Marlow etc - Apr 2024

Wednesday 17 April 2024 (1009) – Red Eagle Buses 50122 (YX08 MFO), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 bodied Dart new to London United (SDE1) new in July 2008, seen in Spittal Street, Marlow working the 0900 Lane End to Maidenhead Wednesday only service 155. This service is one of a set of local services worked by a single bus which provides links from various small communities into Marlow (5 days a week), High Wycombe (4 days a week) and Maidenhead (1 day a week). The working diagram on Wednesdays is: 0745 Chinnor Hill-High Wycombe (Royal Grammar School) 0820 (654) 0900 Lane End-Marlow (Court Garden) 0915 0915 Marlow (Court Garden)-Little Marlow-Marlow Bottom-Marlow (Court Garden) 1003 1005 Marlow (Court Garden)-Maidenhead 1024 1030 Maidenhead- Marlow (Court Garden) 1049 1130 Marlow (Court Garden)-Marlow Bottom- Little Marlow-Maidenhead 1226 1230 Maidenhead- Little Marlow-Marlow Bottom-Marlow (Court Garden)-Lane End 1343 1355 Marlow (Court Garden)-Little Marlow-Marlow Bottom-Marlow (Court Garden) 1437 1555 High Wycombe (Royal Grammar School)-Chinnor Hill 1630 (654) On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays a different route pattern operates with the bus serving the same districts but running to High Wycombe. The working diagram is: 0745 Chinnor Hill-High Wycombe (Royal Grammar School) 0820 (654) 0900 Lane End-Marlow (Court Garden) 0925 (156) 0926 Marlow (Court Garden)-Little Marlow-Marlow Bottom-Marlow (Court Garden) 1005 (160) 1010 Marlow (Court Garden)-Marlow Bottom-High Wycombe 1045 (158) 1125 High Wycombe- Marlow (Court Garden) 1143 (158) 1145 Marlow (Court Garden)-Little Marlow-Marlow Bottom-Marlow (Court Garden) 1223 (160) 1225 Marlow (Court Garden)-Lane End 1249 (156) 1315 High Wycombe-Marlow Bottom- Marlow (Court Garden) 1349 (158) 1400 Marlow (Court Garden)-Little Marlow-Marlow Bottom-Marlow (Court Garden) 1438 (160) 1555 High Wycombe (Royal Grammar School)-Chinnor Hill 1630 (654)

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (0909) – The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead sponsors the operation of services 238 and 239 from Maidenhead to Hurley which then continue to either Henley-on-Thames on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as service 239 or to Bisham and Crookham Dean on Tuesdays and Thursdays as service 238. Both are operated by Thames Valley Buses. YJ13 HJX was seen about to make the turn from Bisham Road to Quarry Wood Road when heading to Crookham Dean on the 0820 service 238 from Maidenhaed. It is an Optare Solo M720 that had been new to Courtney Buses in May 2013. Just as short distance behind the camera is the River Thames and the Marlow Bridge which today has a weight limit of 3 tons and a vehicle width limit of 6’ 6” (2 metres). In past years lightweight service buses could once cross although their passengers had to disembark and walk across the bridge.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (0909) – The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead sponsors the operation of services 238 and 239 from Maidenhead to Hurley which then continue to either Henley-on-Thames on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as service 239 or to Bisham and Crookham Dean on Tuesdays and Thursdays as service 238. Both are operated by Thames Valley Buses. YJ13 HJX was making turn from Bisham Road to Quarry Wood Road when heading to Crookham Dean on the 0820 service 238 from Maidenhaed. It is an Optare Solo M720 that had been new to Courtney Buses in May 2013. Just as short distance behind the camera is the River Thames and the Marlow Bridge which today has a weight limit of 3 tons and a vehicle width limit of 6’ 6” (2 metres). In past years lightweight service buses could once cross although their passengers had to disembark and walk across the bridge.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (0909) – The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead sponsors the operation of services 238 and 239 from Maidenhead to Hurley which then continue to either Henley-on-Thames on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as service 239 or to Bisham and Crookham Dean on Tuesdays and Thursdays as service 238. Both are operated by Thames Valley Buses. YJ13 HJX was seen in Quarry Wood Road as it headed to Crookham Dean on the 0820 service 238 from Maidenhaed. It is an Optare Solo M720 that had been new to Courtney Buses in May 2013.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (0932) – The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead sponsors the operation of services 238 and 239 from Maidenhead to Hurley which then continue to either Henley-on-Thames on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as service 239 or to Bisham and Crookham Dean on Tuesdays and Thursdays as service 238. Both are operated by Thames Valley Buses. YJ13 HJX was seen in Quarry Wood Road, Bisham when working from Crookham Dean to Maidenhead on service 238. It is an Optare Solo M720 that had been new to Courtney Buses in May 2013.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (0932) – The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead sponsors the operation of services 238 and 239 from Maidenhead to Hurley which then continue to either Henley-on-Thames on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as service 239 or to Bisham and Crookham Dean on Tuesdays and Thursdays as service 238. Both are operated by Thames Valley Buses. YJ13 HJX was seen in Quarry Wood Road, Bisham when working from Crookham Dean to Maidenhead on service 238. It is an Optare Solo M720 that had been new to Courtney Buses in May 2013.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (0935) – The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (Berkshire) sponsors the operation of services 238 and 239 from Maidenhead to Hurley which then continue to either Henley-on-Thames on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as service 239 or to Bisham and Crookham Dean on Tuesdays and Thursdays as service 238. Both are operated by Thames Valley Buses. YJ13 HJX was seen turning from Quarry Wood Road to Bisham Road, Bisham when working from Crookham Dean to Maidenhead on service 238. It is an Optare Solo M720 that had been new to Courtney Buses in May 2013. In the background on the Buckinghamshire side of the River Thames is Marlow church and Marlow Bridge which crosses the river. Today the bridge has a weight limit of 3 tons and a vehicle width limit of 6’ 6” (2 metres). In past years lightweight service buses could cross although their passengers had to disembark and walk over the bridge. Unfortunately, the white van facing the camera (see photo inset) had just crossed the bridge and got stuck between the bollards causing some chaos!

