Saturday 30 December 2017

East Midlands Trains 42384 (30.12.2017)

42131 had been on this particular set but that coach and 42131 changed hands, with 42131 moving to its usual set to replace 42384, which moved to this set, as seen here. 42384 is seen here at Nottingham Station in this partiucular set, the set itself resting in between services to/from London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 41063 (30.12.2017)

For the London St Pancras HST services today, they were set for calling additionally at some of the more intermediate stations, presumably due to engineering works. For this HST set, the refurbishment work on two of the dedicated coaches for this particular set continues, so the set still currently included this first class coach in the standard section of the train, as here illustrates. 41063 is seen here in the standard class section of the train in an HST set, the set itself resting in between services to/from London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 222011 'Honouring Our Veterans WW1 Centenary Sheffield City Battalion 1914-1918/222015 '175 Years Of Derby's Railways' (30.12.2017)

Here is 222011 as it trails 222015 on an extended ten car set as it arrives on platform 1 at Nottingham Station with a terminating service from London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 222007/222018 (30.12.2017)

I think the decision to extend some class 222's to ten cars from five was I think as a result of engineering works or something like that. This train was one particular one to be extended today and here 222007 (222 James Bond) leads 222018 out of Nottingham Station on platform 1 with the 13:05 service to London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 222014 (30.12.2017)

Now lonely with no stablemate alongside it after 222013 detatched from it, this 222 was to work its next service to London St Pancras on its own without 222013 alongside. 222014 is seen here departing Nottingham Station on its own with the 12:05 service to London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 222014 (30.12.2017)

Having detatched from 222013, this went from being a 10 car 222 to a five car 222, meaning 222014 here was to work the 12:05 service to London St Pancras on its own. 222014 is seen here on platform 3C at Nottingham Station waiting time, the next service being the 12:04 service to London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 222013 (30.12.2017)

While this was originally a 10 car set with 222014 and 222013, 5 cars were taken away, leaving 5 cars left, meaning 222013 went on a move presumably to Derby Etches Park, with 222014 being the sole 222 to work the next London St Pancras service, the 12:05 service. 222013 is seen here departing Nottingham Station on platform 3 with an ECS move, presumably for Derby Etches Park.
East Midlands Trains 222014/222013 (30.12.2017)

A bit of a different day for the London St Pancras services as some of the the usual slow services used 10 car 222's on some of their services although this one reverted to a 5 car before the next departure to London St Pancras, leaving 222014 as the sole 222 at the far end of platform 3 to work it, with 222013 presumably heading to Derby Etches Park. 222014 and 222013 are seen here arriving at Nottingham Station on platform 3 with a terminating service from London St Pancras.
East Midlands Trains 222101 (30.12.2017)

Here is another photo of 222101 as it arrives at Nottingham Station for the 13:29 service to Lincoln Central from Leicester.
East Midlands Trains 222101 (30.12.2017)

A rare Saturday service here on the Lincoln/Leicester local stopping service as this particular one used a 4 car class 222. I can only assume this was on hire due to stock shortages although I haven't seen one of these on a service like this lately, so definitely an oddity here! 222101 is seen here on platform 1B at Nottingham Station for the 11:36 service to Leicester from Lincoln Central.
East Midlands Trains 158846/158854 'The Station Volunteer' (30.12.2017)

Here is East Midlands Trains 158846 as it leads 158854 at Nottingham Station, the front 158 to go to Norwich and the rear 158 to detach and terminate, the service coming in from Manhester Piccadilly due to engineering works..
Arriva Rail North 150150 (30.12.2017)

150150. Yes, I said that right, that's because it is! The impossible is the possible here because it might seem impossible to see a 150 with this number but actually it is possible as today demonstrated that! 150150 is seen here arriving at Nottingham Station with a terminating service from Leeds.
Arriva Rail North 150147 (30.12.2017)

Not one, but two 150/1 variants made it onto the Nottingham/Leeds line today, this being one of them! 150147 is seen here arriving at Nottingham Station with a terminating service from Leeds.
East Midlands Trains 158774 (30.12.2017)

Not that much in the way of variety on the Newark Castle/Matlock runs as all services used 153's bar this one, which used a 158, meaning no 156's made appearances. 159774 is seen departing Nottingham Station with the 12:20 service to Matlock.
East Midlands Trains 153374/153313 (30.12.2017)

An interesting sight on a Saturday at Nottingham Station was that of a double dogbox on the Mansfield Woodhouse/Worksop runs! 153374 leads 153313 out of Nottingham Station on the 10:55 service to Mansfield Woodhouse.
East Midlands Trains 158773 'Eastcroft Depot/156498 (30.12.2017)

Some Norwich services today ran as four car sets without dividing at Nottingham Station for some reason. There were some 156's in attendance on the Norwich/Manchester services today actually as well as a 153, so several odd workings were on order. 156498 trails 158773 as it comes in at Nottingham Station, the 158 to go forward to Norwich and the 156 to detatch and terminate. This service started at Manchester Piccadilly due to engineering works. The 156 didn't go onto the next Manchester service as two 158's came in from Norwich for Manchester Piccadilly, so no coupling was required.
East Midlands Trains 156404/158812 (30.12.2017)

