Picture Trail 002: I am so sorry

Picture Trail 001 was a First bus which was sorry for not being in service.  Today we have First Devon & Cornwall 34052 P252UCW a Volvo Olympian with very nice Northern Counties bodywork seen here in September 2010 at Marsh Mills Roundabout, Plymouth which was equally apologetic

34052 came from First Bristol in December 2009, leaving the fleet in February 2016 to Dan Shears, being scrapped by February 2019

Two for today: Ex Airbus Olympians

In my view the best buses that have plied the X80 / Gold service between Plymouth & Torbay were these fine Olympians

34192 May 2005

First did attempt some route branding but it wasn't brilliant. Would have been better without the contorted woman on the side to be fair. The clean look as above works much better. You cant help but think if the present team at First (and the new relaxed group policy towards liveries) were in place they could and would have done so much more to promote this service.

34197 May 2005

Target Deckers

Just a quickie…

Have Target Travel acquired more double deckers?

L116VDM is a regular on the 46/47 and L969UTU is another regular

but new to me is a report of two more ex Dublin Olympians: P488UFM and GIG7159   which was reported as being on the 14. Is it getting that popular? Just how many DDs do Target have?

---

Recommended Links

• Now, as is often the case with these detailed investigations, you might either be wondering what the fuss is about, OR you might have taken up petit-point needlework. BUT, if you lived at, or wanted to go to the Brantings you would struggle to find anything helpful. Public Transport Experience
• This particular slice of Brighton bus actuality will shortly sour. In spite of French’s statements about competition and his welcoming of Lemon, he will no doubt be relieved to see the latest opposition pipped. Not that it was anything more than a minor irritant, really. Omnibuses

From the ridiculous to the sublime

After yesterdays disappointing morning commute to work on an ailing 48270 today I had a real treat:

That’s right, Volvo Olympian 34004 on the 15. We do get a few double deckers on the 15 from time to time, but this is the first one I have had on my morning run for a couple of months at least. These buses have always been special. Very comfortable seats and no problem getting up the hills!
Was it a coincidence that I should get this the day after I posted how poorly 48270 was?
Probably - but Thank you First!

---

I was asked (via Twitter) to pass on a link to a survey about Plymouth Citybus. Its a simple one to answer and will only take a minute or two. Once completed you do get a nice summary of the answers so far. Like any of these type of surveys the more completed the more useful it may be.
Citybus Survey
The survey comes from @DevelopPlymouth. I don't know much more about it or what it is expected to achieve but I am happy to pass the link on.

---

Elsewhere on the net

• It's to our shame that virtually everywhere in the 1960s & 1970s the industry did away with the practice of displaying rear destinations. Omnibuses
• Lynn West Likes Weetabix ...Loves Wagon Wheels and Loathes Whisky and shops in Tesco, Kings Lynn. Public Transport Experience
• Today, David Brown officially takes over from Keith Ludeman as chief executive of Go Ahead. Omnibuses
• Indeed, there’s almost too much happening at Go South Coast these days. It makes it very difficult to keep up. Dorset Bus Blog

Sorted!

Caught up with 34198 again today and I am pleased to report that the registration number on the front of the bus has now been corrected back to UKT552. Quick work by someone down at The Ride!