Reminder - this Sunday

PCTPG Running Day Sunday 22nd March

Our Plymouth Transport of Yesterday Event is on course and is scheduled to have buses departing every 20 Minutes. 

Buses will depart using Bus Stop A8 , outside the Theatre Royal.

With much appreciation to various Private Owners as well as the Thames Great Western Omnibus Trust . This year we will have representation of buses from Western National, Eastern National and Plymouth Citybus era. 

Routes will include the well known 80, 81 to Torpoint Ferry as well as the 54 Plymouth Hoe Circular. various other known routes will be undertaken on the day.

It’s True ! , there is a badger coming to town ! And in some cases it has been 20 years since one of the entries last performed the regular daily route of the 80/81 service,

Running Day

Notice for an event coming up later in March...

A Grand day out

A day later than I hoped but I can now bring a selection of my photos from Sunday:

For me number 9 was the one I was most looking forward to but 102 was also a real treat !

Reminder for Sunday

Just time for a reminder of the PCTPG running day from Royal Parade on Sunday [https://www.plymouthcitytransport.net/latest-news-2]

The weather is looking pretty good for the day too.  I’m hoping to be there this time so look forward to meeting some of you again!

©Ian Bryne. 283 Another one prepped and MOT'd ready for Sunday

Atlanteans getting ready for a day out

Ian Byrne has sent in this nice shot of a couple of the buses planned to be in use in service on Sunday 6th April on the running day mentioned few days ago:  http://www.plymothiantransit.com/2025/03/april-treat.html

I must admit I am really looking forward to seeing number 9 out and about and getting a ride. Always enjoyed these when they were around in normal service, much better than the Leyland Nationals that followed them!

© Ian Byrne

April Treat

If you can't wait until July, for a ride on a vintage bus, the Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group will be holding a running day, centred on Royal Parade on April 6th.

Full details below!

More detail including timetables:

https://www.plymouthcitytransport.net/latest-news-2

Plymouth Citybus 2024 Timetables

The last few notices for Plymouth Citybus’ new timetables for January have come through this week: New timetables are all available – just follow the links

Plymouth Citybus Ltd

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH0000135.094	5 5A	Elburton	City Centre	02-Jan-2024	Additional early morning journey to operate, as part replacement for 85, running via Pomphlett Road. At weekends, this journey starts from Sherford; running through from Plympton. Revised times in the evenings to improve timekeeping.
PH0000135.095	20 20A 20B	Ivybridge	City Centre	02-Jan-2024	Revised running times on service 20A to improve timekeeping throughout the route. 17:30 departure from Royal Parade becomes 17:35; with the last two journeys from Ivybridge also five minutes later.  07:05 journey from Chaddlewood to Royal Parade for 07:50 on weekdays will now  Additional early morning journeys as 20B, as part replacement for 85.
PH0000135.316	27	Royal Parade	Derriford Hosp	02-Jan-2024	Revised timetable to provide Saturday serviceService extended to Derriford Hospital
PH0000135.183	48	Wembury	Plymouth	02-Jan-2024	Revised afternoon timetable to improve reliability.  16.45 from Wembury becomes 16.55 on school days; not serving Cattedown, Coxside or Mayflower Street.  17.40 from Wembury becomes 17.45 Monday to Saturday.

There was just one more notice published this week:

Dealtop Ltd Dartine

Licence	Route	Start Point	End Point	Effective	Notes
PH0005305.067	20	Seaton, Marine Place	Richard Huish College, Taunton	03-Jan-2024	Route stopping places and timetable.

There are no changes due this coming week

My apologies for this very late notice which I forgot to post this week but if you are in town this afternoon you might get a treat:

Seen Around

Roger French runs an excellent blog Bus & Train User which does a great job showcasing the best and worst of bus and train travel in the UK, and a few days ago Plymouth Citybus got a mention, and not in a good way..

