwich, Clacton. 8/1/21:37254 tnt 37099 on 1Q99 Cambridge-March via KLN, IPS, NOR, Colchester.

DBS. 12/1/21: 66023 on 6L69 Biggleswade-Peterborough-Bow Plasmor. 13/1/21: 66023 on 6L69. 66025 on 6L43 Mountsorrel-Kennett. 14/1/21: 66013 on 6L35 Fan A & B Sidings-Dagenham Dock Reception. 66025 on 6L74 Mountsorrel-Harlow Mill. 66047 on 4E08 London Gateway-Wakefield. 66051 on 4L56 Trafford-London Gateway. 66078 on FLX-EM Gateway. 66155 on 6L69 Peterborough-Bow-Plasmor. 15/1/21: 66051 on 4L56 Trafford-London Gateway. 66076 on 6M53 West Thurrock-Mountsorrel. 66078 on 4M79 6Z90 FLX-EM Gateway. 66118 on 6L35 DBC Fan A&B Sidings-Dagenham Dock Reception. 66155 on 6L69. 20/1/21: 66125 on 6V07 Ipswich Griffin Wharf-Neasden.

DCR. 20/1/21: 60055 on Cambridge-Stratford-Willesden light loco as 0Z60-62; returned as 0Z60 on 21/1/21.

DON’S OF DUNMOW. Leyland Olympian/Alexander RL J623 GCR has gone to Barkers Motors, Wrexham.

DRS. 37401 went to store in late January. 5/1/21: 37401/02 on 0Z02 Norwich-Willesden light loco. 7/1/21: 37401/02 on 0Z01 Willesden-Norwich light loco. 88001 on Willesden-Norwich light loco – off Garston-Dagenham cars. 15/1/21: 88001 on Norwich-Dagenham light loco. 19/1/21: 68003/034 on Willesden-Southminster CEGB. 23/1/21: 37401 tnt 37402 on 6P01 Whitemoor-Harwich engineers. 66429/430 stabled at Stowmarket.

Above: 37402 + 37401 pass Chitts Hill near Colchester, on 5/1/21. (James Cole).

Above: 37401 at the parcels dock at Norwich on 23/1/21: prior to working the 6P01 Whitemoor to Harwich engineers train. (John Podgorski).

Below: 37402 at Riverside Sidings in Norwich, awaiting the same duty, on 23/1/21. (John Podgorski).

ENSIGNBUS. ADL/Enviro 200 no 702 (PX61 AYA) has passed to Robertson, Shetland.

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: Airlink ADL/Enviro 200 MMC 67161 at Chichester Road, Southend on 9/1/21. This and sister 67163 can be frequently seen “off route”. (John Podgorski).

Trident/Presidents 33088/095 (LN51 GMU, NRL) were loaned by Basildon to Hadleigh until more ex First Worcester Volvo B7TL/ALX400s arrive. They replaced Trident/Presidents 33073 (LN51 GOE) (which went to Ensign for eventual scrap to Shelton Motors at Ely) and 33190 (LT52 XAA) which was withdrawn for parts recovery and then also went to Ensign. Trident/President 33178 (LR02 LYX) was withdrawn at Basildon on 14/1/21, leaving 33086 (LN51 GMG) as the very last Trident there. Dart SLF/Pointer 42487 (SN03 WME) was still active from Hadleigh in January. Saturday schedules applied from w/c 24/1/21, with 75 becoming single deck operated. Also due to this, several older buses were parked up. These included 51 to 54 plate Volvo B7TL/ALX400s and some of the 54 reg B7TL/Geminis. Odd sightings: 2/1/21: 32669 on 64A; R62 37133 on 68; R62 37135/38 on 61; 42931 on 71A; X10 67160/62 on 100. 3/1/21: 32673 on 102; R62 37135 on 61; R62 37138 on 70; 44659 on 71C. 4/1/21: 30564 on 74B; 30567 on 65; 32628 on 174; 32673 on 103; 37017 on 102; R62 37138 on 65; X10 67160 on 100; X10 67162 on 8A; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 8. 5/1/21: 30564 (WU02 KVE) on 62; 30567 (WU 02 KVH) on 64; 32477 on 64A; 32478 on 102; 37006 on 104; 37042 on 104; X10 67160 on 8; X10 67162 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 8A; X10 67164 on 8; 67750 on 62B. 6/1/21: 32476 on 104; 37017 on 66B; 42933 on 71B; X10 67162 on 8A; Airlink 67163 on 8A; X10 67164 on 8; P&R 67196 (SN66 WKT) on 71A. 7/1/21: 30567 on 75; 32476 on 174; 37034 on 103; R62 37134 on 61; X10 67162 on 100; Airlink 67163 on8; X10 67164 on 8. 8/1/21: 30567 on 65; 37005 on 103; 37037 on 174; Airlink 67161 on 8; X10 67162/64 on 8A. 9/1/21: 30567 on 61; 32485 on 64A; 37053 on 67; 37140 on 104; Airlink 67161 on 25 + 100; X10 67162 on 5; X10 67164 on 8A; 67736 on 75/A. 10/1/21: 30567 on 61; 32476 on 64A; R62 37133/36 on 61. 11/1/21: 30564 on 65; 30567 on 104; R62 37136 on 61; 37140 on 103; Dart SLF/Pointer 42940 (MX56 HXZ) on 71A; X10 67160 on 100; X10 67162 on 8; P&R ADL/E200 MMC 67194 (SN66 WKR) on 71. 12/1/21: 32564/67 on 61; 37037 on 103; R62 37134 on 75; X10 67160 on 8; X10 67162 on 25. 13/1/21: 30564 on 61; 30567 on 65; R62 37134 on 74B; 37140 on 66B; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 8. 14/1/21: 30564 on 61; 37020 on 174; R62 37133 on 65; X10 67162 on 100; X10 67164 on 8. 15/1/21: 30564 on 75; 30567 on 62B; 32087 on 174; 66800 on 62B; 66872 on 62; X10 67164 on 8A. 16/1/21: 30567 on 61; R62 37136 on 61; Dart SLF/Pointer 42944 (WA56 OAU) on 71A; X10 67164 on 8A; P&R ADL/E200 MMC 67196 (SN66 WKT) on 42. 18/1/21: X10 67164 on 8; P&R ADL/E200 MMC 67192 (SN66 WKD) on 36. 19/1/21: Dart SLF/Pointer 42931 (SN05 EAO) on 70; P&R ADL/E200 MMC 67190 (SN66 WKL) on 71B; X10 67164 on 8; 67779 on 75. 20/1/21: 30564 on 1A; X10 67162 on 25; X10 67164 8; P7R 67192 (SN66 WKO) on 36; P&R 67194 (SN66 WKR) on 42. 21/1/21: 42937 on 71; X10 67162 on 8; Airlink 67163 on 8. 22/1/21: 30564 on 62; 32673 on 103; X10 67160 on 100; Airlink 67161 on 8. 23/1/23: 30564 on 65; 30567 on 61; 32477 on 175; 32628 on 67; 37015 on 64A; Dart SLF/Pointer 42956 (WX06 OMO) on 71; X10 67160 on 25; P&R 67194 on 42. 25/1/21: 37004 on 64A; 37007 on 64; 37010 on 67; R62 37133/35 on 65; R62 37138 on 74B; Dart SLF/Pointer 2937 (SN05 EAP) on 71A; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162 on 100; X10 67164 on 8A; P&R 67190 9SN66 WKP) on 31B; P&R 67194 (SN66 WKR) on 71; ADL/E300s 67755/56 (SN62 ASO/U) on 75. 26/1/21: 37027 on 67; P&R 67189 (SN66 WKL) on 71. 28/1/21: 37034 on 64A; 37035 on 102; 37037 on 64; R62 37135 on 61; R62 37138 on 64A; Dart SLF/Pointer 42945 (WA56 OAV) on 71A; X10 67160 on 8A; Airlink 67161 on 8A; X10 67164 on 8A; P&R 67189 on 71; P&R 67193 (SN66WKP) on 31C. 29/1/21: 37017/20 on 64; R62 37133 on 68; R62 37135 on 2A; R6237136 on 70; R62 37138 on 61; Dart SLF/Pointer 42944 (WA56 OAU) on 71A; X10 67161 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on ; 67737 on 758. 30/1/21: 32547 on 64; 32629 on 67; 37004/07 on 64A; R62 37133/34 on 61; R62 37135 on 74B; R62 37138 on 88; R6237139 on 65; Dart SLF/Pointer 42936 (SN05 DZS) on 71; 66816 on 75; X10 67162 on 5A; Airlink 67163 on 100; P&R 67190 on 31C; P&R 67196 on 71; 67756 on 75. 31/1/21: R62 37134 on 65; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162 on 25.

Above: 67194 at Lexden Road, Colchester on 11/1/21. Workings of this batch “off route” at Chelmsford have now become quite common, partly due to a drop in demand on their usual park and ride work. (John Podgorski).

FLAGFINDERS. Reinstated is Mercedes Sprinter SG52 RGZ.

FREIGHTLINER. Class 86 operation (officially) ceased on 5/1/21, with the final active examples 86613/39 – going to Crewe for store (or so we thought). Then on 11/1/21, 86607/08 were on 4L60 Garston-Ipswich. And on 19/1/21, 86607/39 were on 4M87. On 20/1/21 86608/39 on 4L91 and 4M87 (possibly last actual ’86 working) . Most of the Class 86s have gone into “warm” storage at Crewe. The new depot at Ipswich has been completed, bar the laying of track. The road entrance from Ranelagh Road breaches part of the old Cliff Quay branch.

Above: The new Ipswich depot on 3/1/21. (John Podgorski).

4/1/21: 90004/046 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 5/1/21: 86613/39 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90004/046 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 90010/047 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 6/1/21: 66564 on Acton-Chelmsford. 90004/046 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX/4M87 return. 90007/003 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 90043/013 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90049/008 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 7/1/21: 90004/046 on 4L91. 90013/043 on 4M45. 90047/010 on 4L89. 90049/008 on 4L97. 7/1/21: 90047/010 on 4M87. 8/1/21: Orange 59206 on Acton-Chelmsford. 10/1/21: Stabled at Ipswich – 66413, 66505/08/20/28/31/39/41/43/51/55/61/96/98, 90009/010/11/45/47. 13/1/21: 66607/567 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX then replaced by 90008/049 at Crewe. 90007/003 on 4L89. 90011 on Ipswich-Norwich driver training and return. 90016/048 on 4L91 and 4M87 return. 14/1/21: 66501 on Acton-Chelmsford. 66543 on 4L75 Trafford-FLX. 66571 on 4M93 FLX-Lawley St. 86604 on 0Z40 Crewe-Trafford light loco. 86607/08 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90007/013 on 4L89. 90048/016 on 4L91 and 4M87 return. 15/1/21: 59202 on Acton-Chelmsford. 17/1/21: 66551 tnt 66532 on Parkeston-Brentwood engineers. 90011 on Ipswich-Norwich driver trainer and return. 20/1/21: 66536 on 4L36 FLX-Wentloog. 21/2/21: No services to FLX from Coatbridge, Lawley Street or Trafford due to flooding in those areas. 22/1/21: 66551 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 90012/045 on 4L89. 28/1/21: 90045/014 on 4L89. 90046/047 on 4L91. 90049/42 on 4L97. 29/1/21: 90046/047 on 4L89. 90048/016 on 4L89. 90049/042 on 4L97.

Above: 90047 + 90046 at Field Sidings, Ipswich on 23/1/21. 90047 sports the latest FL livery Class 86s used to be a familiar sight there. (John Podgorski).

GBRf. w/c 3/1/21: From FLX: 66704 on 4M23/4L23. 66705 on 4E28/4L28. 66712 on 4M04/4L04. 66715 on 4E11/4L11. 66719 on 4M07/4L07. 66720 on 4E21/4L21. 66731, 66735, 66767 on 4E43/4L43. 66727, 66784 on 4M02/4L02. 66733 on 4E14/4L14. 66742 on 4M21/4L18. 66772 on 4M29/4L29. 66787 on 4E20/4L20. From London Gateway: 66701 on 4M47/4L47. 66717, 66725 on 4E00/4L00. 6/1/21: 66733 on 4L04. 66766 on 4E00/4L00. 66769 on 4E14/4L14. 66784 on 6A33 N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 8/1/21: 66736/704 on 4M23 FLX-Hams Hall. 9/1/21: 66726 on 6T62 Whitemoor-Mountnessing Junction engineers. 66753 on 6T64 Whitemoor-Mountnessing Junction engineers. 66777 on 6T63 Whitemoor-Mountnessing Junction engineers. 66788 on 6T61 Whitemoor-Mountnessing Junction engineers. 13/1/21: 66738 on N Walsham-Ipswich light loco. 15/1/21: 66776 replaced 66709 on 4L20 Masboro-FLX at Peterborough. 16/1/21: 66709 on 6T61 Whitemoor-Shenfield/Wickford. 66726 tnt 66728 on 6T65 Whitemoor-Shenfield/Wickford engineers. 66784 on 6T62 Shenfield-Wickford. 18/1/21: 66726 on 0Z38 Peterborough/Clacton/Colchester route learner. 19/1/21: 66788 on 0Z38 Peterborough/Clacton/Colchester route learning. 20/1/21: 66740 on 0Z23-25 Ipswich-Wembley light loco and return. 66788 on 0Z38 Peterborough/Clacton/Colchester route learning. 21/1/21: 66726 on 0Z38 Peterborough-Clacton/Colchester. 66740 on 0Z23-25. 31/1/21: 66711 on Stratford-Whitemoor engineers.

GREATER ANGLIA.

Above: 720539 at Southend Victoria depot on 9/1/21. The Liverpool Street-Southend Vic route is the first to see regular ‘720 operation, along with Liv St-Braintree. Training is now ongoing for the Liv St-Ipswich line. (John Podgorski).

