About Me and My Interest in Transport

 

About Me and My Interest in Transport


My interest in transport began when my Grandparents bought me a Corgi Original Omnibus 1/76 scale model. As a result I became interested in local buses (Yellow Buses and Wilts & Dorset). As my collection grew, so did my interest. With an ambition to work for Yellow Buses I applied for an apprenticeship in the Engineering Department. Sadly, the apprenticeship was not to be; for reasons beyond my control. This did not stop my hobby and I worked to gain my driving licence with the ambition to drive buses. In 2019, my ambition became a reality with Salisbury Reds. I trained with them and achieved my Category D/D1 licence, one of the best days of my life.

I worked at Salisbury Reds for a short while and moved on to a smaller local operator Southbourne Buses. This employment was primarily to operate the morning and afternoon S38 school route. This ran from Ferndown Victoria Road to Ringwood School via Heatherlands Estate, St Ives, Ashley Heath and Ringwood Meeting House Lane. This employment continued until the Coronavirus pandemic, which sadly caused a premature ending to Southbourne Buses.

I was offered employment on a flexible basis at Dekkabus Limited. This is where I met my good friend that I go on visits with to take photographs of transport. The work included operating the S38 school contract that I previously operated with Southbourne Buses. Additional work included 'Crew Transfers' that transported train crews from Bournemouth Railway Station to Brockenhurst Railway Station. This employment ended when I went to work for Discover Dorset Limited.

I worked for Discover Dorset Limited operating their City Sightseeing tour. This operates from Bournemouth Pier via West Overcliff, Westbourne, Sandbanks, Poole, Poole Quay and returns via Poole Road and into Bournemouth.

Next I went on to work for Yellow Buses as a driver. I worked on the open top services 11 and 12.

After Yellow Buses I went to work for Southampton Minilink for a brief period. This was to operate the 38 school route and undertake rail replacement duties.

I returned to Yellow Buses until August 2022 when they ceased operation.

In August 2022 I joined Go South Coast at their Bournemouth Depot which is under the More brand. Since working for them I have driven a variety of interesting vehicles including Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urbans, Dennis Trident 2/Plaxton President (Thunderbolt), Volvo B7TL/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Myllennium Vykings, and Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Dennis Enviro 400's. 

As with all industries there are many changes that occur and that are likely to occur. With the ever increasing pressure on operators to ensure a level of compliance for vehicular emissions; it is incumbent on them to modernise their fleet. This is something I am not particularly keen on as it removes the variety of vehicles and particularly older vehicles from fleets. I am very keen to retain older vehicles as I believe they have more character than the standard Alexander Dennis products that many operators opt for. Whilst I understand from a business point of view (particularly fuel efficiency) why they would opt for such vehicles, from an enthusiast point of view it can be disappointing.

My time at Morebus saw me driving the summer services from May to September each year which includes route 50 and route 70 open top services. Route 50 operates from Bournemouth Railway Station to Swanage Bus Station. Route 70 currently operates from Hoburne Holiday Park to Rockley Park Holiday Park. The services are something different in comparison to to the winter services which primarily focusses on the 'town network'.

As my interests have developed, I have gained a wealth of knowledge in relation to the bus and coach industry. My interest is now focussing on gaining knowledge about the railway. With visits to many local locations, many photographs have been taken, and many memories have been made.

I have also become more enthusiastic about trucks. Again, a variety of locations have and will be visited to observe and photograph one of the most important forms of transport - the truck!

Further interests are blossoming with ships, liners and general maritime subjects.

I am not particularly keen aviation, but can appreciate planes, helicopters and other aviation. I enjoy performances from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) for example. A display that every British person should be proud of.


Myself driving Salisbury Reds Training Vehicle 2206 - HF54 HFV. A very enjoyable drive from these Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban buses.

Me driving Dekkabus 7101 - F5 HOR - DAF DB250LF/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Myllennium Lowlander.

Me driving Dekkabus 7101 - F5 HOR - DAF DB250LF/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Myllennium Lowlander.

Dekkabus 7103 - F5 CBE - DAF DB250LF/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Myllennium Lowlander.


Me with Dekkabus 7104 - F5 HDN  - DAF DB250LF/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Myllennium Lowlander at Manor Road bus stop in Ringwood.

Dekkabus 7104 - F5 HDN  - DAF DB250LF/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Myllennium Lowlander at Victoria Road, Ferndown.

Southampton Minilink Volkswagen Transporter/Bluebird Tucana - YX59 AAV at Victoria Road, Ferndown.

Southampton Minilink Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 SWB - FF56 BLU at Victoria Road, Ferndown.

Southampton Minilink Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 - SN57 DWK at Victoria Road, Ferndown.

Southbourne Buses Optare Solo M850 - YN53 EMK at Victoria Road, Ferndown.

Southbourne Buses Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 413CD/Onyx - WU04 KUF at Poole Railway Station.

Dekkabus Volkswagen Crafter/VDL Kusters - SN08 EHC at Manor Road bus stop in Ringwood.

Discover Dorset Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 - T505 SSG in an unfortunate situation at Westbourne.

Myself with Bournemouth Transport Limited Wright Streetlite DF -  HF14 BWN at Westover Road, Bournemouth on the last day of the Bournemouth Transport Limited operation.

Myself with Bournemouth Transport Limited Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 -  BL14 LTK at Yeomans Way, Bournemouth on the last day of the Bournemouth Transport Limited operation.

Loaned to Bournemouth Transport Limited Volvo B9TL/MCV DD103 - 5098 BU14 EHT between shuttles for Bournemouth Air Festival. Photographed at Lansdowne Road.

Myself with Bournemouth Transport Limited - Volvo B7TL/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Vyking - 5001 YBZ 223. Formerly 431/DB431/VLV431. Seen here on 'Busters Beach Bus' services at Alum Chine.


Bournemouth Transport Limited -Volvo B7TL/East Lancashire Coachbuilders Vyking - 5001 (YBZ 223) and 5002 (YBZ 224) at Hengistbury Head. Seen on 'Busters Beach Bus' services.




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