This Merc. Vario, seen here at Piccadilly, Manchester, in early 12/1998, was delivered in a batch of thirty-five; 530-54/6-9/61-4, all with these matching 'PNE' registration plates. For any Preston North End supporters, these were ideal! This Merc. was delivered in the latter part of the batch, in 07/1997, and is awaiting departure for a lengthy run to Manchester Airport. When I first saw these Mercs., I thought they looked quite good but they were dreadful to ride on and I suspect drive with their manual gearboxes and the driver constantly banging his elbow on the cash tray when selecting second gear. The passenger access wasn't that great either and I thought the predecessor, the Alexander AM bodied Merc. 709Ds were better all around.
As a footnote, this was to be my last photo of 1998. This was due to one of two things, either the next film winding on incorrectly and just binned or my trusty camera packing in, or both, as I think it was the second time the mechanism had broke. I have no colourslides for the following year, so I'm also guessing there was a problem, coupled with the fact that I was working away from April until June and travelling home at weekends. After that, I think I just used another camera I had with 35mm film in so will have to locate the pics. taken with that one, so my next colourslides will be from c.07/2000 that were taken with my then new camera, a Pentax MZ-M.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide II.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1998.
Tags: P554PNE
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"Numero Uno" in the Bluebird fleet was this Dart SLF. New in 10/1997, with it's regulatory 'BLU' registration, it is seen here loading on Oldham Street, Piccadilly, Manchester, for a journey back to it's home town, in early December 1998. Bluebird succumbed to the advances of Stagecoach Manchester who bought the business and operations and vehicles in 2012.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide II.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1998.
Tags: R1BLU
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As well as former London Transport 'DMS' Fleetlines for London Tour work, Big Bus also acquired a number of the 'T' class Titans from the same source. New to London Transport(T275), in 08/1981, this neatly converted Titan is seen here cruising down Buckingham Palace Road, near London Victoria Coach Station, in either late October or early November, 1998. It started it's London life began at Upton Park, moving onto West Ham, after overhaul, in 03/1985. In 02/1987, it moved to Clapton, but only for a short spell as six months later it was on to Ash Grove. In 11/1991, it moved to New Cross, however just about a month later, it moved to Camberwell. In 08/1992, it moved to Bexleyheath being privatised into the London Central fleet in 09/1994. In 12/1995, it moved again, this time to Peckham. Stored in 12/1997, a month later it was bought by The Big Bus Co., via Allco Passenger Vehicles. Two months later, it had been converted to open-top, as seen here. In 10/2002, it had left London exported by Big Bus Co. to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide II.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1998.
Tags: GYE275W
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This well known Welsh operator was a long time National Express contractor on services from South Wales and 'The Valleys'. New in 08/1999, this B10M was delivered in a batch of nine, S36/45-9/51-3UBO, and is seen here in late October, early November 1998 when making the right hand turn from Elizabeth Street, onto Buckingham Palace Road, outside the imposing art-deco London Victoria Coach Station, which is just off to the left of the photo. It is operating on NX509 back to Cardiff. The Plaxton Premiere 350 based Expressliner II, built in conjunction with National Express, on the Volvo B10M chassis had not long replaced the Plaxton Paramount 3500 III based Expressliner I on the same chassis.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide II.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1998.
Tags: S45UBO
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This smart Olympian was new to Metroline, in 08/1998, and was delivered in a batch that totalled sixteen; AV23-38, S233RLH, S124-38RLE. It is seen here departing London Victoria Railway Station, in late October, early November 1998, and is heading back to it's home garage of Cricklewood. Starting it's life out of Cricklewood, it then spent the rest of it's London career mainly working out of the north-west London garages of Willesden, Harlesden, Park Royal, back to Harlesden, the Potters Bar, Perivale and finally Harrow Weald from where it was withdrawn in 07/2008. It then passed to the well known Purfleet based dealer, Ensign Bus, prior to entering their operational fleet, in 10/2008, where it was converted to single-door layout and numbered 125. In 08/2011, it was bought by Red Route Buses, Gravesend. Behind is London General GLS450, GUW450W, an East Lancs Greenway converted Leyland National 2 NL106AL11/2R. Operating on the Red Arrow routes, it was converted in 09/1993, having been new to London Transport(LS450), in 04/1981.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide II.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1998.
Tags: GUW450W S125RLE
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