Angus & Perthshire Trip
Managed to force £5.60's worth of Rover ticket into submission - with a travel plan that lasted close to fifteen hours! I've been at home for most of this week, and am still not 100%, but I decided to give it a go anyway.
Before starting, spotted one two 96's with the "promised" Darts in place of PS types. These had to be used as roadworks in Tayport meant big buses could not be used.
Firstly, travelled to a chemists in Menzieshill to pick up a prescription (which, in the end, still wasn't there). Travelled out on 708 on the 73A from Dundee Nethegate to Dundee Menzieshill, Orleans Shops. Was going to walk through to Ninewells but my next bus was due! 251 was therefore taken on the 72 from Orleans Shops to Ninewells Hospital, and from Ninewells Hospital to Dundee City Centre. TP2040 joined the bus at Ninewells.
So, into town, and we had a little time to kill before the arrival of the 39. Therefore decided to get on 307 on the 79A, fitted now with new LED destination displays. At the top of Whitehall Street, Travel Dundee 149 emerged out of service, with passengers. Got off 307 at Ethiebeaton Park and headed for 957 on the 39 to Arbroath Bus Station.
Spotted there was the repainted Wisharts Solo (T307 UOX), Metrorider 211 that claimed it had been out on the 46, and Dundee-based "Safety bus" 189. We had Dennis Dart 303 to the stop round the corner from the library, before returning to the bus station on foot via the tic, and heading for 958 on the 39 to Rossie Island, the stop just before Montrose depot. We then took Dart 311 on the 47 to Ferryden, showing the "new" terminus layout i.e. buses wait at the side, then reverse into the pier when time to depart. It's been this way for a few months now, last time I was up it was another vehicle on it though...
Into Montrose town centre, and neither 219 (48) or 220 (47A) was anywhere to be seen. We'd presumed locked up in the depot, but in the meantime, 231 and 232 were the replacements! Firstly 232 heading south in Montrose High Street on 47A 231 northbound in Montrose High Street on 48, not once but twice. As can be seen 231 still has roller blinds, but does have an MN set in them. Nicoll's Yellow Vario still has it's distinctive (still unique) yellow paint job. Seen at Montrose high st southbound and northbound. The driver specifically changed the blind from 113 to 114, despite the service being admended to be a 113 both ways some time ago.
From Montrose High Street to Brechin St Ninians Square was on 607 on the 30 - now allocated to Arbroath pernamently (it would seem? does that mean 916 is perm at Dundee too?) This might help me avoid said vehicle on the 76, but hey ho... Took the shortcut via the church to Panmure Street Brechin for Service 21A to Forfar East High Street, which used Leyland Tiger 421. The bus dropped off in Coutties Wynd due to roadworks in Forfar East High Street.
Volvo Olympian 953 took us on the 20 from Forfar library to Southmuir, where we had intended a tight-ish connection to Meffan's 128. L321 AUT was on this, and it should have been ok to changeover at Southmuir (any stop after Glamis Road/Bellies Brae), but the incoming bus was 3/4 minutes down. There was another passenger who did the same jumpback a few stops later, and the three people who changed were the entire load on this service. So, it would be handier to have this running just a little later... Meffan's driver on the L321 was well represented in a Travel Dundee drivers jumper... Upon arrival at Alyth, nearly forty five minutes to wait for the "connection" (the bus departs so early to accomodate Websters High School on schooldays), and wondering if a carload of people with Tennant's Lager cans in the front seat were trying to get themselves arrested, 961 took us from Alyth to Perth.
When we got to Perth, a few sights to find including 961 at the bus stn, 22277 (former Fife 277) at Perth Bus Station on the evening 15, Smith & Sons Cadet RBX coming out from under Perth Station Bridge, and former 277 again at the daytime start of the 15 service opposite the rail station
One thing worth mentioning - all remnants of my former employers (Goldstar Perth parcel office) have finally been removed! The adhesive vinyl would not budge from the glass upon closure of the office, and had remained in situ for some time, but now has all gone. I presume the glass had to get it.
We went for food at one of the nearby Chineese (the blue-liveried one on a slight terraced at the junction of Leonard St/Hospital St is the better of the two - I say only from being there on previous work visits...) and went to observe York Place, looking down from the Library at the Church of the Nass. I'm sure everyone has tried to take a pic of a Stagecoach bus outside this place, but hey, same old same old... (for those not in the know, the church is attended by Brian S., and the church also recieved a minibus donated to them by Stagecoach a few years ago - has anyone seen it recently?)
