Durham Transport Lens

Durham Transport Lens Durham Transport Lens: Showcasing The Transport Heritage Of County Durham and Further Afield Through The Camera Lens.

D. Grierson Limited (Grierson's Coaches), Fishburn: A797 TGG, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 III C53F bodied Volvo B10M-61 tha...
26/08/2025

D. Grierson Limited (Grierson's Coaches), Fishburn: A797 TGG, a Plaxton Paramount 3500 III C53F bodied Volvo B10M-61 that was new to Jack, Dunfermline in April 1984. This vehicle would be gone from Jack, Dunfermline in June 1985 and would be acquired by D. Grierson Limited (Grierson's Coaches), Fishburn in July 1985. It would be re-registered as 1725 LJ in July 1987 and would transfer to D. & C. J. Grierson (Grierson's Coaches), Fishburn in May 1988. 1725 LJ would be sold to J. & M. Brown Coaches Limited (Crawley Luxury Coaches), Crawley in January 1996. It would almost immediately then be sold to AVE, Berkhof, Bracknell in early February 1996 and would be re-registered as A314 ODY in April 1996. Rest & Ride (Birmingham) Limited, Smethwick would acquire A314 ODY in February 1997 and would later sell it to JB Coach Sales, Nottingham by May 2001 when the company was wound up. It would then be sold to T. Goodwin, Carlton for scrap by February 2003 and would be marked as extinct by April 2003. It is seen below at Sedgefield Road Garage in Fishburn.

G. W., J. B. & D. G. Summerson (Summerson Bros.), West Auckland: PPT 446P, a Plaxton Derwent II B55F bodied Leyland PSU3...
26/08/2025

G. W., J. B. & D. G. Summerson (Summerson Bros.), West Auckland: PPT 446P, a Plaxton Derwent II B55F bodied Leyland PSU3C/4R that was new in June 1976 with the fleet number L14. This vehicle would transfer to The Eden Bus Services Limited, West Auckland in September 1976 before being sold to K. J. Morgan (Bygone Buses), Staplehurst in October 1993. PPT 446P would later be acquired for preservation by S. Foster, Darlington in February 1997. This vehicle would then be acquired by G. Scarlett (The Eden), St. Helen Auckland by January 2007 and restored to it's former glory. PPT 446P is seen below passing Thornley Road Service Station in Wheatley Hill while undertaking the service seven to Wheatley Hill. St. Godric's (RCVA) Primary School can be seen in the background as can Thornley. PPT 446P was most recently used at the "On The Bishop Buses" event in Bishop Auckland on Saturday just gone (23/08/2025). I have therefore attached a photograph of PPT 446P in Newton Aycliffe which was taken during the "On The Bishop Buses" event (23/08/2025).

R. Roberts Tours (Wingate) Limited, Wingate: FJ13 DZZ, a Caetano Levante C48FLT bodied Volvo B9R that was new to Selwyns...
28/06/2025

R. Roberts Tours (Wingate) Limited, Wingate: FJ13 DZZ, a Caetano Levante C48FLT bodied Volvo B9R that was new to Selwyns Travel Limited, Runcorn in March 2013. When new, this vehicle would carry 2007 National Express livery and would carry the fleet number 208. It would then gain 2009 Selwyns standard livery in March 2021. FJ13 DZZ would be acquired by R. Roberts Tours (Wingate) Limited, Wingate in October 2023 and would gain 2023 Roberts standard livery. This vehicle would then be re-registered as RIW 255 in July 2024 and is currently being upseated to a C73FL.
Photograph Date: 12/2/2024.

Garnetts at Beamish Museum:Garnetts Limited, Tindale Crescent: SPT 964V, a Plaxton Supreme IV Express C53F bodied Leylan...
28/06/2025

Garnetts at Beamish Museum:

Garnetts Limited, Tindale Crescent: SPT 964V, a Plaxton Supreme IV Express C53F bodied Leyland PSU3E/4R that was new to O.K. Motor Services Limited, Bishop Auckland in March 1980. This vehicle would be acquired by Tyne Tees Coachworks, Coundon in early March 1997 before being sold to Leonard Garnett (Garnetts International), Tindale Crescent in May 1997. SPT 964V would then be retrofitted with a Leyland TL11 engine and would be transferred to Garnetts Limited, Tindale Crescent in December 1999. It would be sold in November 2002 to a buyer I am unaware of unfortunately. It would then be scrapped in February 2006.

Ian Bradley (Recovery) Limited: M991 DNJ, a Boniface Interstater Mk3 bodied Leyland DAF 95.360 ATi. It is seen below in ...
27/06/2025

Ian Bradley (Recovery) Limited: M991 DNJ, a Boniface Interstater Mk3 bodied Leyland DAF 95.360 ATi. It is seen below in Durham City Centre exiting North Road onto the A690. Date is 17/8/2011.

Warner Of Wingate Limited, Wingate: Yard in 1988. The bus that can be seen is GMR 967, a Reading C33F bodied Leyland Com...
10/06/2025

Warner Of Wingate Limited, Wingate: Yard in 1988. The bus that can be seen is GMR 967, a Reading C33F bodied Leyland Comet CPO1 that belonged to Smith, Wingate at the time. It was new to H.J. Armstead (Forest Queen Service), Newton Toney in July 1950.

