Stagecoach stripes

Wednesday 4 August 1999 – Stagecoach owned United Counties 343 (M343 DRP), an Alexander Sprint bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D new in January 1995, seen parked during the driver’s lunch break in the High Street in Rushden.

Wednesday 4 August 1999 – The unmistakable Swizzels Matlow ‘Love Hearts’ sweets were used in this clever advert for the Northampton based local radio station Heart which broadcasts on 96.6 FM. The advert was on the side panel of Stagecoach United Counties 343 (M343 DRP), an Alexander Sprint bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D new in January 1995, seen parked during the driver’s lunch break in the High Street in Rushden.

Wednesday 4 August 1999 – Stagecoach owned United Counties 343 (M343 DRP), an Alexander Sprint bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D new in January 1995, seen parked during the driver’s lunch break in the High Street in Rushden. I was puzzled by the ‘School Bus’ window board as this photograph was taken during the height of the school summer shutdown.

Wednesday 4 August 1999 – Stagecoach owned United Counties 343 (M343 DRP), an Alexander Sprint bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D new in January 1995, seen at work in Higham Ferrers when working the Rushden to Raunds service 16.

Wednesday 4 August 1999 – Stagecoach owned United Counties 762 (S762 DRP), an Alexander bodied Volvo Olympian new in October 1998, seen in the High Street in Rushden working service 94 to Raunds.

Tuesday 27 March 2001 (approx. 1120) – The main building which formed part of the old Aberdeen bus station housed the various offices of Bluebird Buses Limited (Stagecoach Bluebird). The whole area has been redeveloped as the Union Square complex which includes a new bus station. On the left is the parcel office, the carriage of parcels and newspapers on the rural bus services in northern Scotland playing and important role. On the right is the travel enquiry and booking office. The entrance door between them leads through to the vehicle loading bays and is surmounted by a rather grand Royal Warrant crest, the company being a contractor to the Royal Household at Balmoral. Vehicles travelled from left to right to enter the bus station loading bays which were at the rear of the building. As the drivers passed by they would look to the window of the parcels office to see if a sign was displayed relevant to their service informing if there were parcels for their service. In the window beneath the large ‘EXPRESS PARCELS’ sign there is a smaller sign that reads ‘PARCELS FOR BALLATER’.

Tuesday 27 March 2001 (approx. 1120) – The carriage of parcels and newspapers on the rural bus services in northern Scotland has always played an important role. Staff of Stagecoach Bluebird assist with the unloading of the bundles of the (very) early edition of the ‘Evening Express’ at the old Aberdeen bus station. The bundles would soon be on their way to the far flung parts of the area on the next available service departures thus ensuring they reach the readership by the evening. The railway station stands on the right.

Tuesday 27 March 2001 (approx. 1130) – The driver of Bluebird Buses (Stagecoach Bluebird) 587 (L587 JSA) makes a dash towards his vehicle with a bundle of the (very) early edition of the ‘Evening Express’ newspapers which had only arrived at Aberdeen bus station in the printer’s van about ten minutes earlier. The carriage of parcels and newspapers on the rural bus services in northern Scotland has always played an important role. Note the various bundles on the ground. Presumably the driver has observed the sign that appeared in the front window of the Parcels Office which indicated that there were some parcels for Ballater (see photograph of building next frame but one). The coach, a Plaxton Premiere Interurban bodied Volvo B10M new in September 1993, was bound for Braemar on service 201 – a journey of about 60 miles travelling via Ballater. Midway between Ballater and Braemar is the Royal residence of Balmoral Castle. A number of Bluebird vehicles carry the Royal Warrant crest for the contract work undertaken for the Royal Household. The Interurban model and was bought by the Stagecoach Group for operation on longer distance stage carriage services that had previously been operated with dual purpose vehicles. It featured coach seating but also had fitments relevant for bus service operation.

