Date: Sunday 04 September 2011
It is our third day in Torquay, and as I wake up and decide to pop down for a cigarette, to see what the weather is doing and as I head out of the front of the hotel, it looks like it will be a glorious day. Today is the Third Annual Torbay Vintage Bus Running Day, and it looks like I will be able to take some photographs today, something I didn't do in June when I visited the Weymouth Running Day, an event which is organised by the same group who has organised today's event, The Devon and Dorset Group. First though, I meet up with Mr WME and Mr UKBuses to have our breakfast. I opt for the English grill again, washed down by Cranberry Juice, but Mr UKBuses seems to be having a problem this weekend and cause more problems at the breakfast table. He asks for coffee, and ends up with tea, and also he doesn't get what he asks for in his English grill. Mr WME and myself have no such problems. After consuming our first meal of the day, we have a quick freshen up in our rooms, and then make our way to Torquay, and the car park at Shedden Hill, acting today as rally HQ.
We arrive just before the start time of 10.00am, so we take this opportunity to have a look around the stalls, before the crowds appear and make it hard to get to look at the photographs. We also make this an opportunity to get photographs of the exhibit buses on show today, just in case the heavens start to come down during the day. It is now just before 10.30am, and the rides today will be boarding along the sea front, so we make our way to see what we can catch. Below is a summary of the trips we caught:
Journey One: 10.40am - Service 28A Torquay Seafront - Hesketh Crescent.
This is being operated by a Ex-Stagecoach Volvo B6LE Alexander ALX200 bodied (P701 BTA - Owned by James Pratt), one of the first low buses to be preserved for future generations.
Journey Two: 11:10am - Service 28A Torquay Seafront - Hesketh Crsecent.
Another visit to Hesketh Crescent but this time in a smaller vehicle. This is being operated by a BayLine Liveried Ford Transit / Carlyle (C526FFJ - Owned by Adam Shuttle). This bus is not a stranger to Torquay streets, as these used to operate in the town as late as 1996.
Journey Three: 12:05 - Service 50 Torquay Seafront - St Marychurch.
This is being operated by the ex-Stagecoach Volvo B6LE Alexander ALX200 bodied bus that we caught for our first journey. As we take our seats, we are told that the owner has to come down from rally HQ to inspect a leak. Upon arrival and a quick engine check, we are told that this journey would be cancelled, due to a problem with the bus, a fair decision as this would have to be repaired by the owner at his own expense, keeping it in service may make the problem worse and more expensive to repair.
Journey Four: 12:10 - Service 109 Torquay Seafront - Preston Down Road (Occombe Farm).
This service is being operated by a Leyland National 2 (FDV 829V - Owned by Graeme Selway). I am no stranger to this bus, as this picked us up at a wet Weymouth bus stop, saving us from getting drenched even further, and it was a pleasure to catch this bus again today. Even the spare tyre is still on the bus by the back seat. This was also a pleasant service it was operating on, going up the Paignton hills enabling us to view splendid views across Tor Bay before reaching Occombe Farm.
