Waking from the Slumber...

Firstly, massive apologies to my regular visitors for the lack of posts this month - a lot has happened, which I have, unfortunately, largely missed due to other commitments in my life, coupled with two fairly bad spells of illness. May has not been good for my bus hobby!

For the first time this month, on Saturday I managed to grab some bus photos on my first visit to Shanklin in three years, and it was great to get back out with the camera.

First up, the highlight of my trip. Here is former Wilts & Dorset DAF SB250/Northern Counties Palatine 2 - the bus that toppled over in the Sandbanks a few years ago - now in service on the island and seen on the "Shanklin Steamer". The "Shanklin Steamer" is a tourist route, designed for single deck Volvo B10M 625 once the open top conversion has been completed - operated by 614 (N14WAL) until 625 is ready to enter service. Pictured in Shanklin's Old Village.

Since my last visit, Wightbus' Rail-link route 16 from Shanklin to Ventnor has been lost, replaced by Southern Vectis' service 3. The "Sandown Bay Breezer" also now serves the station - here is 637 (R737XRV) against a backdrop of Shanklin rail station.

I've managed to complete my photos of the former Metrobus Scania Omnidekkas - 1053 (YU52XVN) was the last one I needed to photograph and is pictured here at Landguard Rd- on the former site of Shanklin bus station. 1053 has arrived from Newport on route 2 - heading for Ryde as the 2 has been extended back to the seaside town for the summer season.

Younger Scania Omnicity 1112 (HW58ASZ) heads for Ventnor on route 3. The Co-operative is on the site of the former bus station, which closed before I was born.

Shanklin's Old Village gives the chance for some picturesque photos and really makes up for the rather poor photographic conditions along Landguard Road. Former Metrobus Scania 1055 (YN03DFP) heads for Ryde on route 3.

Finally for this evening, here is Scania 1151 (HW09BCV) again in Shanklin's Old Village, this time heading for Ventnor and Newport on route 3. In the summer (and when it is sunny), I intend to return to get some cracking shots of the green Scanias heading up past the thatched cottages, or the open toppers heading up from Sandown Bay.

All photos can be found at my Smugmug site - click here for a direct link. Over the next week I intend to make postings semi-regular again - there may be another dip in the following two weeks but all posts should recommence at a regular interval from mid-late June. Thanks for viewing :-)