Rail Replacement

Not an emergency arrangement to replace a failed train or blocked line, as maybe suggested in the title, but an accurate description of our recently acquired route 881!

As a bit of a transport history anorak, I am very much aware of where railway lines used to run and two branch lines that have always fascinated me are those that used to run from Kemble to both Cirencester and Tetbury.

The 881 service acts as an effective replacement for both! It runs from Tetbury to Cirencester via Kemble station, serving the towns and villages that both lines were perported to serve. The obvious advantage of the bus is that it can actually serve these locations whereas the stations and halts on these lines could be some distance away (especially noticable in the case of Rodmarton where the halt was well over a mile away from the village!).

If only the passenger numbers were comparable to the final days of the rail services in 1964!

I have now driven this route a few times and find it to be one of the most enjoyable routes that we currently operate. The only down side is that whilst travelling into and out of Kemble Station, we are forced to travel the length of a huge car park that during the week is always filled to capacity! After all, the car is our biggest competitor and whilst I fully understand that most of these drivers have no realistic alternative to car use due to the rural nature of the territory, I am sure that a small percentage might find using the bus a convenient and less stressful option! What a difference a few extra regular passengers could make!

Doing what we can to right the wrongs of the Beeching era!

Photo Number 11 - Another Yard View

I am again tempted to illustrate how fortunate we are to have an operating centre in such a nice part of the world! This view shows vehicles poised for their next days work and facing the exit. Our yard is on the edge of a small industrial estate, but contained within a valley, on the outskirts of Nailsworth.

Just for the sake of completeness, the vehicles shown are N411 MBW, L118 HHV, N806 DNE and R976 XVM.

Cotswold Lament

After posting and commenting on the photo of N951 NAP at Bibury, I have been reflecting on the group of routes that this bus regularly used to operate. These routes all passed through what most would consider the touristy parts of the Cotswolds.

I have already alluded to the 860 between Cirencester and Bibury (extending to Aldsworth at peak times) but this route was attached to route 864 (Yanworth to Cirencester) and route 866 (Southrop to Cirencester).

All three routes made a full weeks work for one vehicle and one driver and all were lost in November 2011. We were not so careless as to lose the bus or driver, both of which have been redeployed!

The tender for these routes was the first won by the recently formed Cotswold Green Ltd in January 2007 (not the first operated as most of our work was acquired with the business of Ebley Bus Ltd), they were also the first routes that I had won for Ebley Bus! I had also managed these routes for Stagecoach during my stint as Operations Manager at Stagecoach in the Cotswolds! Just to add to to the above, I also drove the predecessors to these routes in the early 1990's in the very early stages of my career!

During the early days, operating the route for Ebley Bus, I would drive these routes at least once per week. You get to know all of your regular passengers by name and they, in turn, get to know you. In a not so rare moment of reflection, I remember those regular passengers who passed away during my association with these routes and how especially on the 864 and 866, where the same people travelled most days, you really could feel the sense of loss. It also could really change the feel of the service when it was one of the more dominant characters that had passed on.

These services acted not only as a means of transport but as a mobile social centres allowing people who, as it seemed to me, would not normally associate with each other to meet! The advent of free travel for the elderly broadened the circle a little but thankfully did not change the atmosphere.

It may be a cliche, but you really can feel a part of the communities that you serve!

In the last weeks of our operation of these routes I made sure that I would have one last opportunity to drive them and it was comforting that I was not only recognised but that many still remembered my name!

Photo Number 10

N951 NAP whilst parked in the centre of Bibury, next to the river Coln and with the delightful Arlington Row just visible in the background. The vehicle was in service at this time (route 860 from Bibury to Cirencester) and parked here because the driver's bladder was hurting and so the opportunity was taken to use the Public Convenience en-route (a little expensive at 20p a go!).

The 860 was my favourite route but sadly lost to Pulham's Coaches on re-tendering in November 2011 (it is now combined with route 855 between Cirencester and Northleach).

Who Wants To Go To Caudle Green?

One of the effects of the major service change in November was that route 23 was changed quite substantially to absorb as much of route 232 as possible (as this was being cancelled).

Route 23 is a once a week shoppers bus from Stroud to Cheltenham whilst route 232 was a once a week shoppers bus from The Camp to Cheltenham. Both travel via many villages way out in the sticks and it is the choice of villages that once again causes an issue!

