Summer Adventure - The Highlights

Firstly my sincere apologies to viewers, due to work commitments, updates this year have been very difficult. During the year I have upgraded to a new camera this being the Nikon A900 and I am thoroughly enjoying using it. So without further a-do I have just got back from travelling around the country over the course of 9 days and thought i'd share some of the best things that turned up! Starting off in the North East on Saturday 25th August 2018 we see below a superbly restored 1949 built ECW bodied Bristol L5G single decker.

United Automobile Services BG413 LHN 860 is seen in Darlington prior to taking part in a classic vehicle show.

Having spent the day in the North East watching my football team Altrincham win superbly 3-0 away at Darlington, I then travelled overnight for the first of 2 days in London. With the help of the London Vehicle Finder myself and a friend went after stuff that was at risk of withdrawal pending service changes. On Monday 27th August 2018 we ended up in Harrow and come across the oldest single decker still in service with Arriva London this being a 2003 built Wright Cadet, it was on the 288 route from Broadfields Estate to Queensbury Morrisons. A superb catch given the fact the route operator was changing in 5 days time.

Arriva London DAF SB120/ Wright Cadet DWL56 LJ03 MUW is seen leaving Harrow Bus Station.

On the morning of Tuesday 28th August 2018 I ventured into Kent, having spent most the morning in and around Chatham I decided to take a trip over to Gravesend in the early afternoon and boy it didn't half produce one of the best finds of the trip no other than a 19 and a half year old Dennis Dart! Redroute Buses were using a former Warrington Transport Marshall bodied Dart on their 416 service from Gravesend to Meopham. I was absolutely shocked to see one of these former familiar faces still earning a living in public service!

Redroute Buses Dennis Dart/ Marshall Capital T205 AFM seen in Gravesend.

So onwards to Wednesday I spent the night before in Redhill and the primary objective for Wednesday would be the variety packed fleet of Southdown PSV and if one 19 year old Dart was believed to be enough, I somehow come across another one! Southdown PSV's oldest bus left in public service is 1999 Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dart. It was being used on their 424 service from Crawley to Horley.

Southdown PSV Dennis Dart/ Plaxton Pointer 2, 380 V380 SVV seen leaving Redhill Bus Station.

On Thursday 30th August, I ventured over to Horsham in hope to find the very first Volvo B7TL double decker which is owned by Southern Transit. They operate the Mondays and Thursdays only service 3 from Horsham to Shoreham. Having got in touch with the company, it was definitely good news!

Southern Transit Volvo B7TL/ Alexander ALX400 AVL1 V101 LGC is seen on layover at Horsham Railway Station.

Onwards to Eastleigh for the last overnight stay before heading back north, Friday duly came around and it was a day spent exploring the Solent region with another Volvo B7TL in mind, this being the only ever one built on the ADL Enviro400 bodywork. Having spent all day looking for it in several places, I ended up in Southampton early evening for some food before travelling back to London in less than 3 hours, and their it finally pops up working a cross-city service. I believe it was a spare vehicle on the day and only came out for that trip, how lucky!

Bluestar's Volvo B7TL/ ADL Enviro400 1851 SN56 AWX is seen at Thornhill having worked an 18 from Millbrook via Southampton.

So after a thoroughly enjoyable 5 days in the South it was back up to the North East overnight into Saturday with one thing in mind for the morning, Arriva's remaining DAF Cadets. I was led to believe a few still got out on the 17 route. But when arrived in Middlesbrough a few runs over to Stockton proved their was a superb total of 6 of these in use, with 2 on the 17 route and the other being on the 7 route to Yarm, a lovely 20 minute run. I was absolutely made up to of managed to sample 5 of the 6 having thought prior to the trip i'd be lucky to get 1!

Arriva North East DAF SB120/ Wright Cadet 1915 W69 PRG arrives onto stand at Stockton working a 7 to Yarm.

Thanks for reading, hoping to bring another post to you in around a months time that will be the Severn Valley Railways' Special 50s at 50 event early October!