The First Hants & Dorset Enthusiast's Website

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with a little self-publicity. Therefore, this post is dedicated to my First Hampshire & Dorset Enthusiast's website, which has recently been woken up, refurbished and upgraded, with further changes to come in the future.

Firstly, the home page has been refreshed. I've added an introduction, as I realised the last version didn't actually introduce you. Along the bottom are menu columns taking you to various parts of the website, and one box which tells you what is updated most recently.

With recent problems involving our previous forum provider, local enthusiasts and IT guru Matt has created a new forum for First Hants & Dorset enthusiasts. Membership is free and you can sign up yourself, for those interested. With Southampton taking over the management of First Berkshire, we are especially looking for a few Slough, Bracknell or Reading members, so if you fancy joining a friendly forum then please feel free to create yourself an account. The rules and guidelines are available on the forum, but are based on usual enthusiast etiquette.

The fleetlists are all up to date at present across First Hants & Dorset's Hilsea, Hoeford, Empress Road, Weymouth and Yeovil* depots. In the coming weeks, either the photos will be re-uploaded since fotopic's demise, or I will change the layout to include the history of a bus. I'm not sure what to do yet - time will decide. *Note- Yeovil buses still have FHD legals on the side, so we are still counting them as FHD at present.

Finally, a new feature launched with the refurbishment are my FHD route guides. These are perfect for the visiting enthusiast, documenting what routes are operated in the town or city, what buses operate the route, the estimated PVR from enthusiast observations, and good places to take photographs. These are regularly updated with sightings from members of the forum. Southampton is being created offline, and may be later than the other three areas due to the forthcoming service changes.

All comments are welcome, from existing or brand new visitors. I hope enthusiasts find this website helpful. Finally a huge thank you to the members of the FHD forum, who make my life running this website very simple - your efforts are much appreciated.

Sunday Lost Scenes - Sunday 16th June

Today, we look back to Oxford in 2006.

City of Oxford 631 - P631FFC - Oxford (High St) - 7th August 2006

My first visit to Oxford was back in August 2006. With the prospect of applying to Oxford for university, I visited the city and various sites of important university interest in the morning. In the afternoon, I got the camera out... perhaps why I didn't end up in Oxford in the end. The City of Oxford fleet is one of the most rapidly changing fleets in the country, regularly buying in new buses and then quickly cascading them to sister Go Ahead fleets. Very little of what I saw in 2006 remains, with the Oxford Bus Company presently cascading the remaining T-reg Dennis Trident double deckers/

The photo above is of dual-doored Volvo B10B 631 (P631FFC), which has Plaxton Verde bodywork. Verde bodywork is now very rare countrywide, but at this point there were still large numbers of Lances and B10Bs around the country carrying it. 631 is also seen in the older white, red and blue City of Oxford livery - at this point it was gradually being phased out, with even a number of Volvo B10Bs in the new red based colours at this time. 

Since my last visit on a Sunday in April last year, the Oxford Bus Company has purchased some brand new Volvo B5LH hybrid double deckers, and will receive diverted Southern Vectis Enviro400s before the end of the year - before then getting some new buses themselves. With Stagecoach equally prominent in the city, Oxford is one city of buses that doesn't ever stand still.

Sunday Lost Scenes - Sunday 2nd June

Today's Sunday Lost Scenes comes from Sunday 24th July 2005 - presuming I've got my records right...

Falmouth Outstation on Tregoniggie Industrial Estate, July 2005

From front to near:

46102 - already withdrawn at the time this photo was taken in reserve, now scrapped

34709 - was Barbie'd during its time with FDC but has since been withdrawn

38872 - long withdrawn

53007 - now with First Cymru, I believe

48270 - now in Weymouth

38873 - again, long withdrawn

48271 - still with FHD in Plymouth

41154 - withdrawn with FDC - I don't think this ever made it to First Cymru

46160 - ex-First Thamesway, again long withdrawn at FDC

42457 - now in Southampton with First Hampshire & Dorset

48273 - now in Weymouth (the Corlink branded example)

48272 - the other side of 48273, and again with its sister vehicle in Weymouth

53005 - I believe this is another one in First Cymru (Bridgend, I think)

So from all of the fleet posted above, a view taken eight years ago, no buses are in service in Falmouth, and only one remains in the First Devon & Cornwall fleet...

New Gas Buses* in Reading

Reading Buses are in the process of introducing a batch of 17* Scania KUB270/Enviro300 buses powered by Gas. These are some of the first to be introduced into the country, and feature extra-large covers to make the gas tanks more aesthetically pleasing. The buses are being split across two routes - Greenwave Park & Ride services and the Scarlet route 9.

Last Thursday, I popped out the front of Reading railway station en-route to another location, and grabbed a couple of the brand new Enviros in service. According to the excellent Bus Zone website, the Scarlet batch of buses was only introduced to service on 28th May. Here is 417 (YR13PNU) pictured three days later.