Plymouth Citybus cuts itself off

It’s never easy running a bus company and keeping on top of vehicle presentation out on the road, not least when panels with vinyls on them need replacing from time to time or someone goes and sticks an advert board over company branding as illustrated below on my recent visit to Plymouth

read more here.

Meanwhile a great example of a Plymouth bus looking really good…

©Ian Byrne

There will be a further chance to see 171 and possibly a few more of the Plymouth City Transport preservation group buses at the Plym Valley Railway on Sunday 3rd December . The group will be supporting a free bus service  to the city centre from 11am.

Two for Today: OCO 502

It wont be news to some but just for clarification from the PCTPG….

We originally had our Rally planned at the end of July due to the current COVID-19 situation.

It is with regret with have had to Cancel our Planned Bus Rally / Running Day at Plymouth Milehouse depot on the 26th July. Unfortunately due to the current pandemic we have not had the opportunity to meet and progress the details of the event.

Considering the Safety of all at this critical time, the committee are totally in agreement with the decision to Cancel the 2020 event.

We will be contacting our members with a posted newsletter in June with Fleet News, Updates, and suggested events for 2021.

We do hope to get the Buses on the roads around Plymouth later in the year, potentially for  photo opportunities etc.

Ian Byrne Events Co-Ordinator

So lets start the week with another Two for Today:

OCO502

May 2014 and it looked like this...

Step forwards to August 2019 and its hard to believe its the same bus...

PCTPG Plymouth Citybus Open Day

The weather couldn't have been better for this event. I was only there for a couple of hours so just got a few photos from Milehouse along with a couple in town later in the day. It was great to catch up with a few people too!

Thanks tot he PCTPG for organising the event at Plymouth Citybus for allowing a section of Milehouse to be used for the event.

We start today with a small selection of Plymouth Citybus Enviro 400 photos..

465

503

538

518

565

Atlanteans at Milehouse…

©Jos Van Hemert July 1987

Amazing to think that this great photo was taken over 32 years ago!

Back in the day when Milehouse was where you could see Atlanteans living in their natural habitat.

Of course if you want to see Atlanteans back at Milehouse then pop along on Sunday… There is bound to be a few there!

Social Media Highlights

⚠️ Reminder, this starts tonight: Diversions in place between the hours of 19:00 and 07:00 on Charles Street towards North Hill. The following services are affected: 8/9, 20/20A, 27B/28A, 35/35A, 40/41, 42/42A/42B/42C, 44/44A, 61/62 and 81. https://t.co/ylE3BPO5RV pic.twitter.com/QVZgH1JuFe

— Plymouth Citybus (@plymouthbus) August 19, 2019

Service 24 and 25. It's Fowey Festival all week. Therefore, the last bus able to serve Safe Harbour will be the 15:45 service 24. All subsequent buses will use the stop on Hanson drive. This alteration will be for each night this week. Enjoy the festivities

— Cornwall by Kernow (@by_Kernow) August 19, 2019

Read the ‘100 Years of Buses in Devon’ review Sea Dogs to Falcon-the #Devon General story in the current issue of @BusesMagazine - out now!
Get this special Centenary #DG100 book from @StagecoachSW Travelshops at #Exeter & #Paignton, or email exeter@stagecoachbus.com pic.twitter.com/irtGNYBbm9

— Pat Avery (@SeaFunnelBooks) August 18, 2019

Reminder this Sunday…

Fancy a ride on this?

or possibly even this?

DARTMOOR RUNNING DAY SUN 28TH APRIL

Vehicles for this Sunday are expected to be Leyland Atlantean 168,Eastern counties Leyland Olympian C412HJN , Bristol LHS 1557 and Leyland PD2 358 "Sir Francis Drake"

This running day we have added two return journeys to Tavistock, arriving there at 10.39 and 14.34, giving you plenty of time to explore Tavistock and maybe have a Sunday lunch.

Details: http://www.plymouthcitytransport.co.uk/home-page

Dartmoor Running Event 28th April

Notice from the PCTPG  who have another running day at the end of the month:

Dartmoor Running Event from Yelverton Terminus on Sunday 28th April.

