'Ipernity HTT

Wednesday 5 April 2017 (1204) – Reading Buses services 21a (Town Centre to the University) is branded ‘Spritzer’ and has features tailored towards the student traveller. In the upper deck ‘lounge zone’ seating area this miniature ‘juke box’ can play music from Bluetooth technology. Other features include tables and a mini library. This photo was taken on board bus 809 (YN54 AFA), an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD new in October 2004.

Tuesday 28 August 2012 (1300) – Plaxton coach operated by Norfolk based Our Hire Limited of Acle, Norfolk (trading as 'Our Bus') crossing the river bridge in Wroxham seen from a table where I was having lunch at a riverside restaurant. It was quite possibly working the 1246 Tuesdays only service 292 from Tunstead to Reedham. *HFF recycled as HTT: A popular feature on Fridays for many Ipernity members is the challenge to submit a photograph featuring a fence under the title of ‘HFF’ or ‘Happy Fence Friday’. Similarly on Mondays the topic is ‘HBM’ or ‘Happy Bench Monday’ with photographs featuring a bench. A new group for 2023 is 'Happy Table Tuesday' or 'HTT'.

Tuesday 2 April 2013 (0848) – CT Plus OS14 (YJ60 PFK), an Optare Solo, seen queuing in Shepherdess Walk by The Eagle when waiting to turn into City Road, London N1. CT Plus was owned by the HCT Group (which closed in August 2022) began as a social service operation named Hackney Community Transport. Not only was the group very active on London Buses contracted services but in January 2012 it won the contract to operate the bus network on the island of Jersey (Channel Islands). The board on the wall of the pub carries the words of a verse from the rhyme ‘Pop! goes the weasel’ (said to have been written by 1856 in a performance at the Theatre Royal): “Up and down the City Road, In and out the Eagle, That's the way the money goes, Pop! goes the weasel"

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1353 hrs) - The scene from a street café in Weggis. MAN bus number 41 (SZ 5171) of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) carries all-over advertising for the services of SGV (Schiffahrtsgesellschaft der Vierwaldstättersees) the operator of the boat and steamer services on Vierwaldstättersee, ‘the lake of the four wooded cantons’, more commonly known as Lake Lucerne. The lakeside is off camera to the right and the boat landing stage was close by. We had arrived by SGV boat at Weggis on a day out from Lucerne/Luzern. The bus was working the 1334 departure of service 2 from Küssnacht to Schwyz. The route hugs the lakeside shoreline from Küssnacht through Weggis, Vitznau, Gersau and Brunnen before turning inland to run to Schwyz. The total journey time is 68 minutes.

Saturday 23 August 2003 (approx. 1200) - Gruson Autobus 357141 (KWK 218) was seen in Ieperstraat, Poperinge when working the 1102 De Lijn service 69b to Ieper. It was a Mercedes-Benz O 345 Connecto that was new in March 2003. Service 69b had its origins as a Belgian Railways substitution service running through to Abele on the Belgian-French border. The railway service into Poperinge from Kortrijk etc is numbered 69 and the section of railway on the closed section west of Poperinge to Abele became bus service 69b. The Belgian Railways bus services were taken over by De Lijn around 1991. Gruson Autobus works a number of contracts on behalf of De Lijn, the national bus and tramway company of northern Belgium. De Lijn (Vlaamse Vervoersmaatschappij De Lijn) was created in 1991 from the northern part of NMVB (Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen). The company operates its own large bus and tram fleet which carry four digit fleet numbers but the buses operated by contractors carry six digit fleet numbers – the first four digits relate to the De Lijn contract number with the final two digits are the operators own fleet number.

Sunday 25 September 2022 – Showbus 50 Rally, Hertfordshire County Showground Preserved former London Transport Weymann bodied AEC Regent I new in November 1936 as STL1470 (CXX 457). Later converted for use as a tree lopping vehicle with fleet number 971J

Thursday 25 June 1992 – Scancoaches, West London was contracted to run a shuttle service between Wembley Park Underground Station and the Wembley Conference Centre during the Intrade 92 import/export exhibition. I travelled on F944 RNV, a well appointed Jonckheere Deauville bodied Scania K113CRB new in May 1989, which was apparently used on a regular basis by the West Ham Football Club. The coach featured a galley area, toilet compartment and a number of seats set around tables. At the rear was a lounge area with seats set around the perimeter round a longitudinally mounted table. After sale by Scancoaches this coach entered the fleet of Mulleys Motorways of Ixworth albeit in a standard seating format and subsequently re-registered TIB 8574. A photograph of the coach when with Mulleys may be seen here: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/32192849

Sunday 28 June 2015 (1437) – O Ddrws I Ddrws, a community organisation, Renault mini-bus CN12 DFP seen at Aberdaron on the tip of the Llŷn peninsula in north west Wales. It was working the Sunday only Llŷn Coastal Bus service. For information the approximate translations are: O Ddrws I Ddrws = From door to door Bws Arfordir Llŷn = Llŷn Coastal Bus

Sat 1 Sept 2007 (approx 1130) – In addition to running its own buses (which have four digit fleet numbers), many services of De Lijn - the National bus/tram company of northern Belgium, are worked by contracted operators (these have six digit fleet numbers). Veolia owned Gruson Autobus of Ieper 550143 (SQE 106), a Jonckheere Transit 2000 bodied Volvo B7RLE (new Oct 2004), seen in the Grote Markt, Ieper when working the 1125 service 60 from Ieper Bus/Rail Station to Poperinge and Abele. A friendly wave from the driver.

