A Very Mixed Bag

fbb receives lots of information from correspondents, many anonymously, which do not warrant a full blog post. From time to time these form the basis of a motley collection (?). Such is today's offering.

Motley refers to the traditional costume of the court jester, or the harlequin character in commedia dell'arte. The latter wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds. It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool.

The word motley is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as a cognate with medley, although the unrelated mottled has also contributed to the meaning. The word is most commonly used as an adjective or noun. When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture." As an adjective, it is generally disparaging; a motley collection is an uninspiring pile of stuff, as in the cliché motley crew.

Supertram Signs of the Times

New "next tram" signs are seen here under test at th Tinsey stop. The man at the bottom of the pole is holding it steady unto the glue sets. The signs look remarkably like those installed on large tracts of our National Railways.

Meanwhile the latest "tranche" of track renewal comes to an end on 8th May. For over a month there have been no trams to Hillsborough. The blue service from Halfway has run to Shalesmoor and the Yellow from Meadowhell has terminated at the Cathedral.

Hillsborough services have been provided by two ten minute frequency bus routes, both running through from Sheffield Cathedral.

Here in Hillsorough the uses used tram tack.

As is usual with these Stagecoach operations, all has run very smoothly with plenty of supervisory staff to help the passengers.

Beer Bus Bonanza

But nothing to do with fbb's Seaton neighbour! The area round Dronfield (Derbyshire but more closely associated with Sheffield) is blessed with many gorgeous pubs, often in picturesque settings.

On Saturday June 6th there will be a beer festival based on the "Three Valleys".

Three free bus services will be run (every 30 minutes) to enable partipants to participate in varying percentages of the 100 real ales on offer.

According to the festival web site, 8 vehicles will be used, supplies by Linburg Travel. There will be two darts ...

... and four double deckers ...

... all of them apparently converted to left hand drive for the day!

Or have the organisers already been sampling the goods?

Linburg specialises in contracted services, mainly for schools, including (nostalgically) services 714 ...

... which when operated by Sheffield Transport in the mid sixties (as similar 774) took the student not-yet-f bb from his digs to Sheffield University!

But the festival looks a spiffingly good day for aficianadi of beer and buses.

And Finally, fbb's Bus ...

... X595 FBB, previously pictured posteriorly parked at its depot, is seen here on its last trip from Axminster to Seaton on Monday last. Its slime green pal has yet to be seen in service.

 Next rail blog : Sunday 26th April