Bedford Stagecoach happenings 2021

[MIB]

I've been told these are on loan until enough E400 MMC's are available for transfer to Bedford for the X5/905. They need at least another 6

Today I managed to rake in four winners but still have four to get. I did 11126 on a 50 thinking I had missed 19573 on the 1200 9a as shown on the tracker. However, it hadn't done the 1200 as was sat spare when I arrived. It then got chucked out on the 1245 1 so this was taken to the hospital for 19597 back on a 2. This should have done the 1315 81 but a change of heart saw it parked up.

19582 had been on the 905 but then swapped to a 6 and on arrival it then formed the 10 late 1315 81 so this was taken to Elstow. By now it was raining as I walked up to the Windsor Road stop to have 19594 on a 9a into town. Satisfied with four winners I did 11127 home on the 1436 50.

I noted my other winners 19574 / 19583 were on Hitchin services and 19576 / 19579 were on the 905. Some of the vehicles have poppies in the display. I think it was 10878 on a 53 that had one and 36308 on an 8.

[Barry]

What's up with the plain yellow 905 buses?  I assume they're waiting for some kind of specialist livery?  Does Stagecoach use yellow buses elsewhere, or is it going to be route specific?

(As this route was subject to political interference from the last mayor and given the colour chosen, my mind is running away and I'm wondering if it's too soon for the new mayor's "Fen Tiger" idea to be becoming reality!)

[TCD813]

What's up with the plain yellow 905 buses?  I assume they're waiting for some kind of specialist livery?  Does Stagecoach use yellow buses elsewhere, or is it going to be route specific?

Maybe we need a new topic just to discuss liveries – good, bad, confusing, and ridiculous – not just on Stagecoach vehicles, of course.

Just in case anyone agrees, I've started this: Bus liveries – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in General Bus Discussion, so that we don't get tempted off-topic here.

[Barry]

What's up with the plain yellow 905 buses?  I assume they're waiting for some kind of specialist livery?  Does Stagecoach use yellow buses elsewhere, or is it going to be route specific?

(As this route was subject to political interference from the last mayor and given the colour chosen, my mind is running away and I'm wondering if it's too soon for the new mayor's "Fen Tiger" idea to be becoming reality!)

I see that it's just a national long distance livery

[AndrewHA]

In Torquay and Plymouth a few weeks ago , I was able to photograph “yellow” Enviro 400s , with a Gold “Beachball” superimposed there on , towards the back covering both decks .
They were working on an erstwhile “Gold Branded” Route .

[al_557]

The end is nigh for coaches at Bedford depot. The 99 is to join the X5 and 905 in being converted to double deck operation. Steven Knight Media has already reported Volvo B11R's 54311/16 (YX64WCP/DA) transferring to East Scotland, 54302 (YX64WCE) is also due to join them. The remaining 3 54304/09/10 (YX64WCG/N/O) will be joining them in Scotland very soon. 54309 is the only one left in service and was on the X5 today

[MIB]

I could only muster one winner today and that was 36847 on a 50 to town as my Bedford winners were on the expensive routes. So I had to make do with 19573 on a 53 to Kempston after it was removed from 9's and suffer the indignity of 36307 back on a 1. All these deckers to have and now the 1 was infested with things like this and 37215/37433. While stuck on this silly vehicle I missed out on 10873 which did a 5 from spare and then returned to doing nothing.

Still things improved at the bus station as 10880 was on the 1457 4 and 1519 10 so an out and back run was done to Tesco. I had to bail at Union St coming back on the 10 to intercept 36846 on the 1541 50 otherwise I would have had to wait until 1714 for the next one. Naturally 10873 popped out on the 1615 81 from spare after I had cleared off.

19704 did a 9c and 11129 was also on 50's. I notice route 99 was home to 11279, 19587, 19698 and 54309 so I guess I will have to do the route for deckers at some point.

[MIB]

The tracker showed I had two winners out which could be scratched in during my lunch break so I did 15403 on a 50 to make 19583 on the 1245 1. However, this journey was caped as the bus was purloined for a mission of mercy and sent empty to St Neots to do a 905. The only thing I could do then was to do 36301 on the 1300 2 against my better judgement to intercept 19574 coming in on a 9a at Kingsway.

