Weymouth Round Up

My final post from Weymouth - this is a round up of the other services in the town with a heavy bias towards First, as South West Coaches haven't really changed since my last visit nearly a year ago.

First up, Weymouth operate 3 former Bristol Cityline K---LAE Leyland Olympians. 34623 (K623LAE) is pictured in the first image, operating one of the summer only X53 shorts to Seaton. This batch of Olympians seems to be common on these X53 extras. Pictured in the second image is 34628 (K628LAE), arriving on town service route 2 along Weymouth esplanade. Weymouth depot also operate K629LAE, and have operated K627LAE in the past before it was scrapped. These Olympians are very smart and hopefully will go on for a few years yet, as their sisters are dwindling in numbers in Devon & Cornwall. Incidentally, for those unaware, K621LAE has been restored in preservation to Cityline livery and it looks fantastic.

Another acquisition from First Devon & Cornwall is Dennis Dart SLF 42452 (R452CCV). 42452 is the only one of it's type in service in Weymouth, and is pictured here on route 4 in Weymouth. 

Since my last visit, the summer only 503 to Waterside Holiday park has been upgraded using Dennis Dart SLFs - but this time not in an allover dedicated livery. Here 42827 (T827AFX) departs on the 503 for Waterside. Sister 42828 was also operating this service on Wednesday.

A very rare sight in Weymouth these days is a step entry single decker. 46311 (L311RTP) was new to Southampton Citybus and recently transferred down the coast from Hoeford depot. Here she is departing from Weymouth Debenhams on route 8.

Even rarer these days is a Mercedes-Benz Vario in service. Former Cymru and Glasgow 52486 (R486EDW) departs on route 6 from Debenhams, which is usually operated by a Dennis Dart (not that the loadings, on this evidence, required a Dart).

Weymouth is one of only 2 places in First where you can find Scania Omnidekkas in service (the other is Edinburgh). They are usually allocated to route 31 these days (Weymouth - Axminster), but on Wednesday two found their way on to their old haunt of route X53 (Poole to Exeter). Firstly illustrated, 36006 (YN05HGA) is the only one in First livery, and is used as the spare bus, directed to wherever it is needed across the 1, 31, X43 or X53 network.


Secondly illustrated is Omnidekka 36004 (YN04GNZ), fully branded for route 31 but operating route X53 on Wednesday. 36004 was the first ever bus I photographed on the X53 when new back in 2004.

Weymouth operate former Yeovil buses from time to time. I managed to catch up with Dennis Dart SLF 46263 (P263PAE) on Wednesday, which had just come off of route 1.

Dorset County Council operate two Optare Versas on the new Weymouth Park & Ride route, serving the length of Weymouth esplanade. Here YJ60KFX is pictured at Weymouth's King's Statue.

Finally for today, Damory have recently won the tender for route 253. Route 253 is a morning journey from Beaminster to Weymouth, via Bridport and West Bay, along with a return trip leaving in the early afternoon. Here Damory DAF 508 (V710LWT) is pictured on stand loading up passengers. 


Many thanks for viewing - that's all from Weymouth for now.