Cornwall and Devon - June 2013

Tuesday 4 June 2013 (1057) – Two Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario buses seen at Bude (Strand). In front is Western Greyhound 580 (WK04 OTA), new as SF04 HXM to Rowe of Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland in March 2004, taking a break after working the 0918 circular service 530 from Bude via various villages to the north of the town including Morwenstow, Crimp, Kilkhampton, Stibb and Poughill arriving back at Bude at 1022. Behind is Jackett’s Coaches R810 HWS which had just arrived on the 1015 service 219 from Hartland via Kilhampton and Stratton. At Hartland connections can be made with Stagecoach service 319 to/from Bideford, and Barnstaple. The Jackett’s Vario was familiar to me as it used to be in the fleet of Coach Services Limited of Thetford near my home some 340 miles away from Bude!

Tuesday 4 June 2013 (1117) – Two Western Greyhound Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario buses seen at Bude (Strand). In front is 580 (WK04 OTA), new as SF04 HXM to Rowe of Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland in March 2004, taking a break after working the 0918 circular service 530 from Bude via various villages to the north of the town including Morwenstow, Crimp, Kilkhampton, Stibb and Poughill arriving back at Bude at 1022. Behind is 554 (WK53 BNB), new in September 2003, working the 1115 service 595 to Wadebridge via the coastal road through Widemouth Bay, Boscastle, Tintagel and Camelford arriving in Wadebridge at 1255.

Wednesday 5 June 2013 (1157) – Western Greyhound 554 (WK53 BNB), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in September 2003, driving through Boscastle when working the 1115 service 595 to from Bude to Wadebridge via the coastal road through Widemouth Bay, Boscastle, Tintagel and Camelford arriving in Wadebridge at 1255.

Wednesday 5 June 2013 (1157) – Western Greyhound 554 (WK53 BNB), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in September 2003, leaving Boscastle when working the 1115 service 595 to from Bude to Wadebridge via the coastal road through Widemouth Bay, Boscastle, Tintagel and Camelford arriving in Wadebridge at 1255.

Wednesday 5 June 2013 (1219) – Western Greyhound 562 (WK53 EUT), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in April 2004, in Boscastle about to work the 1220 service 595 to Camelford.

Thursday 6 June 2013 (1643) – Western Greyhound 562 (WK53 EUT), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new January 2004, seen at Newquay bus station having just arrived back from working the 1620 circular service 558 to and from Pentire. We travelled back from Fistral Bay on this bus.

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1054) – Western Greyhound 592 (WK56 SET), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in September 2006 to Topping of Sancreed (a village just east of Penzance) as YN56 DZE. Seen in Alverton Street, Penzance. The pub is named after Sir Humphrey Davy, one of the leading scientists of the 19th century born in these parts, who invented the miner’s safety lamp and also discovered that nitrous oxide could be used as an anaesthetic.

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1302) – Western Greyhound 563 (WK53 EUU), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in January 2004, seen arriving at Penzance bus station on town circular service 512, a 20 minute circular via Alverton and Landsdowne Estate.

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1309) – Western Greyhound 560 (WK02 BUS), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario, loading at Penzance bus station as the 1310 service 504 to St. Just. We travelled on this bus via Lands End to Sennen Cove. We then walked the cliff top path from Sennen Cove to Lands End returning from there to Penzance on the same bus working the 1620 service 501. We arrived at Sennen Cove about 8 minutes late after the bus got held up at Lamorna unable to turn round due to parked cars and increased traffic created by a cliff top athletics race. The driver managed to turn the bus round in a very confined space. The man boarding the bus was returning home and he was still on board when we got off so he had quite a long journey. New in May 2002 to Mitchell Coaches of Plean, Stirlingshire, Scotland registered SL02 COU.

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1355) – The only Western Greyhound double decker I managed to photograph was 441 (WK51 CAF) which is seen here from inside 560 (WK02 BUS) when the two buses met at the bottom of St. Buryan Hill near Treen. Due to getting stuck at Lamorna we were running a little late so perhaps the buses don’t normally pass here. Our driver swung over to the pull in on the right to let the double decker pass. We were travelling to Sennen Cove on the 1310 service 504 (Penzance-St. Just) and the double decker was working the 1330 Lands End-Penzance service 501. 441 is a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident new to City of Oxford in November 2001 as their number 5 which carried registration number R5 OXF (a number re-used by Oxford a few times since). 560 is a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in May 2002 to Mitchell Coaches of Plean, Stirlingshire, Scotland registered SL02 COU.