Tuesday 27 March 2001 (approx. 1110) – Bluebird Buses (Stagecoach Bluebird) 634 (N154 XSA), a Plaxton Premiere Interurban bodied Volvo B10M new in July 1996, seen in the old Aberdeen bus station. It had arrived working the 0700 service from Inverness (due Aberdeen at 1045) and would return on the 1135 departure (due Inverness at 1505). (Approx. 100 miles each way). The Interurban model and was bought by the Stagecoach Group for operation on longer distance stage carriage services that had previously been operated with dual purpose vehicles. It featured coach seating but also had fitments relevant for bus service operation. A number of Bluebird vehicles carry the Royal Warrant crest for the contract work undertaken for the Royal Household at Balmoral. This was meant to be a humorous shot on the theme of ‘a bluebird and a seagull’. Unfortunately the latter creature, as big as it was, didn’t appear obvious as I thought it might. It is on the coach roof just above the lettering ‘Forres’.

Tuesday 15 August 2000 (approx. 0900) – Stagecoach South owned Sussex Coastline driver training vehicle 9405 (D235 MEA), a Wadham Stringer bodied Dodge that had quite likely been new to the Ministry of Defence, seen in Library Place just after leaving the company’s Worthing garage. The garage site originated with Southdown Motor Services and is the building visible directly above the bus with an oval shape on it. The building on the left is the Dome Cinema and that on the right is the bus company office. In past years Southdown’s coach services departed from what was named the ‘Dome Coach Station’ although the sign on the right tells that this is now no longer the case.

Tuesday 15 August 2000 (approx. 0900) – Stagecoach South owned Sussex Coastline 414 (N414 MBW), a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF new to Docklands Transit in April 1996, seen in Library Place just after leaving the company’s Worthing garage. The garage site originated with Southdown Motor Services and is the building visible directly above the bus with an oval shape on it. The building on the left is the Dome Cinema and that on the right is the bus company office. In past years Southdown’s coach services departed from what was named the ‘Dome Coach Station’ although the sign on the right tells that this is now no longer the case.

Tuesday 15 August 2000 (approx. 0900) – Stagecoach South owned Sussex Coastline 12 (R812 HCD), an Alexander ALX200 bodied Dennis Dart SLF new in March 1998, seen about to depart Worthing Pier on service 5A to Lancing.

Saturday 19 September 1998 - Stagecoach East Midland 65 (E61 WDT) seen passing St. Thomas's Church on Chatsworth Road, Brampton, Chesterfield. It is a Leyland Lynx LX112 that had been new to Chesterfield Transport in March 1988 as their number 61. The vehicle passed to Stagecoach in July 1995 when the Chesterfield Transport business was acquired by the Stagecoach Group.

Saturday 15 February 1997 - Stagecoach United Counties 147 (K759 FYG), a Plaxton Première 320 bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Wallace Arnold in August 1982, seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. It was reversing out of the loading stand as it departed for Oxford at 1205. The first side window has lost its Cambridge lettering. The reckless pedestrians didn’t seem to worry about the risks of reversing vehicles in the bus station.

Monday 2 June 1997 (approx. 1510) - Stagecoach United Counties 173 (P173 KBD) seen at Milton Keynes Coachway (by junction 14 of the M1 Motorway). When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. New in October 1996 this coach had Volvo B10M chassis. It carries the Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places beyond.

Thursday 20 November 1997 - Stagecoach United Counties 178 (R178 DNH) seen at Milton Keynes Coachway (by junction 14 of the M1 Motorway). When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. New in November 1997 this coach had a Volvo B10M chassis. It carries the Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places beyond.

Saturday 24 February 1996 (approx. 1200 noon) - Stagecoach United Counties 155 (L155 JNH) seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge loading for the 1205 service to Oxford. It was new in August 1993. When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services.

Monday 1 August 1994 - Stagecoach United Counties 150 (K150 DNV) seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. New in February 1993 this coach had Volvo B10M chassis and carries the Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places beyond.