Yah, Boo, Told You So!
Everybody said that the courageous new Hulley's service from Sheffield (X57) and Glossop (X56) to Manchester was doubly courageous. As well as a huge commercial risk in the present circumstances, the running times looked unattainable. And unattainable they were.
A week ago the start-up timetable, having run for a whole two weeks, was torn up and replaced.
The Monday to Saturday service change has involved what we had expected, namely some running time extensions from original ...
... to revised.
Running time has increased by 5 minutes during the day, but by a whopping 15 minutes at peak time. Fortunately, there was a good wodge of "layover" time, so the overall pattern of service has not changed.
The Sunday service, however, has been completely rewritten.
Here is the revised version ...
... with an ugly gap in the service via Bamford and Derwent, just when Sheffielders might be looking for a nice afternoon ride through the pretties.
Also gone is the little loop in Glossop to serve the station. Yet again, potentially useful transport integration is abandoned.
You Can Never Have Enough Bristol Ks
NEWS RELEASE
Historic bus returns to the Isle of Wight
A former Southern Vectis bus returned to the island recently. The 1953 Bristol double decker has joined the IW Bus and Coach Museum’s collection, having been donated by enthusiast Derek Priddle. It was towed from its former home in Surrey by Stag Lane Motors, who have worked closely with the Bus Museum for many years. Wightlink also provided the ferry crossings free of charge.
The bus, JDL 40, was sold by Southern Vectis in 1970 and achieved notoriety by overturning near Gatcombe in December 1954. During its 50 years on the mainland, it was used by a demolition contractor in Wales as site accommodation. When rescued by Derek Priddle in 1987, it was in use as a store shed and temporary accommodation in Dyfed.
JDL 40 is one of over 70 Bristol K type buses purchased by Southern Vectis in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
It will be restored at the Bus Museum over a number of years in memory of member and benefactor John Reynolds of Binstead, who died in May 2019.
A low-key hand over is pictured above with Derek Priddle (right) and Richard Newman (Museum President) on the left.
But the Museum already had two Bristol Ks ...
... one of them an open topper.
A similar vehicle before Vectis got out the tin opener is shown below.
When fbb queried the purchase of a third K, a correspondent replied, enigmatically:-
Yes, but we have a wide open top and a narrow closed top and the new arrival is a wide closed top.
A bit like fbb's burgeoning collection of OO gauge tank wagons, this is an indication of the keenness (?) of the Great British Enthusiast.
And Yet Another Silly Name
Voltra? Obvious, isn't it? It is the name chosen by Go Ahead North East for their all electric single decks, soon to hit the streets.
Ray Stenning protests that the buses "aren't finished yet"; which doubtless means that there is more trendy sticky-backed plastic to stick on the back, sides and front.
Thank goodness they didn't choose reVOLTing !
They Call Him Amtrak Joe ...
... because he is quite keen on railways.
The other guy never seemed too keen on trains!
Tittivating The Tube
The last fleet renewal ...
... was way back in 2014 when £10 million was the bill.
The new lot cost Uncle Brian £13 million.
The new lot cost Uncle Brian £13 million.
Coincidentally the December "Buses" magazine contains an excellent article on the deregulation of long distance coach travel in the UK which kicked off on 6th October 1980. It includes a picture of an early journey on the then revolutionary Oxford Tube, seen at its terminus at Hyde Park Corner.
The service has moved on a bit since 1987 when the above was snapped.
Talking Of Big Investments
£140 - OUCH! It is highly unlikely that fbb will EVER complete his tank wagon collection. The above and a pre-war model ...
... would drain the resources far more than the interest created. You can only take an obsession so far - unless someone "out there" has a very battered version of either that fbb could fettle up? (It's the pre-war couplings that are important on pre-war versions in any livery.)
Scotland - Gorgeous Again
The fbbs lost their holiday in Scotland in the early days of the Virus and have just lost their holiday in Lynmouth, due to start in 16th inst.
Pictures are only a partial substitute, but the old crocks can but dream.
And About Time, Too!
It will ultimately be far more effective than gangster gear, social distancing and lockdowns. A bit of repentance and a humble prayer for mercy has changed things dramatically in the past. If it is genuinely heart-felt it will change things again.
Church Link
The usual Sunday Service was replaced by a shorter act of Remembrance (30 minutes) but the various links issued by the church did not work (or fbb got it wrong - on both!). But No 3 son mined deep into he coal measures of the bits and bytes and found the service.
Church Link
It is a very moving Service and will appear in this blog on ...
Wednesday 11th November - Remembrance Day
Even if you are a non-believer or a non church-goer this little service offers some powerful thoughts and challenging encouragements. Well worth a look.
Next Publicity Matters blog : Tuesday 10th November
The Oxford Tube never terminated at
ReplyDeleteHyde Park Corner, the original terminus was Grosvenor Gardens in Victoria before moving to the current location (Buckingham Palace Road). Even so, the photo in Buses is at Marble Arch surely?!