'Ipernity HBM

Tues 10 June 2008 – 1140 hrs (Local time) - LBA (Liechtenstein Bus Anstalt) FL 21117, a two axle diesel powered MAN bus, leaves Triesenberg (Post) when working the 1136 service 21 from Triesenberg (Guferwald) to Vaduz. This bus did not carry a fleet number so I was unable to confidently identify it. I thought it was numbered 17 until I saw an articulated bus numbered 17 carrying licence plate FL 28517. The church can be seen in the background.

Monday 20 November 2017 (0859) – A scene in Mildenhall bus station. From left to right are Smith’s Coaches of Blofield FP51 EUN, a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B12M that had been new to Lochs & Glens in January 2002 which was covering a tour feeder for Shearings Holidays; Mulleys Motorways YN54 NXK, a Scania N94UD OmniCity new in December 2004 as Nottingham City Transport number 222); Coach Services of Thetford. SN63NBB, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in September 2013 ready to work the 0915 service 201 to Thetford; and Mulleys Motorways CN06 BXJ, an Optare Solo M920 (9.2 metre long) model. I surmised that it had covered the first part of the 357 school service duty and was now being substituted by the OmniCity. There aren’t usually two single deckers around at this time. The Solo was new to Bebb Travel, Llantwit Fadre, South Wales in April 2006. The coach would normally have picked up on the now vacant stand 1 which had been occupied by another as it arrived.

Maundy Thursday 13 April 1995 – Bibby’s Coaches of Ingleton L525 EHD, a Van Hool Alizeé bodied DAF new in November 1993, seen in the evening light at Ferrybridge Service Area in Yorkshire. I was fortunate to have this photograph published in an issue of ‘Buses’ magazine.

Saturday 23 July 2022 (1926) – At the Trumpington Park and Ride site, Cambridge. Left is Mil-Ken Travel BU16 PBV, a Jonckheere bodied Volvo B11RT that had been new Lochs and Glens Holidays in June 2016, setting down passengers having had a day out. Right is Whippet Coaches FX33 (OU22 ZWW), a Neoplan Tourliner new in early 2022, taking over the working of the Manchester to Paris Flixbus service N603.

Thursday 4 March 1993 – MIVG, the municipal bus and tram system in the Belgian city of Gent, had recently come under the control of De Lijn, the national bus and tram company of northern Belgium. Bus 66 (CUT 264), still in Gent’s blue livery, was seen here at Sint Pieters railway station. It was a Fiat powered Van Hool AU95 integral new in 1977, one of about 76 such buses bought by MIVG between 1975-1977. (MIVG – Maatschappij voor Intercommunaal Vervoer te Gent).

Monday 20 November 2017 (0859) – A scene in Mildenhall bus station. On the right is Smith’s Coaches of Blofield FP51 EUN, a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B12M that had been new to Lochs & Glens in January 2002. It was covering a tour feeder for Shearings Holidays. On the left are two vehicles operated by Coach Services of Thetford. SN63NBB, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in September 2013 ready to work the 0915 service 201 to Thetford. In front of that is SN53 KZA, a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario O814D new in December 2003 to Caldew Coaches of Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria. It was working a private contract. Two Mulleys vehicles were also in the bus station at the time although were out of shot.

Friday 19 March 1993 (1605) – Premier Travel Services 377 (G377 REG), a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M, seen in the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall when working National Express service 746 to Stansted Airport.

Late June 2000 (0755) – Arriva the Shires 3113 (L313 HPP) seen outside the Rose and Crown in Aston when working the service 390 from Hertford to Stevenage. It was a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B6-9.9M new in February 1994 to Luton & District Transport – a company which, through various takeovers, came into Arriva ownership.

Sunday 6 June 1999 – Cobholm Hire Services of Great Yarmouth traded as Caroline Seagull. Van Hool Alicron T815 6541 FN is seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working a tour feeder for Sunrise Holidays. It was new to Leiston Motor Hire in April 1988 registered E432 KRT. Caroline Seagull acquired a number of former East Kent Road Car Company coaches that carried a set of registration numbers that saw application to various different coaches thereafter. Always carrying the camera when in the town shopping or whatever, I have often snapped tour coaches passing though. However, on this occasion I was on ‘official business’ having brought my Mother and Father in Law to King Street to join the coach. They are just boarding and are visible by the first seats. This wasn’t to be one of their most relaxing holidays. First off the driver here sped away before they got properly seated and during the holiday they were rushed about by a brusque tour guide. At this time the site which became the formal bus station in later years was the town car park incorporating the taxi rank. One of the local taxis is visible beyond the low wall on the right.