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (1223) – Arriva The Shires 3013 (BJ12 YPY) took me by surprise on Thameside in Henley-on-Thames. The Angel on the Bridge pub was under repair and encased in scaffolding. It is a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 that was new to the TGM Group in July 2012.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (1223) – Arriva The Shires 3013 (BJ12 YPY), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 that was new to the TGM Group in July 2012, seen on Thameside in Henley-on-Thames.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (1259) – An Arriva The Shires Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 seen crossing the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames when working the 1200 service 850 from High Wycombe to Reading. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed the bus as 3008 (BJ12 YPT).

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (1308) – T.K. Travel of Burghfield Common operates the three ‘Henley Hopper’ town services in Henley-on-Thames under contract to Henley Town Council. The services run hourly from the Market Place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Service 153 (Green) to Abrahams Estate departing 0901 (arrives back at 0910) then each hour until 1301 Service 151 (Blue) to Highlands Park departing 0912 (arrives back at 0931) then each hour until 1312 Service 152 (Red) to Watermans Road departing 0934 (arrives back at 0954) then each hour until 1334 LR70 TKT is a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 516cdi new in September 2020 which was seen at the Market Place.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (1308) – T.K. Travel of Burghfield Common operates the three ‘Henley Hopper’ town services in Henley-on-Thames under contract to Henley Town Council. The services run hourly from the Market Place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Service 153 (Green) to Abrahams Estate departing 0901 (arrives back at 0910) then each hour until 1301 Service 151 (Blue) to Highlands Park departing 0912 (arrives back at 0931) then each hour until 1312 Service 152 (Red) to Watermans Road departing 0934 (arrives back at 0954) then each hour until 1334 LR70 TKT is a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 516cdi new in September 2020 which was seen at the Market Place.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 (1307) – T.K. Travel of Burghfield Common operates the three ‘Henley Hopper’ town services in Henley-on-Thames under contract to Henley Town Council. The services run hourly from the Market Place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Service 153 (Green) to Abrahams Estate departing 0901 (arrives back at 0910) then each hour until 1301 Service 151 (Blue) to Highlands Park departing 0912 (arrives back at 0931) then each hour until 1312 Service 152 (Red) to Watermans Road departing 0934 (arrives back at 0954) then each hour until 1334 LR70 TKT is a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 516cdi new in September 2020 which was seen at the Market Place.

