Saturday Variety

The Tortuous Tale Trundles Tentatively

Its a bit like EastEnders; there is a crisis at every episode. First the Good News. High peak is operating the former Hulleys journeys on 271 amd 272 Sheffied to Castleton. Cheers!

And now the bad news confirmed.

High Peak Buses Announces Withdrawal from 170 Service

High Peak Buses, an independent operator based in the High Peak, regrets to announce that we will no longer be proceeding with plans to operate the 170 service between Bakewell and Chesterfield, originally scheduled to commence on Thursday, 27th March 2025.

It had been our intention to replace the existing Hulleys service which has ceased to operate, ensuring continuity for passengers by serving both Hollymoorside and providing a direct link to Chesterfield Hospital.  We had planned to provide local employment opportunities for Hulleys' drivers, with the longer-term vision of operating from Baslow to maintain stable local employment.

Despite being the first operator to be granted short-notice approval by Derbyshire County Council, subsequent approval was also granted to Stagecoach for a competing registration of the service.  Stagecoach's version does not align with the existing Hulleys service, omitting key connections such as Hollymoorside and Chesterfield Hospital.

David Brookes, Managing Director of High Peak Buses, expressed his disappointment: "It’s disappointing that it has come to this. The service we had planned was designed to ensure vital community links were maintained, and it’s surprising that a competing registration for a service that does not provide these connections has been granted.  The route cannot sustain two operators, and as a local operator, we are not prepared to engage in a bus war with Stagecoach—a company backed by an international investment fund.  We regret having no other option but to withdraw our service."

One thing that this shambles confirms is that the current system fot managing the UK's bus networks is simply not fit for purpose.

And it's always the travelling public that has to suffer.

The Postponed Puzzle Picture ...

... and the white on brown sign, which reads:-

So you might expect there to be a crowd of happy holiday makers enjoying a cruise on the loch. But you would be wrong!

Explanation, please fbb!

We need to go to Aberfoyle, the "capital" of the Trossachs (map bottom right).

Continue along the YELLOW road to Kinlochard and further towards Stronachlachar on Loch Katrine but turn left aiming for Inversnaid.

The roads are narrow with passing places and involve some curvaceous but tight corners. But when you get to Inversnaid you will see there is nothing there except a hotel. It used to be very small ...

... but it growed ...

... and growed ...

...and growed even more.

Back in the day you could realstically get there only by Loch Lomond steamer ...

... but now you go by coach ...

... because it is a Lochs and Glens hotel! (ta-da!)

But because the roads are, to put it mildly, difficult ...

... the coaches only take you there on the first day and pick you up on the last day. So, how do you escape for the gorgeous excursions for which the company is rightly celebrated?

They've got a boat!

This ferries you across the Loch ...

... to meet the coaches waiting patiently at Inverglas.

Neat eh?

A Round Tuit - Yet Again

It might have been ten years ago! fbb was deveyoping his Peterville model railway layout in the rear service area of  fbb mansions (OK, the back yard!). He bough a Bachmann Branchline loco shed moulded un resin and offered cheapish! From memory it cost about £35.

Bachmann still advertise the same item but now at £75! The doors (on both ends) were thick slabs of resin, like a flat bar of chocolate, hinged using bits of wire and tiny wire loops.

Obviously (although not to fbb at the time) the wire rusted and the doors fell off. 

So fbb had one of his jackpot bodge and fudge ideas. Buy an Airfix/Dapol engine shed kit, use the main part of the building as an extension at the rear and fix the all plastic doors to the front.

Bit the Bachmann building was broader than the Airfix.

(Picture taken after new windows had been fitted.) So to get extra width fbb had to pinch a chunk of the original walls.

Thus a new front was added.

The back story was that the old "wooden" front had been destroyed by fire and been replaced by brick.

But fbb lost the Airfix doors. He has never seen them since which suggests they were snaffled by alien modellers from the planet Zog.

So, last week, having obtained a Tuit of the circular variety, fbb made new doors - only ten years late.

He even fitted them to the Airfix hinges! Some cracks were filled  with Polyfilla and the red brick painted mucky dark gey to match the walls ...

... and "Sim Sala Bim", a much improved engine shed materialised. Bill Bodge and Fred Fudge, fbb's mentoring modelling advisors, would be proud of him.

Weston Super Mud Bus?

Recent news breaks that First is creating an electric bus depot at Weston Super Mud. It will be home to a fleet of brand new buses.

A few days ago, there was a launch c/w spotlights, smoke effects, scantily clad dancing girls. a 25 piece orchestra and free champagne with smoked salmon canapes. (note to the reade - a possible exaggeration here).

Here is a bus "on the road". 

It's a Yutong.

The Yutong U11DD is a battery electric double-decker bus manufactured by Yutong in Zhengzhou since 2023, launched initially for the United Kingdom bus market in right-hand drive configuration.

But did you spot the branding?

It has an utterly boring all-over green livery and is branded  WESTbus .

So it is goodbye to the rich and memorable Badgerline heritage rebirth.

Yet another downward leap from First Bus?

Sigh!

More bric-a-brac from the inconsequential world of Public Transport tomorrow. 

And it's Mothers' Day - or is it Mothering Sunday?

More excitement! The clocks need to be set back one hour, technically at 0200. Remember: fall forward and lean back.

Or is it ..... ?

 Next Sunday Variety blog : Sun 30 Mar