We will be using various Atlanteans 168, 171 and hopefully 131 which is 40 years old this month.

Also hope to use open topper weather permitting.

©didbygraham

Can it really be 40 years old already!

PCT PG Running

The 31st March is the 14th anniversary of Plymothian Transit so the PCTPG are running a free service using some of their Atlanteans. Actually the free service is for the Plym Valley Railway running day  (details here) but I will take the coincidence!

The timetable for the free bus service is as follows:

So if you fancy a ride you know where to be on Sunday 31st!

Dartmoor Heritage Bus Run

The Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group have a nice little event coming up to which all are invited.

25th November 2018

The new committee would like to invite you all to attend their first event, entitled "Dartmoor Rover Heritage Bus Running Day"
As the name probably gives away, we are taking a few of the preserved vehicles onto Dartmoor for the day!
Confirmed vehicles include
* TTT 168X - Plymouth Citybus Atlantean
* FDV 787V - LHS BlueBus
* MCO 658 - "358" - Sir Francis Drake Open Topper - Leyland Titan PD2 (Weather dependent)
I have attached both a photo and a PDF of the operating timetable, this also shows transport connections using the Stagecoach Service 1 to allow you to join in on the day even if you don't initally travel with us from Plymouth.
The event is open to both members and non-members, so bring along friends and family. We just hope the weather will be good on the day!
Any queries, please forward them to "Events@plymouthcitytransport.co.uk"

 PCTPG Heritage Bus Event Timetable

 

 

The PCTPG Bus Rally CANCELLED

The weekend of the 25th and 26th August was going to be the next Plymouth Bus Rally which I know many of you look forward to. I know I do

However if you visit their web site right now

and that is it. No details or explanation.

All I can say at the moment is it is definitely cancelled so if you had plans to travel down then please don't - the rally is not happening.

If / when I get any more information I will of course publish it here. I don't want to publish rumours or any personal attacks on any members.

Graham

 

 

Show Bus

Its nearly that time of year - Showbus 2017 Sunday 17th September

If you want to go then the Tamar Coaches and The PCTPG are sending up a coach and you are all welcome to book a place…

The trip will leave Plymouth with a departure time of 0400 - 0500 with various pickups available en-route if required.

Price will depend on the number of people but it will be good value and there is a discount on the entrance fee too.

If you are interested then please contact them as soon as possible at events@plymouthcitytransport.co.uk or office@tamarcoaches.co.uk and they will confirm details once full numbers are known.

It is planned to take H14TCL for the long trip, so you will be comfortable!

H14TCL © Tamar Coaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Main Event

Thanks to Will Spencer I can bring you a flavour of the bus rally on Sunday:

MCO658, Leyland Titan, below Smeaton's Tower MAN gas bus, AU13FBL-712, Hoe Road, with a X51 to Coypool park & ride Bournemouth Leyland Atlantean, ORU230G-230, heads up towards the Hoe Stagecoach Magic Bus Dennis Dominator, H132GVM-15032, at Mount Batten on service 7 Oakleys Van Hool Astrobel, M6YKM. Former Trathens, M863TYC. On Plymouth Hoe Tamar Coaches Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo, H16TCL, alongside Target Travel Neoplan Starliner, K8FTC, on Plymouth Hoe

Thanks Will for the great photos!

Saturday on The Hoe

Thanks to Bradley Darlington for this collection of photos all taken on The Hoe on Saturday:

Thanks again to Bradley - the weather looks perfect for such an event, and was even better on Sunday from what I have seen!

Next Weekend

Sorry its been a bit quiet here for the last week, Hopefully I can catch up a bit over the next week as I take some leave from work!

Just a quick post this morning to remind you all of the big weekend coming up

The Plymouth Transport Weekend Saturday 26 and Sunday 27th August

The booklets have been printed and will be available on the day with a lovely photo on the cover… 

The buses have been confirmed - all we need now is the weather…