Saturday 13 April 2024 (1342) – The ancient market town of Berkhamsted stands close to the Chiltern Hills. The long straight High Street is on an alignment dating from pre-Roman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Berkhamsted following which a fort and then castle were established. The now ruined castle was a favoured residence of royalty but after its abandonment in 1485 the town fell into decline. In more modern times there was expansion following the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the coming of the main line railway both of which still link London with the Midlands. In this view on the High Street Red Eagle Buses 50111 (WX08 LNP), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 bodied Dart new to First Somerset and Avon (44904) in May 2008, was working the 1255 Chesham-Berkhamsted Circular-Chesham service 354. In the background is Arriva The Shires 3030 (BD12 DHG), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 that was new to the TGM Group in July 2012, working the 1315 service X5 from Hemel Hempstead to Aylesbury. (In these parts Arriva trades as 'Arriva Beds & Bucks' which for my foreign viewers is the abbreviation for the counties of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire).

Saturday 13 April 2024 (1342) – Red Eagle Buses 50111 (WX08 LNP) seen in the High Street, Berkhamsted working the 1255 Chesham-Berkhamsted Circular-Chesham service 354. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 bodied Dart new to First Somerset and Avon (44904) in May 2008. The ancient market town of Berkhamsted stands close to the Chiltern Hills. The long straight High Street is on an alignment dating from pre-Roman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Berkhamsted following which a fort and then castle were established. The now ruined castle was a favoured residence of royalty but after its abandonment in 1485 the town fell into decline. In more modern times there was expansion following the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the coming of the main line railway both of which still link London with the Midlands.

Saturday 13 April 2024 (1342) – High Street, Berkhamsted. The lady with the orange shopping bag was making sure the driver of Red Eagle Buses 50111 (WX08 LNP) saw her as he passed by Arriva The Shires 3914 (BV58 MLK) which was already at the bus stop. Red Eagle 50111 is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 bodied Dart new to First Somerset and Avon (44904) in May 2008, which was working the 1255 Chesham-Berkhamsted Circular-Chesham service 354. Arriva The Shires 3914 (BV58 MLK), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new in September 2008, seen in High Street, Berkhamsted when working the 1230 service X5 from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead. (In a list dated November 2023 this bus was allocated to Aylesbury garage). The ancient market town of Berkhamsted stands close to the Chiltern Hills. The long straight High Street is on an alignment dating from pre-Roman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Berkhamsted following which a fort and then castle were established. The now ruined castle was a favoured residence of royalty but after its abandonment in 1485 the town fell into decline. In more modern times there was expansion following the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the coming of the main line railway both of which still link London with the Midlands.

Saturday 13 April 2024 (1342) – Arriva The Shires 3914 (BV58 MLK), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new in September 2008, seen in High Street, Berkhamsted when working the 1230 service X5 from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead. (In a list dated November 2023 this bus was allocated to Aylesbury garage). The tracker on the Bus Times website showed this bus had previously worked the 1115 service from Hemel Hempstead departing on time but arrived Aylesbury 22 minutes late at 1242. Departure from Aylesbury was at 1249, 19 minutes late and was now running 23 minutes behind time. The ancient market town of Berkhamsted stands close to the Chiltern Hills. The long straight High Street is on an alignment dating from pre-Roman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Berkhamsted following which a fort and then castle were established. The now ruined castle was a favoured residence of royalty but after its abandonment in 1485 the town fell into decline. In more modern times there was expansion following the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the coming of the main line railway both of which still link London with the Midlands. The town coat of arms is featured on the sign in the photograph.

Saturday 13 April 2024 (1342) – Arriva The Shires 3914 (BV58 MLK), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new in September 2008, seen in High Street, Berkhamsted when working the 1230 service X5 from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead. (In a list dated November 2023 this bus was allocated to Aylesbury garage). The tracker on the Bus Times website showed this bus had previously worked the 1115 service from Hemel Hempstead departing on time but arrived Aylesbury 22 minutes late at 1242. Deprture from Aylesbury was at 1249, 19 minutes late and was now running 23 minutes behind time. The ancient market town of Berkhamsted stands close to the Chiltern Hills. The long straight High Street is on an alignment dating from pre-Roman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Berkhamsted following which a fort and then castle were established. The now ruined castle was a favoured residence of royalty but after its abandonment in 1485 the town fell into decline. In more modern times there was expansion following the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the coming of the main line railway both of which still link London with the Midlands. Note the ‘ghost sign’ on the gable end high above the bus which reads ‘The Home and Colonial Stores Limited’. The company was once one of Britain’s major retail food chains.