This week's Sunday Lost Scenes is from Andover in 2004...
Wilts & Dorset 2235 - P235CTV - Andover bus station - 25th June 2004
Following the recent focus on Activ8, I thought this week I would select another example of Wilts & Dorset operating into Andover. Wilts & Dorset used to operate route 87, a less frequent connection between Andover and Salisbury, using Metroriders such as the bus above. Wilts & Dorset lost the contract later and now Stagecoach operate the route.
Furthermore, the Metroriders are long gone with the last one being withdrawn from service in 2010, I believe. There are no longer any examples left in service with Go South Coast, although Southern Vectis have a few as permanent offices at depot/outstation sites. Even before the date of the last withdrawal, following route cuts and an influx of Solos, they have slowly been killed off over many years.
I do miss MetroRiders. Although they had basically the same engine and transmission as a Dennis Dart (Cummins B series and Allison gearbox) they always seemed a lot nippier no doubt due to their smaller size and lighter weight.
ReplyDeleteThe example shown is one of 20 acquired by Wilts & Dorset from Trent (The Yorkshire Traction group brought Trent 201-21, Wilts had 222-41 I think) and these were known as 'yellowbars' by Salisbury staff as their interior handpoles were yellow rather than the orange of the native examples.
The 87 was worked from Amesbury outstation, with the buses starting and finishing their day with a fast dash as an X87 along the A303.