A month early from April Fools Day I know but just thought I'd ask a question? Would you like to see more fictional uploads? I started drawing buses through livery designs for my model buses when I eventually repaint them and in 2012 I started this hobby with a lot of fictional projects with some real ones. But I seem to have slowed down with fictional uploads.

But anyway here's something that's been in my head for a while, a Wright Fusion bodied Volvo B10LA in Harrogate & District '36' livery. Based on the fact when I was 8/9 the Wright Classic style body was one of my favourites through going to Harrogate, loved the Wright bodied Volvos that were used on the service, then when I turned 9 First Leeds launched their Wright Fusion bodied Volvo B10LA bendy buses on route 1 which terminated directly outside my primary school and as a bendy bus fan that I was (and still am) I thought this would look fun but also highly impractical if it wants to stop at Harrogate Bus Station or negotiate through Ripon.

Remember a while back I had drawn the Wright StreetCar in 36 City Connect livery over a decade ago which its still somewhere on my Flickr. I'll have to redo that at some point!

But anyway I want to make fictional uploads a monthly theme. What do you guys think? Do bear in mind I'll be uploading more frequently on my Facebook page which can be found here. www.facebook.com/MetroRiderTransportGraphics

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International Rescue's FAB 1 is a bespoke made tri-axle Saloon car made by Rolls Royce whilst also modified by Brains as seen in the popular Thunderbirds episodes and original two films.

The car is stationed at Creighton Ward, home of Lady Penelope and her butler Aloysius Parker.

The car is fitted with a machine cannon located in the front grille, and also in one headlight on each side. Machine guns are also located behind the rear lights. Other features include a smoke screen with oil slick. Also behind the rear lights are harpoons. There's also an elevator located in the boot but this was never seen in the films or series as this feature was seen in comics, but most interestingly the car features hydrofoils as seen twice, once notably in the Thunderbirds Are Go movie when FAB 1 shot The Hood down in a military helicopter which was in fact The Hood's final appearance in any of the classic Thunderbirds shows.

The first time FAB 1 was seen was on the first episode 'Trapped in the Sky' as it was involved in a car chase with The Hood after he stole a police car when he took photos of the inside of Thunderbird 1. This of course led to The Hood's film being destroyed.

Once FAB 1 was nearly stolen by thieves at Creighton Ward but the theft attempt was promptly foiled by Lady Penelope causing FAB 1 to lock its steering causing it to go round in circles. Other amusing situations include when FAB 1 was required for a rescue mission in London but Parker was stalling for time by going slow making the excuse the car had a fault whilst it was him all along or going the wrong way after hearing it could be his old prison friend 'Light Fingered Fred' behind a robbery which he could be involved in so Lady Penelope created her own shortcuts by breaking through fences and driving pretty recklessly causing another driver to crash their car.

In the classic films, FAB 1 featured in Thunderbirds Are Go a few times by chasing The Hood and eventually shooting him down after a foiled sabotage attempt. Alan Tracy had a dream which featured FAB 1 flying into space to the Swinging Star nightclub. In that dream Cliff Richard Junior would be seen behind the wheel of FAB 1 whilst singing 'Shooting Star'. On the way back to Earth Alan tried to jump back into FAB 1 but the gap was too big. Later in the film, was it a premonition that Alan had, as he later got into FAB 1 immediately after a successful rescue with the Zero X pilots as him, Lady Penelope and Parker went to the actual Swinging Star nightclub.

In Thunderbird 6 meanwhile, FAB 1 was once again seen again but near the beginning was given an escort with Thunderbirds' 1 and 2 with the Tiger (which later was renamed Thunderbird 6) as FAB 1 would go with Alan, Lady Penelope, Parker and Tin Tin as they would be on the maiden voyage of Skyship One. But little did anyone know that this would mean FAB 1 would be in big trouble. As Skyship One was on its way back, over Dover it was left balancing on an interceptor tower then when everyone was rescued it fell along with FAB 1 on board.

It was said that FAB 1 was being rebuilt after the first one was destroyed.

Other incarnations of FAB 1 have been made in future films and series including Thunderbirds (2004) but made by Ford this time and this time like in Alan's dream did have the ability to fly, for real this time. In the animated 2015 series, FAB 1 was again built by Rolls Royce with its appearance looking more like the original.

Tags:   Fabulous

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In July 2001, 1061 was new to Blazefield Holdings' Burnley & Pendle fleet and was one of many Wright Renowns bought across Blazefield's network.

The bus was initially painted into the red and cream with black skirt livery whilst also carrying branding for The Mainline services linking Padiham, Burnley, Nelson and Colne with such services also linking other areas even as far as Keighley.

Almost 10 years on, the bus would still carry the livery and branding for a while with the only change being the updated 'Transdev' Burnley & Pendle fleet names. The bus would also be seen on loan for a time at Harrogate covering for similar vehicles undergoing refurbishment work.

In 2010 whilst at Harrogate, the branding was removed and fleet name moved from under the windows to above the cab window near the front but time there was brief as the bus would end up with Transdev's Keighley depot.

In 2011, 1061 would finally be repainted into the then-new green and blue Transdev in Keighley livery whilst also being fitted with a new LED destination display replacing the dated roller/flip-dot split destination. The bus would be seen anywhere on Transdev in Keighley's network.