Here is East Midlands Trains 156404 leading 158812 as it departs Nottingham Station on the 12:47 service to Manchester Piccadilly, the service terminating there due to engineering works.
East Midlands Trains 153321/158858 (30.12.2017)

Now here's an odd working! A class 153 on the Liverpool service! Mind you it actually wasn't bound for Liverpool Lime Street due to engineering works, meaning it was bound for Manchester Piccadilly with a 158 on the rear having come in from Norwich, so I guess I should actually call it the Manchester Service and not the Liverpool service then! 153321 unusually puts in an incredibly rare appearance on the Manchester service, the train seen here at Nottingham Station on platform 7B waiting to depart to Manchester Piccadilly, 158852 at the rear of the train having come in from Norwich. A rare treat for this 153 then, running the cab where the lights are at the bottom of the train.

Thursday 28 December 2017

Trent Barton 717 (28.12.2017)

One thing the Skylink Express gets a lot of the time now is spare buses as the branded Scania Irizar coaches aren't always reliable vehicles. Today's spare of choice was 717, a purple Volvo Wright-Eclipse Urban for the 'When You Wish Upon A Star' charity, Trent Barton's charity of the year 2016, the bus seen here waiting at County Hall bus stop on Loughborogh Roaf while on a Skylink Express to East Midlands Airport via the A453.
Trent Barton 678 (28.12.2017)

I think this red spare Scania Wright-Solar was on loan to Derby from Nottingham from a short while before coming back to Nottingham again, so just a short loan stint to say the least. 678 is seen back on its base at Nottingham, the bus here seen on the A60 with The Keyworth to Keyworth.
Trent Barton 678 (28.12.2017)

Along with The Cotgrave, The Keyworth also went with a red spare Scania Wright-Solar, as illustrated here. 678 is seen here on Loughborough Road with The Keyworth to Nottingham.
Trent Barton 682 (28.12.2017)

Now then, Trent Barton have two red spare Scania Wright-Solar buses based at Nottingham in this Trent Barton Live style livery and for this particular one, a day on The Cotgrave was on the cards, as here illustrates. 682 is seen here entering Central Avenue in West Bridgford with The Cotgrave to Nottingham.
Trent Barton 682 (28.12.2017)

One bus type that can often elude the Central Avenue area of West Bridgford is a Scania Wright-Solar.  It didn't elude the area today though as one of the red spare variants saw use on The Cotgrave, as here illustrates. 682 is seen here arriving at Central Avenue Shops in West Bridgford with The Cotgrave to Cotgrave.
Trent Barton 682 (28.12.2017)

While I saw this red spare Scania Wright-Solar on The Keyworth on 27.12.2017, today saw this bus on The Cotgrave, as here illustrates. 682 is seen here on Bridgford Road with The Cotgrave to Nottingham.
Trent Barton 118 (28.12.2017)

If you know the 'Who You Gonna Call' theme tune to the 118 advert/adverts, then you'll know the fleet number of this Mainline ADL Enviro 200 MMC because it's 118! 118 is seen here turning left onto Davies Road in West Bridgford with a Mainline to Bingham.
Kinchbus 603 (28.12.2017)

Over on Kinchbus 9, one of the spare Scania Wright-Solar types was put to use on there. 603 is seen here on the other side of the A60 with a 9 to Nottingham.
Nottingham Community Transport KX15 BLN (28.12.2017)

No fleet numbers for the white Optare Solo SR buses currently with Nottingham Community Transport at the moment, so you'll have to rely on the nameplates of the buses rather than the fleet numbers on these! KX15 BLN is seen here turning left onto Central Avenue in West Bridgford with what I believe to be a service to Gamston.
Centrebus 530 (28.12.2017)

No more five counties branding anymore, this ADL Enviro 200 now already finds itself running in plain Centrebus livery. 530 in seen here on the A60 with a 19 to Melton Mowbray.
Centrebus 532 (28.12.2017)

A chance find on Centrebus with this fomer five counties branded ADL Enviro 200! 530 is seen here on the other side of the A60 in preparation for the crossing over Trent Bridge while on a 19 to Nottingham.
Nottingham City Transport 215 (28.12.2017)

Now part of the training fleet, this Scania OmniCity still has its LED insicators intact from its Citylink 2 days. 215 is seen here waiting for the lights to change on Bridgford Road while on a driver training run.
Nottingham City Transport 970 'Iqra Ul-Hassan' (28.12.2017)

After Boxing Day, when Gotham depot was closed, the depot is already back open, freeing up all of the Gotham based buses, such as this Scania OmniDekka. 970 is seen here on Loughboriugh Road with a South Notts 1 service to Nottingham.
Nottingham City Transport 344 (28.12.2017)