Former Aberdeen-based MAN 712 is passing said establishment (*still* with Bluebird lettering despite the Perth route branding, you'd have thought they'd noticed, but no...), about to turn short at South Street, as well as a S&S Cadet (RBZ I think) with a 7-branded MAN on the 1/2. Formerly known as 496, this Volvo B6LE/Alexander ALX200 has had problems with its blinds throughout its life at Perth. Here it can be seen with a new Hanover unit, front and side. These have a lifetime warranty, so no excuse now!
Headed back to South Street for the 16, spotting one of the Stagecoach Solo's on the evening 11 with full-height (non DDA compliant?) capital letter destination display then snapping Blair's other Pyoneer, 962 before heading for 313 back to Dundee.
Whilst on 313, I was able to get three very blotchy pictures of a Travel Dundee Volvo/Wright Gemini, taken from Inchture Interchange (from the back of Strathtay 313), on a private hire returning from Hampden, full of orange and black clad football supporters... Apologies for the quality but both buses were moving and it was dark!... one two three ...and Megabus N619 USS on the A90 between Inchture and Longforgan. Apologies for quality of pic, but both were moving, and it was dark!
The back offside handrail made a jump for it when TP2040 tried to get up, and jumped out the socket... only thing is, that handrail appeared to have a non-standard fitting (i.e. not big enough!) Know what it's like as I finally got two long enough screws to fix a job, and the hole wasn't big enough...
Anyway, getting into Dundee for about 2010, I headed for home until leaving in enough time for the 2300 Dundee - Monikie 79C Circular. I got on the bus at the High Street at 2305, at stop H1. This new journey was added from Saturday 5 Febuary 2005, but the scoreboards and passenger information displays are still pointing to a Service 75 at stop H3 - which of course, is now Monday to Thursday only. So, I rounded up two passengers at H3,who were actually glad of the assistance - once said last week the bus did not turn up, but he did see a 79C drive past him... Anyway, same bus, same driver. Three at Dundee (the other two for Monifeith), one at B.Ferry for Monifeith, one at Monifeith for Ballumbie Castle, two at Monikie for Dundee, and one at Monifeith for Dundee. So, we got back around 0024, and the four of us were tipped out into the bus station.
Before starting, spotted one two 96's with the "promised" Darts in place of PS types. These had to be used as roadworks in Tayport meant big buses could not be used.
Firstly, travelled to a chemists in Menzieshill to pick up a prescription (which, in the end, still wasn't there). Travelled out on 708 on the 73A from Dundee Nethegate to Dundee Menzieshill, Orleans Shops. Was going to walk through to Ninewells but my next bus was due! 251 was therefore taken on the 72 from Orleans Shops to Ninewells Hospital, and from Ninewells Hospital to Dundee City Centre. TP2040 joined the bus at Ninewells.
So, into town, and we had a little time to kill before the arrival of the 39. Therefore decided to get on 307 on the 79A, fitted now with new LED destination displays. At the top of Whitehall Street, Travel Dundee 149 emerged out of service, with passengers. Got off 307 at Ethiebeaton Park and headed for 957 on the 39 to Arbroath Bus Station.
Spotted there was the repainted Wisharts Solo (T307 UOX), Metrorider 211 that claimed it had been out on the 46, and Dundee-based "Safety bus" 189. We had Dennis Dart 303 to the stop round the corner from the library, before returning to the bus station on foot via the tic, and heading for 958 on the 39 to Rossie Island, the stop just before Montrose depot. We then took Dart 311 on the 47 to Ferryden, showing the "new" terminus layout i.e. buses wait at the side, then reverse into the pier when time to depart. It's been this way for a few months now, last time I was up it was another vehicle on it though...
Into Montrose town centre, and neither 219 (48) or 220 (47A) was anywhere to be seen. We'd presumed locked up in the depot, but in the meantime, 231 and 232 were the replacements! Firstly 232 heading south in Montrose High Street on 47A 231 northbound in Montrose High Street on 48, not once but twice. As can be seen 231 still has roller blinds, but does have an MN set in them. Nicoll's Yellow Vario still has it's distinctive (still unique) yellow paint job. Seen at Montrose high st southbound and northbound. The driver specifically changed the blind from 113 to 114, despite the service being admended to be a 113 both ways some time ago.
