Southend-on-Sea (1995 & 2015)

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Stephenson’s Coaches OTO 151R seen on Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea/Westcliff-on-Sea. An Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR which had been new to East Midland Motor Services as a conventional covered top bus in August 1976.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – An unusual vehicle in the fleet of Southend Transport is 414 (Q415 DPG), a Dotto Land Train seen at work on Southend seafront. The Southend Transport fleetname is carried on the front and full legal lettering just beyond the front wheel.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport 309 (WTU 474W), seen in Southend bus station. It is an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR acquired from Rhondda Transport although it had been new to Crosville Motor Services in January 1981 as their DVG474. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport 723 (GGE 167T) seen in Southend bus station. It is a Leyland National 1 that was new to Greater Glasgow PTE (LN12) in March 1979. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport 559 (B85 SWX) arriving in Southend bus station in order to work the 1630 service X1 to London Victoria. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new to West Yorkshire in February 1985. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport 303 (YUM 516S) seen in Southend bus station. It is an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR that had been new to West Riding in February 1978. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport 242 (MRJ 242W), a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Fleetline new in June 1981, seen in Southend bus station. Long before it became a formal requirement for vehicle builders to arrange vehicle registrations in their own locality, Southend chose to register their vehicles in the north west of England because the Licencing Office there was accommodating to issue registrations that matched fleet numbers. Apparently the Essex based offices didn’t assist in that regard. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport double deckers seen in Southend bus station. Far left is 222 (XTE 222V), a Northern Counties bodied Daimler Fleetline new in August 1979 283 (MUH 283X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian new to National Welsh in April 1992 242 (MRJ 242W), a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Fleetline new in June 1981 Long before it became a formal requirement for vehicle builders to arrange vehicle registrations in their own locality, Southend chose to register their vehicles in the north west of England because the Licencing Office there was accommodating to issue registrations that matched fleet numbers. Apparently the Essex based offices didn’t assist in that regard. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Southend Transport 251 (Q476 MEV) seen in Southend bus station. The bodywork by Northern Counties was new in 1984 mounted on a refurbished Daimler Fleetline chassis which dated from late 1972. (Original either GHJ 374L or GHJ 377L). Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had sold Southend Transport to British Bus in June 1993. In August 1996 British Bus was sold to the Cowie Group which was later renamed Arriva.

Wednesday 9 August 1995 – Thamesway 516 (F771 GNA) seen in Southend-on-Sea bus station about to work the 1625 service to London. It is a Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Tiger that had been new to Smiths-Shearings in January 1989.

Thursday 24 September 2015 (1216) – JH15 BUS, a Sunsundegui SC7 bodied Volvo B11R operated by J H Coaches (Jim Hughes Coaches) of Birtley, Chester-le-Street, seen leaving site of Wilkin and Sons, the famous jam and preserves manufacturer in Tiptree, Essex. The coach was working an Alfa tour destined for Southend-on-Sea.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1501) – Regal Busways 652 (MX10 DXO), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in June 2010 to Henderson Travel, Hamilton, Scotland, seen in central Southend-on-Sea. Two First Essex Wrightbus Streetlite DF buses stand behind.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1433) – YJ61 JHV, a short length Optare Solo M780 (demonstrator?) operating for Arriva Southend, seen at the Asda Store in Shoeburyness. New in December 2011 to Connect Transport, Jarrow for a Nexus (Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive) contract. Colours are for Nexus the administrators of transport in and towns around Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1331) – Many of the buses operated by Arriva in Southend-on-Sea carry tourist related advertising with a ‘something’-on-Sea theme. 4254 (KX13 AUY), an Optare Versa new in March 2013 branded for service 1, seen in Constable Way, Shoeburyness as we travelled by on service 9 bus.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1250) – Many of the buses operated by Arriva in Southend-on-Sea carry tourist related advertising with a ‘something’-on-Sea theme. 4251 (KX13 AUU), an Optare Versa new in March 2013, seen in Constable Way, Shoeburyness. Branding is carried for service 1.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1251) – Many of the buses operated by Arriva in Southend-on-Sea carry tourist related advertising with a ‘something’-on-Sea theme. 4251 (KX13 AUU), an Optare Versa new in March 2013, seen in Constable Way, Shoeburyness. Branding is carried for service 1.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1655) – Arriva 4210 (YJ61 CJX), an Optare Versa new in October 2011, seen on Eastern Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea working service 9 (Shoeburyness--Southend-on-Sea—Rayleigh) is branded ‘Ride the wave’. Bus is named ‘James Bourne’ after an Essex born singer songwriter. The Premier Inn was a fairly new building. The land behind the hoardings was once occupied by Esplanade House, an office block that housed the Access credit card company. It was demolished after a long period of dereliction.

Friday 25 September 2015 (1249) – Arriva 4208 (YJ61 CJV), an Optare Versa new in October 2011, seen in Constable Way, Shoeburyness working service 9 (Shoeburyness--Southend-on-Sea—Rayleigh). Service 9 is branded ‘Ride the wave’.