Sunday Best: Dennis Lance at Bretonside

First 61008 June 2005

©AecRegent 61008, Bretonside, Plymouth, June 2005 If you click on the photo and visit his flickr page you will see the comments that these buses didn't really last that long with FDC and rarely appeared in Plymouth in that time. The did occasionally do the X80 and I remember a few occasions catching them on the 7. I always liked the look of these buses but by the time I got to ride on them they were well past their best and didnt give a brilliant ride. I seem to remember the drivers moaning about them a lot too.

Further Reading AEC Regent on Flickr Omnibuses: Christmas, Fares & Boxing Day TGP Projects October 2007: Dennis Lances on the move Recommended Links TGP - Terry is getting wet TGP - and then he goes to bideford TGP: Some days are better than others Plymouth Local History Remember the 1970s when there was actually something decent to watch on the telly? We all used to love Dad's Army then

Life after Plymouth M221EAF

© BristolRE2007 - Peter Horrex.

M221EAF was one of the very early low floor buses. It was operated by Western National with funding from Devon County Council and ran in the wonderful badger n flags livery.

It has since then gone on to Centrewest (First London) and I believe its currently up with First Midland Red?

It was purchased for the 118 service from Tavistock to Barnstable. This was later replaced by the 86 from Plymouth. Later this year FDC withdraw the 86 and the service reverts back to 118 from Tavistock and will be operated by Hookways Coaches. Quite what it will use on the service remains to be seen!

[This posting was actually planned for yesterday but my computer wasnt having it!]

Lance

A surprising repaint is this Dennis Lance which has been based in Plymouth for some time. It certainly looks a lot smarter after the repaint. Many of this batch of buses have been withdrawn - or at least added to the large reserve fleet of FDC
didbygraham

FDC Poor destination display

Not spending much time out and about with my camera these days but did catch this one at Derriford Hospital today. Its N470JUG a Dennis Lance cascaded down from West Yorkshire back in June 2004. Most of these operate down in deepest Cornwall but this one makes the odd appearance in Plymouth. The picture also illustrates the poor standard of destination displays which seems to be such a regular feature of First buses in Plymouth at the moment.
A better photo of this bus can be found on Mark Amis fotopic collection - you will see the poor destination display back then too!
didbygraham