Transferred to East Midlands Railway are 360101/02/05/08/09/11/17/19. Withdrawn are 321350/51/56/57/58, 321438/46. 6/1/21: 317514/653 on 5V07. 317649/509 on 5A06. 755331/25 on 5Q54 Liv St-Norwich test. 9/1/21: 360107/116 – CW-IL following failure at Kentish Town. 720551/58 on 5Q88 Wembley-Ilford ECS. 13/1/21: 360109 CN-CW behind ROG 37510. 720556 to Revenue service on 1K59 Southend Vic-Liv St with 720536 also in consist. 14/1/21: 720548/43 on 5Q08 Liv St-Ipswich test. 16/1/21: Stansted Express 745106/107/109 on Norwich-Ingatestones. 18/1/21: 360117 CN-CW behind GBRf 47739 as 5Q21. 20/1/21: 317714/29 towed Wembley-Ilford by ROG 37884. 21/1/21: 317514/653 on 5Q86 Ilford-Eastleigh for scrap behind ROG 37884. 360109/119 CN-CW behind ROG 57305. 360111 CN-IL for repairs prior to going to CW/EMR. 23/1/21: Stansted Express 745106/107/109 on Norwich-Withams. 30/1/21: Stansted Express 745102 on Norwich-Withams.

Below: ROG 57302 drags GA Class 360s from Clacton for EMR, through Hythe, Colchester on 20/1/21. (James Cole).

Above: The first GA Class 321s to go for scrap (321446/357), are towed through Marks Tey on 26/1/21, by ROG 37884. They are going to Sims Metals at Newport, South Wales. (James Cole).

HEDINGHAM.

Above: Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 288 leaves Kelvedon for the last time on 4/1/21. (John Podgorski).

School holiday frequencies were introduced from 11/1/21 until further notice, with a few local variations for residual schools. Short ADL/Enviro 200 296 (SN10 CCY) has come from Konect at Dereham. Dart SLF/Mini Pointer 288 (HW54 BUF) is withdrawn and went to Clacton for parts recovery. Sister 287 (HW54 BUE) remains as an Operational spare at Kelvedon. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 517 (LX05 EZR) returned to Sible Hedingham from Clacton ex loan. Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 563 (V307 LGC) was sold intact to a private owner. B7TL/President 581 (W956 WGH) went to Alpha Recovery for scrap. Omnidekka 811 has transferred from Chambers to Clacton for maintenance and is now used at CN or KN. It retains Chambers fleet names. Omnidekka movements: 5/1/21: 811 – KN-CN. 6/1/21: 814 – KN-CN. 11/1/21: 812/15 – CN-KN. 12/1/21: 813 – CN-KN; 815 – KN-CN. 18/1/21: 811 Chambers-KN. 19/1/21: 805 – Chambers-KN. 22/1/21: 800 – Chambers-KN; 805 – KN-Chambers. Odd sightings: 15/1/21; B7TL/President 572 (W489 WGH) on Duty 3009 82/83/50 – usually small saloon. 19/1/21: 523 on Covid Stanway School – usually small saloon; Solo 910 on 69 due to failure of ADL/E200 298. 21/1/21: Omnidekka 811 on Stanway School. 22/1/21:B7TL 569 on Stanway School am; Omnidekka 800 on Stanway School pm. (As January progressed, the vehicles on Stanway School became mixed saloon/double deck).

Above: Optare Solo 910 on Berechurch Road, Colchester on 19/1/21. (James Cole).

IPSWICH BUSES. Another acquired ADL/Enviro 200 is 75 (DU60 KOJ). DAF DB250LF/ELs 55-59 were taken out of use after 8/1/21. Odd sightings: 3/1/21: Nacton Nippers ADL/E200 78 (YX14 RWL) on 15. 51/21: Short ADL/E200 72 on 4 + 11 in Colchester. 6/1/21: Short ADL/E200 73 (LX58 LMM) on 4 + 11 in Colchester. 15/1/21: Short ADL/E200s 70 and 72 on 4 + 11 in Colchester. 16/1/21: ADL/E200 77 on 92. 21/1/21: ADL/E200 75 on 93. 29/1/21: ADL;/E200 104 on 4 + 11. (short ADL/E200s have now replaced Optare Versas on Essex routes 2, 4, 11).

Above: 73 on Maldon Road, Colchester on 29/1/21. (John Podgorski).

LONDON OVERGROUND. 10/1/21: 710101 on 5Z12 Ilford-Shenfield ECS.

LONDON UNDERGROUND. Central Line 1992 Tube Stock set 91111+92111+92446+93446 was returned from Bombardier at Derby, following pilot inspection and tests for the forthcoming 1992 Stock refurbishment programme.

Above: 1992 Tube Stock 91349 at Leytonstone on 30/1/21, on an eastbound service to Hainault. (John Podgorski).

M&M STAFFING, CHELMSFORD. Wright StreetLite DF SN68 AGF is ex Passenger Plus, Tadworth and replaced similar SK68 TXP. Neoplan Tourliner PA66 LFX returned to BASE, Leyland (dealer) off loan – after Tourliner MM68 BUS returned from Neoplan, after PSVAR modifications..

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. 7/1/21: 345013 OC-IL; 345039 IL-OC – both by ROG 37601.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Operations were again suspended from 23:59 on 10/1/21, due to Covid-19.

PANTHER TRAVEL. Withdrawn is Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royale BIG 9210. It has reverted to N592 BRH.

Above: Scania K340EB6/Caetano Levante JCN 822, has reverted to its original FJ08 KLZ mark. Pictured at Manningtree on 3/1/21. However, by the end of January, it has passed to Angies Tours of Lowestoft and been re registered to P24 PJO. (John Podgorski).

Above: The latest bearer of the cherished DB09 PAN registration mark is ex Metroline ADL/Enviro 200 YX10 BDY. It was seen on High Street, Colchester on 29/12/20. Former Eastern National man Dan Lord is driving. (Daniel Pretty).

RONDA, SOUTHEND. This company has ceased, upon retirement of its owner, Mr Hallum. It had been trading since 1969. Its fleet of two minicoaches was still present at the Rochford depot in early January.

ROG.

Above: 57305 crosses Seven Arches Viaduct, near Colchester on 20/1/21, en route from Wembley to Clacton to collect GA Class 360 EMUs for transfer to EMR. (James Cole).

1/1/21: 37608 dragged GA 745106 as 5H02 Norwich-Orient Way, via West Anglia, due to engineering blockades on the GEML.

SOUTH EAST COACHES, WICKFORD. Has ex Eavesway of Wigan Van Hool TD921 Altano YJ12 CKC has been re-registered K123 SEC. It is in plain silver.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. More new BYD ADL/Enviro 400evs for TfL174 (Dagenham-Harold Hill), are 14130/31 (LF70 YVG/H), 14132/33 (LF70 YVJ/K), 14134/35 (LF70 YVL/M), 14136/37/38/39 (LF70 YVN/O/P/R), 14140/41 (LF70 YVS/T), 14142/43/44 (LF70 YVU/V/W), 14145/46/47 (LF70 YVX/Y/Z). The electric conversion of TfL174 has taken preference over TfL173 (Beckton-Goodmayes). The new BYDs allocated for this are 14110-29 (LF70 YUE/O/H/J/K/L/N/O/R/S/U/V/W/X/Y, YVA-E).

Above: 14109 (LF70 YUD) at Harold Hill (Gooshays Drive) on 2/1/21. (John Podgorski).

STEPHENSONS. Acquired are 9.6m ADL/E200s 438/39 (YY15 FZC/D) from Mistral (dealer), but ex Omniserv at Heathrow Airport. From 4/1/21, routes 310, 311/A (Bury St Edmunds-Exning) were gained.

Above: January 2021 saw lots of rain. Here, ‘Three Rivers’ ADL/Enviro 200 477 (EU66 AVB) negotiates flooding on the A131 at Halstead on 28/1/21. (Steven Quy/Simon Austin).

SULLIVAN BUSES.

Above: Revised schools services due to the tier 4 Covid restrictions. (Via James Sadd).

TOWER TRANSIT. Acquired from Ensign is ADL/Enviro 200 YX10BDV.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON.

Above: Ex RATP London (Quality Line) Optare Solo YJ09 MHO at Two Brewers, Ongar on 6/12/20. On a Sunday working of route 420. Solos now regularly operate this on Sundays and holidays, rather than larger saloons. (Robert Downton).

Other Optare Solos acquired through Ensign, are ex First Cymru WX05 RUC/O.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. Further accessible Mb Sprinters are RE70 EZU, 204 (RX70 SKZ). Ancillary vehicles: FV12 UAW is a Ford KA numbered 110. Mb 709D 409 (T371 OHL) has also been used as a crew ferry.

With thanks to: Angliagen, S Austin, J Cole, R Downton, EBN, Ensign, L Harrison, A Hazell, J Lidstone, London’s Transport, C Porter, D Pretty, RE, J Sadd, T Webb.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the December 2020 edition of Busmopolitan.

The local railway scene is quickly changing with Class 315 EMUs in steep decline (due to timetable changes) and Class 317 EMUs likewise, due to deliveries of new Class 720s. The move of Class 360s from Greater Anglia to East Midlands Railway is virtually complete, while the ex GA Class 90s are now becoming familiar on Freightliner, working in pairs with “native” 90s in place of Class 86s.

From 20/12/20, much of the Busmopolitan area was put into tier 4 lockdown again, except for Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford districts. However these joined tier 4 from 26/12/20.

There was also a temporary international travel ban (from UK to France and other parts of Continental Europe), with Eurostar and cross Channel ferries being suspended between 20 and 22/12/20. And there was a large backlog of vehicles at various seaports, awaiting passage to the Continent. The worst of this was at Dover, but Harwich (in the Busmopolitan area) was also affected, with Stena Line Ferries suspended until 23/12/20.

Above: Eurostar feeds into the DB ICE network “across the water”. DB once considered running into the UK and an ICE was run, on trial into St Pancras International, along the HSS1 route, through Essex and East London. These ‘First Generation’ ICEs were pictured in Hannover, Germany on 27/12/15. (Clarissa Messer).

ADVANCE, SOUTHEND. The Keymed staff contract has been gained from Cheldon Coaches (was BJS Travel).

AIRPORT BUS EXPRESS. Services have been suspended again, due to the Second Wave of Covid-19.

APT, RAYLEIGH.

Above: Ex Metroline Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President LR52 BMY, at Shenfield on Greater Anglia rail replacement on 27/12/20. LR52 BOU is also operated. (John Podgorski).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. Odd sightings: 4/12/20: Dart SLF/MPD 1559 on 8. 7/12/20: short Dart SLF/Caetanos 1562/63 on 8. 8/12/20: 1563 on 8. 9/12/20: R133 StreetLite 4324 on 8. 10/1/20: 1558, 1563 on 8. 11/12/20: 1558 on 8; StreetLite 4224 on 2. w/c 14/12/20: 1558 on 8. 18/12/20: P&R 4075 on Staff Shuttle. 20/12/20: 3420 on 8 – unusual on Sunday. 21/12/20: 1562 on 8; R133 4324 on 8. 22/12/20: 1563 on 8; R133 4324 on 8.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. From 30/12/20, Essex CC route 87 (Harlow-Epping) ceased, and was replaced by new route 542/A (Debden-Loughton) – worked by Trustybus.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND.

Above: DAF DB250LF/EL 6259 in its new location of Tunbridge Wells, with Arriva Kent and Surrey. Pictured on 14/12/20. (Terry Blackman).

ARROW, MALDON.

Above: Recently acquired Mercedes Sprinter RX67 OPU in Halstead on its first day in service; 1/12/20. (Simon Austin).

AVENTRA WEST COAST. 11/12/20: 221110 on 5L50 Barton-Ilford.

BARKERBUS, ROYDON. Scania K340EB4/Caetano Levante FJ56 PFK is ex Southern Coach Lines, Newbury.

BLUE TRIANGLE.

Above: ADL/Enviro200 SE116 (YX61 BXW) at Newbury Park on 27/12/20. (John Podgorski).

CENTAUR, CRAYFORD. This south east London based operator has an outstation at Beckton for a college contract. 2 coaches and a double decker are parked there. Also, Centaur has supplied coaches on Greater Anglia rail replacement in recent months and collaborates with Lewis of Greenwich on this work.

Above: Irizar i6 YN67 VDR at Colchester on Greater Anglia RRP on 25/10/20. (Daniel Pretty).

COLAS. 8/12/20: 37099 tnt 37175 on 1Q95 Ferme Park-Ripple Lane. 11/12/20: 37219 tnt 37421 on 1Q99 Cambridge-Colchester/Felixstowe test train. 37610 on 3Q11 on Ferme Park-Southminster test.

Above: 37099 “up” at Long Green, Marks Tey on 6/12/20. (James Cole).

CRUSADER HOLIDAYS. Clacton site, latterly used as a travel office and outstation, has closed. All work is now administered by Motts at Aylesbury.

DAN’S COACH TRAVEL, NEEDHAM MARKET. Dennis Javelin/Plaxton Paramount 3200 G210 UAS has passed to Jubilee Coaches, Rollesley, Norfolk.

DAN’S LUXURY TRAVEL, WALTHAM ABBEY. Mercedes Tourismo BN17 JLO has ben traced to Henshaw, Moreton in Marsh.

DBS. 4/12/20: 66165 at Bow yard. 7/12/20: 66147 on 6L69 Bow-Biggleswade Plasmor. 8/12/20: 66035 on 6L69 Bow-Plasmor. 7/12/20: 88004 and 92032 stabled at Dagenham Dock. 23/12/20: 66181 on 6L69 Peterborough-Bow Plasmor, then returned to Belmont, Doncaster.

DON’S OF DUNMOW. Acquired from the now defunct Gloucester Minibuses is ex Dublin Bus ADL/Enviro 500 GL02 BUS ex LW55 AHV, which has been registered BIG 8728. The previous bearer of this mark, a Leyland Olympian/Alexander tri-axle, has been offered for sale. Scania Omnidekka YN05 HGA is now DD05 DON. Leyland Olympian/Alexander RL H816 CBP is still active.

DRS. The RHTT season finished on 19/12/20 with all locos departing Stowmarket on 21/12/20 – these were 37038/059/069/218/419/422, 66426/434. 2/12/20: 37069 tnt 37422 on 3S60 Stowmarket-Essex GE circuit. 3/12/20: 57002 on 6Z87 Stowmarket-Ilford. 57003 on Stowmarket-Ilford RHTT. 68002/016 at Southminster. 4/12/20: 57003 on Ilford-Stowmarket RHTT. 7/12/20: 37038 tnt 37059 on 3S60. 8/12/20: 37419 on 0Z37 Willesden-Stowmarket light loco. 9/12/20: 66426 tnt 66428 on 3S60. 12&14/12/20: 37069 tnt 37422 on 3S60. 17/12/20: 37069/422 on 3S60. 21/12/20: 37038/059/069/218/422 – Stowmarket-Crewe as 0M05. 37419, 66434 – Stowmarket-York. 66426 – Stowmarket-Willesden. 22/12/20: 37402 from York to Stowmarket as 0L37 and then to Norwich. 23/12/20: 88004 on GEML.