The reason I've starred the 17 above is that 3 further buses are to enter service on other routes too. These are two for Bronze route 11, followed by one in standard Reading Buses fleet livery. The fleet will be numbered 401 to 420 when it is fully in service. Here is another bus in the batch - this time vehicle 415 (YR13PNK).

Scarlet 9 operates at a frequency of every 10 minutes between Monday and Saturday until late afternoon, when the frequency becomes every 12 minutes until about 6pm(ish). Greenwave is again a route with a frequency of every 10 minutes, although this becomes more irregular after 4pm (there is still a good number of 5-6 buses an hour until 7pm though). Greenwave does not operate on Saturday

These buses are very impressive beasts, and well worth a look if you are in the area. These Enviros have replaced Volvo B7RLEs on route 9, which have been taken out of service with the arrival of the new buses. Another fourteen are to be ordered, again according to the Bus Zone website, which should add further variety to the Reading fleet. 

Bath Time

Last weekend, I travelled to Bath to grab some photos from one of my favourite cities. Despite a rather awful trip up in one of FGW's class 150s where we resembled sardines in a tin, I had a very productive and successful day. To view all of my photos from the day, please click here.

First are the dominant operator in Bath, and are trialling a Wright Streetlite at present, in view of taking a batch of similar buses to upgrade route X39 (Bath - Bristol) later this year. 47404 (LK62HJX) is seen on the X39, which was a mis-match of Darts (both smaller and larger examples), Volvo B7RLEs and B10BLEs and even a low floor Dennis Lance on Saturday. Standard allocation cannot come quick enough for this route, which is very strange, as on my last visit...

... the X39 was wall to wall Volvo B7RLEs wearing branding for the route. The Volvo B7RLEs were conspicuous by their absence on Saturday - I didn't see a single Mk2 example on the 173 from Wells, and the later "55" batch of buses were not on their main route of the 264/265 to Warminster. Have they been transferred away on the sly? Here's 66728 (WX54XCN) heading along Corn St in Bath, for Bristol. This batch of buses will presumably move on by the end of 2013 and it will be interesting to see if they leave Bath or not. One would think in another age they would fit perfectly on the Taunton - Bridgewater 21 service - but with potential sales in the air, maybe First will want to keep hold of them.

Wessex Connect have taken delivery of brand new Volvos though for their U18 route branded "Uni Connect". Here is one of their very impressive vehicles - BX62FBF - seen in the same location as above.

Bath has recently taken delivery of two batches of buses - Enviro400s for Park & Ride and seven Enviro200s primarily for route 13. Here is one such bus, 44524 (YX62DXC). I'm not sure what these really replaced, as L and M reg Darts still were around in the city on Saturday. If Bath is an area First want to keep, I am not sure why they are transferring the young-mid life stock away to Bristol all the time.

For instance, the 56-plate Volvo B7TLs that were previously on P&R services have not been put on Bath services, but moved to Weston & Bristol to upgrade other services. Enviro400s Hybrids are now the main allocation, as illustrated here by 39134 (SN62AWF).

I always thought my local First depot, Hoeford, was the home to step Darts. After all, Hoeford have had every model except East Lancs bodied Darts. I was wrong - half a year after Hoeford lost their last step-Dart, Bath still cling onto a handful of step-Darts, as illustrated here by 46225 (L225VHU), a relic from Badgerline days. Still, the enthusiast in me is glad to have these around, especially as I missed most of these in my younger years.

Bath is also home to the remaining former First Mainline (Sheffield) Dennis Dart SPDs, which have proved troublesome since the Yorkshire company wanted to part with them. Here is 40534 (S529UAK), gleaming in the May sunshine. 

Another long lost Dart that has found home in Bath is 42633 (P633YUM). I believe this was new to Yorkshire Pullman, and has since operated in First Cymru (whose branding it still carries above the window). Again, for an old Dart it was immaculately turned out, albeit for the redundant branding.

My fourth and final First Dart - here is 42553 (WX05UAK), part of a large order of Solos, Darts, Volvo B7RLEs and Volvo B7LA artics introduced in 2005 to modernise Bath city services. It has just entered St James's Parade as it heads for Bath bus station.

Bath Bus Company are no longer just running open top tours in Bath - they now operate the 'Air Decker' services to Bristol Airport. Here is A501 (SK52URX) heading along Broad Quay, a Volvo B7TL new to fellow RATP company, London United.

In another strange move, the majority of Bath's 2003-batch of Volvo B7TLs have moved out of the city. According to Steve White's site, only 5 of these buses are now in service in Bath. Back in 2009, when they were transferred in from Bristol, nearly the entire batch was in service from Bath. Heading for Keynsham and Bristol is 32283 (WR03YZS).

Wessex Connect's Royal Blue branded Darts are still in service in the city following their introduction two years ago. Here is 1653 (V653HEC), heading for Whiteway on route 5.

