But First ...
fbb is grateful that the blogging community has helped him out. Correspondent Tony wrote to tell the old bloke that the coach (yesterday's blog) in question never operated on Northern Trains (hence fbb's confusion).
It originated on the West Coast main line and was installed at the National Museum of Childhood, Halifax ...
... where it was in use as an indoor picnic area complete with its very own diesel shunter.
Clearly it is not there any more, but an item on a specialised web site explains something or its movement from Halifax to Stratford.
Tony adds that the coach was, at one stage, sponsored by Northern Trains, hence its adornment with their livery ...
... especially to confuse fbb!
Thanks Tony!
The Masses Making for Mam Tor
A while back, Stagecoach had a rather half-hearted go at a tourist bus route in the area ...
... which was hardly a roaring success.
Then there was an explosion of open toppers centred on Chatsworth House. One route ran to Blue John every hour and the other did a Bakewell circular every 30 min. Some buses ran in service from Chesterfield or Sheffield and a massive topless day out was possible at a bargain price. You might like to o find fbb's blogs sharing his 2024 experiences.
Bus watchers wondered whether the "investment" might be a bit too much, but the services are back for Summer 2025.
The Castleton route is unchanged but there is one reduction elsewhere.
The Bakewell "Circular" was always the weakest of the two routes and in comparison to the long haul to Blue John was simply pathetic. However it did offer an open top ride to dovetail into a visit to Chatsworth itself.
The frequency is, for this year, reduced to every hour during the middle part of the day (except for peak Summer), times when potential clients will be enjoying Chatsworth, its painted violin ...
... (it is a completely "flat" picture!) and its weeping willow ...
...which weeps more than most!
So those who eschew Chatsworth's glories (and the riches are in super abundance inside and out) can make a day of open top riding ...
... as did fbb on the hottest day of the year last summer.
But this year {SHOCK HORROR) Stagecoach has competition. It is from First Bus and is a very feeble, almost pathetic competition compared with the Stagecoach offering.
On Sundays ONLY and in the peak school holiday weeks ONLY, The "normal" 272 from Sheffield is being extended from Castleton to Blue John. 
Like the open toppers, it will use the narrow Winnats Pass road ...
...which is truly glorious ...
... but a bit on the thin side for two buses to pass.
The 1230 service 272 from Castleton (e.g.) should nicely meet the 1220 open topper on its way down from Blue John, coming together on the narrowest bit!
Fun all round!
In an indication of the half-hearted attitude of operator and TSY, fbb can reveal the route maps from First ...
... and from Travel South Yorkshire ...
... neither of which shows where the bus goes on its Sunday extension. But, if you provided an accurate map, people might want to travel on the bus; and that would never do!
Maybe First Bus needs to call in one of its near limitless bevvy of consultants for advice?
Next time, fbb presents an uplifting piece of technology.
Next Repulsive blog : Tues 22 July
.jfif)
