Forthcoming Trips Sunday 12th April Transport Festival, Weston Park, Nr Telford (Admission Charge into this event) (Vehicle attending: RNA 236J)
Sunday 3rd May Llandudno Transport Festival (Subject to minimum Support Level, Please email for update) (Vehicle attending: RNA 236J)
Sunday 10th May Potteries Rally and Running day, Wedgewood Centre, Stoke (Vehicle attending: ?JHA 227L? & RNA 236J)
Sunday 25th May A free trip from Telford to Pelsall and Return (Vehicles Attending: FAR 724K)
To see all of the other trips planned throughout 2009, please visit our Trips Page.
General News
AGM - 28th February 2009 At the AGM this year... an excellent turn out, with 14 members attending.
It was decided that the annual membership subscription will remain at £5 for normal members. (Abnormal need to pay another £5!) An important issue was raised during the meeting, the rule on 'Misuse of the name of the "Telford Bus Group"' was highlighted. Note to Members:Please remember that Rule 9 "quotes" No member or any other person may use the name of the 'Telford Bus Group' in any communicstion for any purpose whatsoever, without prior consent of the Management Committee".
Please also note that if any members change their address, they should inform the Secretary as soon as possible (Rule 7.4).
The post of 'Sales Stand Officer' will be taken by M Ellis as from 31st March 2009, as J Sergeant has not been in contact with the group since 4th January 2009.
The post of 'Publicity Officer' will become vacant when Dean Howdle stands down on the 31st March 2009, for what maybe a 12-month Sabbatical period.
All other existing positions on the committee remains unchanged.
The intended trips for 2009 was discusses, a provisional list appears on this website.
WWY 115G - Update Owner, D Greatholder is hoping to take ex-Abbey Coachways Bedford VAL 70, WWY 115G to a number of events throughout the year.
The rallies are as followed:
# 5th April 2009: Crewe Running Day, Railway Age.
# 10th May 2009: Potteries Running Day, Wedgewood Centre, Stoke.
# 14th June 2009: Chasewater Bus Rally, Brownhills
TBG Caps and T-Shirts Even though our publicity officer is stepping down as from 31st March 2009, D Howdle will still be placing an order for more TBG logoed T-Shirt and Caps in May.
Caps = £4
T-Shirts = £7
Regatta Fleece = £18
If you would like to place an order, please contact D Howdle.
Website News The group still own www.telfordbus.org.uk, which is linked to this site and www.freewebs.com/telfordbusgroup.
A new templete has been created for www.telfordbus.org.uk and should be uploaded soon.
Both this site, www.tbg.150m.com and www.freewebs.com/telfordbusgroup are updated regularly.
Bus News
Last day of the Dennis Falcon in Telford Saturday 14th February was the last offical day in service for the Arriva Wellington's 3 remaining Dennis Falcons.
3084 (K214 UHA), 3088 (K218 UHA) and 3089 (K219 UHA) operated well-advertised services all day, so that the keen enthusiasts could ride on all 3! A Special souvenir leaflet was also produced for the day/
However, after the event, the Falcons did see service on Monday 16th February and Tuesday 27th February, but then it was officially all over.
3084 and 3089 were moved to Cannock depot for disposal, and 3088 remained at Oswestry depot amidst rumours that it may well be entering preservation.
However, 3088 joined 3084 and 3089 at Cannock at the end of March 2009.
Arriva West Midlands - Fleet Info # 2380 (Den Dart - PSU 969) was seen on 33 and 63A on 4th March with a defective destination display.
# 1445 (Volvo - P445 JOX) is seen in use at Walsall garage in new 'stripy' livery.
# 1463 (Volvo - R463 XDA) is seen in use at Walsall garage in new 'stripy' livery (Route 377).
# 1472 (Volvo - R472 XDA) is seen in use at Walsall garage in new 'stripy' livery.
# 2617 (Metrobus - ROX 617Y) is seen in use at Perry Barr garage with Blue 'Travel Coventry' band.
# 2843 (Metrobus - B843 AOP) has recently been transferred from West Bromwich to Wolverhampton. 2843 was seen on 3/10 minus destination blinds.
# 2886 (Metrobus - B886 DOM) after taking an wrong turn on route 395, got wedged underneath the bridge on Clayhanger Lane on 27th September. This caused roof damage and the vehicle is now withdrawn from service.
# 4135 (Trident - Y728 TOH) was involved in a accident with Arriva2110 (Dennis Dart - L238 TKA) at Walsall Bus Station on 9th July. 4135 was seen back in service on 27/9.