From Montrose High Street to Brechin St Ninians Square was on 607 on the 30 - now allocated to Arbroath pernamently (it would seem? does that mean 916 is perm at Dundee too?) This might help me avoid said vehicle on the 76, but hey ho... Took the shortcut via the church to Panmure Street Brechin for Service 21A to Forfar East High Street, which used Leyland Tiger 421. The bus dropped off in Coutties Wynd due to roadworks in Forfar East High Street.
Volvo Olympian 953 took us on the 20 from Forfar library to Southmuir, where we had intended a tight-ish connection to Meffan's 128. L321 AUT was on this, and it should have been ok to changeover at Southmuir (any stop after Glamis Road/Bellies Brae), but the incoming bus was 3/4 minutes down. There was another passenger who did the same jumpback a few stops later, and the three people who changed were the entire load on this service. So, it would be handier to have this running just a little later... Meffan's driver on the L321 was well represented in a Travel Dundee drivers jumper... Upon arrival at Alyth, nearly forty five minutes to wait for the "connection" (the bus departs so early to accomodate Websters High School on schooldays), and wondering if a carload of people with Tennant's Lager cans in the front seat were trying to get themselves arrested, 961 took us from Alyth to Perth.
When we got to Perth, a few sights to find including 961 at the bus stn, 22277 (former Fife 277) at Perth Bus Station on the evening 15, Smith & Sons Cadet RBX coming out from under Perth Station Bridge, and former 277 again at the daytime start of the 15 service opposite the rail station
One thing worth mentioning - all remnants of my former employers (Goldstar Perth parcel office) have finally been removed! The adhesive vinyl would not budge from the glass upon closure of the office, and had remained in situ for some time, but now has all gone. I presume the glass had to get it.
We went for food at one of the nearby Chineese (the blue-liveried one on a slight terraced at the junction of Leonard St/Hospital St is the better of the two - I say only from being there on previous work visits...) and went to observe York Place, looking down from the Library at the Church of the Nass. I'm sure everyone has tried to take a pic of a Stagecoach bus outside this place, but hey, same old same old... (for those not in the know, the church is attended by Brian S., and the church also recieved a minibus donated to them by Stagecoach a few years ago - has anyone seen it recently?)
Former Aberdeen-based MAN 712 is passing said establishment (*still* with Bluebird lettering despite the Perth route branding, you'd have thought they'd noticed, but no...), about to turn short at South Street, as well as a S&S Cadet (RBZ I think) with a 7-branded MAN on the 1/2. Formerly known as 496, this Volvo B6LE/Alexander ALX200 has had problems with its blinds throughout its life at Perth. Here it can be seen with a new Hanover unit, front and side. These have a lifetime warranty, so no excuse now!
Headed back to South Street for the 16, spotting one of the Stagecoach Solo's on the evening 11 with full-height (non DDA compliant?) capital letter destination display then snapping Blair's other Pyoneer, 962 before heading for 313 back to Dundee.
Whilst on 313, I was able to get three very blotchy pictures of a Travel Dundee Volvo/Wright Gemini, taken from Inchture Interchange (from the back of Strathtay 313), on a private hire returning from Hampden, full of orange and black clad football supporters... Apologies for the quality but both buses were moving and it was dark!... one two three ...and Megabus N619 USS on the A90 between Inchture and Longforgan. Apologies for quality of pic, but both were moving, and it was dark!
The back offside handrail made a jump for it when TP2040 tried to get up, and jumped out the socket... only thing is, that handrail appeared to have a non-standard fitting (i.e. not big enough!) Know what it's like as I finally got two long enough screws to fix a job, and the hole wasn't big enough...
Anyway, getting into Dundee for about 2010, I headed for home until leaving in enough time for the 2300 Dundee - Monikie 79C Circular. I got on the bus at the High Street at 2305, at stop H1. This new journey was added from Saturday 5 Febuary 2005, but the scoreboards and passenger information displays are still pointing to a Service 75 at stop H3 - which of course, is now Monday to Thursday only. So, I rounded up two passengers at H3,who were actually glad of the assistance - once said last week the bus did not turn up, but he did see a 79C drive past him... Anyway, same bus, same driver. Three at Dundee (the other two for Monifeith), one at B.Ferry for Monifeith, one at Monifeith for Ballumbie Castle, two at Monikie for Dundee, and one at Monifeith for Dundee. So, we got back around 0024, and the four of us were tipped out into the bus station.
posted by Suzy Scott @ 23:59
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home