Trivia: Vintage buses on a normal service

[CHA 81C]

Cumbria Classic Coaches use a vintage bus on their Wednesday service 572 to Barnard Castle. It would be interesting to know if there are any other operators doing the same.

 

[Journeyman]

Cumbria Classic Coaches use a vintage bus on their Wednesday service 572 to Barnard Castle. It would be interesting to know if there are any other operators doing the same.

I believe the Epping Ongar Railway bus service is a regular, registered bus service that is operated entirely by vintage vehicles. I did it a couple of years ago on a lovely green RT.

 

[j_walker1804]

Imber with the 23A.

 

[MedwayValiant]

The Epping Ongar railway service and the Imber service would have to be considered as "specials", so it's no great surprise if they use "special" vehicles. Comparably, shuttle services to bus rallies and the like often do as well.

Given the firm's name, do Cumbria Classic Coaches have an entirely heritage fleet, or do they also have a couple of undistinguished modern vehicles for service work?

I'm probably going back to the 90s now, but the Sunday service on the 724 (Harlow - Heathrow Airport) used to be operated by a firm named Green Rover, and was usually run with a 50s vintage RF. I remember finding this quaint at the time, but I don't know anything about the firm or whether heritage vehicles were all that they ran.

 

[robbob700]

Buckland Buses use a vintage bus on their route 250 between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, but again this would probably be considered a "Special" although registered as a regular bus service - only running in the summer school holidays. At 92 years old, I believe this is the oldest bus still used for a scheduled service in the UK.

Summer Events - Buckland Buses

This year our amazing Dennis ES Single deck bus is 92 years old and will be back at the seaside. From the 21st July until the 30th August on Wednesdays, Sundays & the Bank Holiday it will be leaving Rendlesham via Blaxhall & Snape for Aldeburgh then doing eight round trips to Thorpeness before returning to Rendlesham!

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Buckland Buses use a vintage bus on their route 250 between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, but again this would probably be considered a "Special" although registered as a regular bus service - only running in the summer school holidays. At 92 years old, I believe this is the oldest bus still used for a scheduled service in the UK.

Summer Events - Buckland Buses

Apparently this is finishing for good at the end of the month.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Given the firm's name, do Cumbria Classic Coaches have an entirely heritage fleet, or do they also have a couple of undistinguished modern vehicles for service work?

They now have former Isle of Man and Blackpool Transport East Lancs-bodied DAF J70 BTS, and have more recently acquired Dart KX06 LXH. The decker still wears Blackpool black/yellow with gold 'Cumbria Classic Coaches' scroll lettering, where as the Dart is overall white with green 'Cumbria Classic Coaches' fleet names.

 

[carlberry]

Buckland Buses use a vintage bus on their route 250 between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, but again this would probably be considered a "Special" although registered as a regular bus service - only running in the summer school holidays.

The Cumbria service is only a vintage bus in the summer months and any service that now uses a vintage bus would have to be 'special' because of the disabled access regulations that would apply to it otherwise.

 

[Gloster]

Until around ten years ago Southern Vectis’ 1939 Bristol K5G could still appear on the Downs Tour if the company was short of more modern open-toppers.

 

[Flange Squeal]

The Cumbria service is only a vintage bus in the summer months and any service that now uses a vintage bus would have to be 'special' because of the disabled access regulations that would apply to it otherwise.

Both the Buckland 250 and Cumbria Classic 572 services are registered as "normal stopping" as part of their route registrations. With Buckland only running Wednesdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between 21st July and 30th August, I make that only 13 days operation this year? I understand that an individual non-PSVAR compliant vehicle can be used in service for a maximum of 20 days per year? Could that be another way around Buckland being able to use theirs on all journeys of their normal registered service, and likewise Cumbria Classic Coaches' summer operation (a few more than 20 days in total, but could use a selection of vehicles so less than 20 days each)?

 

[RT4038]

Both the Buckland 250 and Cumbria Classic 572 services are registered as "normal stopping" as part of their route registrations. With Buckland only running Wednesdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between 21st July and 30th August, I make that only 13 days operation this year? I understand that an individual non-PSVAR compliant vehicle can be used in service for a maximum of 20 days per year? Could that be another way around Buckland being able to use theirs on all journeys of their normal registered service, and likewise Cumbria Classic Coaches' summer operation (a few more than 20 days in total, but could use a selection of vehicles so less than 20 days each)?

Quite right!

 

[carlberry]

Both the Buckland 250 and Cumbria Classic 572 services are registered as "normal stopping" as part of their route registrations. With Buckland only running Wednesdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between 21st July and 30th August, I make that only 13 days operation this year? I understand that an individual non-PSVAR compliant vehicle can be used in service for a maximum of 20 days per year? Could that be another way around Buckland being able to use theirs on all journeys of their normal registered service, and likewise Cumbria Classic Coaches' summer operation (a few more than 20 days in total, but could use a selection of vehicles so less than 20 days each)?

The Epping Ongar Railway and the 23a operation are also registered as "normal stopping" and use the same loophole to allow vintage operation. The question would be what is the definition of a 'normal' service?

 

[duncombec]

Apparently this is finishing for good at the end of the month.

I scrolled past a similar news item on Facebook last night (I think it might have been from Essex Bus Enthusiasts). Apparently the owners are getting older, and the quality of the road surface is getting worse, which less than good for the vehicle. It runs today (Wednesday), and then two days over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday, I believe).

 

[carlberry]

I scrolled past a similar news item on Facebook last night (I think it might have been from Essex Bus Enthusiasts). Apparently the owners are getting older, and the quality of the road surface is getting worse, which less than good for the vehicle. It runs today (Wednesday), and then two days over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday, I believe).

Their is a certain irony that a 92 year old vehicle has to be retired partly because of the state of the roads nowadays! (I realise part of that will be that passengers nowadays expect a different level of comfort than they did in the 1930s).

 

[robbob700]

. It runs today (Wednesday), and then two days over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday, I believe).

It runs today, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

 

[Taunton]

On recent occasions when the Underground or DLR have been on strike in London, the various substitute bus contractors brought in have often included their vintage vehicles, including their old classics from the 1950s-60s with a conductor. Likewise their remaining odd ones from the 1970s that were regarded as "no good" at the time and prematurely disposed can appear, beautifully presented and working perfectly well. Sometimes completely full up; I wonder how many on board realise how old they are.

 

[341o2]

Yellow Buses service 12 (Square to Hengistbury Head) Summer Sundays only has been worked by a vintage bus provided by the Bear Cross Bus Company, however, due to Covid it has not run 2019 & 2020

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Midland Classic have run a Routemaster on scheduled services: https://www.flickr.com/photos/channel4squares/31197526433

In fact they're doing so this weekend: https://www.midlandclassic.com/service-updates/heritage-weekend/

Heritage Weekend

On Saturday 28 August we are celebrating the 15th year of operation in the area of Midland Classic by running an intense heritage operation on our original route, the 21 between Swadlincote and Burton. These journeys will operate in addition to the standard timetable which will be running

On Sunday 29 August we are celebrating 95 years since John Stevenson set up his bus business in Uttoxeter by running buses on the original route between Uttoxeter and Burton via Tutbury, which is still run by us today as route 401. Hourly buses will run to Uttoxeter with buses extending to the original garage site in Spath for photo opportunities. Buses up to every 10 minutes will also run between the garage, Burton and Tutbury offering interchange at Beam Hill in both direction.

Various different bus types will be in operation on both days and most of them represent the types of buses operated by both companies over the years. A fair few are also restored in Stevensons livery.

 

[CHA 81C]

Thanks for all your replies.

I went to Barnard Castle yesterday and travelled on the 572. It was their AEC Regent and surprisingly well loaded - full on top and only a couple of empty seats inside. The platform was also pretty full with shopping trolleys.

We all had a very comfortable journey even though the bus was full. I'll try to go again in a few weeks and do a return journey next time.