It'd be a while until 1061 would see anymore changes as around 2017 the bus would move on whilst being replaced by new Optares. Sadly this was 1061's final goodbye to Transdev as the bus would then be sold to Ideal Motor Services (York Pullman) and was still wearing her former owner's livery for a time before being repainted into a new two-tone green livery with red stripe.

The bus was mainly with Ideal Motor Services for schools and private hire as the bus was sporting a school bus sticker at the front and rear whilst also advertising Askham Bryan College at the rear. By this time, the bus was re-registered as J4 CRC.

The advert and livery would still be worn whilst the bus would carry on working with new owners Yorkshire Buses in 2023 mainly seen on route 29 linking Hunslet to Hyde Park via Leeds city centre and Leeds University right up until the route got extended to Horsforth at the north section and White Rose Centre down the south section. I was fortunate to have been on this bus at the ripe old age of 22 years old where many buses at this milestone would be long gone into retirement now. Today two years on that record is rivalled by Station Coaches' P2 JJL a Wright Eclipse Urban which is still in use often working the 116 as that bus being two years younger than Y161 HRN.

Later, Yorkshire Buses sold the bus to DM Motor Services but, the bus as I would understand to be back on loan to Yorkshire Buses as I found out after I thought I'd have my last ride on her one day, but that turned up on my 29 by surprise. Whilst with DM Motor Services the bus would often be used on private hire work.

Recently, the bus would finally be retired for good only to be sold to preservationists meaning she is still clinging on to life in some way. The plan as I understand is to have the bus repainted back into her original livery as seen in the drawing. The Wright Renowns from Blazefield fleets have proven popular with enthusiasts, whilst hardly any are in service at the moment, Transdev do still have some mainly working as driver training units, one of which recently passed through my street in South Leeds, well away from any route Transdev work.

Nearly a week after the news this bus was saved, the owners made the heart breaking news that they will scrap this bus after mechanical issues proved too much coupled with high costs owing to a catalogue of repairs and also storage.

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New in July 2008, 1105 was new to Arriva Yorkshire and was allocated at Heckmondwike depot where she still works to this day.

The bus was initially carried purple branding for the 254/255 'Connecting Cleckheaton and Leeds' services whilst painted in the original Aquamarine livery and this bus was one of the final batch to wear such a livery. Later, the bus would sport new chrome wheel fittings when nearly new to improve the appearance.

Soon, the bus would later carry revised branding in 2012 still for the 254 and 255 but branding was seen for both routes individually on one side with 255 on the offside and 254 on nearside. It was shortly after when 1105 was partially repainted into the Interurban livery before being de-branded altogether. The bus would still work most of its time on the 254 and 255 services with other time being mostly spent on the 220 and 221 (later becoming the 200 and 201) and 229.

For some reason around 2014, it seemed as though 1105 retained its 2012 style branding, presumably because the bus was given a full repaint. The bus then later lost the route branding three years later.

In 2019, 1105 was being refurbished with new dark blue leather seats whilst also being repainted into the all-blue Journey Mark livery which is the livery the bus is still wearing to this day - but for how long is the big question, the reason is that Arriva Yorkshire's remaining Volvo B7RLEs are to be retired from use. There were conflicting stories about the replacements, initially they would be Enviro200 MMCs with lounge seating from Warrington, and now it looks like they'll be replaced by Enviro400 MMCs.

I last rode 1105 with a very friendly driver at the wheel back in December. These buses will surely be missed when they do retire for good. Catch em while you can, they don't have long left!

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This bus is drawn in memory of Malcolm King who was an inspector at Yorkshire Rider who sadly passed away 3/2/2025 after fighting cancer.

New in October 1974 to West Yorkshire PTE, the bus was originally numbered as 6020 and was part of a growing number of Leyland Atlanteans for the company, all of which with Roe body.

6020 led a very eventful lifetime during the Yorkshire Rider era but first after its original WYPTE livery, 6020 would be repainted into the more simpler and later buttermilk and Verona green livery. It was about this time when the bus was based at Bradford for a time at least. The bus was then prematurely retired only to be rebuilt as a tree lopper with also seeing other use as a driver training vehicle. Instead of wearing the same livery as the jumbo Atlanteans, 6020 would go on to wear a more simplified green and cream livery with red wheels. The bus would also be renumbered as 9339 after its retirement from PCV use.

Despite its early retirement from PCV use, the bus would carry on working through to when First bought over Yorkshire Rider and as a result 9339 would be repainted into the Leeds City Link livery with L-plates with no further branding for it being a driver training vehicle.

The last guise 9339 wore before being retired altogether was in the First driver training blue/magenta/off-white livery whilst still based at Leeds. But 9339 was given a further new use, a mobile ticket office for home football matches which also led to 9339 sporting the Leeds United shield on both sides at the front with branding.

Sadly, 9339 was completely retired in the mid-2000s however that was not the end as the bus was bought for preservation and was eventually repainted back into the Yorkshire Rider colours as seen in the drawing and has since attended a few events in particular in Yorkshire including classic bus events in Leeds with ferrying passengers in its limited seating downstairs as the bus was down-seated in earlier life.

I was fortunate enough to take a photo of this bus whilst on its was back from a running day in Leeds as this bus passed through my street.

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