The new style spare Optare Solo SR didn't evade the camers on the same route, the navy 3, either today! 344 is seen here on the A60 with a 3 to Clifton.
Nottingham City Transport 375 (28.12.2017)

One such spare bus not to evade the camera today was this 13 plate green spare ADL Enviro 200 on navy 3! 375 is seen here on the A60 with a 3 to Clifton.
Nottingham City Transport 355 (28.12.2017)

Today's Bridgford Bus branded Optare Solo SR on the 8 was 355, seen here turning left onto Central Avenue in West Bridgford with an 8 to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 354 'Helen Richardson-Walsh' (28.12.2017)

Today's Bridgford Bus branded Optare Solo SR was 354, seen here in Central Avenue, West Bridgford with a 5 to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 427 (28.12.2017)

As I was heading home for the day, I managed to catch up with this silver spare bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City on Bridgford Bus 6 for the last time. 429 is seen picking up a passenger or two at Gordon Road bus stop on Gordon Road itself while on a 6 to City Loop
Nottingham City Transport 430 (28.12.2017)

Well then, if there was a good route to find spare buses on today, then it would be Bridgford Bus, which had the majority of the spare buses today by a long shot! 430, a silver spare ADL Enviro 400 CBG City type, is seen here in West Bridgford with a 6 to Edwalton.
Nottingham City Transport 430 (28.12.2017)

Well Christmas may be nearly over, but it doesn't have to be yet as NCT still have their Merry Christmas stickers on their buses, mostly the double-deck ones! 430, a silver spare bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City, is seen in Central Avenue, West Bridgford with a 6 to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 401/430 (28.12.2017)

Only one Bridgford Bus branded bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City bus was on the 6 today with three silver spare variants including the one alongside the branded bus here operating as a result. 401 and 430 are seen side-by-side on Bridgford Road with 6's to City Loop and Edwalton respectively.
Nottingham City Transport 430 (28.12.2017)

I don't know what has happened to the Bridgford Bus branded bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City types but these spare variants just keep on being allocated to the route a lot now! 430 is seen here on Bridgford Road with a 6 to Edwalton whilst covering for a Bridgford Bus branded bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City.
Nottingham City Transport 427 (28.12.2017)

So then, three silver spare bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City types on Bridgford Bus 6, but with 427, 429 and 430 on the route, it wasn't quite numerical order but oh well. So close! 427 is seen here outside Trent Bridge Cricket Ground with a 6 to Edwalton.
Nottingham City Transport 429 (28.12.2017)

A bit of an into-the-sun shot here but here it is of silver spare bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City 429 as it enters Central Avenue in West Bridgford with a Bridgford Bus 6 service to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 429 (28.12.2017)

What a day for seeing silver spare bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City buses on the 6 today with three of them making appearances on the route! 429 is seen here leaving Central Avenue behind in West Bridgford with a 6 to Edwalton,
Nottingham City Transport 429 (28.12.2017)

Three silver spare bio-gas 6's then? Yes and not even one silver spare ADL Enviro 400 CBG City was on there, there was more than that. In fact, there were three on there. I guess three is aplenty for me then! 429 is seen here outside Trent Bridge Cricket Ground as it waits for the lights to change on Bridgford Road while on a 6 to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 429 (28.12.2017)

A silver spare bio-gas infested 6 today with three of these ADL Enviro 400 CBG City types on the route, this being one of them! 429 is seen here outside Trent Bridge Cricket Ground with a 6 to Edwalton.
Nottingham City Transport 427 (28.12.2017)

The Christmas lights in West Bridgford are still up at the moment even though Christmas is over in theory. I expect them to be taken down in the new year though, so probably not too much longer before we see them go. 427, a silver spare bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City type, is seen here in West Bridgford with the Christmas lights still up while on a Bridgford Bus 6 service to Edwalton.

Nottingham City Transport 427 (28.12.2017)

The Bridgford Bus branded bio-gas ADL Enviro 400 CBG City buses for the 6 do tend to be reliable buses on terms of age but today it seems they haven't been reliable as three silver spares of these types like this were on the route with only one branded type like this operating! 427 is seen here on Bridgford Road with a 6 to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 427 (28.12.2017)

While the usually bio-gas operated green 10 had an Optare OmniDekka type on it, the usually bio-gas operated 6 had only these ADL Enviro 400 CBG City types as usual even though three of these types were on the service! 427 is seen here outside Trent Bridge Cricket Ground with a 6 to City Loop.
Nottingham City Transport 904 (28.12.2017)

Oh dear! Looks like this Optare OmniDekka has part of its allover Nottinghamshire Pride advert ripped here! 904 demonstrates this at County Hall bus stop on Loughborough Road while on a green 10 service to Ruddington.
Nottingham City Transport 904 (28.12.2017)

With Optare OmniDekka 904 currently having new Lazzerini seating being trimmed in the bus, I guess this Optare OmniDekka will be one such bus of these types that follows suit as it still has its old GO2 seating. 904 is seen here on Loughborough Road with a green 10 service to Ruddington.