We arrive back at Torquay, and the driver informs us that he is going back to rally HQ, and that we could stay on if we wished. We took this opportunity to stay on the bus and take some more photographs around the Sheddon Hill Car Park - it also meant that we saved some shoe leather walking the distance from the sea front bus stop. We do indeed take more photographs, and it was a good decision as there are more vehicles available to photograph since more have turned up since this morning. The sun is still shining and we are also a bit thirsty, so before we make our way down to the sea front, we decide to use the short cut on the car park to the Beefeater pub, "The Belgrave" situated next door to wet our whistles, see picture right. We all order a coke which is more refreshing than alcohol, and was much needed as the sun was now shining away. There is a service due out at 14:05, which we want to catch, but this morning were unable to as the bus operating was jam packed with no room left for us, so we decide to make our way down to the seafront to ensure that we get this journey. It looks like everyone else has the same idea as there is quite a few people gathering. When we were at rally HQ, we found out which bus would be operating, so we keep a look out for the vehicle to come down to the stop. We are standing right at kerbside, and we spot the bus coming, so we ensure that we are at the front, and it works out that the bus pulls up with the door right in front of us. There are quite a few people on board already upstairs, they shouldn't really have been let on at rally HQ, and this means that there are less seats available. Everyone else has noticed this too, and as we are about to board, we are push and shoved around, but the trio manage to get on and find a seat, even though it is a bit of a squash. The behaviour of some people trying to get on has put a little bit of a downer on a good day so far, and cannot believe that people will resort to that kind of behaviour. This was also the same type of behaviour of an open top vehicle a few minutes previously, which could have turned out badly and ended in an injury as a woman had tried to get on the bus by trying to jump onto the open platform before the vehicle had stopped, she nearly ended up flat on her face. After ensuring that all the places were filled, the bus departed:
Journey Five: 14:05 - Service 118 Torquay Seafront - Kingswear
This popular service is being operated by a Bristol VRT / ECW Bodied vehicle (ATA 563L - Owned by Terry Bennett). This is another vehicle that is no stranger to Torquay streets, as it has operated stints with Devon General whilst in passenger service.
We arrive at Kingswear, and after having being squashed in for a while, we take the opportunity to have a breather off the bus before we have to make our way back to Torquay. At this point Mr WME decides that he wants to spend a bit more time at Kingswear to have a further look around the town and get a few more photographs. So, Mr UKBuses and myself say goodbye to him for a bit and will meet up with him upon his return to Torquay. Kingswear is a distance from Torquay, so we head back through the country lanes offering splendid views as we go, and after approximately forty minutes, we arrive back at Torquay, where after alighting, we head back to the stop at the seafront, and we decide to catch the next bus that turns up.
Journey Six: 15:45 - Service 135 Torquay Seafront - Broadsands
Considering that this is a Vintage running day, what turns out to be our last journey of the day, the bus running on this service turns out to be one that has been supplied by the rally sponsors, Stagecoach South West, and is a MAN 18.360 / Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 (WA59 FWW) which entered service in 2009, this bus is currently sporting a park-and-ride livery for Exeter, and after stopping at Broadsands, where a photograph is taken, the bus returns back to Torquay, it is just after 16.30pm, and the rain has started (which has held off whilst the rally has been taking place), so as we pass the hotel, the driver kindly drops us off and we have a little sprint to avoid the drops and arrive back at the hotel. We decide to have a drink in the bar, see picture left, and at about 17.20pm, Mr WME returns from Kingswear and joins us as we finish off our drinks. We decide to go back to our rooms to freshen up before we meet up again and visit Torquay for some food.
We meet up back in reception, and we head outside to the bus stop, with the bus arriving shortly after, we board and Mr UKBuses and myself purchase a Stagecoach NightRider ticket, which turns out to be cheaper than buying a return ticket from the hotel to Torquay. With the tickets purchased, we expect to see KITT and Michael. We arrive in Torquay and first on the agenda is food, so a curry is decided and we have a look at a restaurant that I spotted earlier in the day when we caught one of the rally buses, and decide to have tea in Curry Ocean. The restaurant is situated by the harbour in Victoria Parade, so we have splendid views whilst eating. After taking our seats, we all order and Mr UKBuses ensures that he gets his poppadoms tonight. Food finished, we head a few steps down along the harbour and into a pub recommended by Claire at the hotel, Seamus O'Donnell's. This pub is an Irish themed pub, with memorabilia placed all over the pub, and also seems a popular place. We find a seat in what seems to be an alcove / snug, and looks like it is being redecorated seeing as there is no carpet on the floor in this area of the pub. We finish our drinks and have a walk around to the other side of the harbour. The temperature has dropped and as we make our way back to The Strand, we decide that it is a good time to head back to the hotel, so we wait at the bus stop for our last Stagecoach South West Service 12 bus on this holiday. Whilst waiting, the Bristol VRT we had caught to Kingswear earlier, decides to pull up, where the driver and a few people on the bus decide to alight and take a few pictures of the bus parked up in the stop, and it is a good sight to see this bus in the dark illuminated by the interior lights. Our bus turns up, and we head back to the hotel, where we decide to have a few drinks in the hotel bar before heading up to bed. Before I go to sleep, I decide to pack my suitcase, so that I don't have to rush around last thing in the morning.