In November the villages on the 23 route were Slad, Sheepscombe, The Camp, Bisley, Miserden, Whiteway, Caudle Green, Brimpsfield and Birdlip whilst route 232 served The Camp, Miserden, Whiteway, Cranham, Brimpsfield, Birdlip, Winstone, Elkstone, Cowley, Cobberley and Ullenwood.

Out of all these locations Bisley, Cowley and Cobberley have alternative services and so were immediately dropped from the new route 23 and, because it is important that the service is no longer than 50km in each direction, there was a choice to be made between Caudle Green and Elkstone.

At the time we chose Elkstone, because having had experience of operating both routes over many years, I remembered that there were regular passengers at Elkstone but Caudle Green was a lengthy hike off of the main road for no passengers. How ironic that all of a sudden the opposite appears to be the case!

And so we are soon to change the route to correct this!

I will be pleased to be returning to Caudle Green if only to give a possibly unique sign its purpose back. The sign, located at the only possible point at which you can turn a bus reads 'no parking on Thursday'. Also another sign in Brimpsfield can be returned to a purposeful existence, this one reads 'bus route to Caudle Green'.

I am glad that the 232 did not survive as leaving Cheltenham with a destination display proudly proclaiming 'The Camp' does not sit comfortably with me!

And So What Is Wrong With This One?

After selecting and collecting N912 ETM from Purfleet, I am then forced to subject my new purchase to the scrutiny of our maintenance contractors.

I knew that there was a little corrosion on one of the wheel arches and that a new battery would be required (thanks to Ian's accidental diagnosis).

The maintenance contractors began with their customary 'Oh dear, I hope you didn't pay much for that' followed by sharp intakes of breath inbetween much pointing, prodding and muttering.

I have to say that I am used to this approach with any new arrival but the criticism was a bit harsher than usual this time! The upshot is that we have come to the conclusion that the Luton area must spend a considerable part of the year below sea level (explaining the corrosion which was a bit more extensive than I had anticipated) and that the wiring was done by an enthusiastic amateur (meaning that it had to be pretty much rewired from front to back before it could be allowed to leave the workshop).

And so now the prep work for painting has begun so hopefully it will be earning some money for us next week!!

An Incredible Journey

Another visit to the used bus emporium at Purfleet with cheque book in hand and the inevitable happens!

I must admit that I had already made up my mind that I was going to buy a bus, the biggest clue was the fact that I had only bought a single ticket from Gloucester to Rainham (£22.50 bargain!).

The day began badly. Strong winds and driving rain showing how badly designed Gloucester railway station is. Couple this with conflicting information about which platform my train was to depart from and large puddles on the undulating platform surface, causing me to get rather wet, and you can understand my already worsening mood. The scheduled departure from platform 1 and its redirection to platform 4 could not have been worse under the circumstances, all caused by the train that should have been going to Cardiff sitting idly in platform 2 (its path blocked by fallen trees near Lydney). Platforms 1 and 4 could not be further apart!

My train arrives and we depart only 10 minutes late in a South West Trains liveried unit working a First Great Western service.

I sit back in a surprisingly comfortable seat and enjoy the view. We pass Stonehouse without incident and at Stroud I notice the 35 service from Nympsfield at the end of Cainscross road at 1017 (meaning it should arrive on time at Cornhill at 1020). Onwards to Kemble, where I am always surprised by the number of passengers joining and alighting each train, and then the guard makes an announcement!

The gist of this long winded and pause ridden statement was that there was disruption across the entire network due to the weather, the London Underground was in turmoil and that we were running 10 minutes late whilst our connection was not! The tone of his statement was that we were going to miss our connection to Paddington. Much muttering and rustling then took place within the carriage.

We arrived at Swindon and as it appeared most of the passengers on our train intended to make this impossible connection, there was a scramble for the doors. How i miss the days when there were more than two door per carriage and you could just reach out of the window and open the door to enable you to begin your sprint before the train had even stopped! Luckily, however, the guard had missed the fact that 10 minutes late meant that we still had a good 10 minutes to wait for the Paddington train!

Having just dried out I was once again lauched into the driving wind and rain to ensure further discomfort. I even had time to buy a paper from the newsagent before my train arrived.