Above: 88004 “down” past Chitts Hill on 23/12/20. (James Cole).

ENSIGNBUS. New is BCI Enterprise 407 (LJ70 FNL). It is in a new two tone blue livery.

As can be seen, there is a lot of activity again on Boxing Day – and New Years Day ! (with thanks to Daniel Disbury).

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: The school holidays saw buses normally dedicated to scholars runs used on public services. Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400 30564, usually one of a pair allocated to Stanway School route 17, at Middleborough, Colchester on 29/12/20. (Daniel Pretty).

More acquired Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis are ex First Yorkshire 32526/31 (YJ54 XUX/Y), 32532 (YJ05 VUY), and ex First Eastern Counties 32539/40 (YJ05 VWG/E) – all at Basildon (BN). This enabled ex First Midlands West Trident/ALX400s 33401/03 to move from BN to Hadleigh (HH). The ex Tower Transit Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis which had been on hire, have been returned to Ensign; 36143/48/53/56/61/65 (BJ11 EAF/W, DVX, DZY, EBA/P). Wright StreetLite 63340 is delicensed due to accident damage and under repair. Odd sightings: 32087 on 104; 32547 on 103; 37015 on 104; 37017 on 103; 37020 on 102; R62 37135 on 61; R62 37138 on 74B; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162 on 100; X10 67164 on 8A. 2/12/20: 32476 on 103; 32477 on 175; 32669 on 104; 37015 on 102; R62 37134 on 75; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162/64 on 8A. 3/12/20: 32485 on 103; 32673 on 175; 37042 on 104; 37053 on 102; R62 37138 on 61; 66816 on 62B; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162 on 8. 4/12/20: 32068 on 103; 32629 on 102; 32640 on X30; 37036 on 103; R62 37135 on 66; 37140 on 64A; StreetLite 47653 on X10; X10 67160 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 25. 5/12/20: 37034 on 104; R62 37135/38 on 61; X10 67161 on 25. 6/12/20: 37007 on 64; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37135 on 65. 7/12/20: B7RLE 66970 on 75; Airlink 67161 on 8. 8/12/20: 32087 on 102; 32485 on 174; 37010 on 103; 37027 on 104; 37036 on 175; Airlink 67161/63 on on 25; X10 67164 on 8A. 9/12/20: 32087 on 103; 32476 on 104; 37007 on 64; 37016 on 103; 37034 on 174; R62 37133 on 88A; X10 67160 on 100. 10/12/20: 37007 on 103; 37034 on 174 + 103; 37036/042 on 104; 37140 on 66; X10 67160 on 100. 11/12/20: 37035 on 102; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162 on 100. 12/12/20: 32628 on on 102; 37015 on 103; R62 37135 on 2A. 13/12/20: 32477 on 67B; 32629 on 64; R62 37134 on 70. 16/12/20: 32478 on 102; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37134 on 174 + 104; X10 67162 on 25. 17/12/20: 32629 on 103; 63332 on tow on A12S at Marks Tey @ 1447; X10 67160/62 on 100. 18/12/20: 32087 on 104; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37136 on 174; R62 37138 on 61; 66796 failed at Essex County on CF bound 71 @ 1620; 66801 on 75; Airlink 67161 on 8; X10 67162 on 100. 19/12/20: 32628 on 64A; 37035 on 64; R62 37133 on 61; X10 67162 on 100; 20/12/20: 37005 on 64A; 37034 on 64A; 37035 on 76; 37037/42 on 64; R62 37135 on 64. 21/12/20: 32087 on 64; 37020 on 64; R62 37134 on 61. 22/12/20: 32629 on 102; 37054 on 103; 37140 on 104; X10 67162 on 8A. 27/12/20: R6237135 on 65. 28/12/20: 32477 on 67B; 37005 on CR Staff Shuttle; 37007 on 64; R62 37138 on 75; X10 67160 on 100. 29/12/20: 37037 on 102; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37134 on 75; R62 37135 on 74B; R62 37138 on 88; 42922 on 71A. 30/12/20: R62 37138 on 88; x10 67162 on 8A. 31/12/20: 32477 on 102; 37037 on 64A; R62 37133 on 88; R62 37135 on 88; R62 37136 on 103.

Above: Another usually dedicated school bus on mainstream service. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37005 passes The Minories Art Gallery in Colchester on 29/12/20. This bus normally works the 67C West Mersea-Norman Way schools. (Daniel Pretty).

FREIGHTLINER. 1/12/20: 86608/09 + 66531/52 DIT on 4L89 Trafford-Felixstowe (from Wembley) and 4M87 Felixstowe-Trafford. 86613/04 on 4M45 Felixstowe-Garston. 90041/042 on 4L89 as far as Wembley. 2/12/20: 66505 on 4L97 Trafford-Felixstowe. 66531 on 4L91 Trafford-Felixstowe. 66591 on 4L89 Coatbridge-Felixstowe. 86613/04 on 4M45 Felixstowe-Garston. 3/12/20: 66505 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 66529 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 66592 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 86613/04 on 4M45. 4/12/20: 66592 on 4M93 FLX-Lawley Street. 66594 on 4L32 Wentloog-FLX. 5/12/20: 66505 on 4L97. 66544 on Merehead-Chelmsford. 66572 on 4L93 Crewe-FLX “down” through Stratford @ 1344. 66955 on 4L91 Trafford-Ipswich. 8/12/20: 66517 on 4M63. 66520 on 4M88. 66557 on 4M87. 66561 on 4L41. 66952 on 4E24 London Gateway-Leeds. 10/12/20: 66523 on 4M94 FLX-Lawley St. 11/12/20: 66513 on 4E24 London Gateway-Leeds. 66560 on 4M63 FLX-Trafford. 66567 on 4M88 FLX-Ditton. 66568 on 6V12 Chelmsford-Acton aggregate empties. 66617 on Bow-Willesden empty aggregates. 12/2/20: 86609/04 on 4M45. 86639/13 4L97. 16/12/20: Orange 66413 on 4L32 Wentloog-FLX. 66536 on 4M93. 17/12/20: 86613/39 on 4L97. 86637/38 on 4L91. 22/12/20: 66610 on 6L80 Tunstead-Marks Tey. 23/12/20; 86609/04 on 4L89. 24/12/20: 86707/32 on 4L97. 86638/37 on 4M45. 90004/046 on 4L89. 90010/047 on 4L91. 30/12/20: Orange 66413 on 4M88 FLX-Ditton.

GBRf. 7/12/20: 66705 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 66731 on 4M02 FLX-Hams Hall. 8/12/20: 66710 tnt 66735 on 3S70. 21/12/20: 66770/39 on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 23/12/20: 66780 replaced 66712 on 4M21/4L18 FLX-Trafford, after a month. 29/12/20: 66777 on 6L37.

GODWARD, WICKFORD. Ex Edwards, Llantwit Fardre, South Wales is short VDL120/MCV YJ60 GFZ. This was acquired chiefly for schools duplicates with Arriva Southend, but has also appeared on rail. Irizar i6 CC17 PGC has also appeared on Arriva Southend Schools.

Above: YJ60 GFZ at Colchester on 29/12/20, on Greater Anglia rail replacement. (Daniel Pretty).

Below: Mercedes Tourismo BF61 HCO has branding for ‘Coach Crisis’, similar to ‘Honk for Hope’ in its crusade for the plight of the coach industry post Covid-19. Seen on Greater Anglia rail replacement at Colchester on 29/1/20. (Daniel Pretty).

GOLDLINE, LEYTONSTONE & MANOR PARK. Odd sightings: 1-4/12/20, 7-11/12/20, 14-19/12/20: Caetano Trabus BV19 XRW on Colchester Schools.

GREATER ANGLIA. New are 720539/40/50/56. ‘720s appeared on Liv St-Braintrees from 16/12/20. 360106/07/17/18 have transferred to EMR. Class 360 operation ended on 31/12/20. 360111 + 114 worked the 2F40 1443 Liv St-Braintree and 2F51 1600 return. 317503 and 512 have had their B end DTSOs swapped. 77050 to 512 and 77063 to 503. 1/12/20: 317503/512 dragged as 5Q50 Ilford-Kilmarnock ECS by ROG 57303. Ex London Overground 317709 + GA 317347 on 5V97 Witham-Ilford ECS test. 720537/38 on 5Q03 Ipswich-Liv St test. 4/12/20: 317666/512 on 5Q87 Ilford-Eastleigh for scrap behind ROG 57303. Ex LO 317709 + GA 317650 on Stratford-Meridian Water-B Stortford. 5/12/20: 317515 + 882 arriving at Liv St at 1729. 360101 on 5Q60 Northampton-Ilford ECS between 47739/727. 745103 on 1730 Liv St-Norwich. 7/12/20: 360106/07 CC-CW behind ROG 37510. 720538/37 on 5Q04 Liv St-Ipswich test run. 720539/40 on Wembley-Southend Victoria test. 755413/06 on 5Q38 Liv St-Norwich test. 11/12/20: 317512/881 on 5F96 Ilford-Witham test. 720543/48 on 5Q91 Wembley-Ilford ECS. 745008 to revenue service – last ‘745 to do so. 745106 on Liv St-Norwichs. 12/2/20: 720517/15 on 1K15 Liv St-Southend Vic. 745105 on 1303 (at Colchester) Norwich-Liv St. 14/12/20: 720515/17 on Ilford-Norwich tests 5Q60-70. 15/12/20: 720537/38 on 5Q06 Colchester-Liv St test. 720539/40 to revenue service. 755332/407 on 5Q38 Liv St-Norwich test. 16/12/20: 720511/36 on 2F04 Shenfield-Braintree and 1F09 Braintree-Liv St – first 720s on Braintree branch. 18/12/20: 317505/670 Ilford-Ely for storage behind ROG 57312. 21/12/20 360114/102 on 1Y14 Liv St-Ipswich. 360117/18 CN-CW behind ROG 37510. 720538/537 on 5Q04 Liv St-Ipswich driver training. 720550/556 on 5Q21 Ilford-Southend Vic test. 22-23/12/20: 745005 on Hornsey-Norwich overnight ECS via convoulted route via ECML, GN, Cambridge, West Anglia and GEML. 23/12/20: 317732/708 on 5L50 Wembley-Ilford ECS behind ROG 57312.

HCT GROUP. On hire from Ensign is former Tower Transit Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini BJ11 DVX.

HEDINGHAM.

Above: ADL/Enviro 400 615 (EU07 GVY) – Halstead bound at Eight Ash Green on 23/12/20, with Greater Anglia Stadler Flirt EMU 745108 London bound. (James Cole).

(Alex Law).

From 7/12/20, closed school contract PL4 (Plume School Maldon-Mundon) was extended to/from Latchingdon in a loop around Maylandsea, before continuing to/from Mundon. PL4 was also integrated into service duties, while PL2 (Plume School-Great Totham/Wickham Bishops) became a standalone duty D3155, ex service rota. Transferred back from Konect is short ADL/Enviro 200 295 (SN10 CCX). Volvo B7TL/Gemini 517 has moved from HD to CN. Dart SLF/MPD 287/88 are now regarded a spare buses at KN. B7TL/Presidents 565/69/75/88 were parked up at KN (not all at the same time) for the Christmas holidays – but 565 and 575 were subsequently used in service. Omnidekka movements: 1/12/20: 814 – KN-CN; 817 – CN-KN. 2/12/20: 800 – KN-Chambers. 4/12/20: 812 – KN-Chambers. 14/12/20: 814 – CN-KN; 817 – KN-CN (on tow after it failed at Marks Tey); 15/12/20: 812 – CN-KN. 21/12/20: 800 – KN-Chambers. Odd sightings: 1/12/20: 288 on TLA C. 2/12/20: 288 on TLA C am; 293 on TLA C pm. 3/12/20: 287 on TLA C. 4/12/20: 287 on TLA C pm; B7TL/President 586 on 15 pm. 7/12/20: 288 on TLA C am; 817 on PL3 am replacing failed 570. 8/12/20: 287 on TLA C am then failed at Marks Tey running back to KN. 9/12/20: 287 on TLA C am; 580 on 15 pm. 10/12/20: 261 on TLA C pm; 287 on TLA C am; 579 on 63. 11/2/20: 288 on TLA C am. 14/12/20: 571 on 19 duplicate pm; 574 on 15 pm; 814 on TLA A pm. 15/12/20: 850 on 19 duplicate pm then failed on Mersea Road. 16/12/20: 521 on 15 pm. 17/12/20: 287 on TLA C am; 574 failed at Plume School Lower on PL4 pm . 18/12/20: 287 on TLA C am; 288 on 50 + 902 pm; 571 on 19 duplicate; 574 towed to CN. 22/12/20: 572 on 15 pm. 29/12/20: 572 on 15 pm. 30/12/20: 523 on 15 pm. 31/12/20: 574 on 15 pm.

IPSWICH BUSES. The last Dennis Dart is withdrawn; SLF/Super Pointer 137 (SN53 AVP). It was then sold to PSV Recycling, Hadleigh (Suffolk) and then resold to Black Cat Travel, Lincoln, where it was re registered V11 BCT.Odd sightings: 23/12/20:ADL/E200 106 (YX66 WCK) on 4 in Colchester. 30/12/20: short ex Bus Eirean ADL/E200s 72, 73 on 4 + 11 in Colchester.

Above: 106 at The Commons, Prettygate, Colchester on 23/12/20. (Daniel Pretty).

Below: 72 on St Andrews Avenue, Colchester on 30/12/20. These ex Bus Eirean vehicles have gained the nickname ‘Diddy Darts’, is some quarters. In the background are long term roadworks, which when finished will have disrupted traffic in north east Colchester for nearly 2 years. (Daniel Pretty).

JACKSONS, BICKNACRE. Reappeared from Covid hibernation in December, with Volvo B7R/Plaxton LT56 OJA being seen on Greater Anglia rail replacement, between Newbury Park and Ipswich.