Thursday 25 June 1992 – Scancoaches, West London was contracted to run a shuttle service between Wembley Park Underground Station and the Wembley Conference Centre during the Intrade 92 import/export exhibition. I travelled on F944 RNV, a well appointed Jonckheere Deauville bodied Scania K113CRB new in May 1989, which was apparently used on a regular basis by the West Ham Football Club. The coach featured a galley area, toilet compartment and a number of seats set around tables. At the rear was a lounge area with seats set around the perimeter round a longitudinally mounted table. After sale by Scancoaches this coach entered the fleet of Mulleys Motorways of Ixworth albeit in a standard seating format and subsequently re-registered TIB 8574. A photograph of the coach when with Mulleys may be seen here: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/32192849

Sunday 26 Sept 2010 (1440) – Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company (Go-Ahead Group owned) 617 (GX03 SSZ), a Scania N94UD OmniDekka with East Lancs body new June 2003, seen at Devil’s Dyke, the terminus of service 77. Most of the company’s buses carry names of people having a connection with the Brighton area. Douglas Reeve was a local organist, born in Brighton, who played the organ at Brighton cinemas and The Dome Concert Hall for many years and from where the BBC broadcast regular performances. Devil’s Dyke is located about five miles (8 kilometres) outside Brighton. The Dyke valley is the longest, deepest and widest ‘dry valley’ in Britain. Legend has it that the Devil dug the chasm to drown the parishioners of the area known as The Weald. In reality the land is thought to have been shaped over 10,000 years ago by erosion carving out the chalk based landscape. The National Trust maintains this natural environment which is popular with walkers and for the pursuit of outdoor activities. Hang gliders and paragliders take advantage of the high ground and thermal draughts, high ground which also provides stunning countryside views.

Saturday 25 March 2023 – Two new Optare MetroDeckers were delivered to Mulleys Motorways on Friday 24 March 2023 registered YJ23 EKN and YJ23 EKO. An interior shot taken on board YJ23 EKO. On the upper deck there are two tables each with two forward facing and two rearward facing seats. In this view just one of the sets is visible, the second set is just out of shot on the right of the camera. Powered by Mercedes-Benz engines these integral buses are and were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Passenger capacity is for 75 seated passengers plus 8 standees. When a wheelchair passenger is carried the number of seated passengers is reduced by 3. All seats have seatbelts. The vehicles feature a number of interior refinements not otherwise expected on normal service buses. The seats feature a drop down tray with cup holder, a coat/bag hanger (a retractable stud pushed to reveal and push again to retract), USB point and phone charger.

Wednesday 18 August 2010 (1426) - This tri-axle MCW Metrobus was working as an NHS Healthy Ambitions Suffolk mobile exhibition unit when seen parked on Market Place in Newmarket. Carrying registration number D98 UJO I believe this was originally Kowloon Motor Bus Company (Hong Kong) fleet number S3M95 (registration number DR9800) new in 1987. Sold by KMB circa 2004 to become an exhibition vehicle with Viacom. The offside of the vehicle featured two slide out sections from upper deck to give additional space.

Thursday 26 March 2015 (1649) - A sunny evening in Barton Mills with a Mulleys Motorways Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian. It had worked an afternoon run from Bury St Edmunds (a combined school related public service) and was now returning to Ixworth.. Mulleys operated two buses like this which were new to Rossendale Transport in August 1994 (M529/530 RHG).

Sat 1 Sept 2007 (approx 0920) – In addition to running its own buses (which have four digit fleet numbers), many services of De Lijn - the National bus/tram company of northern Belgium, are worked by contracted operators (these have six digit fleet numbers).Veolia/Connex West Vlaanderen is the operator of 551165 (SQX 149), a MAN powered Van Hool New A360 (new Jan 2005), which was seen in Grote Markt, Ieper when working the 0910 service 20 to Diksmuide.

Tuesday 2 April 2013 (0846) – CT Plus DAS1 (SN57 DWE), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200, seen outside The Eagle in Shepherdess Walk when waiting to turn into City Road bound for Islington on London Buses contracted service 394. CT Plus is owned by the HCT Group which began as a social service operation named Hackney Community Transport. Not only is the group very active on London Buses contracted services but in January 2012 it won the contract to operate the bus network on the island of Jersey (Channel Islands). The board high on the wall above the red umbrellas carries the words of a verse from the rhyme ‘Pop! goes the weasel’ (said to have been written by 1856 in a performance at the Theatre Royal): “Up and down the City Road, In and out the Eagle, That's the way the money goes, Pop! goes the weasel"

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1456) – A seat outside the Old Swan in the High Street, Bridgnorth gave opportunity to people watch and bus watch. Obscured by the delivery van, Bridgnorth Town Hall occupies a central position in the High Street. Completed in 1652 it is an oak framed hall mounted on stone pillars. The area beneath the hall still provides covered accommodation for market traders almost 500 years later. Arriva Midlands North 2985 (YJ09 LBK), an Optare Versa V1170 new in April 2009, was passing by having worked the 1345 service 436 from Shrewsbury which now appeared to be out of service in preparation for a school contract run.

Friday 3 August 2018 (0840) – Lucketts Coaches of Fareham BK67 LOF seen leaving Clarence Pier, Southsea when working the 0840 National Express service 300 to Bristol. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K440 new in October 2017. In the background is the Spinnaker Tower on the waterfront in Portsmouth. This observation tower standing 560 feet (170 metres) high was opened in 2005 and, to reflect Portsmouth’s maritime history, is designed to represent a ship’s sail.