This proved to be futile as for the third time this year the driver kidnapped us by taking the wrong route only realising his mistake outside the garage just as winner 19574 passed. Cheers then! He obviously thought he was driving a 3 rather than a 2 but he didn't drive through the garage to turn the bus as famously happened on an oly one night on an 81.

So we continued up London Road before turning into Kathie Road to turn the bus round which I will now always refer to as a turning circle. Probably the first time in my life I have ever entered this road. Eventually we got back to the hospital where I bailed for 37435 on a 53 back to town to make 22835 home on the 1336 50. So a complete waste of eight quid much to my chagrin.

10877 was on 9's and 19575 on a 73. Some of the 50's this week have not been tracked so I have no idea what they are. As for the 99 this was coming up with 11279, 19578, 54304 and 54309.

[al_557]

Latest E400MMC's repainted into incomplete distance livery are 10875/76 (YX67VDM/N)

[al_557]

More ex Cambridge E400's have arrived in the shape of 19580/84 (AE10BWN/V) which were on the 905 and 1 respectively. I believe these will oust the last two Elite coaches. 54304 (YX64WCG) is now dumped at the back of the yard at Bedford depot after breaking down in service yesterday. I also saw an E400 freshly repainted into local livery that I couldn't identify. It definitely wasn't 19573 (AE10BWF) as that was my bus into town

[Palatine]

More ex Cambridge E400's have arrived in the shape of 19580/84 (AE10BWN/V) which were on the 905 and 1 respectively. I believe these will oust the last two Elite coaches. 54304 (YX64WCG) is now dumped at the back of the yard at Bedford depot after breaking down in service yesterday. I also saw an E400 freshly repainted into local livery that I couldn't identify. It definitely wasn't 19573 (AE10BWF) as that was my bus into town

Bustimes lists 19579 as also repainted into the new colours.

[al_557]

The latest E400MMC repainted into the base colour of Stagecoach distance livery is 10881 (YX67VDV)

[MIB]

I made a visit up north over the weekend which meant going to St Neots utilising 19087 on the 50 and 19581 on the 0713 Cambridge on Saturday. I was most put out to have one of the old guard on the 905 when winner's 19574 and 19576 did the previous two services. Then the service behind got an orange specimen just to rub it in. It wasn't much better when I got back Monday as I just missed 10803 at MK on the X5 so I had to do 10499 on the next one. Typically 10873 was on the following service.

Today I had to do a food shop in town with 35181 doing the honours on the 50. I had to do winner 19584 on the 1300 9a to Brackley Road for 36043 on an 81 back to make 15608 home on the 1336 50.

Other things noted were 19582 on a 41, 34835 on a 50 with the tracker suggesting 10874, 10879 and 19568 on 99's.

[al_557]

End of an era at Bedford depot with the news that the final coaches based at the depot 54304/09 (YX64WCG/N) have now been stood down and will be transferred to Stagecoach East Scotland. The X5, 99 and 905 are now fully double deck

[rm clippie]

Will we h

[rm clippie]

Sorry

[TCD813]

Will we h

Sorry

Eh?

[MIB]

It appears that I have been lying to myself in my thoughts that 11132 is the only gold bus I have not had on the 50 this year. Looking back at my moves it came to light that I had not had 11130 either. As luck would have it Kettering swapped the gold bus on the 1350 50 chucking out 11130 albeit 20 late. So I was forced to do it losing another 5 minutes at the Sainsbury roadworks fiasco.

Still it did me a favour in greatly reducing my time spent at the rancid bus station. Winner 19580 was on the 1615 1 but the bay was blocked by 19893 which had still not departed on the 1600 1. It was clear I was in a bowl out situation with 19580 sitting outside Iceland and I played safe and legged it to the Square. Sure enough just as I reached the stop 19580 arrived empty to pick us up as the 1600 had still not left.

This was taken to the hospital for the walk over the railway to intercept the 9 at Elstow Road which had been decker 19567 and 19594 in the morning. Tragically for me the service rolled in with joke 36306 wedged. These are the new solos unsuitable for the evening crush. It was endured to Shorts town for second winner 19574 on the 1606 9a from Hitchin.

There was loads of time for a food shop as 22839 on the 1714 50 was showing as 45 late inbound from Rushden. How do they get so late? The 1630 50 following was also 20 down by the time it got to Rushden. 22839 has now arrived and will be over 40 late departing. Traffic currently at a standstill so I could yet be an hour late getting home.