LONDON BUS COMPANY, NORTHFLEET.

Above: AEC PRV Routemaster RM298 at Two Brewers, Ongar on 6/12/20, on a ‘Santa Special’ shuttle for the Epping Ongar Railway (EOR). The compound in the background used to be the depot for Birds Coaches, who ceased back in the 1980s. (Robert Downton).

Below: Daimler Fleetline/Park Royal XF1 on the same service at the same location, also on 6/12/20. (Robert Downton).

LONDON GENERAL NORTH. From 5/12/20, TfL153 (Finsbury Park-Moorgate) was extended to/from Liverpool Street Bus Station.

Above: BYD ADL/Enviro 200ev SEe75 enters Liverpool Street Bus Station on 5/12/20. (John Podgorski).

LONDON OVERGROUND. London Overground Chingford: Liverpool St – Seven Kings for Ilford CS. 12/12/20: 710259 – WN-IL. 710260 – IL-WN. 13/12/20: 710108 on 5Z11 Shenfield-Ilford ECS.

LONDON UNDERGROUND.

Above: District Line S7 Stock 21429 crosses Devons Road, Bromley by Bow on 27/12/20. (John Podgorski).

M&M STAFFING, CHELMSFORD. Neoplan Tourliner tri-axle PA66 LFX is on loan from BASE, Leyland (dealer). Previously J500 TRU with the now defunct Truemans of New Ash; it is being borrowed while Similar MM68 BUS was undergoing PSVAR conversion. Also on loan was Wright StreetLite SK68 TXP. StreetLite SN68 AGF is ex Passenger Plus. Meanwhile, for school duplicates for Arriva Southend, Klarners of Colchester lent Scania Touring/Higer YN69 XWM and Volvo B7RLE/Wright YN05 WKE.

Above: PA66 LFX on Greater Anglia rail replacement, at Marks Tey on 30/12/20. (John Podgorski).

MARC1 TRAVEL, BILLERICAY. Ex Harrogate Coach Travel is Scania L94UB/Wright Solar JSU 721 ex NK54 NUX. It has been reregistered M14 TVL.

MAYFLOWER SCHOOL, DOVERCOURT.

Above: Ex Hedingham Dennis Trident/EL 734 (W834 NNJ) is lifted into the central courtyard of the school on 24/12/20. it had been donated by Hedingham in 2019, and was intially kept in the school grounds,where it unfortunately suffered vandalism. In its new secure location, it will be restored for static use as a library and classrooms. (Karen Wright via Mark Lloyd).

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. A timetable change from 13/12/20, saw a further decline the Class 315s. The type no longer stables at Gidea Park or Shenfield, with the remaining examples stabling at Aldersbrook Sidings or Ilford depot. All workings are now M-F peaks only. 315829/33 have gone to Sims Metals, Newport for scrap. 315843/49 have passed to Booth, Rotherham for scrap. This leaves operational 315818-20/26/34/37-39/44/47/48/51/53/56/57. Class 315 Obs: 5/12/20: 315820 (country end) + 818 in Shenfield sidings. 315833 (country end) + UID visible in Ilford depot. 315826 (country end) + 843 and 315838 (country end) + 847 in Gidea Park yard. 10/12/20: 315843/26, 315844/54 in service. 11/12/20: 315834/37, 315839/57, 315844/54 on off peak Shenfield-Liv Sts. 12/12/20: 315834 (London end) + UID and 315844 (London end) + UID in Aldersbrook sidings. 315838 (country end) + 847 and 315851 (country end) + 853 in Shenfield sidings. 315856 + 818 in Gidea Park yard. 14/12/20: 315833/29 from Ilford to Newport for scrap behind ROG 53303. 16/12/20: 315843/49 from Ilford to Rotherham for scrap behind ROG 37800.

Above: ‘315s at Shenfield on 14/11/20. (John Podgorski).

10/12/20: 345006 dragged OC-IL by ROG 37510. 11/12/20: 345007 dragged OC-IL by ROG 37510.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Due to Covid 19, some more services have been taken in house, from external contractors. 482 (Ipswich-Colchester-Stansted-London) has been withdrawn. Odd sightings: 19/12/20: SH209 on 032; GA468 on A6.

NETWORK RAIL. 8/12/20: Stoneblower DR80302 on West Ealing-Romford move.

OLST. Rainham sub depot is currently mothballed, due to Covid-19.

Above: Rainham depot on 27/12/20. Note that the area around has been considerably improved, from its “container yard” days. (John Podgorski).

PANTHER TRAVEL.

(Steve Barham).

Short ADL/Enviro 200 KX59 CZJ is ex Purple Parking, Gatwick (pictured above at Parkeston depot after delivery), but for dealer stock. It was quickly sold on to ASD Transport, Rochester. Ex ASD are Optare Solo M850 CE52 UWR, Optare Solo M920 FY52 RZC for spares recovery only. Also acquired are ex Metroline ADL/E200s YX10 BFL/O – (via Ensign); Mercedes Sprinter mini coach MV53 GRZ and ex Go North East Scania K340EB6/Caetano Levante JCN 822. ADL/E200 YX10 BDY is now in fleet livery, ex London red and has been re registered DB09 PAN. Mb Sprinter SN05 KCF is now DB54 PAN. Scania K360EB4 AB61 PAN is now fitted for OPO (for school contracts). Dart SLF/Mini Pointer BIG 9856 is back in use ex SORNED. Plaxton Primo SB07 PAN is relicensed ex SORNED. Short ADL/Enviro 200 DC61 PAN has been re registered back to YX61 BXJ and sold to ASD at Rochester. ADL/Enviro 400/Olympus VB08 PAN has reverted to PN08 SWJ and passed to Yelloway of Chadderton.

Ancillary vehicles: Added are Ford Focus estates FD55 XAC and AD63 PAN. BMW 320d estate AB51 PAN has been sold, but the cherished reg mark retained.

Above: JCN 822 on Greater Anglia rail replacement at Manningtree on 28/12/20. (John Podgorski).

Above: Newly repainted YX10 BDY at Harwich Town in December 2020. (Steve Barham).

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS.

Above: Hard to believe, but there used to be a railway depot here. This is Stroudley Walk in Bow, where Devons Road engine shed once stood. The alignment of the North London Railway, which served this site, is now part of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Pictured on 27/12/20. (John Podgorski).

ROG: 9/12/20; 37601 replaced 37608 at Orient Way. 23/12/20: 37601 dragged GA 745008 Orient Way-Norwich as 5P18.

Above: 37510 at Iron Latch Lane, Colchester on 21/12/20. On 0L50 Wembley-Clacton light loco, to collect 360117/118 for transfer from GA to EMR. The photographer has used Photoshop to remove the visual intrusion of the overhead catenary ! (James Cole).

Above: 37601 drags 745008 “down” past Chitts Hill, near Colchester on 23/12/20. Once again, Photoshop has improved the vantage point. (James Cole).

SOUTH EAST COACHES, WICKFORD. From Eavesway, Ashton in Makerfield, is Van Hool TD921 YJ12 CKC. Setra S415 GRZ 2450 has been sold.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. New are BYD ADL/Enviro 400evs 14101/02 (LF70 YTV/W), 14103/04 (LF70 YTX/Y), SLN14106 (LF70 YUA), SLN14107/08 (LF70 YUB/C), SLN 14109 (LF70 YUD), SLN14132 (LF70 YVJ). All are at Rainham for TfL174 (Dagenham Marsh Lane-Harold Hill). The SLNs were phased in of the 174 from 30/12/20. ADL/Enviro 200 LX11 AUW has a super rear advert for ‘Just add water’. The sold Trident/ALX400 18267 (LX05 BVZ), which had been in a car lot on Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park since February 2020, had gone by December.

STEPHENSONS: Great Bromley allocation at 1/12/20: Short ADL/E200 414 (SK07 BLV); ADL/E200s 467 (SK 66 WKF) , Three Rivers 472 (EU65 EOH); Scania N230UD/Olympus 510 (YN08 OAM).

Above: Scania Omnidekka 903 arrives at Norman Way, Colchester on 4/12/20, to take up the afternoon journey on scholars route 676. (Daniel Pretty).

SUFFOLK NORSE. All local bus routes serving Bury St Edmunds have ceased. Those around Ipswich have been de-registered. Suffolk school contracts are on notice.

SULLIVAN BUSES.

Above: Wright StreetLite SL98 at Shenfield, on control for TfL rail replacement (Shenfield to Newbury Park) on 27/12/20. The displayed route 327 is actually a TfL contact in the Enfield Wash/Waltham Cross area. (John Podgorski).

TOWER TRANSIT. Sold to Ensign are Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis BJ11 DTK, DVA/B/R, DUH. On hire to HCT Group is B9TL/Gemini BJ11 DVX. Resold via Ensign are B9TL/Geminis BJ11 DVA – to ASD Coaches, Strood; BJ11 DVB – to Stanley Travel, Co Durham; BJ11 EAW, EBA – to Abbey Travel, Erith; BJ11 EBO – Brookline, West Malling.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON. Ex First Somerset & Avon is Optare SoloM850 WX05 RUC. From 30/12/21, new Essex CC routes 542/A (Debden-Loughton), partially replaced Arriva 87 (Harlow-Epping).

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. New is accessible Mb Sprinter 204 (RX70 SKZ). Irizar i6 YR20 VHT, is now here from Loughborough.

VOLKER RAIL. From 24/12/20: Kirow KRC 250UK self propelled diesel hydraulic crane DRK 81621 on Colchester remodelling.

Above: DRK 81621 at Colchester on 27/12/20. (John Podgorski).

With thanks to: Angliagen, S Austin, S Barham, T Blackman, S Blake, J Cole, R Delahoy, D Disbury, R Downton, Ensign, S Kinsella Ilott, A Law, M Lloyd, London’s Transport FB, C Messer, P Munford, D Pretty, R West, K Wright.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSC, CMILT.

Welcome to the November 2020 edition of Busmopolitan.

From 5th November a second UK National Lockdown was put into place (until 2nd December). Also known as a Tier 4, this differed from the first lockdown in the spring, in that schools stayed open, along with more businesses. But hospitality, leisure facilities and “non essential” shops were again closed. Bus and rail services continued as usual levels, but perhaps not surprisingly, were quieter. During the day, traffic on the roads etc seemed normal, but by night everything went eerily quiet. In London, the centre was definitely emptier, although the suburbs remained busy.

Above: Believe it or not, this picture was taken during the second UK lockdown. Highgate Woods on 7/11/20, featuring Metroline Optare Metrodecker ev OME2653. (John Podgorski).

A2B, CAMBRIDGE. Sourced through Ensign were ADL/Enviro 200s YX10 BDE, BFK.

AIRPORT BUS EXPRESS, STANSTED. Scania K360EB4/Caeteno C650s BX56 WBK/L has passed to Hill (dealer), Melton Mowbray.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. All buses received a small poppy emblem on their front dash, for the 2020 Remembrance; but these were removed later in November. Odd sightings: 2/11/20: Dart SLF/MPD 1559 (EU56 GVG) on Staff Shuttle + 8. 9/11/20: 1559 on 8. 11/11/20: Dart SLF/Caetano 1563 (RX07 KPJ) on 8. 13/11/20: R133 StreetLite 4324 (SK68 TWV) on 1. 14/11/20: 1559 on 8. 19/11/20: 1563 on 8. 23/11/20: 1562 on 8. 26/11/20: 1563 on 8. 27/11/20: 1562 on 8; StreetLite 4262 on 1. 30/11/20: 1563 on 8; P&R ADKL/E200 4074 (SK15 GXU) on 2 duplicate; 4626 on 2 duty normally ‘decker.

Above: 4074 at Highwoods on the 2 on 30/11/20. (Peter Cackett).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUUTHEND. Further other operators on school duplicates are Godward of Wickford and Vectare of Chelmsford.

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH.

Above: New Routemaster LT821 enters Stamford Hill garage on 12/9/20. (John Podgorski).

Stamford Hill (SF) garage closed after service on 6/11/20. Its routes were reallocated as follows: 73 (Stoke Newington-Oxford Circus) – to Clapton (CT); 253 (Hackney Central-Tottenham Court Road) – to CT and Ash Grove (AE); 318 (Stamford Hill-North Middlesex Hospital) – to Tottenham (AR). New Routemaster LT833 was the very last operational bus to leave SF.

ARROW, MALDON.

Above: Mercedes Sprinter YK08 WEO on an Essex Dart service, on Market Hill, Halstead on 18/11/20. (Simon Austin).

AVANTI WEST COAST. 6/11/20: 221103 on Ilford-Barton ECS. 221104 on Barton-Ilford ECS. 13/11/20; 221104 on Ilford-Barton ECS. 221107 on Barton-Ilford ECS. 20/11/20: 22107 – IL-Barton.

BARKERBUS, ROYDON. Ex Southern Caoch Lines, Newbury is Scania K340EB4/Caetano Levante FJ56 PFK.

BLUE TRIANGLE. Withdrawn were ADL/Enviro 400s EN18-24 and E55. EN20, 22 and E55 were then loaned to Ensignbus for Amazon contracts. Also withdrawn were Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis WVL238/39. All of the 56 reg E Class E400s are now withdrawn.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 SE234 at Cranham on 21/11/20. (Daniel Disbury).

COLAS. 13/11/20: 37254 tnt 37099 on 1Q99 Cambridge-March via Colchester and Felixstowe test train.

COLNE VALLEY RAILWAY.

Above: This DMU car was en route to the railway – courtesy of Quattro Heavy Haulage , and pictured in Halstead on 13/11/20. (Darren Lewis).

DAN’S LUXURY TRAVEL, WALTHAM ABBEY. Sold to Bus and Coach Centre, Forest Hill (dealer), were: Volvo B12B/Jonckherres FJ07 ADO/X; Iveco Eurorider/Plaxton Panther YN07 KGZ; Mercedes Tourismos BF16 XRE, BL16 FYV, BN17 JLO, BF67 WKW, Iveco 70C17/IM YN16 CLY. Parnell the Honiton dealer took Mercedes 0816D/Plaxton Chetah YN07 DUH.