Saturday 28 July 2007 (approx. 0805) - Arriva Cymru 802 (S872 SNB) seen in Aberystwyth about to work the 0800 service 585 to Lampeter (Llanbedr Pont Steffan) (arriving 0921) via the rural route serving villages like Llanfarian, Llanilar, Tregaron and Llanddewi Brefi. A Plaxton Pointer MPD bodied Dennis Dart SLF new to Arriva Merseyside in August 1998.

Thursday 9 June 2016 (1644) – The platforms of Harrogate bus station with a trio of Transdev Harrogate and District buses. The green and white buses are operated by Connexions Buses (Harrogate Coach Travel) of Green Hammerton.

Friday 8 September 2023 (1018) – Unō (Universitybus Limited) 316 (BF59 NHY) seen on The Ridgeway, Marshalswick when working 0900 service 653 from Welwyn Garden City to St. Albans and New Greens running about 24 minutes late. It is a Mercedes-Benz O 530 Citaro new in September 2009.

Friday 8 September 2023 (1130) – The driver of REL Davian YD19 HGM was delayed somewhat in St. Albans as he waited for two errant passengers that should have joined the four day break to the ‘Yorkshire Dales and Scarborough’. However, the couple sitting on the opposite side of the street were not the missing pair. YD19 HGM is a Yutong T122HDH new in June 2019. REL Capital now owns a number of different coach businesses including Davian ((North London), Reg’s Coaches of Welwyn, South Mimms Travel, Redwing (London) and John James Travel (Romford).

Friday 8 September 2023 (1149) – Red Rose Travel 50562 (Y26 RRT), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D that had been new to First Capital (DMV44228) in April 2012 registered YX12 AEP. It was working the 1048 service 357 from Harpenden to Elstree & Borehamwood Station. Across the street the driver of Arriva 3566 (KX09 GYT) was dealing with paperwork after a young chap on a motor scooter hit the bus further down the street.

Friday 8 September 2023 (1144) – Red Eagle Buses Limited 50118 (YX10 FFB), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D bodied Dart new in June 2010 to Abellio London (8541). Seen in St. Peter’s Street, St. Albans working town service S1. In the distance on the right is the Medieval Clock Tower constructed in the early 1400s said to have been a protest against the power of the nearby abbey to regulate timekeeping in the town. Beyond this is St. Albans Cathedral (officially the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban).

Friday 8 September 2023 (1137) – Unō (Universitybus Limited) 53 (MX12 CFN), a Wright StreetLite WF new in April 2012, seen in St. Peter’s Street, St. Albans working the 1022 service 602 from Watford to Hatfield.

Friday 8 September 2023 (1211) – Unō (Universitybus Limited) 370 (BG14 OPC) seen on The Ridgeway at Marshalswick bound for Welwyn Garden City on ‘Tigermoth’ branded service 653. It is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to Malta Public Transport registered BUS 362. The Universitybus premises are located on an industrial estate that was once the de Havilland Aircraft Company airfield and the roads on the site have names reflecting that heritage, Universitybus is based on Gypsy Moth Avenue. The names from that heritage are also used on some of Universitybus brandings that include famous aircraft types like ‘Tiger Moth’, ‘Comet’ and ‘Dragonfly’. This bus is named ‘Joan Hughes’. In January 1940 at Hatfield aerodrome, eight women pilots joined the ranks of Air Transport Auxiliary, a civilian organisation which ferried planes between factories and front-line RAF airfields during World War II. The Unō website includes a page listing the eight pilots: www.unobus.info/tigermoth-girls/?region=

Friday 8 September 2023 (1019) – Red Eagle Buses Limited 33 (YY15 GDK) seen on The Ridgeway, Marshalswick when working the 1000 trip of St. Albans town service S6. I travelled on this bus to St. Peter’s Street. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new to Central Taxis, Felling in May 2015. In the late 1990s my younger daughter Jane attended the University of Hertfordshire and, together with a number of other students, rented one of the apartments in the background.