Other piffle about were 19573 on 9's, 19567 on 72, 19594 on 53/ 9/6, 11126/11127/11128 on 50's.

Update: 25 minutes to get from the bus atation to Sainsbury a new personal record for the longest time it has taken me to do this section. 22839 now an hour late!

[MIB]

A meeting in the office today had me back on old route 6 with 37432 and 36041 after doing 18101 on a 50. As 19576 was on the 1240 53 and wanted for travelling on I had it to Kempston for 36065 back on a 1. 22835 was on the 1336 50 home.

Others viewed were 19704 on routes 4/10, 19594 on 53's, 19580 on a 72 and 11135 on a 50.

[al_557]

The latest repaints at Bedford are E400MMC's 10499 (SN65ZHP) into local livery and 10874 (YX67VDL) into distance livery. 10803 (SN66WAE) and 10876 (YX67VDN) have now gained the gold swirls to complete the distance livery. Although I haven't seen 10803 with the swirls myself, my thanks go to "mkrail" on flickr for that info

[MIB]

I had a day in London on Saturday and got back to Bedford for the 2019 50 home and was rather jammy in that it was 11132 being my last gold bus for the year to travel on. Yesterday an appointment in town gave me 18108 on the 50.

Today was rooster booster day at the pure gym and rather fortuitously the 50 to make my appointment was 35224 which was also another year winner. After being jabbed 37435 got me into town on a 6. This conveniently dropped me onto 19567 on the 1412 10 and 1437 return 4 so Goldington once again on the agenda without getting off.

Next up was a return trip to Shortstown on 19890 on a 9. As it happens 19573 came in late on a 5  to form the 15 late 1657 4 so another jaunt to Goldington and back on the  late 1719 10 so I could view people's Christmas lights. The tracker informs me that 15608 is 30 late on my 1814 50 home so I had time to fit in 19597 on the 1815 9 to Elstow Road for 36937 on a 9a back.

To irritate me 19583 has not been out for a few days presumably ill or being redecorated. 19568 did the 1430 9c, 19574 drew the short straw on the 1546 route 6 bratex and 19597 did a 72 then 53. 19582 returned to action on the 1400 to Hitchin. The tracker records 10803 as doing the 1200 1 sandwiched between the X5 and 905.

[al_557]

The latest E400MMC repainted into Stagecoach distance livery at Bedford is 10880 (YX67VDT). 10877 (YX67VDO) should be next in line

[MIB]

Last week I had winner 22841 into Bedford on a 50 and that was as good as it got alongside 18108. Still no sign of 19583 or 19584 so have they been returned to sender as faulty goods or getting some kind of makeover since vanishing last month?

Today I did 34533 on a 50 into town for 19567 on a 53 to Kempston for 19582 on a 53 back. I am presently travelling home on 18101 on the 1236 50. Also out on the 1 were 11279 and 10873 not going a great distance.

[al_557]

Last week I had winner 22841 into Bedford on a 50 and that was as good as it got alongside 18108. Still no sign of 19583 or 19584 so have they been returned to sender as faulty goods or getting some kind of makeover since vanishing last month?

Today I did 34533 on a 50 into town for 19567 on a 53 to Kempston for 19582 on a 53 back. I am presently travelling home on 18101 on the 1236 50. Also out on the 1 were 11279 and 10873 not going a great distance.

E400's 19583/84(AE10BWU/V) are now classed as reserve and are now parked next to the withdrawn Darts at the depot.
E400 MMC's 10877/78 (YX67VDO/P) have both been repainted into distance livery. Just 10879 (YX67VDR) and 11280 (SN69ZPG) to be painted now from Bedford's current allocation of E400 MMC's. However more are due to be transferred in from Cambridge shortly and will need to be painted before entering service and will displace 10 plate E400's which will go back to Cambridge in exchange for them

[MIB]

I have to say I am very annoyed as my record of having every Stagecoach bus to have come to Bedford in service this year all hinges on getting 19583 so it looks like I am going to fall at the last hurdle. Hardly worth transferring to Bedford if storing the damn thing a few weeks later. I remember them doing that with 16056 and 16070 which came here for a pitiful fortnight before they went away again.