I have learnt through bitter experience that all trains heading into and out of Paddington will be horrendously overcrowded and so I made sure that I reserved a seat. I also chose the quiet carriage as an excuse to turn off my mobile and enjoy some peace before being launched into the unmitigated chaos that is London. I was astounded to find the train almost empty and only about 10 people occupying the quiet carriage. I looked for my reserved seat and I was astounded to find somebody sitting in it! How on earth could this be! Out of all the available seats, only mine and nine others were occupied! But being English, I carried on past and found another seat and did not make a fuss. On the other side of the train was a lady who I guessed to be in her mid fifties. Just as the train departed from Swindon her mobile rang! She answered it and then proceeded to talk into it saying such gems as " hold on a sec, I am in the quiet coach" and "nearly there" as she wandered down the aisle to the end of the carriage. I thought that the whole point of being in the quiet carriage was that you turned these infernal devices off! She eventually returned to her seat without displaying any shame and in no way looking apologetic adding to my growing sense of injustice. I am sure that if my phone had rang she would have been the first to point out that this was the quiet carriage, a place that she had deliberately chosen to sit!

We arrived at Paddington on time but the rain was still torrential and I had by this point noted that the quiet coach was at the back of the train giving me a longer walk along the platform. This gave me time to reflect on the grandeur of the train shed and more importantly that it was impossible to walk to the exit without walking through several waterfalls, which I am sure were not in Brunel's original design, caused by stratigically placed holes in the roof. Thankfully First Group had provided several helpful yellow signs informing me that there was water on the floor and that there was a risk of slipping. How amusing it was to see someone trip over one of these signs! If only there had been a sign warning people that there were signs on the platform!

I made for fresh air, extra fresh due to the wind howling through the concourse, and made my phone calls. I phoned Paul at Ensign Bus to say I was at Paddington and to arrange a lift from Rainham Station and then phoned the wife.

The underground was running well, not in chaos as previously warned, and the familiar journey across London to Tower Hill ensued. Whilst underground, the weather had miraculously cleared up and blue skies greeted me on my emergance to the surface. From Tower Hill it is just a short walk to Fenchurch Street and onto the train bound for Grays.

Another smooth and punctual journey and I arrive at Rainham. The ticket barrier refuses to let anyone out unless they have a pass but by using the gate that says no exit I am out! Now I am confronted by a lake where once there was car park which can only be crossed by getting your feet wet (again!). Only five minutes wait and the familiar blue and silver colours of the Ensign Bus van appears. In no time I am in used bus heaven!

I had come to see two Mercedes automatic minibuses both of which were waiting for me in 'the shed'. Both were running and awaiting my inspection. I was only allowed to buy one and so the selection process began. There was not much between them except that on one the passenger doors would not work properly so decision made! N912 ETM was going to join our fleet.

My choice was adorned with trade plates and made ready for a test drive. This passed without incident except that I wanted to try its hill climbing ability. This part of Essex is devoid of such geographical features and so I had to make do with a mild gradient. I already knew that this aspect of performance was likely to be dissapointing and so it proved to be. Test drive completed, it was back to the yard for paperwork.

After an attempt was made to sell me a low floor dart from Veolia in South Wales and I had made sufficient disparaging comments to show that I was not going to spend any money on such a monstrosity it was time to leave.

I had already worked out that my new steed was not going to proceed faster than about 50 mph, less on an incline, and so a painfully slow journey was in store for me. Nearly four hours of tedium later, including a stop for fuel at South Mimms, I arrive at Nailsworth. Ian had waited for my arrival (Ian is our only driver with an automatic only licence) and so was most eager to see my latest purchase. I parked it and Ian jumped aboard. He scuttled around it and inevitably ended up in the cab where he attempted to start it. All of a sudden, despite no problems other than lack of speed on its mammoth journey from Essex, the battery was flat.

The next day it was to go into the workshop for a full inspection and so I knew we would be fitting a new battery at least. And so I went home after another fun packed day in the world of buses.

Home At Last

Another significant event that occurred during the later part of 'The Dark Ages' was that we finally had scheduled bus services (other than schools services) in our home town of Nailsworth!

Not satisfied with just an occasional visit to this rural metropolis we now operate what is left of a once generous level of local services as well as a six day per week link to Minchinhampton and Stroud. It only took 5 years to achieve this!

Nailsworth still has what I call a proper bus station! Quite a luxury these days in our area when compared to the larger nearby town of Stroud which now has to make do with a collection of laybys on a main road!