Finally, here is one of the smallest buses in service on the streets of Bath. This Enterprise/Plaxton Primo was new to Truronian, who in turn were purchased by First in 2006. 57000 (MX56AEB) has since transferred to Bath, and is pictured on route 10.

As always, Bath was a pleasure to photograph in, and offered a huge amount of variety. I am a little confused about First's stance in Bath - the recent restructuring has put Bath in the same control as Bristol depots, so presumably is not one asset the company are specifically looking to sell. Maybe the investment in Bath city services later this year will give a clearer indication of how important First sees Bath. Seven Enviro200s and a small batch of Enviro400s that are required by the conditions of the P&R contract is not a lot of investment in eight years - but time will tell if these buses are just the start of First creating something greater in Bath.

To view all of my photos from the day, please click here.

A rural Hampshire village...

Today, I'm going to focus on Boorley Green, near Botley in Hampshire. Boorley Green is a small place, with a pub, some fields, some houses and not a lot else. It's been a rather confusing location for the local Hampshire bus companies to serve, and only served because of a Hampshire County Council tender. This post will focus on the recent history of bus services. Please note these are more rambles of what I remember, rather than facts set in stone. Having said that, regular readers will know vague rambles are quite a regular occurrence!

Back when BlueStar services were first introduced, Boorley Green was served by Solent Blue Line's route 6. Back in 2006(ish), BlueStar 3 was a circular route from Southampton, via Bitterne, to Hedge End and back, operated by minibuses at a frequency of every 20 minutes, I seem to remember. Route 6 was then an hourly addition to this, extended to Botley and Boorley Green. The route was operated by primarily a variety of ex-Wilts & Dorset stock - initially Metroriders in a variety of colours or former Southern Vectis Iveco Turbo-Dailys in blue - and then the first Solos transferred to Solent Blue Line in 2007. Thanks to Ant Poulton for the photo link - his website is well worth a look if you've got some time on your hands.

Following a BlueStar network review, First took over the Boorley Green contract in 2007 using former London and Berkshire Darts. Route 25 was a strange route that seemed more of a shuttle to get passengers to the trunk routes or railway station than anything else. It operated at about an hourly frequency (except an hourly lunch break) from Hedge End superstores, to Hedge End railway station, Botley and Boorley Green. There was also a peak service AM from Southampton to Boorley Green, and a return trip in the evenings. 41165 (R165TLM) was one of the regular buses on the route, and is pictured at Hedge End railway station back in August 2007.

The 25 disappeared a few years later, and was replaced by an hourly Velvet route A. This connected Boorley Green with Eastleigh this time, via Botley and Hedge End. The connection to railway station at Hedge End was lost, but the bus did travel directly to both Southampton Airport Parkway and Eastleigh railway stations.  The route, at this point in time, was primarily operated by Velvet's DAFs, as illustrated here by V14GMT. This arrangement carried on until late last year, when Velvet reviewed route A and re-routed it into Southampton city centre.

Full circle. Now Solent Blue Line are back on the route, and Boorley Green has never had it so good! The hourly frequency remains, but also now on Sundays. Boorley Green has lost the Eastleigh connection, but regained the direct Southampton link. BlueStar's hourly route 3 does the honours, and a variety of Citaros, Volvo B7TLs, or Omnidekkas, such as former Reading 1012 (YN06JWE) do the honours. 1012 is pictured at Boorley Green yesterday. Incidentally, BlueStar do the opposite loop to that of Velvet, which makes photography far easier for the sun. (I'm sure that isn't why they did reverse the loop, however!)

I suppose the most damning statistic of them all, is that in three or four photography trips to Boorley Green no passengers have been on the bus at any time. Presumably the weekday passenger flow is greater - especially to Hedge End village, the superstores and Southampton city centre itself. I also am aware that certain trips in the day are essential to convey school children to or from school. However, I wonder what the future of the Boorley Green route holds in these cost-cutting times...

Sunday Lost Scenes - Sunday 26th May

Today we look back to an old, unique friend...

First Hampshire 800 - H523CTR - Portsmouth (The Hard) - Spring 2003

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were many brand new buses being tested by different operators as potential replacements to the Bristol RE / Leyland National as primarily purchased by the NBC. People's Provincial took on a wide variety of these buses, and in the early days one potential bus was the ACE Cougar, bodied locally by Wadham Stringer (later developed into UVG and Caetano, I believe). Only one of this variant was ever made (there was another Cougar, bodied by Willowbrook Warrior), and thankfully, this tiny piece of history has been preserved.

The Cougar saw regular service around the south coast with People's Provincial. When the company was bought by First in 1995, it received the red and cream local livery. It remained at Hoeford for all of its life. It tended to be allocated on any of the big bus routes along with the Nationals - thus was a regular site on routes such as the 5, 34, 72, 80 and 88. 

H523CTR is now preserved with the Provincial Society, and is booked into this year's Stokes Bay rally in service. Click here if you would like any further details about the rally, that will take place on Sunday 4th August.