Dab Leyland HT 1475 Cosses Anager Bridge

Even though they are not always as sharp as properly composed views, these scenes full of objects and movement often capture the true nature of a place and in this instance it was Copenhagen in the Eighties.

When people asked why someone was interested in buses there were any number of companies they could point to including the 'Walsall of the Independent's, Gosdport and Fareham. Sadly by the time I took this the fleet was very much of the unremarkable Leyland National but at least in the early Nineties People's Provincial retained that distinctive colour long before Arriva tried something similar but with less success.

M803 MOJ: Have I still got the nerve for it?

Fortunately my old digital camera didn't really come up to scratch so it stopped me from risking life and limb photographing even more buses and girls. Still it wasn't all disappointment as I got some smiles as well. Arriva Stafford ran about three Marshall bodied Dennis Darts like M803 MOJ which started life on the Shrewsbury 'Park and Ride'.

London: Spend more it still doesn't look any better!

In the Eighties it seemed everyone wanted a piece of the rapidly expanding but ultra competitive London sightseeing bus market. However what must have been the premium brand Harrods of Knightsbridge didn't employ flirty dolly birds and cheeky chappies to attract the punters on draughty corners near landmarks, but as you can see perhaps the most distinguished looking Neoplan ever to run on British streets was nearly empty.

1980: Freshfield Road Coach Depot

Most of the bigger BET and BTC operators had large garages and some of them like City of Oxford had one huge one to serve the city whilst all the others were fairly small. Southdown was one of the biggest BET companies which at one time could boast  a thousand vehicles but even in it's home town it could not offer the enthusiast anything as big as say the the 160 garage and works in Ribble's home town of Preston. This was because it had twenty-four garages often not too distant from one another plus various smaller dormy sheds. Freshfield Road in Brighton might well have been one of the biggest but that is just a guess, as Eastbourne, Worthing and Hilsea Lines had a decent allocation I suspect. However despite the row of mainly wintering convertible Titan Queen Mary's this was the Brighton's coach garage whilst a somewhat smaller Edward Street housed the local bus fleet. Indeed there was also another one which seemed to be for mostly storage on Moulscombe Way as all I saw in there were three out of use Burlingham bodied Commer Avengers.

In July 1992 a Gloc' registered Willett's Plaxton bodied Leyland Tiger was as enthusiasts often put it seen enjoying the sunshine in Bournemouth. That livery was pleasant but just looking at it fills my mouth with memories of cherry flavoured yogurt and the bits of cherry floating in it. Before anyone mentions it, the colours also remind me of from nearer to home Stonier's of Stoke on Trent too.

ECP 500P. Those Weird & Wonderful Fifties Coaches

Spending it's last year or two carrying students was this unusual Bellhouse Hartwell bodied Leyland Tiger Cub seen in Matlock which had been new to Hebble of Halifax.

JRV 500F: Heaton Park Trans Lancs Rally

What a difference a decent camera makes, Nikon are supposed to be pretty good but I never had really good results from my handy Cool Pix cameras. Of course it's easy to say I'm not interested in the modern bus scene but with decent images photography seems like fun again. Also of course it would have been a mortal sin to not get a good shot of this lovely former Byng's Duple Commander AEC Reliance JRV 500F now restored by Goodwin's Coaches and being followed by another of their AEC Reliance coaches a rare former Glenton example with centre entrance..

GSC623X: Edinburgh in the Nineties

These days I seem to post a number of buses I might still rather like but which I don't really love so I thought for once I would choose something I really like. After all what could be a better sight in Edinburgh than a typically smart Lothian Alexander bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68 in that classic Madder and white livery.

Shearings F731 ENE in Manchester

Sadly today in the transport industry there is a lack of worth or community spirit work for many and it is just a job which is perhaps one of the reasons why many bus drivers don't like being photographed when at work. They don't enjoy it so why should others get a little pleasure when they come down the road driving their bus. Of course not everyone thinks like that and I'm sure there are still a few who show a friendly face and who are pleased to let others know who they are too like this Shearings driver seen passing along Deansgate in Manchester during the Nineties. Geoff's Van-Hool bodied Volvo B10M was a pretty nice solid reliable motor too even if it was one which helped to see the demise of the much loved but not so perfect Leyland Tiger.

Rugeley Bus Station used to be rather a colourful place with as well as Midland Red North buses, the red and maroon of Middleton's, Warstone's Green Bus and as seen here Key's blue and cream on this former Bradford MCW bodied Atlantean.

August 28th: My Birthday!

I've been put it off for some time but I finally made an 'impulse purchase' and bought myself a decent digital camera at last. The difference between the Cannon G12 and my old pocket-sized 'Cool Pix' is remarkable. Even an old Arriva Volvo on a Stafford Town Service seems worth a second look as it heads down St. Leonard's Avenue yesterday.