After a good night's sleep, I wake up to have my morning cigarette outside the hotel, a view that I have liked over the last few days, looking over Tor Bay, and we all meet up to have our last breakfast, another thing which I am going to miss. Mr UKBuses doesn't have any problems with his last breakfast, after eating our breakfasts we all head off back to our rooms to finish packing and we all meet up in reception, passing our keys to Claire for the last time. We head out of the hotel for the last time, and we make our way to Torquay railway station where a lot of people must be heading back home as there are quite a few passengers waiting to board. I ensure that I am okay for the journey, by having my last cigarette outside the station. It is 10.12am and our train arrives and we board and our seats reserved are the same seats that we came down on. There are people in our seats but we let them off as they are getting off at the next station, and after they have alighted we jump into our seats for the journey back. After a few hours we arrive at Birmingham New Street, where we say our goodbyes to Mr WME who is staying on the train to Wolverhampton. Mr UKBuses and myself alight and luckily, we only have to walk a few stops to the next platform where a London Midland train will take us to Smethwick Galton Bridge. Upon arrival at Galton Bridge, we head to the upper platforms, and wait for our connecting train to Stourbridge Junction. The new Class 172 trains start operating today, but as we see our train pull in it is sadly a Class 150, so our shiny new train experience will have to wait. We arrive at Stourbridge Junction where mommy SBI pulls up and gives us a lift back home.
I've had a lovely weekend with glorious weather, glorious hotel (and staff), glorious settings, glorious area and lastly glorious company. I will definitely be coming back to Torquay in years to come, it is just sad that we have to come back at all.
We arrive just before the start time of 10.00am, so we take this opportunity to have a look around the stalls, before the crowds appear and make it hard to get to look at the photographs. We also make this an opportunity to get photographs of the exhibit buses on show today, just in case the heavens start to come down during the day. It is now just before 10.30am, and the rides today will be boarding along the sea front, so we make our way to see what we can catch. Below is a summary of the trips we caught:
Journey One: 10.40am - Service 28A Torquay Seafront - Hesketh Crescent.
This is being operated by a Ex-Stagecoach Volvo B6LE Alexander ALX200 bodied (P701 BTA - Owned by James Pratt), one of the first low buses to be preserved for future generations.
Journey Two: 11:10am - Service 28A Torquay Seafront - Hesketh Crsecent.
Another visit to Hesketh Crescent but this time in a smaller vehicle. This is being operated by a BayLine Liveried Ford Transit / Carlyle (C526FFJ - Owned by Adam Shuttle). This bus is not a stranger to Torquay streets, as these used to operate in the town as late as 1996.
Journey Three: 12:05 - Service 50 Torquay Seafront - St Marychurch.
This is being operated by the ex-Stagecoach Volvo B6LE Alexander ALX200 bodied bus that we caught for our first journey. As we take our seats, we are told that the owner has to come down from rally HQ to inspect a leak. Upon arrival and a quick engine check, we are told that this journey would be cancelled, due to a problem with the bus, a fair decision as this would have to be repaired by the owner at his own expense, keeping it in service may make the problem worse and more expensive to repair.
Journey Four: 12:10 - Service 109 Torquay Seafront - Preston Down Road (Occombe Farm).
This service is being operated by a Leyland National 2 (FDV 829V - Owned by Graeme Selway). I am no stranger to this bus, as this picked us up at a wet Weymouth bus stop, saving us from getting drenched even further, and it was a pleasure to catch this bus again today. Even the spare tyre is still on the bus by the back seat. This was also a pleasant service it was operating on, going up the Paignton hills enabling us to view splendid views across Tor Bay before reaching Occombe Farm.
Journey Five: 14:05 - Service 118 Torquay Seafront - Kingswear
This popular service is being operated by a Bristol VRT / ECW Bodied vehicle (ATA 563L - Owned by Terry Bennett). This is another vehicle that is no stranger to Torquay streets, as it has operated stints with Devon General whilst in passenger service.
