KMP Mercedes N776 CJC in Caernarfon

When I was there at the end of the 90's Caernarfon like Bangor seemed to be awash with Independents including KMP who was operating this Mercedes minibus on what I imagine was the County Council funded Sherpa network.

South Wales Leopard NCY 476R bound for Haverfordwest

A cat or rather a Jojo must have nine lives. Today it seems unthinkable that one might attempt to  take photos on the tiny strip of pavement in the middle of the road in busy Bristol. But the world was a bit different in the early Eighties and not only were we not constantly being watched we were left to use our common-sense. All I can say is nobody seemed too bothered, I'm still here and believe it or not even managed to get back again without being run over despie not wearing a high-viz vest.  So I lived to tell the tale and also managed to get an unusual photo of a South Wales Duple Dominant bodied Leopard heading off for far off Haverfordwest. My advice though is as they say "don't try this at home".

F122 XEM Warrington Coach Lines

In this view taken on the M6 one can empathise with the hot tired people behind all that glass on the bus wanting to get home to a hot bath and a decent cup of tea after a long day out probably to Blackpool. I imagine it's a bit sticky as thundery storm clouds are gathering but maybe this East-Lancs bodied Dennis Dominator will make it home to Warrington before it starts. In the anything goes spirit of Deregulation a number of Municipals and PTE's set up coaching units like the eyecatching Coach Lines and why not as some of the coach firms were running smokey old bangers and trying to steal their remunertive stage routes. 

Five New Wright Bodied Scanias at Chester City Transport

These five Wright bodied Scania park and ride liveried bus must have been a significant purchase for Chester City Transport. Obviously they were still very new when I made my visit to the depot as they were all proudly standing in a line albeit not lined up in order.

Eastern National Tiger from Bishop's Stortford HHJ 374Y

An Eastern National Alexander bodied Leyland Tiger rests before setting off back to Bishop's Stortford on the 712. I lived here for about nine months in 1969 and love this area of Victoria and Pimlico but I think the way the light plays off these white buildings made photography difficult at times or maybe just the light might have been poor. However as much as I wish it not every picture can be perfect but the nice thing about Flickr is all these buses are interesting to someone and it works as a record shot at least.

K722 ASC: Leyland Olympians in Edinburgh

This rather bright looking Fife Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian in it's Stagecoach stripes looks like it's from another planet compared to the very plasant but conservative Lothian fleet.

Midland Red S23 RHA 937G at Coventry

Amongst the last of the BMMO's remaining in service was this S23 No.5937 at Coventry, once a Leamington bus which spent the last four years till Feb 81 at Rugby.

No Room To Park in Berlin for Wallace Arnold Passengers

Probably in the early Eighties a Dutch registered Neoplan has to double park and it's passengers squeeze between the cars as it unloads it chartered Wallace Arnod passengers in Berlin.

BVP 777V: Not Quite a Golden Age Maybe a Bright Patch of Purple

As a bus enthusiast my golden age was the Sixties and I've never quite got over it's passing. But especially looking back other times have had their highs too and this view of a Midland Red Leopard heading out of Birmingham without a care in the world for Hereford brings back pleasant memories of still nice solid more traditional buses and very interesting times.

YJ59 BUP: Empty Streets The Arriva Blues

Lockdown landscape where empty pavements like this have become normal, but I must admit I took it in Stafford just before Covid19 arrived disrupting our lives. I haven't bothered but had I taken any bus photos at this strange time in our lives I still think I could not have done it much better as unintentionally I seem to have caught the feel. I like the thin cool but sharp sunlight casting long reaching tenticles of shadow and even this current rather insipid and in poor light rather depressing Arriva livery makes me think of the poor old NHS and it's blues. But the people are coming out again hurrying to empty the rails at Primark.

VRG 415T Part of The Post-Deregulation Jigsaw Puzzle

A long time ago now but Deregulation was a bit like a big cat which jumped on the almost complete jigsaw puzzle scattering the pieces everywhere. Some people might want to try at some point to  write it all down but the fact that this Merseybus  MCW Metrobus in Liverpool carries an Aberdeen registration and London Buses livery could inspire a school essay on it's own and this is just one bus. In fact it was one of five which went to Tyne & Wear and if I remember rightly in London to Enfield or Potters Bar.

Prague 6579

When I was there in the mid-90's most of the Prague trams pulled trailers but Route 7 seemed to be an exception with just single units.