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1355) – The only Western Greyhound double decker I managed to photograph was 441 (WK51 CAF) which is seen here from inside 560 (WK02 BUS) when the two buses met at the bottom of St. Buryan Hill near Treen. Due to getting stuck at Lamorna we were running a little late so perhaps the buses don’t normally pass here. Our driver swung over to the pull in on the right to let the double decker pass. We were travelling to Sennen Cove on the 1310 service 504 (Penzance-St. Just) and the double decker was working the 1330 Lands End-Penzance service 501. 441 is a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident new to City of Oxford in November 2001 as their number 5 which carried registration number R5 OXF (a number re-used by Oxford a few times since). 560 is a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in May 2002 to Mitchell Coaches of Plean, Stirlingshire, Scotland registered SL02 COU.

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1419) – Approaching Lands End on board Western Greyhound 560 (WK02 BUS), working the 1310 service 504 from Penzance to St. Just. We travelled on this bus via Lands End to Sennen Cove. We then walked the cliff top path from Sennen Cove back to Lands End returning from there to Penzance on the same bus working the 1620 service 501. New in May 2002 to Mitchell Coaches of Plean, Stirlingshire, Scotland registered SL02 COU

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1428) – Western Greyhound 560 (WK02 BUS) at Sennen Cove when working the 1310 service 504 from Penzance to St. Just. We travelled on this bus via Lands End to Sennen Cove. We then walked the cliff top path from Sennen Cove back to Lands End returning from there to Penzance on the same bus working the 1620 service 501. New in May 2002 to Mitchell Coaches, Plean, Stirlingshire registered SL02 COU

Saturday 8 June 2013 (1429) – Western Greyhound 560 (WK02 BUS) at Sennen Cove when working the 1310 service 504 from Penzance to St. Just. We travelled on this bus via Lands End to Sennen Cove. We then walked the cliff top path from Sennen Cove back to Lands End returning from there to Penzance on the same bus working the 1620 service 501. New in May 2002 to Mitchell Coaches, Plean, Stirlingshire registered SL02 COU

Tuesday 11 June 2013 (1904) – Western Greyhound 565 (WK54 CUC), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in May 2004, seen as close to the heart of Polperro as any buses can really get. The small fishing village has such narrow streets in the harbour area that traffic restrictions exist. A large coach and car park is located at Crumplehorn, the top of the long main street of the village, and visitors then walk down into the centre or travel in a small shuttle vehicle. However, at the end of the day the last five evening trips of Western Greyhound services actually extend from Crumplehorn down into the village itself. This would be the 1911 service 574 from the village to Liskeard which is shown in the CCC timetable as starting from Crumplehorn at 1913. The buses shown departing Crumplehorn at 2013, 2113, 2213 and 2313 depart from the village two minutes earlier and are numbered service 572 running to Looe Bay Holiday Park.

Tuesday 11 June 2013 (1911) – Western Greyhound 565 (WK54 CUC), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in May 2004, seen as close to the heart of Polperro as any buses can really get. The small fishing village has such narrow streets in the harbour area that traffic restrictions exist. A large coach and car park is located at Crumplehorn, the top of the long main street of the village, and visitors then walk down into the centre or travel in a small shuttle vehicle. However, at the end of the day the last five evening trips of Western Greyhound services actually extend from Crumplehorn down into the village itself. This was the 1911 service 574 from the village to Liskeard which is shown in the CCC timetable as starting from Crumplehorn at 1913. The buses shown departing Crumplehorn at 2013, 2113, 2213 and 2313 depart from the village two minutes earlier and are numbered service 572 running to Looe Bay Holiday Park.

Thursday 6 June 2013 (1403) – Western Greyhound 986 (YN53 VBO), a Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario new in January 2004, seen at Newquay bus station loading as the 1405 service 556 to Padstow. It carried a non-standard colour scheme and lettering to commemorate 60 years of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Monday 10 June 2013 (1428) – Western Greyhound Optare Solo Slimline 701 (WK58 EAE) (new Jan 2009) seen at the Trevarth bus stop in Mevagissey when working the 1320 service 524 from Fowey to the Lost Gardens of Heligan.