Three weeks to go....

It is three weeks to go until route 56/56A (Lymington - Southampton) moves over from Wilts & Dorset to fellow Go Ahead company, BlueStar. With the bus stops displaying "Star Date 27.2.11" and the LED displays on the buses showing "BlueStar is Coming...!", I visited Lyndhurst to photograph W&D's operations on the 56/56A in their last days...

First to turn up today was former Southern Vectis Leyland Olympian 737 (K737ODL), one of the buses which will no longer operate on BlueStar 6 because of the low floor guarentee. Here she is, looking spotless despite the winter weather, heading for Lymington.

Next to turn up was Solo 2662 (V662DFX), pictured outside the Crown Hotel in Lyndhurst. I seem to capture this one on camera quite a lot these days, having photographed it in Lymington and Hythe on my last visits.

Two Solos are in use on the 56/56A today - here is the second. 2685 (V685FEL) is pictured having arrived in Lyndhurst from Southampton. When BlueStar take over on the 56/56A, Wilts & Dorset will not serve Lyndhurst for the first time in many a year.

My disappointing photo of the day was of DAF/Optare Spectra 3170 (Y199FEL). Unfortunately it didn't stop at the bus stop by the Crown Hotel, and weather conditions meant that it was very difficult for my to take moving shots. Ah well, one for the memories really, as 3170 heads for Southampton. 

Finally, the fifth bus on the 56/56A today was 3176 (HJ02WDK) - one I've never photographed before. It has been suggested that BlueStar 6 will interwork with the 10 and 11, meaning a PVR across all of the routes of 8 (if my calculations are correct!). This has not been confirmed yet though.