Gypsy Queen, Langley Park: BGR 631W, a Duple Dominant Bus B55F bodied Bedford YMT that was new to Gypsy Queen, Langley P...
10/06/2025

Gypsy Queen, Langley Park: BGR 631W, a Duple Dominant Bus B55F bodied Bedford YMT that was new to Gypsy Queen, Langley Park in August 1980. This vehicle would be sold to Tillingbourne (Sussex) Limited, Gomshall in October 1982 who would then sell it to Davies Brothers (Pencader) Limited, Pencader in November 1984. BGR 631W would gain the fleet number 147 in August 1985 but would be sold to Wacton Trading, Bromyard in early October 1989. Yeomans Canyon Travel Limited, Hereford would acquire BGR 631W in November 1989 and would allocate it the fleet number 18. It would be withdrawn from service in October 1998 and sold by December 1999. BGR 631W would be scrapped by January 2000. BGR 631W is seen below on Service 53 to Durham. Who remembers Tom Bell the pork butcher?

Bob Smith Travel Limited, Langley Park: RIL 4828 "Lady Mary", a Plaxton Paramount 3200 Express C57F bodied Leyland TRCTL...
09/06/2025

Bob Smith Travel Limited, Langley Park: RIL 4828 "Lady Mary", a Plaxton Paramount 3200 Express C57F bodied Leyland TRCTL11/3R that was new to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company Limited, Norwich as EAH 887Y in February 1983. When new, this vehicle had the seating configuration C50FT and carried the fleet number LT887. EAH 887Y would continue to carry this fleet number for a moment of time after it's transfer to the newly incorporated Ambassador Travel (Eastern Counties) Limited, Norwich in September 1984. EAH 887Y would be allocated to their Norwich operating centre from September 1984 and would gain the fleet number 887 in December 1985. It would be withdrawn from the fleet in 1990 and sold to United Automobile Services Limited, Darlington in October 1991 where it was allocated the fleet number 1414. It would be immediately upseated to a C53F and allocated to their Peterlee operating centre in November 1991. EAH 887Y would then be upseated to a DP61F in July 1993 but would be unlicensed. It would transfer to Tees & District Transport Company Limited, Darlington in September 1993 where it would continue to carry the fleet number 1414. It would be allocated to their Hartlepool operating centre from October 1993 until early April 1997 when it was withdrawn from service. EAH 887Y would then re-enter service at their Loftus operating centre from August 1997 until early September 1997. It would then be allocated to Tees & District's operating centre in Middlesbrough from September 1997 until it's departure from the fleet. EAH 887Y would be acquired by Gardiner's Coach Repairers, Spennymoor in early February 1998 as dealer stock. They would sell it to Bob Smith Travel Limited, Langley Park in April 2000 where it was immediately re-registered as RIL 4828, upseated to a C57F and named "Lady Mary". RIL 4828 would eventually be sold to Birtley Grenadiers Jazz Band in March 2004 who operated it until March 2008. Trevor Wigley & Son Limited, Carlton would acquire RIL 4828 in March 1998 and would cut it up for scrap in December 2008. RIL 4828 "Lady Mary" is seen below at Harbour Drive South Car Park in South Shields on what I presume to be a club outing. I seem to recall the inclined grass verge behind RIL 4828's rear axle claiming a few boot floors over the years.

Snowdon, Easington: SBR 883P, a Plaxton Supreme II C53F bodied Leyland PSU3C/4R that was new to Tyne & Wear PTE as JVK 8...
09/06/2025

Snowdon, Easington: SBR 883P, a Plaxton Supreme II C53F bodied Leyland PSU3C/4R that was new to Tyne & Wear PTE as JVK 83P with the fleet number 83 in November 1975. This vehicle would be re-registered to 813 VPU by April 1985 before being re-registered to SBR 883P in May 1987. It would gain the fleet number 1883 in June 1987 before being withdrawn in September 1989. It would be acquired by Snowdon, Easington in October 1989 and allocated the fleet number 23. It would be re-registered to GIL 3583 in March 1990 and sold to Graham, Gilsland in October 1991. It would then be withdrawn in September 1993 and sold to North East Bus Breakers, Annfield Plain for scrap by March 1994. It would be scrapped by May 1994.

United Automobile Services Limited: MRP 226P, an Alexander AT Type C49F bodied Leyland PSU3C/4R that was new to United C...
23/05/2025

United Automobile Services Limited: MRP 226P, an Alexander AT Type C49F bodied Leyland PSU3C/4R that was new to United Counties Omnibus Company Limited with the fleet number 226 in May 1976. It would be withdrawn by United Counties in early December 1986 and would be acquired by United Automobile Services in December 1986. Following acquisition, MRP 226P would briefly continue to carry the fleet number 226. MRP 226P would be allocated to Bishop Auckland in January 1987 and would gain the fleet number 130 in March 1987 following it's repaint into the livery seen below. MRP 226P would be allocated to Sunderland depot by April 1987 before being allocated to Stokesley depot in April 1988 where it was repainted into United Coaching livery. It would then gain the fleet number 1149 in January 1989 but would only remain with United Automobile Services for another year until it was sold in January 1990. MRP 226P would be scrapped in March 1990. It is seen below in Thornley, with Wheatley Hill in the background, undertaking a 215 to Bishop Auckland. The 215 service would later terminate in Wheatley Hill when Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot ran the service under "The Sunderland Connection" brand.

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