Yesterday I got bowled out when 10872 did routes 10/4 and then 6 and 5. I positioned myself to have it on the 10/4 on the next spin only for the swines to plonk it on an X5.

Better luck today though. I did 35182 on the 50 into town and had 19568 on the 1642 10 and 1707 return 4 from Tesco.. As I had time to kill before doing 22832 home on the 1814 50 I did 19577 to the hospital on a 53 returning with 19582 on a 1.

Others observed were 19594 on the 72, 11280 on a 53 and both 10873 and 19573 on the 2/81 diagrams. 10873 was my steed home on the X5 from MK on Monday night.

[MIB]

My final shop before Christmas led me into town on the 50 with 18101. As it would not take long and 19594 was on the 1430 Flitwick 2 I decided to do this to Ampthill Road and cross the railway across the park to the Mile Road stop for 19580 on the inbound 9a.

You would think this would be a simple task but as it turns out it turned into a shambles. First the driver on the 2 failed to stop after I rang the bell so I was held prisoner on board until the last stop before the park and ride. It is all well and good the driver not hearing the ding but why not look at the glowing stopping sign lit up to his left to see the bell had rung?

This meant I had to trek all the way round through Elstow village to reach the Mile Road stop and in typical fashion it started to rain. I reached the stop on a plus 3 and looked at the tracker and 19580 was on time at Harrowden Road shops. 10 minutes elapsed and I was still waiting for the 9a. It does not take 10 minutes to get from the shops to Mile Road and while kicking my heels I had missed 36043 on the inbound 81.

The tracker revealed that 19580 had been stuck at Eastcotts for 5 minutes and next thing I know 37212 had overtaken it on the 9 running 15 minutes behind it so I jumped on that. This meant I lost 15 minutes shopping time so it was a mad dash doing that to make 22839 on the 1541 50 home. So much for having time to kill and a wasted effort walking all that way.

Oh well happy Christmas one and all.

[TCD813]

And to you, too, MIB.

And best wishes for good mental 'Elf' in the New Year.

Keep your spirits up, mate.

[MIB]

An interesting day today as three more deckers reeled in for Tesco routes. I did 15403 on the 50 into town straight onto 10878 on the 1242 10 to Goldington and back on the 1307 4. I then did 19576 on a 1 to the hospital to get into position to photograph the snouts taking another new train for Essex along the branch to Bletchley.

After walking back to the bus station I then did 10803 on the 1457 4 to Goldington and straight back with it on the 1519 10. I didn't have to wait too long to do 19594 on the 1612 10 to Goldington and back on the 1637 4. By now it was dark enough to gawp at everyone's Christmas lights with no expense spared. I am now heading home on 19083 on the 1716 50.

19579 was spare but got chucked out on a 51 to Oakley and then went onto 1's alongside 19573. 19582 was on an inbound 72 and whilst I was on the 1457 4, 10873 sneaked out on the 1510 73.

[Emms1]

My final shop before Christmas led me into town on the 50 with 18101. As it would not take long and 19594 was on the 1430 Flitwick 2 I decided to do this to Ampthill Road and cross the railway across the park to the Mile Road stop for 19580 on the inbound 9a.

You would think this would be a simple task but as it turns out it turned into a shambles. First the driver on the 2 failed to stop after I rang the bell so I was held prisoner on board until the last stop before the park and ride. It is all well and good the driver not hearing the ding but why not look at the glowing stopping sign lit up to his left to see the bell had rung?

This meant I had to trek all the way round through Elstow village to reach the Mile Road stop and in typical fashion it started to rain. I reached the stop on a plus 3 and looked at the tracker and 19580 was on time at Harrowden Road shops. 10 minutes elapsed and I was still waiting for the 9a. It does not take 10 minutes to get from the shops to Mile Road and while kicking my heels I had missed 36043 on the inbound 81.

The tracker revealed that 19580 had been stuck at Eastcotts for 5 minutes and next thing I know 37212 had overtaken it on the 9 running 15 minutes behind it so I jumped on that. This meant I lost 15 minutes shopping time so it was a mad dash doing that to make 22839 on the 1541 50 home. So much for having time to kill and a wasted effort walking all that way.

Oh well happy Christmas one and all.

Belated Merry Christmas to you too! And a happy new year!

[TCD813]

Topic now locked. Please post in Bedford Stagecoach happenings 2022.