We arrive at Kingswear, and after having being squashed in for a while, we take the opportunity to have a breather off the bus before we have to make our way back to Torquay. At this point Mr WME decides that he wants to spend a bit more time at Kingswear to have a further look around the town and get a few more photographs. So, Mr UKBuses and myself say goodbye to him for a bit and will meet up with him upon his return to Torquay. Kingswear is a distance from Torquay, so we head back through the country lanes offering splendid views as we go, and after approximately forty minutes, we arrive back at Torquay, where after alighting, we head back to the stop at the seafront, and we decide to catch the next bus that turns up.
Journey Six: 15:45 - Service 135 Torquay Seafront - Broadsands
We meet up back in reception, and we head outside to the bus stop, with the bus arriving shortly after, we board and Mr UKBuses and myself purchase a Stagecoach NightRider ticket, which turns out to be cheaper than buying a return ticket from the hotel to Torquay. With the tickets purchased, we expect to see KITT and Michael. We arrive in Torquay and first on the agenda is food, so a curry is decided and we have a look at a restaurant that I spotted earlier in the day when we caught one of the rally buses, and decide to have tea in Curry Ocean. The restaurant is situated by the harbour in Victoria Parade, so we have splendid views whilst eating. After taking our seats, we all order and Mr UKBuses ensures that he gets his poppadoms tonight. Food finished, we head a few steps down along the harbour and into a pub recommended by Claire at the hotel, Seamus O'Donnell's. This pub is an Irish themed pub, with memorabilia placed all over the pub, and also seems a popular place. We find a seat in what seems to be an alcove / snug, and looks like it is being redecorated seeing as there is no carpet on the floor in this area of the pub. We finish our drinks and have a walk around to the other side of the harbour. The temperature has dropped and as we make our way back to The Strand, we decide that it is a good time to head back to the hotel, so we wait at the bus stop for our last Stagecoach South West Service 12 bus on this holiday. Whilst waiting, the Bristol VRT we had caught to Kingswear earlier, decides to pull up, where the driver and a few people on the bus decide to alight and take a few pictures of the bus parked up in the stop, and it is a good sight to see this bus in the dark illuminated by the interior lights. Our bus turns up, and we head back to the hotel, where we decide to have a few drinks in the hotel bar before heading up to bed. Before I go to sleep, I decide to pack my suitcase, so that I don't have to rush around last thing in the morning.
After a good night's sleep, I wake up to have my morning cigarette outside the hotel, a view that I have liked over the last few days, looking over Tor Bay, and we all meet up to have our last breakfast, another thing which I am going to miss. Mr UKBuses doesn't have any problems with his last breakfast, after eating our breakfasts we all head off back to our rooms to finish packing and we all meet up in reception, passing our keys to Claire for the last time. We head out of the hotel for the last time, and we make our way to Torquay railway station where a lot of people must be heading back home as there are quite a few passengers waiting to board. I ensure that I am okay for the journey, by having my last cigarette outside the station. It is 10.12am and our train arrives and we board and our seats reserved are the same seats that we came down on. There are people in our seats but we let them off as they are getting off at the next station, and after they have alighted we jump into our seats for the journey back. After a few hours we arrive at Birmingham New Street, where we say our goodbyes to Mr WME who is staying on the train to Wolverhampton. Mr UKBuses and myself alight and luckily, we only have to walk a few stops to the next platform where a London Midland train will take us to Smethwick Galton Bridge. Upon arrival at Galton Bridge, we head to the upper platforms, and wait for our connecting train to Stourbridge Junction. The new Class 172 trains start operating today, but as we see our train pull in it is sadly a Class 150, so our shiny new train experience will have to wait. We arrive at Stourbridge Junction where mommy SBI pulls up and gives us a lift back home.
I've had a lovely weekend with glorious weather, glorious hotel (and staff), glorious settings, glorious area and lastly glorious company. I will definitely be coming back to Torquay in years to come, it is just sad that we have to come back at all.
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