# 4277 (Vol Trident - BU51 RXB) failed on route 16 on 10/10.
# 4492 (Volvo - BU03 EXB) expired on 8/10 on route 934A, and was observed being towed back to Perry Barr garage.
# 4550 (Trident - BL53 EEM) was seen being towed home (Wolverhampton Depot) after failing on route 79 on 20/9.
# 4599 (Trident - BX54 DDE) expired in Darlington St, Wolverhampton on 8/10, whilst on route 525.
Diamond Bus - Fleet Info The following vehicles have recently been spotted to have been repainted into the new "Black Diamond" Livery:
# YJ51 EKC
# YJ51 EKE
# YJ51 EKH
# YD02 PZJ
# YD02 PZK
National Express West Midlands (Travel West Midlands) - New Vehicles Info National Express West Midlands' new vehicle deliveries in 2009 will have some dramatic effects (this edited report from T Hunter on 25th February 2009):
I very much doubt they will be getting some Tridents of BC in April. BC currently have two Tridents on loan from Walsall and have no more buses expected until June when 30 (not 60) enviros are due. When these arrive current plans see the 21 Spectras leave BC along with either 9 Tridents or 9 ALX bodied B7s leaving depending on which garage they are transferred to.
The other buses due soon are 30 more Scanias, 25 of these are going to Walsall and are due to replace 22 Metrobuses and 3 B7 Eclipse which are going to Acocks Green so the 37 route can go back to all Eclipse. The 3 Lynx are due to leave Walsall when the two Tridents come back from BC, so may leave instead of Metros if the Scanias arrive before BC can afford for the two Tridents to come back.
Most of the Solos released from Coventry are due to go to Dundee, No Eclipse are now due to head North
When the Scanias do arrive at Walsall the one route due to stay Metrobus operated is the 394A with the Scanias going on the 311/313.
The 301 should be a mix of Scania/Eclipse with other routes due to get Eclipse being the 302, 367 & 368.
National Express West Midlands (Travel West Midlands) - Fleet Info # 229 (Volvo - P229 AAP) recently transferred from Travel London (ex-Hotel Hopper) with several others, and is the only one repainted into new NEWM livery. Seen in Walsall during February (Not in Service!)
# 280 (Optare Solo - S280 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 306 (Optare Solo - T280 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 312 (Optare Solo - T312 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 313 (Optare Solo - T313 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 314 (Optare Solo - T314 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 315 (Optare Solo - T315 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 316 (Optare Solo - T316 UOX) has recently been transferred to Walsall Garage.
# 1216 (Ley Lynx - G216 EOG) was withdrawn from service at Walsall Depot on 7th March 2009.
# 1236 (Ley Lynx - G236 EOG) was withdrawn from service at Walsall Depot on 7th March 2009.
# 1312 (Ley Lynx - G312 EOG) was withdrawn from service at Walsall Depot on 7th March 2009.
# 4357 (Den Trident - BX02 AVO) had expired on Route 6 near Shirley on 6th March 2009.
# 7203 (Optare Excel - R404 HWU) recently was transferred from Travel Dundee, and has been repainted into new NEWM livery and seen at Wolverhampton on 5th March 2009.
A2Z Travel Walsall based operator, A2Z Travel (which lost it's Operator's License recently) was due to cease running after 7th March, however recent developments still see these vehicles in service!
Rail News
Wrexham and Shropshire Wrexham and Shropshire have suffered from a lack of passengers recently, with 'bargain fares' of just £1 from London to Wrexham (this direction only!) being offered to entice people to travel.
Recent sighting of their operations are as followed:
# 17th January 2009: 67015/82301 on 15:24 Marylebone-Wrexham
# 30th January 2009: 67014/82304 on 12:17 Marylebone-Wrexham
# 6th February 2009: 67015/82304 on 15:23 Wrexham-Marylebone
# 7th February 2009: 67012/82301 on 15:24 Marylebone-Wrexham
# 8th February 2009: ?????/87012 on 13:11 Wrexham-Marylebone
# 3rd March 2009: 67029/82303 on 15:23 Wrexham-Marylebone
# 6th March 2009: 67029/82303 on 15:23 Wrexham-Marylebone
TBG Member's Vehicle News
RNA 236J - 2236 (Dr CRG/Park Royal)
On 7th/8th March, 2236 was prepared for it's MOT test. Minor problems being a blocked grease nipple on the fan belt idler pulley bearing, a snapped winscrewwn washer pipe and a broken brake lever return spring on the nearside front.
The U-bolts securing the 'Fox clips' to the rear road springs were replaced, as was the sidelight switch.
BHO 670J (Bd VAL/Duple)
On the 22nd February 2009, 670 was washed down and moved out of it's undercover accomondation to an temp. accomondation. This is to allow new undercover accomondation to be built.
Here is a You-Tube video of BHO 670J being moved on the 22nd February 2009:
