One Thousand and counting

I was going to post this as a Flickr Sunday Best tomorrow but that would be cheeky as its not really that good a photo. It is one of mine from the 2006 WNPG Rally on The Hoe.
The reason why I bring it up now?
I have been informed that this was the 1000th photo in the Western National Flickr Group (currently standing at 1071 photos) which means that there are over a thousand more Western National photos (and most of them much better than this one!) for your viewing pleasure...

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Elsewhere on the net

• Lathalmond Scottish Vintage Bus Museum. TGP Photos Unlimited
• following the recent popular post on liveries, who says Best Impressions have a monopoly on creativity? Omnibuses
• This is a follow-up to "Northamptonshires Noteworthy News" Public Transport Experience
• Announced last year, following the Coalition Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, was that Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) would be reduced by 20% from April 2012, while at the same time CSOG would be abolished altogether. A Transport of Delight

A lady with a following

If you have a Flickr account and you view bus photos then you have almost certainly come across Clare Pendrous, or 'Lady Wulfrun' as she is known as she posts lots of excellent photos from all across the country with very detailed notes. The latest Plymouth photos include this scene which appears to be taken in scrap yard, or at least they seem to be ready to go to scrap?

She has many more here which are well worth a look. If you only follow one Flickr account then make it this one!

Of course the best way to follow any ones photos in Flickr is to use the subscribe button which is at the bottom of her main page here. That way you wont miss any of here photos. I dont - and I know there are many others out there!

Plymouth Citybus have another advert

Thanks to Ian Kirby (Iantherev) I can bring this photo of the latest advert for Plymouth Citybus, and its the first Citaro to be used in this way. 84 in quite a pleasant advert for Academy Training.

Click the link above to see more of the Revs photos from his visit to Plymouth.

Lunch time at Crownhill

I had to pop down to Crownhill Village this lunchtime for an 'emergency pasty'. Once the pasty was safely out of the way, I got the camera out and watched the traffic go by. This is just a taster of what I caught on camera. As usual you can click on any image for a larger view on my Flickr account.

Citybus on Flickr

©aecregent

While these days we get excited about new Enviros and maybe even Solos its good th be reminded that once upon a time Citybus bought buses like these!
A nice line up and most of them in the best Citybus livery ever.

Plymouth Citybus on Flickr

These days Plymouth Citybus is well known for its very smart appearance. The picture below shows that has not always been the case!

©aecregent Flickr blog this.

Of course this bus went on to become a lot smarter as can be seen here

Trathens on Flickr

We had a major power cut this evening so I lost a large part of the evenings computer time, plus had to spend a while sorting the computer out after it lost power - refused to load up windows to begin with!

As I am therefore limited in time to post tonight I just thought I'd share this excellent photo from aecregent of a Trathen Skyliner from way back in 1982 - Its amazing to think that this was 26 years ago!

©AecRegent - click the photo to go to his Flickr stream.

This Trathens Neoplan Skyliner is at Gloucester Road coach station in London. This site was set up to compete with National Express so that other coach companies who operated an Express service would have a base to set down and pick up. It was situated very conveniently near Gloucester Road Underground station, something that couldn't be said for Victoria coach station. (Yes, I know its miles from Gloucester Road, what I mean is that theres a long walk to an Underground station at Victoria!) Whilst at this (1982) Trathens competed with national Express, they soon became a part of its empire.

Western National on Flickr

 

From RichieBs collection via Flickr Blog This.

I know its not in Plymouth, but then its such a great photo, and I know that there was one in Plymouth at the same time. Richies own caption provides more than enough info...

In February 1971 £.s.d. was about to become £ & p. In order that the change over to decimal currency had as little an impact on the operations of Western National as humanly possible it was decided that a system of employee training was put into practice. To this end seven ECW bodied Bristol LS types were taken off the disposal list the previous November and converted to mobile classrooms. In order for conductors to familiarise themselves with the new currency, and to prevent the slowing of ticket issuing, these units travelled to WN's depots throughout their operating area and carried the legend "DECIMAL TRAINING UNIT" in the front destination aperture. The vehicle which we see here at Newton Rd., garage is TU6 (LTA981). This LS was new to Southern National in January 1953 as fleetnumber 1684. It was transferred to WN in 1969. With its currency duties done it was converted to a driver trainer, as we see it here, in 1972 but spent little time in this role prior to disposal.

As always I recommend a visit to Richies Flickr pages there are some great photos there from all over the place!

Gunnislake on Flickr

 

©Kencb51 Flickr blog this

Seen at Gunnislake i DMU P460 in British Telecom livery.

I have been looking for a photo of this one for ages as only this afternoon I was watching a video cab ride on HST Exeter to Plymouth filmed back in 1993 and this one was filmed having some work done whilst sitting at Laira Depot. I always liked these DMU's, or to give them their local name 'Fart Cars'

Do visit Kencb51's  photo stream for more photos in the south west long with lots of other transport related shots

 

ancient photo - taken last week

Campaigner

 

©Fray Bentos

A nice shiny "Western" on the 0845 Penzance - London Paddington train, seen at Plymouth, Wednesday 25th June 1975.

One of the joys of Flickr is the wonderful comments that a photo like this can draw out.

Click here to see this photo on Fray Bentos' photostream to read some wonderful details on these classic diesel locos. While you are there have a look at his other photos - there are some classic train shots to see!

Citybus on Flickr

 

Came across this wonderful shot on Richie B's Flickr account so had to post it here along with his own description:

Although this print cannot be attributed it is dated. On the 13th of August 1989 these three Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1s of Plymouth City Transport were lined up, presumably for publicity purposes, on company premises. PCT experts among you can probably tell me whereabouts in the City this is. Nos. 458, 459 and 460 were new to Plymouth in September/October 1962 as Nos.158/9/60. At that time their 77 seat Metro-Cammell bodies were closed top. During the 70s they were converted to open-top, given a yellow and white livery and named "Sir Francis Drake", "The Spirit Of Plymouth" and "Golden Hind" respectively. This photo shows their newly applied garish late-eighties colour schemes. No.458 is currently preserved in the livery of Keighley Transport and can be seen here; www.flickr.com/photos/db3435/2269791708/ The other two have been scrapped although the registration mark WJY759 has been transferred to a newer Atlantean.

Its just a shame that we no longer have open toppers in Plymouth these days, at least not in regular service anyway.

Take a Break! Plymouth, 1982.

Lady Wulfrun has just posted this great shot on her Flickr account which has to be shared here!

Platform staff take a breather on a make-shift bench in front of Plymouth, Leyland Atlantean bus 216, on a very pleasant 15th September 1982. ©Lady Wulfrun

Quite apart from health and safety issues you wont get another shot like this one here - the area having changed totally (and not for the best either)

For great photos from all over the country Lady Wulfrun has one of the best Flickr sets out there. If you are interested in what the bus looks like then we end with another of Claire's photos this time of sister 218 also September 1982

Western National on Flickr

©Steve Thoroughgood

Western National is well represented on Flickr but this great shot caught my eye a few days ago so here it is! Steve has many other Western National shots mainly from North Devon and Taunton along with lots of other great photos. Click here for more of his photos!

Lynx

While things are up in the air with my Dad resulting in regular night visits to Derriford Hospital I am really just bringing some of the excellent photos that are appearing on Flickr to your attention.

aecregent never fails to provide some great shots and I have had this one on hold for a while.
201 E201BOD in April 1992.

There is another shot of sister 200 which illustrates the subtle livery differences which i had never noticed before.

Recovery from this situation...It's not going to happen!

© Claire Pendrous (Flickr blog this)

Western National AEC 'Matador' recovery vehicle RV1 lies in an derelict condition at Western National's Plymouth garage on 18th September 1982

Such a great photo I had to post it here!

Click here for more of her excellent photos

L401VCV TGP

The first Dart for Western National (ignoring the Red Bus fleet) is now in the safe hands of Terry Partridge 'Inner Circle Group' and will soon be in for her MOT. This is just one of many photos of Terrys fleet which can be found on his new Flickr acount.

He has also started a new blog which can be found here. If you want to see quality photos then head to Terrys pages!

Bus Rally Slideshow

I have finally finished uploading all my photos from the weekends bus rally on Plymouth Hoe. All being well just above this text you will see a Flickr slideshow of all the photos in the set.

twenty five thousand!

© Claire Pendrous (Flickr Blog this)

Claire Pendrous has been posting some brilliant photos on Flickr recently and I have had my eye on this one since the day she posted it. One of the wonderful Bristol Lodekkas AUO519B seen at Torpoint back in 1982.
I am posting it here as a treat for myself more than anything to celebrate visit number 25000 to this little blog. I would never have thought this possible when i started! Thanks to all the regular visitors to this blog!

Blandford Road

Blandford road Efford in the 1970's See this and more on our community website www.hecp.org.uk. Photograph courtesy of Plymouth libraries

Noticed a couple of interesting photos on Flickr today of Efford in the early 1970's. It shows a very quiet, modern housing estate with a total lack of traffic! Very different from the scene today. I loved this photo as it shows a bus - an unidentified Leyland Titan of Plymouth City Transport. You are more than likely to see a Dart or a Mercedes Citaro down there these days.

See this and more on our community website www.hecp.org.uk. Photograph courtesy of Plymouth libraries

Blast from the Past

©aecregent (Flickr blog this) his caption reproduced in full:
Another view of Western National's Laira depot at Plymouth where a couple of ex LT DMS types are being readied for further service for WN. Notice the differences to the bodywork of these two, the one to the left has Park royal bodywork, the one on the right has MCW bodywork. Also keeping them company are a Bristol LH with Plaxton body(3409), and an ECW RE which appears to be 2737 (STT735H). In the background to the left can seen the top of one of the DMS types already painted green.

Aecregent is now starting to post some more Plymouth Citybus photos from the eraly 1980's so pop over and have a look!