DBS. 2/11/20: 66019 on 6L69 Peterborough-Bow Plasmor. 4/11/20: 66034 on 6L07 Acton-Ipswich Griffin Wharf. 9/11/20: 66017 on 6L69. 66221 on 6L07 Acton-Ipswich Griffin Wharf. 11/11/20: 66069 on 4M79 FLX- EM Gateway. 12/11/20: 66162 on Wakefield-FLX. 14/11/20: 66205 at Bow with rake of Yeoman JHA hoppers @ 1437. 20/11/20: 66051 on Peterborough-Bow Plasmor.

DON’S, DUNMOW. Has ex First Hampshire & Dorset Scania Omnidekka YN05 HGA – via Ensign.

DRS. 2/11/20: 57002 tnt 57003 on 3S60 GEML RHTT. 5/11/20: 37425/422 on 6Z87 on Stowmarket-Ilford. 5/11/20: 37038 tnt 37069 on 3S60. 6/11/20: 37422/25 on Ilford-Stowmarket light loco. 7/11/20: 57002 tnt 57003 on 3S60. 9/11/20: 37038/059/069 on 0Z38 Stowmarket-Willesden light loco.37401 on 0Z75 Willesden-Stowmarket light loco. 37425 tnt 37422 on 3S60. 10/11/20: 37401 tnt 37424 on 3S60. 12/11/20: 37401/424 on 6Z87 Stowmarket-Ilford RHTT. 66426 tnt 66428 on 3S60. 13/11/20: 37401/424 on Ilford-Stowmarket. 37422 tnt 37425 on 3S01. 15/11/20: 66426 tnt 66428 on 3S01. 16/11/20: 37059 on 0Z37 Willesden-Stowmarket light loco. 37424 tnt 37401 on 3S01. 57003 on Stowmarket-Brent light loco. 19/11/20: 37038 on Willesden-Stowmarket light loco. 37401 tnt 37424 on 3S60. 66426/428 on Stowmarket-Ilford RHTT. 20/11/20: 37422 tnt 37425 on 3S60. 21/11/20: 66426 tnt 66428 on 6Z88 Ilford-Stowmarket. 23/11/20: 37422/25 on 0Z38 Stowmarket-Willesden. 57003 on Willesden-Stowmarket light loco. 66426/28 on 3S60. 28/11/20: 66426 tnt 66428 on 3S60. 30/11/20: 37038 tnt 37059 on 3S60. 37424 on 0E37 Stowmarket-Willesden light loco.

ENSIGNBUS. Acquired are ex Tower Transit Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis 135-137 (BJ11 EAG, DVV/W). On brief loan from Blue Triangle were ADL/Enviro 400s EN20, 22 and E55. Sold are ADL/Enviro 200s 714/15 (YN62 AOH, MX63 ARF) – to Centrebus; ADL/Enviro 400s 976/77 (LK58 KGU/M) – to Sullivan Buses; AEC PRV Routemaster RM1650 (650 DYE) – to Mr Jones, Redhill; Volvo B9TL/Olympus 126 (PO58 KPT) – to Grant Palmer, Dunstable.

Above: New service extras for key workers. (Daniel Disbury).

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: Volvo B7RLE 66797 in Lexden Village on 14/11/20. (Daniel Pretty).

ADL/Enviro 400 33424 (VT59 JPT) is in NBC era Eastern National heritage livery. Volvo B7TL/Gemini 37062 (YJ06 XMP) became the dedicated 67C bus from November. B7TL/ALX400 32068 (KP51 VZS) is back in use at CR ex long term SORNED/VOR. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 66794 was returned to CF ex loan at BN; 66797 (MX05 CBY) was on loan from CF to CR and later replaced by 66860; 66806 was loaned CF to CR; 66823 was loaned from BN to CR; sister 69518 was loaned from HH to CR. ADL/E200 44006 returned to HH ex loan at Basildon. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37009 (WX55 VHU) went to Alpha Recovery for scrap. Odd sightings: 1/11/20: B7TL/Gemini 37020 on 64A. 2/11/20: B7TL/Gemini 32628 on 103; 37020 on 104; R62 B9TL/Gemini 37135 on 61; B9TL/Gemini 37140 on 102; X10 ADL/E200 MMC 67160 on 100; X10 ADL/E200 MMC 67162 on 5. 3/11/20: B7TL/Gemini 32547 on 64; B7TL/Gemini 32628 on 104; B7TL/Gemini 32669 on 175; B7TL/Gemini 37004 on 103; B7TL/Gemini 37034 on 103; B7TL/Gemini 37054 on 104; X10 67160 on 8; X10 67162 on 100. 4/11/20: 32476 on 103; 32629 on 104; 32673 on 103; R62 37135 on 65; Airlinks 67161/63 on 100. 5/11/20: 32673 on 64A; 37017 on 103; 37042 on 102; R62 37135 on 104; X10 67160/62 on 100. 6/11/20: 37010 on 103; 37037 on 102; 37054 on 175;R62 37138 on 65; X10 67160 on 100; X10 67162 on 8; X10 67164 on 100. 7/11/20: R62 37139 on 61; 37140 on 64A; X10 67162 on 16; Airlink 67163 on 25; X10 67164 on 100. 9/11/20: 37053 on 175. 10/11/20: 32547 on 104; 32629 on 64A; 37007 on 103; 37016 on 104; R62 37138 on 61; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162/64 on 8. 11/11/20: B7TL/Gemini 32628 on 104; 37020 on 103; 37042 102; R62 37136 on 61; X10 67162 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 25. 12/11/20: B7TL/ALX400 32068 on 175; 32477 on 102; 37004 on 64A; 37007 on 103; CF66797 on CR 64A; Airlink 67161 on 8A; Airlink 67163 on 8; X10 67164 on 8. 13/11/20: 32628 on 104; 32669 on 103; 37010 on 64A; 37037 on 175; R62 37135 on 88; R62 37136 on 88A; Airlink 67161 on 8; Airlink 67163 on 25; X10 67164 on 8. 14/11/20: 32547 on 103; 32628 on 64A; 37006 on 64; R62 37138 on 104; Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 25. 15/11/20: R62 37135 on 70; R62 37138 on 61; X10 67164 on 5. 16/11/20: 32628 on 102; 32673 on 104; 37010 on 103; R62 37138 on 75; Airlink 67161 on 8; X10 67162 on 100; X10 67164 on 25. 17/11/20: 32547 on 66B; 32673 on 103; 37017 on 103; Airlink 67161 on 25; X10 67162 on 25; X10 67164 on 8; X10 67164 on 8A. 18/11/20: 37042 on 102; R62 37133 on on 103; Airlink 67161/63 on 8; X10 67164 on 100. 19/11/20: 37017 on 103; R62 37136 on 74B; R62 37138 on 61; Airlink 67161 on 100; X10 67162 on 25; X10 67164 on 100. 20/11/20: 32485 on 103; 37020 on 104; 37036 on 103; R62 37135 on 74B; 37140 on 102; Airlink 67161 on 5; X10 67164 on 8A. 22/11/20: 37053 on 102; X10 67164 on 8. 23/11/20: 32628 on 64; 32672 on X30; 32673 on 103; 37007 on 104; 37034 on 102; R62 37134 on 65; Airlink 67163 on 8; X10 671264 on 8A. 24/11/20: 32642 on X30; 37034 on 102; 37036 on 175; R62 37136 on 64A; StreetLites 47160, 47652 on 100; X10 67162 on 8; X10 67164 on 8A. 25/11/20: 32547 on 64A; 32642 on X30; 37017 on 103; 37027 on 64; 37053 on 103; X10 67160 on 8; X10 67162 on 100; X10 67164 on 8. 26/11/20; 37015/16 on 104; 37035 on 102; R62 37134 on 65; 37140 on 103; X10 67160/62 on 100; X10 67164 on 8. 27/11/20: 32087 on 103; 32483 on X30; 37036 on 103; 37053 on 102; R62 37135 on 61; X10 67162 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 25; X10 67164 on 8. 28/11/20: 32485 on 104; 32628 on 103; 37007 on 102; R62 37134 on 75; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37138 on 2A; X10 67160 on 25; Airlink 67163 on 5. 29/11/20; 32628 on 102. 30/11/20: 32629 on 103; 32669 on 102; 37020 on 175; 44909 (YX09 AFY) on 100; X10 67160/62 on 8A; X10 67164 on 8.

FREIGHTLINER. 3/11/20: 66516 on 4L57 Birch Coppice-FLX. 66541 on Ipswich-Lindsay tanks. 66556 on 4L37 Lawley St-FLX. 4/11/20: Orange 59206 on 6L30 Acton-Chelmsford. 90010/16 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 5/11/20: Failed 66592 towed from Shenfield back to Ipswich by 66503 as 0Z66. 90013/044 on 4L89 Crewe-FLX. 6/11/20: 66570/669 on 4M94 FLX-Lawley Street. 86639/09 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 90045/046 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 7/11/20: 66560 on Leeds-FLX. 66592 on FLX-Leeds. 66955 on 4E63 FLX-Doncaster. 90013/044 on 4L93. 8/11/20: 90013/044 on 0Z90/91 Ipswich-Norwich crew trainer and return. 9/11/20: 66556 on Ipswich-Temple Mills light loco, then on 4Z37 to FLX. 90006/043 on 4L89 Crewe-FLX. 10/11/20: 66504 on Acton-Chelmsford. 66622 on 6L80 Tunstead-Marks Tey. 90011 on Ipswich-Norwich crew training. 11/11/20: 66558 on Acton-Chelmsford. 90003/86638/39 on 4L97/4L96 Trafford-FLX. 12/11/20: 59101 on Acton-Chelmsford. 66613 on 6L80 Tunstead-Marks Tey. 86613/04 on 4L91 then 4M87. 86622/08 on 4L89. 13/11/20: 86613/04 on 4L91. 86622/08 on 4L89. 15/11/20: 90011 on Ipswich-Norwich and return crew trainer. 16/11/20: 86604/13 + 66593 dit on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 90012/007 on 4L89. 17/11/20: 66539 on Ipswich-Lindsay tanks. 18/11/20: 66526/90011 on 4L75. 19/11/20: 66952 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 86604/08 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX + 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 86638/39 on 4M45 FLX-Garston. 90008/16 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 20/11/20: Orange 66503 on 4L32 Wentloog-FLX. 66560 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX. 66569 on 4M81 FLX-Crewe. 86604/09 on 4L91. 24/11/20: 66517 on 4L36. 66538 on FLX-Leeds. 66553 on 4M94. 86609/08 on 4L97. 86637/07 on 4L91 + 4M87. 28/11/20; 90018/046 on 4L93 Crewe-FLX. 30/11/20: 66562 on 4L46 Lawley St-London Gateway. 66564 on 4M84 London Gateway-Trafford.

Above: 90018 + 046 at Stratford on 28/11/20. (John Podgorski).

GALLOWAY, MENDLESHAM.

Above: Mercedes 516D/UNVI Voyager PO15 AZP in Halstead on 16/11/20, on a schools duplicate for Stephensons route 38 to Witham. (Simon Austin).

GBRf. 4/11/20: 66767 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 7/11/20: 66704 on 4E14 FLX-Doncaster. 66735 tnt 66728 on “up” RHTT at Ilford Flyover @ 1400. 66756 on “down” intermodal through Chelmsford @ 1340. 66769 on 4E00 London Gateway-Masboro. 8/11/20: 66710 replaced 66728 on Broxbourne RHTT. 11/11/20: 66771 on 4L02 Hams Hall-FLX. 66792 on 6P41 Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 12/11/20: 66792 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 14/11/20: 66710 tnt 66735 on 3S70 Broxbourne-Southend and return RHTT. 16/11/20: 66780 ‘Cemex’ on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 20/11/20: 66756 on 6L37. 66711 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 24/11/20: 66705 on 4L02 Hams Hall-FLX. 66765 on 4M23.

GODWARD, WICKFORD. Ex Edwards, Llantwit Fardre is short VDL180/MCV Evolution YJ60 GDU. Received in blue, it was then repainted white.

GOLDLINE, LEYTONSTONE & MANOR PARK. Odd sightings: 6 & 30/11/20: Caetano Trabus BV19 XRW on Colchester High School.

GREATER ANGLIA. Class 720 ‘Aventras’ began public service on the Southend Victoria-Liverpool Street line from 26/11/20; London and Southend crews were the first to be trained on this type. Ex London Overground 317708/09/10/14/19/23/29/32 have been reinstated here, to cover for late delivery of new Class 720 EMUs. 360103/04/13/16/20/21 have transferred to EMR. 321437 and 321448 are now at Edge Hill depot, Liverpool (Northern Trains), for conversion to Class 600 ‘Breeze’ HMUs (Hydrogen Multiple Units). 6/11/20: 755401 on 5Q52 Liv St-Norwich test run. 7/11/20: 317347 at Stratford @ 1405 on Meridian Waters shuttle. 317509 + 507 on 1428 Liv St-Cambridge North. 317655/664 on 5V03 Harwich International-Ilford ECS. 317666/70 on 5A02 Ilford-Harwich International for storage. 360110 on 5Q60 Northampton-Ilford ECS between GBRf 47749/27. 360115 on 5Q61 Ilford Northampton ECS between GBRf 47727/49. 755331 on Colchester depot. 10/11/20: 317501/345 on 5N94 Ilford-Clacton ECS. 360120 on 5Q60 Ilford (IL)-Cricklewood (CW) drag between 50049/007 – GA-EMR transfer. 11/11/20: 360103 – IL-CW. 12/11/20: 360121 – IL-CW. 13/11/20: 720515/36 on 5Q25 Ilford-Ipswich test. 14/11/20: 317337 and 884 visible in Ilford depot. 317341 on rear of 1812 Liv St-Hertford East. 360115 on 5Q61 Northampton-Ilford ECS between 47727/49. 360117 on 5Q61 Ilford-Northampton ECS between 47749/27. 16/11/20: 360104/13/16 – IL-CW. 18/11/20: 745106 on 1B84 Liv St-Stansted failed at Liv st then ran as ECS 5M99 to Orient Way. 20/11/20: 745104 towed by UID ROG ’37 on 5P00 Temple Mills-Norwich. 21/11/20: 360101 on 5Q61 IL-Northampton ECS. 360117 on 5Q60 Northampton-IL ECS between 47727/49. 23/11/20: 317655/64 Ilford-Eastleigh ECS for scrap behind ROG 57312. 24/11/20: 317651/54 on 5A02 Ilford-Harwich International for storage. 317666 on Harwich International-Ilford ECS. 317719/23 on 5L50 Wembley-Ilford ECS. 26/11/20; 720515/17 on first revenue working – 1K85 Southend Vic-Liv St. 28/11/20: 720536/511 on 1K77 14:50 Southend Vic-Liv St.

Above: 720536 at Liverpool Street on 28/11/20. (John Podgorski).

HEDINGHAM.

Hedingham has 60th Anniversary enamel lapel badges available at £7.50 each. They are obtainable from Customer Services at Clacton, on 0330 102 0801, or orders can by made by email on services@hedingham.co.uk 

Above: Ex Go North East, ex East Yorkshire originally Go-Ahead London Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 586. Kelvedon depot, 7/11/20. (Laurence Kinsella-Ilott).

Scania Omnidekkas 811-814 have come from Chambers to CN. Volvo B7TL/Presidents 565 (W425 WGH), 584 (PJ02 REU) have moved from CN to HD. Volvo B7TL/President 578 (W519 WGH) has gone to Alpha Recovery at Cramlington for scrap. School route TLA3 has been renumbered as TLA C.

Omnidekka movements: 10/11/20: 803 – Chambers-KN; 814 – KN-Chambers; 816 – KN-CN. 16/11/20: 810 – KN-Chambers; 813 – KN-CN; 814 – Chambers-KN; 817 – KN-CN. Odd sightings: 2/11/20: Dart SLF/MPD 288 (HW54 BUF) on TLA 3 am. 3/11/20: Volvo B7TL/President 573 (W491 WGH) on TLA3 am. 10/11/20: Short ADL/E200 293 (EU59 AFJ) on TLA 3 pm; Volvo B7TL/President 565 (W425 WGH) on 19 + 63. 13/11/20: Volvo B7TL/President 574 (W506 WGH) on 15 pm. 16-17/11/20: 288 on TLA C. 18/11/20: 288 on TLA C am; 293 on TLA C pm; 571 on 19 + 63. 19/11/20: 586 on 19B pm, then TLA C pm. 20/11/20: Omnidekka 813 on TLA B pm.

IPSWICH BUSES. Optare Versa 145/46 (YK08 EPC/D) have passed to Tanat Valley, Oswestry, in exchange for ADL/Enviro 200 DU60 LOJ, which has been numbered 70.

KLARNERS, COLCHESTER. Mercedes Tourismo BV66 GVX, has been seen with fleet names removed.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH. Wright StreetLites WS62, 63 transferred to Metrobus at Orpington. This left WS49, 50 as the only StreetLites here at Northumnerland Park.

LONDON OVERGROUND. 3/11/20: 315802/807 on 5Q20 Northampton-Ilford ECS. 317710/709 on 5L50 Wembley-Ilford ECS. 5/11/20: 315802/07 towed by ROG 37884 from Ilford to Booth, Rotherham for scrap – but terminated at Northampton due to loco failure. 23/11/20; 315801/15 from Ilford to Newport for scrap, behind ROG 57303 as 5Q60.

LONDON UNDERGROUND. Trains received poppy emblems on cab ends for the 2020 Remembrance.

Above: 11039 departs a quiet Oxford Circus (Victoria Line) northbound platform, for Walthamstow Central on 14/11/20. (John Podgorski).

M&M STAFFING, CHELMSFORD. Under restoration is AEC PRV Routemaster RM2173 (CUV 173C).

MTR ELIZABETH LINE.

(John Podgorski).

The Class 345s got a poppy emblem below the drivers cab window. The remaining Class 315s received poppy emblems below the drivers cab window for the 2020 Remembrance. Class 315 obs: 7/11/20: 315844 (country end) + UID and 315848 (country end) + 851 in Shenfield sidings. 315833 (country end) + 817 and 315834 (country end) + 839 in Gidea Park yard. 315820 and 315853 visible at London end of Aldersbrook sidings, Ilford. 14/11/20; 315818 (country end) + 854 and 315820 (country end) + 819 in Shenfield sidings. 315838 (country end) + 847 in Gidea Park yard. 315853 (London end) + UID in Aldersbrook sidings. 6 x ‘315s visible in Ilford depot including 315844.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Coaches received a poppy emblem on the front. Several Levantes surplus at Start Hill and Luton, due to the post Covid slump in airport traffic, have moved to NX West Midlands at Walsall for NX white coach use and an Amazon contract. Start Hill allocated coaches have also been spreading their wings due to the closure of Gatwick depot, and the taking “in house” of several routes from NX contractors, such as Go South Coast. All of the Mercedes Citaros used on car park shuttles and airside at Stansted have been withdrawn, due to the drop in demand for air travel. These were Citaro bendys 8542-47/74-88/80/81/84 (T500 LSA, N500 LSA, P600 LSA, R700 LSDA, S600 LSA, T600 LSA, K900 LSA, N900 LSA, P900 LSA, R900 LSA, S900 LSA, S800 LSA, T800 LSA, T900 LSA), 8680/81/91 (NE02 BUS, NE03 BUS, BX07 NMF) and Citaro rigids 8554-60 (K700 LSA, N700 LSA, P700 LSA, R700 LSA, T700 LSA, N800 LSA, P800 LSA), 8695-98 (BP08 WNL, BV57 JYX, BX56 VVE, KO56 GNP); Mb Sprinter 513/Trekker 8591 (KM16 KHF), 8686 (KT18 AUK); Scania Omnicity saloons 8689/90 (YN56 FEO/P). White coaches withdrawn, also due to a decline in airport traffic are Scania K440EB6/Levantes 177/85-88/90/97/99, 204-208 (BK14 LFR/Z, LGA/C/D/F/V, BK64 FKL, BG65 TGK/N/O/U, BX16 CMK). Sold is Scania K340EB6/Levante 19 (FJ57 KHY) which had latterly been a driver trainer.

NETWORK RAIL: 24/11/20: Robel DR97506/606/806 on Colchester-Romford move.

OSBORNES, TOLLESBURY.

Above: Daimler CVD6/Willowbrook NNO 310 of 1948 vintage, at the original Tollesbury depot. (Clive Porter).

PANTHER TRAVEL. Acquired via Ensign is ADL/Enviro 200 YX58 DWN, it is for component recovery only. Dennis Dart/Alexander Dash BIG 8843 had been sold in late summer, but the sale fell through and it remains as a static store at Parkeston depot.

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS. 14/11/20: Rake of Touax and Hanson bogie hoppers being loaded in Chelmsford yard. Yeoman JHA bogie hopper 19316 was still in the defective siding at Bow at the end of November, but had been joined by then, by a similar Tourax bogie hopper.

ROG. 6/11/20: 37608 on Leicester-Orient Way light loco. 25/11/20: 37608 on 0Z37 Orient Way-Fenchurch St light loco and return.

ROMAN COACHES, COLCHESTER. Has ceased operations, with the O licence not being renewed. Work has passed to a new company called Swift Travel. The Roman Cars phv business continues.

RYANAIR. Reported an 80% loss of trade (due to Covid-19), compared to the same period in 2019.

SJH TRAVEL, CANVEY. Sold is Volvo B10M/Van Hool M860 TYC.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. New are BYD/ADL E400-EVs 14130-33. They are for TfL173 (Beckton-Goodmayes), TfL174 (Dagenham-Harold Hill). More are due. 14133 was trialled at Selkent at Catford before reaching East London. ADL/Enviro 400 19000 (LX55 HGC) orig 18500 ‘Spirit of London’, has been preserved by the company.

Above: One of the ADL/Enviro 400s borrowed from RATP for initial use on TfL173 (Beckton-Goodmayes). 80411 at Beckton on 28/11/20. (John Podgorski).

STEPHENSONS. Scania Omnicity ‘decker 506 (YN07 LHD) has been loaned to Galloway at Mendlesham.

TENDRING TRAVEL, THORPE LE SOKEN. Ex Craig, Scotland Scania K340EB4/Caetano Levante FJ56 PFD.

TOWER TRANSIT. Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis BJ11 DVN/O/T/V/W have passed to Ensign.

Above: One of the Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis originally used by First on TfL25 in east London; BJ11 DTO was seen at Battersea, Queenstown Road on 28/11/20. After First left London in 2013, Lea Interchange depot passed to Tower Transit. Subsequent vehicle upgrades and contract changes saw some of the Volvos move to Westbourne Park, where this bus is now based. (John Podgorski).

TRANSPORT for LONDON. No contractors buses received special poppy liveries for 2020, but they did get poppy emblems on the lower bodysides.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON. Acquired through Ensign are Optare Versas YJ12 PKX/Y, PLF. Optare Tempos YJ10 MDE/U have passed to Ensign and were resold to Brylaine of Boston..

UNO. From 23/11/20,TfL school routes 692, 699 (Potters Bar-Winchmore Hill) were taken over from Metroline. Pioneer BYDs BYD1471-75 are being used. These were also ex Metroline.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. Volvo B7RLE/Wright BK12 NZS, was used on school duplicates for Arriva Southend in November.

Above: One of the ex Transdev Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Geminis. BK13 NZU at Colchester on Greater Anglia rail replacement on 25/10/20. (Daniel Pretty).

VOLKER RAIL. 7/11/20: Tamper DR77802 at Marks Tey engineers siding.

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS. 14/11/20: 172333 – TS-IL. 172336 – IL-TS.

With thanks to: Angliagen, S Austin, D Disbury, L Kinsella Ilott, D Lewis, C Porter, D Pretty, S Taylor.

Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the October 2020 edition of Busmopolitan.

The last Class 315 EMUs have left London Overground. The only ‘315s left are with MTR TfL Rail, and normally only work at peak times. The Class 360 EMUs are due to leave Greater Anglia for East Midlands Railway imminently and have been accordingly debranded.

ACME, STANSTED.

Above: Ex RATP London Scania Omnidekka YN55 NKS at Colchester on 17/10/20; on Greater Anglia rail replacement to/from Witham. YN55 NLA is also operated. (Daniel Pretty).

AIRPORT BUS EXPRESS. Is operating its Stansted Airport to London services again. It had closed in March, prior to the lockdown.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE COLCHESTER. Odd sightings: 2/10/20; R133 StreetLite 4324 (SK68 TWV) on 8. 5/10/20: StreetLite 4262 (GN64 DXS) on 1. 8/10/20: R133 StreetLite 4324 on 1. 13/10/20: Dart SLF/MPDs 1558/59 on 77. 17/10/20: 4262 on 2. 20/10/20: 1558 on 8; 4262 on 1. 21/10/20: R133 4323 on 1. 22/10/20: 1559 on 8; 4261 on 1. 23/10/20: 1563 on 8. 26/10/20: 1558 on 8; 1563 on Staff Shuttle; 4020 on Park & Ride; 4261 on 1. 27/10/20: 1559 on 133. 28/10/20: 1558 on Staff Shuttle; R133 4323 on 8. 29/10/20: 1562 on 8; R133 4323 on 8. 30/10/20: 1559 on Staff Shuttle; 3415 failed at Head Street on Greenstead bound 1 at 1503 and not recovered until 1925; 4261 on 1. 31/10/20: R133 StreetLite 4324 on 1.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE HARLOW. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3889 is in the new livery.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE SOUTHEND. ADL/Enviro 400 MMC 6500 (SN66 WHT) received giant poppy emblems on sides and rear, for this year’s Remembrance Day. Other buses have small poppy emblems on their front dashes, which were “carried over” from 2019. Some Optare Versa V1110s have transferred to Arriva Guildford and West Surrey. 4200/01/05/09/10 plus one other. Dart SLF/Caetano 1565 (HX04 HUK) is now here, ex Colchester. The following duplicates were provided from October: From 2/10/20: M&M Staffing Neoplan MM18 BUS and from 5/10/20 M&M Trident/EL PN04 XDK on 1534 Shoebury-Rayleigh. Meanwhile, there are duplicates variously on routes 1, 7, 8 and 9. The external hires are 2 in the morning, both Grange Travel of Gravesend, and in the afternoon there are 7 – Grange x 5; Westbus x 1; M&M Staffing x 1. The 2 borrowed Arriva Colchester Park and Ride ADL/E200s are also used on these. The travel shop at the Travel Centre has permanently closed, having not been open since the lockdown in March.

Above: PN04 XDK at Shoebury on 5/10/20. (Mark Hough).

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH. New Routemasters LT176-184 have been transferred from Clapton to Enfield, to convert TfL313 (Chingford-Potters Bar) to full double deck operation – in a phased process starting 3/10/20. LT176/81 were the first . This was achieved due to a frequency reduction on TfL38 (Hackney-Victoria). They replaced ENX Class ADL/E200s, which went to Dartford, to replace former Arriva Southend 08 reg E200s. From 17/10/20, TfL173 (Beckton-Little Heath) and its associated school route 673 (Beckton-Warren School) passed to Stagecoach on retender. Volvo B7TL/ALX400 VLA129 (LJ05 GLZ), has been resold by Ensign to Walters Coaches, Oxford.

AVANTI WEST COAST. 2/10/20: 221118 Barton to Ilford ECS. 9/10/20: 222118 on Ilford-Central Rivers ECS. 23/10/20: 221113 Ilford-Central Rivers. 223117 Central Rivers-Ilford.

BLUE TRIANGLE. Ex Go Ahead London ADL/Enviro 200 SEN55 (YX16 NZY) is here.

CARTERS HERITAGE, GREAT BROMLEY. Trident/ALX400 LK55 KKO has passed to Candy, Cobham.

CHAMBERS.

Above: Seen on 24/10/20 at Sudbury depot. L to R: Withdrawn Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 566 (W428 WGH); Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 519 (LX05 EZZ) and Scania N230UD/Olympus 873 (PN09 EMV) – both awaiting mechanical attention. (Laurence Kinsella-Ilott).

Ancillary vehicles: Ford Tourneo 9011 (EK58 LFA) was at Hedingham Clacton workshop on 29/10/20.

COLAS. 9-10/20: 37116 on 3Q59 at Canonbury. 12/10/20; 37099 tnt 37254 on 1Q90 Derby-Ferme Park via West Anglia lines. 14/10/20: 37099 tnt 37254 on 1Q97 Ferme Park-Cambridge via Stanford, Liv St, Harwich, Clacton. 27/10/20: 37254 tnt 9703 on 3Q20 Derby-Cambridge via Audley End, then 3Q61 to Ferme Park via West Anglia suburban lines. 28/10/20: 37254 tnt 9703 on 3Q70 Ferme Park-Colchester via Kings Cross, Liv St, Cheshunt, Liv St, Braintree. 29/10/20: 37254 tnt 9703 on 3Q69 Colchester-Norwich-Harwich-Colchester. 30/10/20: 37254 tnt 9703 on 3Q66 Colchester-Felixstowe-Derby.

DBS. 1/10/20: 66124 on Peterborough-Bow Plasmor. 5/10/20: 66003 on 6L69 Peterborough-Bow Plasmor. 8/10/20: 66004 on FLX-EM Gateway. 12/10/20: 66077 on 6L07 Acton-Ipswich Griffin Wharf and return to Neasden. 66117 on 6L69 Peterborough-Bow Plasmor. 19/10/20: 66001 on 6L69 Heck-Bow Plasmor. 21/10/20: 66101 on Wembley-Marks Tey sand. 66119 on Biggleswade-Bow Plasmor. 22/10/20: 66053 on Acton-Marks Tey then 6V55 to Brentford. 66106 on 6L74 Mountsorrel-Harlow Mill. 23/10/20: 66068 on 6L69 Biggleswade-Bow Plasmor. 26/10/20: 66168 on 6L69 Peterborough-Bow Plasmor. 66185 on Acton-Ipswich Griffin Wharf. 27/10/20: 66018 on EM Gateway-FLX.

DRS.

Above: 57002 + 003 “down” past Chitts Hill on 3/10/20. (James Cole).

2/10/20: 66426 tnt 66427 on 3S60 Stowmarket-Essex routes-Stowmarket RHTT. 3/10/20: 57002/03 on Willesden Brent-Stowmarket light loco via NLL and GEML. 66426 tnt 66427 on 3S60 RHTT. 8/10/20: 57002/003 on 3S60 RHTT. 68017/018 on 6L68 to Southminster. 9/10/20: 37425 ‘Concrete Bob’ on 0Z25 Plymouth-Norwich light loco via NLL and GEML. 12/10/20: 57002 tnt 57003 on 3S60. 13-14/10/20: 37069 tnt 35059 on 3S60. 14/10/20: 37425 on 0Z25 Norwich-Tilbury light loco and 0Z26 return. 15/10/20: 37059 tnt 37069 on 6Z80 Stowmarket-Ilford RHTT. 17/10/20: 37422 tnt 37038 on 3S60. 19/10/20: 57002 tnt 57003 on 3S60. 21/10/20: 57002 tnt 57003 on 3S60. 21/10/20; 66427 towed 37401 Norwich to Willesden via GEML and NLL. 23/10/20: 66426 tnt 66428 on 3S60. 26/10/20: 37422 tnt 37425 on 3S60. 37425 on Willesden-Norwich light loco. 27/10/20: 57002 tnt 57003 on 3S60. 28/10/20: 37069 tnt 37059 on 3S60. 29/10/20: 37425 tnt 37422 on 3S60. 57002 tnt 57003 on 6Z87 Stowmarket-Ilford. 31/10/20: 66428 tnt 66426 on 3S60.

Above: 37425 at Chitts Hill on 9/10/20. (James Cole).

EMPRESS OF LONDON.

Empress is running a school contract in Brentwood for the 2020/21 academic year. Top: Ex National Express Scania K340EB4/Caetano Levante in “Epsom Coaches” livery. Above; Scania Omniexpress YT59 NZO. Both taken on High Street, Brentwood on 15/10/20. (Both: Simon Austin).

ENSIGNBUS. Volvo B9TL/Olympuses 124/25 (PO58 KPP/R) have passed to NAT, Cardiff. ADL/Enviro 200 703 (PX12 BSY) has gone to Go-Ahead Ireland. ADL/Enviro 200 719 (SK15 HBB) has been in use as a crew ferry. Temporary ADL/Enviro 400s 970-973 (LK58 KGJ/O, KHH/G) have been sold to Notts and Derby. They were replaced by similar 976-979 (LK58 KGU, KHM/U, CNV respectively), from sales stock.

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: Ex First York Volvo B7RLE/Wright Solar Eclipse 66759 (YJ05 VVA) at Derwent Road, Highwoods, Colchester on 6/10/20. Sister 66760 (YJ05 VVB) is at Basildon. (Daniel Pretty).

Above: 37135 at North Station, Colchester on 3/10/20. (Daniel Pretty).

Above: 32249 at Basildon on 31/10/20. (Hewitt David).

From First Bristol are Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 32249 (LT52 WVM) and 32260 – they are at Basildon (BN). Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 37135 (SN57 HCP) has been returned to traffic after 6 months SORNED/VOR at CR. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37042 (YJ06 XLH) is also back in use at CR after a period of disuse. B7TL/Gemini 32551 (SF54 OSO), has transferred from BN to CR. Chelmsford Park and Ride ADL/E200 MMCs 67195/97 (SN66 WKS/U), continue at HH for the time being. Volvo B7RLE/Wright 66872 (MX05 CKD) has moved CF to CR. Several buses have been loaned to Basildon. From Chelmsford came Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 32482/84, Volvo B7RLE/Wright 66794, ADL/E200 MMCs 67165/66 and ADL/Enviro 300H 67901. From Colchester came Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 66872, 971, which returned by 31st October. From Hadleigh came Trident/President 33134 and ADL/E200 44006. Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 66846/63 have become driver trainers.

Above: 32484 at Basildon on 31/10/20. (Hewitt David).

Some Volvo B7RLE/Wrights have been outshopped in a slightly revised livery, featuring a greater area of white. 69429/32/34 have been seen. 69429 lost its Co Op super rear advert as a result. StreetLite 47529 (SN64 CNJ) has a super rear advert Essex and Suffolk Water. The travel offices at Chelmsford and Colchester, closed since the start of the lockdown in March, are to remain closed, with all furloughed staff being made redundant. The old Haven Road depot in Colchester, has been vacated by its last occupier, Revis Motors. Scania L94UB/Wright Solars YS03 ZKB/K have been resold by Ensign to Laurenson, Preston (dealer). ADL/Enviro 300 67756 (SN62 ASU) is delicensed due to accident damage. Odd sightings: 1/10/20: B7TL/Geminis 32628/29 on 104; Airlink Scania N250UD/E400 36840 on 70; B7TL/Gemini 37036 on 175 am. Dart SLF/Pointer 42932 (SN05 EAP) on 71; X10 ADL/E200 MMC 67160 on 5B; Airlink ADL/E200 MMC 67163 on 100; X10 ADL/E200 MMC 67164 on 100. 2/10/20: 37036 on 175 am; Dart SLF/Pointer 42927 (SN05 EAF) on 71. 3/10/20: R62 B9TL 37134 on 61. 4/10/20: Airlink ADL/E200 MMC 67163 on 100. 5/10/20: B7TL/ALX400 32477 on 175 am; Airlink Scania N250UD/E400 City 36843 (YN69 XYD) on 70; B7TL/Gemini 37016 on 64A; 37020 on 67 + 68; 37042 on 64A; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37136 on 65 + 1A; R62 37138 on 61; X10 67161 on 5B; X10 67164 on 8A.; short ADL/E200 44900 on 70. 6/10/20: 36843 on 70; 37034 on 175 am + 104; R62 37136/38 on 61; Dart SLF/Pointer 42935 (SN05 DZO) on 71A; X10 67161 on 8A; X10 67162/64 on 8; Thamesway B7RLE/Wright 69520 (BJ11 ECW) on 26. 7/10/20: Airlink 36838 on 70; Airlink 36843 on 70; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37139 on 70; X10 67161 on 5B; X10 67162 on 8; X10 67164 on 5B. 8/10/20; Airlink 36838 on 42; Airlink 36840 on 70; R62 37136 on 61. 9/10/20: 36839 on 70/71X; 36842 on 70; 37004 on 104; 37042 on 103; X10 67161 on 5B; X10 67164 on 100. 10/10/20: R62 37139 on 2A. 11/10/20: B7TL/Gemini 37054 on 64; short ADL/E200 MMC 44659 on 71C. 12/10/20: 32673 on 103; 63836 on 70; 36840 on 42; 36843 on 70/71X; 37036 on 104; R62 37136 on 61; Dart SLF/Pointer 42922 (EU05 AUO) on 70; Dart SLF/Pointer 42939 (WX05 SVE) on 71; long ADL/E200 44596 (EU60 LFS) on 13; X10 67160 on 5; Airlink 67161on 25; X10 67164 on 5B. 13/10/20: 32547 on 103; 36838 on 70; 37017 on 102; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37138 on 65; 37140 on 104; X10 67160 on 5; Airlink 67161 on 25; X10 67164 on 8; P&R 67196 (SN66 WKT) on Chelmsford Staff Shuttle. 14/10/20: P&R ADL/E200 MMC SN66 WKO on Chelmsford Staff Shuttle. 15/10/20: 36840 on 71X/70; 37020 on 64; 42927 on 71; 67171 on Chelmsford P&R. 16/10/20: 36842 on 70; 37006 on 102; X10 67160 on 100; Airlink 67161 on 8; X10 67164 on 25. 17/10/20: R62 37136/38 on 61; 67736 on 62B. 18/10/20: Airlink 67163 on 100; X10 67164 on 100. 19/10/20: Airlink 36838 on 70. 20/10/20: First Eastern Counties Ipswich Reds B7TL/ALX400 32475 (AU53 HJJ) at Colchester depot; 36838 on 70; YN69 XXU on 525; 37053 on 66; 37004 on 102; 37015 on 104; R62 37133 on 88; R62 37136 on 64; R62 37139 on 65 + 1A; Airlink 67161 on 25; X10 67164 on 100. 21/10/20: 32547 on 64; 32628 on 66; 37054 on 104; 37062 on 103; R62 37133 on 75; R62 37134 on 88; R62 37138 on 61; Airlink 67161 on 5. 22/10/20: R62 37138 on 75. 22/10/20: 32476 on 66; R62 367134 on 64A; X10 67160 on 25. 23/10/20: 32478 on 102; ; 37017 on 66; 37036 on 104; 37054 on 103; R62 37134 on 64A; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37138 on 61; Airlink 67161 on 100; Airlink 67163 on 5. 24/10/20: R62 37133 on 61; R62 37134 on 64A; R62 37135 on 75; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37139 on 61. 25/10/20: R62 37133 on 61; R62 37134 on 65; R62 37135 on 66; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37138 on 65. 26/10/20: 36842 on 42; 37005 on 103; R62 37133 on 75 + 1A; R62 37134 on 88; R62 37138 on 65 + 1A; 44006 on 10; Airlink 67161; X10 67162 on 5. 27/10/20: 30560 on CR Staff Shuttle; 32478 on 104; 37053 on 67; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37135 on 75; R62 37136 on 88A; X10 67160 on 25; P&R 67191 (SN66 WKM) on 71B. 28/10/20: 37035 on 103; 37062 on 102; R62 37134 on 2A; R62 37136 on 70. 29/10/20: 37016 on 102; R62 37134 on 99; R62 37135 on 6530/10/20: 37034 on 104 + 102; R62 37135 on 65; R62 37136 on 61; 67166 on X10; P&R 67191/96 (SN66 WKM/T) on 36; 67196 on 71. 31/10/20: 32476 on 104; 32478 on 64A; 32628 on 102; 37034 on 103; R62 37139 on 2A; Dart SLF/Pointer 42968 (WX06 ONC) on 71A; Airlink 67163 on 16; X10 67164 on 25.

Above: One of the ex Tower Transit Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis currently on loan to First Essex from Ensign for school duplicates. BJ11 DVX in Basildon on 5/10/20. (Hewitt David).

FLAGFINDERS. Scania Omnidekka YN56 FDD was at Kelvedon depot from the start of October.

FORDS OF ALTHORNE. Scania K340EB4/Berkhof YN07 LHE has been sold to Wren Kitchens, Barton upon Humber.

FREIGHTLINER.

Above: Ex Greater Anglia 90011, in the headshunt at Ipswich on 28/10/20. (John Podgorski).

1/10/20: 59201 on 6L30 Acton-Chelmsford. 66512/42 on 4M63 FLX-Trafford. 66543 and 66559 on 4L78. 2/10/20: Pink 66587 on 4L41 Crewe-FLX. 5/10/20: 66420 on 4L78. 86608/04 + 66585 dit on 4L41 Crewe-Ipswich, but the ’86s were detached at Wembley, with the ’66 taking the train forward. 86622/38 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 6/10/20: 59204 on 6L30 Acton-Chelmsford. 66528 on 4L78. 7/10/20: 66420, 66516 on 4L78. 8/10/20: 66542 on 4L78. 86609/39 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 86622/38 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 86638/22 on 4L91 Trafford-FLX. 9/10/20: 66587 on 4L78. 9/10/20: 86632/04 on 4L89. 86638/22 on 4L91. 10/10/20: 86609/04 on 4L97 Trafford-Flx. 86638/22 on 4L91. 90010/043 on 4L93. 12/10/20: 66503 on 4L78 Tees-FLX. 66536 on FLX-Ditton. 66594 on 4M63 AFLX-Trafford. 86604/09 on 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 13/10/20: 66505 on 6E50 Ipswich-Lindsay tanks. 66534 on 4L78. Pink 66587 on 4L36 Wentloog-FLX. 90010/43 on driver training. 14/10/20: 59201 + 66505 on 6L30 Acton-Chelmsford. 15/10/20: 86604/09 on 4M87. 86609/04 on 4L91. 86637/38 on 4L89. 16/10/20: 66420 on 4L41. 66515 on 4M81. 66520 on 4M63 FLX-Trafford. 66566 on 4M88 FLX-Ditton. 66593 4M94. 86609/04 on 4L91. 86637/22 on 4L89. 19/10/20: 59202 on 7L54 Acton-Harlow Mill. 66532 on 4L78. 66587 on 4L93 Lawley St-FLX. 20/10/20: 59204 on 6L30 Acton-Chelmsford. 66516 on 4L78. 86604/08 4M87 FLX-Trafford. 21/10/20: 66504 on Acton-Chelmsford. 66561/38 on 4L92 Trafford-FLX. 66623 on Tunstead-Bow then to Willesden. 86622/37 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 22/10/20: 86604/09 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX. 23/10/20: 66504 on Acton-Chelmsford and 6V12 return. 66516 on 4M63 FLX-Trafford. 66532 on 4M88 FLX-Ditton, 66538 on 4L36. 66551/20 on 4L41. 66952 on 4E24 London Gateway-Leeds. 86608/04 on 4L89. 86639/13 on 4L97. 26/10/20: 66591 on 4L78. 27/10/20: 66545 + 90046/045 dit on 4L89. 66593 on 4L78. 86608/04 on 4L91 then 4M87. 28/10/20: 66550 on 4L78. 86608/04 on 4L91. 86638/07 on 4L89. 29/10/20: 66569 on 4L78. 86608/04 on 4L91. 86638/07 on 4L89. 30/10/20: 66513 on 4L75 Trafford-FLX. 66520 on 4M93 FLX-Lawley St. 66592 failed between Chelmsford and ingatestone on 4E24 FLX-Leeds; rescued by 59204 off Chelmsford stone; 66592 left in “up” siding at Shenfield. 31/10/20: 86608/04 on 4L91.

Above: 86608 + 604 in the “down” goods loop at Colchester on 31/10/20. Seen from GA 360111. (John Podgorski).

GALLOWAY. Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 6037 PP is now in fleet livery, ex white. It was loaned to Stephensons at Boreham in mid October. Being used on Stephensons schools duplicates in October were Volvo 9700 5611 PP; Volvo B9R/Levante FJ61 EVP; Setra S416 tri-axle 3379 PP; VH TX Astron tri-axle 4092 PP. These were not on loan, however, returning to Mendlesham at the end of each day.

GARDNER, CHELMSFORD. Has been taken over by Vectare of Loughborough. Acquired by Vectare were: Scania K94IB/Irizar S332 SET; Mercedes 614D/ACI T371 OHL; Mercedes 0815D/Sitcar SF04 ZLV; Scania K114/Irizars YN55 PXD/W. Sold prior to the takeover was Volvo B10M/Jonckherre V342 JTO.

GBRf. 3/10/20: 66727 on 6T63 Whitemoor-Hythe engineers. 66729 on 6T64 Whitemoor-Hythe engineers. 66735 tnt 66728 on 6T61 Whitemoor-Wivenhoe engineers. 66764 on 6T64 Whitemoor-Wivenhoe engineers. 12/10/20: 66762/49 on 6L37 Hoo Junct-Whitemoor. 66772 on 4M23 FLX-Hams Hall. 66785 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 16/10/20: 66701 5Z16 Doncaster-Ilford. 66701 on 5Q22 Ilford-Ely Papworth Sidings towing barrier vehicle 64707 + Class 317672/57 EMUs (for storage) + barrier 64664. 17/10/20: 66717 on 4Z81 Masboro-FLX. 66735 tnt 66728 on 3S70 Broxbourne RHTT and return via Wickford and Southend Vic. 20/10/20: 66769 on 4E00 London Gateway-Masboro. 21/10/20: 66714 on 6L90 Grain-Bow then 6O36 to Tonbridge. 66728 tnt 66735 on 3S70 RHTT. 23/10/20: 66719 on 4M23 FLX-Hams Hall. Green 66779 tnt 66755 6V32 Tilbury-Troste. 28/10/20: 66760 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 31/10/20: 66710 on 4L02 Hams Hall-FLX. Aggregate Industries 66711 on 4Z27 Masboro-FLX. 66714 on 4E14 FLX-Doncaster.

GREATER ANGLIA. The Class 360 EMUs were debranded during October, in advance of their transfer to EMR. 3/10/20: 360103 Northampton-Ilford ECS between GBRf 47749/27. 4/10/20: 360104 on 5Q60 Ilford-Northampton between 47727/49. 7/10/20: 755423 on 5Q51/52/53/56 Norwich-Liv St-Stansted and return software test train. 10/10/20: 360104 on Northampton-Ilford ECS between GBRf 47727/49. 11/10/20: 360109 Ilford-Northampton between 47749/27. 14/10/20: 745110 on 5Q51 Norwich-Liv St test. 16/10/20: 317513/658 down through Romford on ECS at 1206. 17/10/20: 360109 between GBRf 47749/27 on 5Q60 Northampton-Ilford ECS. 22/10/20: 317664/655 on 5A06 Ilford depot-Harwich International ECS. 24/10/20: 360119 Ilford-Northampton between 47747/27. 30/10/20: 317665/67 dragged Ilford-Ely for storage behind GBRf 66774. 360119 on 5Q60 Northampton-Ilford ECS between GBRf 47727/39. 720511/17 on 5Q55 Ipswich-Liv St ECS then 5Q12 Liv St-Southend Vic ECS. 31/10/20: 360110 on 5Q61 Ilford-Northampton ECS between GBRf 47727/39. Class 317s in store: Ely Papworth: 317657/59/60/62/63/68/69/71/72, 722, 881/87/88/89/90/91/92. Parkeston: 317656/61/65/67.

Above: A debranded 360111 at London Liverpool Street on 31/10/20. (John Podgorski).

HEDINGHAM.

Above: Freshly outshopped 602 in Colchester on 14/10/20. (Simon Austin).

ADL/Enviro 400s 601/02 (SN10 CFE/F) have received the latest fleet livery, ex Konect. Open top Volvo B7TL/President 500 (PL51 LDJ) was initially put into winter storage at HD but was soon moved to KN. Omnidekka movements: 5/10/20: 820 – CN-KN. 7/10/20: 800 – Chambers-KN; 810 – KN-Chambers. 9/10/20: 806 – Chambers-KN. By 26/10/20: 800, 806 – KN-Chambers. 29/10/20: 800, 803 – Chambers-KN; 812/13 – KN-Chambers. Odd sightings: 13/10/20: 565 on 19 duplicate am. 15-16/10/20: Ex Go NE B7TL/President 587 at KN. 16-17/10/20: Omnidekka 800 on TLA. 16-17/10/20: Hits Radio liveried Omnilink 460 berthed at Kelvedon depot. 16 & 19/10/20: Omnidekka 806 on 15 pm. 22/10/20: B7TL/President 579 on 15 pm. 23/10/20: ADL/E200 261 on TLA3 pm. Ancillary vehicles: Accident damaged Ford Transit van EJ13 UHR has been repaired, and returned to use at HD. Mb Vito MPV 9006 (RJ56 TYP) to KN from HD. Chambers Ford Tourneo 9011 (EK58 NFA) at Clacton workshop on 29/10/20. Withdrawn Ford Transit van 9001 (EX61 NZL) collected from CN by DJ Spall, Dallinghoo – for scrap on 29/10/20.

Above: 579 at Scott Drive, Poets Corner, Colchester on 22/10/20. (James Cole).

IPSWICH BUSES. Recently acquired Scania Omnicity ‘decker 48 (SGZ 2248), is now in fleet livery ex London red. Returned off loan were ADL/Enviro 400 MMC YX19 ONE – to ADL and Optare Metrocity YJ67 FXE – to Optare. 2A (Feering-Ipswich Schools) is now usually worked by an Omnicity ‘decker. The last Trident; Plaxton President bodied 25 (SN51 AXP) and the gold DAF DB250LF/EL 100, have both passed to Beestons of Hadleigh (Suffolk). New service 997 (Ipswich Rail Station-Suffolk East), began on 5/10/20. Odd sightings; 20/10/20: DAF DB250LF/EL 57 (PN52 XBJ) on 93. 28/10/20: ADL/E200 106 (YX66 WCK) on 4 + 11 in Colchester.

LODGE, HIGH EASTER. Optare Solo M950 YJ07 VTA is ex Faresaver, Chippenham.

LONDON OVERGROUND.

Above: 315810 at Liverpool Street on 3/10/20. (John Podgorski).

Class 315 operation has ended. The Romford-Upminster branch was converted to Class 710s from 5/10/20, with the type bowing out from inner suburban West Anglia after 20th October. 315805/10/59 have gone for scrap. 315811 + 833 and 315824 + 830 are stored at Northampton. 1/10/20: 315805 on 5Q60 from Ilford to Sims Metals, Newport for scrap, behind ROG 37800. 710129 on 5G63 Liv St-Gidea Park driver training. 2/10/20: 315824/30 on Ilford-Northampton ECS for storage. 4/10/20; 315802 worked the last ‘315 diagrammed Upminster-Romford. 5/10/20: 710107 first Aventra on Romford-Upminster. 6/10/20: 315811/833 on Northampton-Ilford ECS. 7/10/20: 315801/15 on 2D41 Cheshunt-Liv St. 710117 on Romford-Upminster. 8/10/20: 315811 from Ilford to Sims Metals, Newport for scrap behind ROG 37800. 9/10/20: 315801/15 on Ilford-Northampton ECS. 15/10/20: 315810/59 to Sims, Newport for scrap. 20/10/20: 315802/07 on last ‘315 passenger turns – 2T59 Chingford-Liv St; 2U42 Liv St-Enfield Town; 2U47 Enfield Town-Liv St; 2T68 Liv St-Chingford. 315830/24 on 5Q20 Northampton-Ilford ECS. 21/10/20: 315802/07 on 5V60 ECS Chingford to Ilford via Liv St then on Ilford-Northampton ECS for storage. 22/10/20: 315824/30 on Ilford-Sims Metals, Newport for scrap behind ROG 37884. 710106 entered service (on 2U35 Enfield Town-Liv St) – last ‘710 to do so. 27/10/20: 315815/01 on 5Q80 Northampton-Ilford ECS. 29/10/20: 315801/15 on 5Q40 Ilford-Wembley ECS behind ROG 37884. Class 317s stored: Willesden: 317708-10/14/19/23/29/32, 888/90.

Above: 315807 at Liverpool Street on 17/10/20, with 315801 on the front. (John Podgorski).

MILESTONE, CANVEY. Mercedes 0815D/Sitcar Y648 HWY has passed to Seaford & District.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE. 315833 has been returned to service here, after a spell with London Overground. It replaced 315852, which has gone for scrap. 8/10/20: 315852 from Ilford to Sims Metals, Newport for scrap behind ROG 37800.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. A visit to London Victoria Coach Station on 3/10/20 found the following post Covid-19 changes to its use. Only customers and staff can enter, at the main departures terminal, this is via the main entrance on Buckingham Palace Road. Coaches enter the departure area via Semley Place and exit onto Bury Street. The departures coach exit and pedestrian entrance/exit on Elizabeth Street are closed. At the arrivals area in the old Samuelsons garage, there is pedestrian entry only to staff. The only pedestrian door in use is the exit onto Eccleston Place, while that onto Elizabeth Street is closed.

Above: The closed coach exit at London Victoria on 3/10/20. (John Podgorski).

NETWORK RAIL. 23/10/20: Stoneblower DR80302 on Upminster-Eastleigh. DR80303 on Romford-Woking. 28/10/20: Windhoff MPVs DR98905/98955 on 3S81 Broxbourne RHTT. 30/10/20: Stoneblower DR80302 on Trent Siding-Romford move.

PANTHER TRAVEL. Mercedes Sprinter/KVC SN05 FCF (ex W1 WET), is from Woodhouse Executive Travel of Sawbridgeworth. Leyland Olympian/Alexander tri-axle J590 CEV is ex Flagfinders. It was new as FC 7328 in Hong Kong.

Above: SN05 FCF at Colchester on 19/10/20. (John Podgorski).

RAILWAY MISCELLANEOUS. The old goods shed at Marks Tey was demolished during October. Yeoman JHA bogie hopper 19316 was still at Bow throughout October, while the Tourax bogie hopper came and went within a week. An unidentified DBS bogie hopper was in the headshunt at Marks Tey yard during mid October, but had gone by the end of the month.

Above: The site of the old Marks Tey goods shed on 24/10/20. (John Podgorski).

ROG. 1/10/20: 37611 on 0L50 Wembley-Ilford light loco. 11/10/20: 47812 on Norwich-Orient Way light loco. 16/10/20: 57310 dragged HEx 387135 Ilford-Reading. 22/10/20: 37608 on 0P37 Orient Way to Manningtree. 47812 on 0P47 Manningtree to Orient Way. 47310 dragged HEX 387136/41 Oxford to Ilford. 29/10/20: 37884 on 0L53 Leicester-Ilford light loco. 30/10/20: 37510 tower GWR 387139 on Ilford-Reading ECS. 47812 on 0M47 Colchester-Orient Way light loco.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON. From 17/10/20, TfL173 (Beckton-Goodmayes) + 673 (Beckton-Warren School) were taken over from Arriva. Initially 15 ADL/Enviro 400s loaned from RATP were used. They will eventually be replaced by new BYD/Enviro 400 EVs. TfL174 (Romford-Harold Hill) is also due to get new BYD/E400EVs.

STEPHENSONS. White liveried ADL/Enviro 200 449 (YX10 FFK) is now at Braintree, ex Maldon. Volvo B9R/Levante 6037 PP was on loan from Galloway in mid October.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON. One of the ex Tower Transit Wright StreetLites has been re-registered CC11 BUS, repainted in ‘Central Connect’ livery and branded for route 386 (Bishop’s Stortford-Stevenage). Dart SLF/Mini Pointer HW54 BTZ has pased to Avondale, Clydebank.

Above: CC11 BUS at Bishop’s Stortford on 14/10/20. (John Podgorski).

UNO. From 31/10/20, TfL383 (Barnet-Woodside Park) was extended to Finchley Memorial Hospital. Ex Go-Ahead London Wright StreetLite WS46 was utilised, as it was no longer needed on on the school duplicate in Harrow for which it had originally been acquired. This was now fully covered by its incumbent operator, RATP.

VECTARE, CHELMSFORD. Ex Diamond bus is Volvo B7RLE/Wright BK13 NZS.

Above: Former Go-Ahead London Wright StreetLite WF SN64 CUO at High Street, Brentwood on 15/10/20. (Simon Austin).

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS: 3/10/20: 172345 on Tyseley-Ilford ECS. 9/10/20: 172337 also at Ilford.

WESTON GROUP. Mercedes Sprinter coach 55 WH is used on a shuttle between the Weston Business Centre at Takeley and Stansted Airport.

YOUNGS COACHES, CAMBRIDGE. Has ex Go South Coast Volvo B11RT/Caetano Levante BV66 WOB, via Ensign.

With thanks to: Angliagen, S Austin, J Cole, H David, R Delahoy, M Hough, L Kinsella-Ilott, J Needham, D Pretty, J Sadd, I Scotchman, R West.