The Wessex local livery certainly looks the part on the buses that were repainted into the livery, before First decided a new national livery was the way again, a shame.
Anyway, the initial ex First Manchester, Bolton depot examples that arrived in Dorset eventually gained Wessex, or Jurassic Coaster livery.
SN12 AKZ tackles the climb up to Portland on route 1 - Weymouth to Portland Southwell, with the unmistakable Chesil Beach in the backdrop.
Tags: SN12AKZ Portland ADL E400 First Dorset First Hampshire & Dorset
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As I recently had a focus on route 5 to enjoy the last days of the Pulsars, I look back to a scene I took a decade prior to one I recently updated of 2020 CX07 COJ:
www.flickr.com/photos/196463094@N07/52659822715/
2658 I ironically have had a few trips on in early 2023 on this very route, so nice to look back. At the time, some of the VDL SB200, Wright Pulsars were moved away from use on the 12 Rhyl to Llandudno and had a batch of former Arriva London, DAF DB250LF, Alexander ALX400's slotted in to release some for the 5/X5 and presumably allow extra capacity on the busy 12 route.
The 5/X5 back in these days was shared by the now defunct Llandudno Junction depot and Bangor depot as separate depot allocations. I quite liked the simple and to the point route branding added to the original Arriva livery.
2658 operates out of Bangor for Llandudno on the 5, having called at the main road stop, opposite the Maesgeirchen estate.
Tags: VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar Arriva Cymru CX07CUV
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One interesting vehicle that has appeared in spells on the Lloyds input on the TrawsCymru T12 Machynlleth to Wrexham is this Dennis Dart SLF, East Lancs Myllennium.
This example was one of three that came from Abellio Surrey. I'm fairly sure this example is the last to remain in service.
Tags: RIG3820
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A somewhat interesting loan to arrive at Wrexham depot in late January is this VDL SB200, Wright Pulsar, a recent arrival at Hawarden (Chester depot) but previously spent its whole service life from new until Bolton depot passed to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester in late September 2023.
The second version of the Sapphire livery is applied to 2686. 362/575 branding towards the rear roof profile can be seen still. 2686 turns off the main Llangollen Road, close to Acrefair as it calls to serve Plas Madoc estate on a 2C working from Wrexham.
Odd seeing this on the local scene, having sampled it on 9th September 2023 between Wigan and Chorley.
Tags: Arriva Cymru VDL SB200, Wright Pulsar CX58 CX58EVH
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A location been meaning to try for a while but can only been done in the peak summer weeks. This VDL SB200, Wright Pulsar 2 operates a 06:58 2A Oswestry to Wrexham, catching some nice early morning sunshine. Oswestry depot closes after operation on 1st July with Arriva Cymru, Wrexham depot taking over the 2/2A/2C services and Pulsars.
A nice memory for me personally, with one of the friendly Oswestry driver providing a wave.
Tags: FL63DXX Arriva Midlands North Arriva Midlands VDL SB200, Wright Pulsar 2 Arriva Oswestry
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