Thamesway took a batch of eighteen of these B10Ms, that were split over two delivery dates, 601-10, N601APU etc., arriving in 08/1995, and 611-8, N611APU etc., arriving in 01/1996. They were used on the City Saver services, twixt Southend and London, in competition against Southend Transport. A smart 608, delivered in the first part of the batch, is seen here on A3211 Victoria Embankment, London, on 12/08/1996. It is awaiting departure back to Southend, on a City Saver service, mainly used by homeward bound commuters.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide. Unfortunately, the pigment of this next batch of colourslides has altered, as I left it for the best part of two years prior to developing for some reason.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1996.
Tags: N608APU
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The Reebur bodied Mercs. were a popular buy for NBC and former NBC operators prior to and in preparation for high frequency minibus services for the beginning of deregulation. These Mercs. were quite a robust vehicle being a bit of a utilitarian type of vehicle and served companies quite well I suppose. This neat example was already nine years old when seen here in Ilford, on 01/11/1995. It was new to Eastern National, in 11/1986. It is operating a local service to Barkingside. Thamewsay were formed, on 29/07/1990, from the split of Eastern National after it's acquisition by Badgerline in 04/1990. Badgerline later came under First Group control and the two companies, Eastern National and Thamesway re-joined under the First Essex company.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1995.
Tags: D233PPU
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New to Smiths-Shearings(675), Wigan, in 03/1988, this Tiger is seen here making the left turn from Elizabeth Street, onto Buckingham Palace Road, opposite London Victoria Coach Station, in 10/1993. The coach station is out of sight just to the left of the photo. Thamesway took a number of these Tigers from Shearings for their increasing presence on their commuter services between London and Southend in competition with Southend Transport, that in the main departed from Aldgate(Minories) Bus Station, although some left from Victoria Coach Station.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being the excellent 'Fujichrome' colourslide.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1993.
Tags: E675UNE
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New to Bebb, Llantwit Fardre, Wales, in 08/1991, this rare Plaxton 321 bodied Tiger is seen here in what was essentially Bebb's livery, when making the left hand turn from Elizabeth Street, onto Buckingham Palace Road, opposite London Victoria Coach Station, in 10/1993. In all, fifteen of these were delivered to Bebb although thirteen had the TRCL10/3RZM chassis designation. They were registered J45-54/6UNY, delivered in with this one in 08/1991 whilst although registered with earlier numbers, J25-9UNY, were delivered after, in 01/1992.
Another point with this Cummins powered Tiger and it's sisters, is that the body design was that of Duple, the then Blackpool based coachbuilders. When Duple, who were struggling at the time, closed down at the end of the 1989 season, the Duple 300 series designs and the integral Hestair-Duple 425 designs were acquired by Plaxtons. In the end only a single batch of twenty-five 12-metre Leyland Tigers were bodied at Scarborough in 1991 and sold through the Kirkby coach dealership as the Plaxton 321, but no further examples were built. The Duple 425 design was modified by Plaxtons and re-entered production in 1991 as the Plaxton 425, which was assembled by their French subsidiary Carrosserie Lorraine. However the Lorraine factory closed in 1992 after only twelve further 425 models had been built.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being the excellent 'Fujichrome' colourslide.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1993.
Tags: J54SNY
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New in 03/1985 to Western National(2222), along with sister 2221, B336BGL, for National Express Rapide services, this tidy Tiger is seen here on A1211 Aldgate High Street, passing Aldgate Bus Station, London, in early 08/1993. It would turn left at the nearby junction and left again into the bus station and then continue on it's tea time commuter service to Southend, in competition with Southend Transport. It was acquired by then Badgerline owned Thamesway, in an inter group transfer from Western National and as can be seen here, it has been retrofitted with a Duple 320/340 lower front panel. Thamesway acquired a collection of secondhand coaches for these commuter services that in effect were born out of the strikes on the railways around that time and the poor reputation of the so called 'Misery Line' - London -Tilbury - Southend. Thamewsay were formed on 29/07/1990 from the split of Eastern National after it's acquisition by Badgerline in 04/1990. Badgerline later came under First Group control and the two companies, Eastern National and Thamesway re-joined under the First Essex company.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being the excellent Fujichrome colourslide.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1993.
Tags: B337BGL
© All Rights Reserved