Oldest bus in daily passenger service

[trentside]

Someone's already mentioned Johnson's who were the first firm that came to mind. MASS Engineering - if they're still going - operated a large fleet of deathtrap Titans certainly a few years ago - although whether they are still on the road, or whether they have all been given prohibition notices by now, is another matter.

The MASS (BrightBus) fleet now consists mainly of ex-Hong Kong buses of various ages, and a mix of Optare Spectras and ex-First Glasgow tri-axle East Lancs Nordics. The Titans have been gone for a few years.

 

[edwin_m]

Come to Cornwall if you want to see old style registrations on buses, we have about 20 B7s from 2006, and dozen or so Darts from 2003-2006 and a few newer solos. Everything else is 1993-1999 Tridents and Olympians, and T-X plate Darts.

Most old buses on school/charter work hide behind Northern Ireland registrations. As, for some reason, do the Boris buses.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Isn't WrightBus based in Northern Ireland hence the NI plates?

 

[richw]

Most old buses on school/charter work hide behind Northern Ireland registrations. As, for some reason, do the Boris buses.

I've always assumed the Boris buses to be something to do with them being made and brought over from Northern Ireland.

 

[edwin_m]

There are plenty of Wright buses operating all over the UK that don't have NI plates, so that in itself can't be the reason for the Boris buses having one. I think it is probably an expectation that they will last a long time so they don't want to advertise their age.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I believe Konectbus in Norwich area still have Leyland National UFX 852S available for service. It used to be a regular on a Friday's only service in Dereham, but I think it just a standby and special vehicle now.

It even has it's own webpage! http://konect.goahead.staging.pancentric.net/152/

 

[34D]

Sorry, still don't follow your logic. Are school children not 'passengers' ?. Where did 'Joe Public' become the critical part of the question ?

Robert

Well, we can't ride on most of the examples in this thread....

 

[mbonwick]

Most old buses on school/charter work hide behind Northern Ireland registrations. As, for some reason, do the Boris buses.

TfL vanity, wanting registrations to match fleetnumbers. LTZ isn't planned for general release for several years yet.

Isn't WrightBus based in Northern Ireland hence the NI plates?

Yes, they are, but no, not the reason for NI plates.

 

[Strathclyder]

Colchri of Renfrew acquired this Leyland Olympian from Country Hopper of Ibstock at the beginning of this year. It was bought mainly for school work, but has appeared on regular service work on occasion, as the first link proves. It was new to Midland Fox in 1983, which makes it 31 years old.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Noah Vale, of the Berkshire-Oxfordshire borders (one of the many operating names of Weavaway, Newbury and District, Tappins, Abingdon Coaches, South Midland-Orbiter, Southern Railroad Company and any other retro-revived or acquired names they use...) have several, what appear to be C-Reg Olympians (I think... ), all smartly decked out in NBC poppy red, with white/cream stripe, and even the old NBC logo, which are used on various school services in the Reading/Newbury/Wantage/Abingdon area.

However....as some of the above might suggest, things with this operator are seldom exactly what they seem, and it appears these vehicles are several years younger than their registration plates might suggest, and the C-Reg plates, like the NBC livery, are a more recent addition......

 

[trentside]

However....as some of the above might suggest, things with this operator are seldom exactly what they seem, and it appears these vehicles are several years younger than their registration plates might suggest, and the C-Reg plates, like the NBC liberty, are a more recent addition......

It would appear so, as I have them listed as follows:

C10CTL (P730GND)
C13CTL (R138EVX)
C15CTL (R140EVX)
C16CTL (R172VPU)
C17CTL (R178VPU)
C18CTL (R831OVN)
C19CTL (R835OVN)
C20CTL (S918ANH)

Certainly an interesting choice of livery too - but definitely not the oldest buses in service.

 

[theageofthetra]

What about the RT's used by the Epping Ongar Railway between Epping, North Weald, Ongar, Brentwood & Shenfield They shadow a normal bus route and can be used by the general public

 

[pdq]

Do Silcox (Pembroke Dock) still have their E reg ex-MOD Tigers?

 

[CC 72100]

It would appear so, as I have them listed as follows:

C10CTL (P730GND)
C13CTL (R138EVX)
C15CTL (R140EVX)
C16CTL (R172VPU)
C17CTL (R178VPU)
C18CTL (R831OVN)
C19CTL (R835OVN)
C20CTL (S918ANH)

Certainly an interesting choice of livery too - but definitely not the oldest buses in service.

Heck no - it was only last year when we eventually lost some of the R___ EVX and R___ VPU buses on the Stagecoach Forest of Dean services, replaced with much fanfare by a bunch of 13 Enviro deckers...

Which now seem not to spend much time at all on the 24, with this bus now being supplied by Gloucester with various 02 - 06 reg vehicles instead. (All ex-Stagecoach Manchester).

 

[Hophead]

RML2317 is scheduled to run daily until 13 September on Brighton & Hove new route 10.

 

[trentside]

Heck no - it was only last year when we eventually lost some of the R___ EVX and R___ VPU buses on the Stagecoach Forest of Dean services, replaced with much fanfare by a bunch of 13 Enviro deckers...

We still have them in service here in Lincoln - not for much longer, as various MAN 18.220s of similar vintage are on their way. Have never been that fond of the R_EVX batch of Olympians from a passengers perspective.

 

[Cambus731]

Nu Venture have or had until recently T585 NUW585Y in service. I rode on it myself in February.

 

[CC 72100]

We still have them in service here in Lincoln - not for much longer, as various MAN 18.220s of similar vintage are on their way. Have never been that fond of the R_EVX batch of Olympians from a passengers perspective.

We only ever had the odd few, similar situation with P_GMU and N_HGK vehicles which again went either last year or year before last. Only dedicated vehicles before the batch of Enviro Deckers were 6 Olympians - R203 to R208DHB, not enough to cover all of the Forest and Wye routes into Gloucester, hence the odd buses we also had to support them. All of a similar age, condition and reliability.

 

[34D]

Nu Venture have or had until recently T585 NUW585Y in service. I rode on it myself in February.

Their oldest titan was T62 - but can anyone confirm what is left in service there please?