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| May
2005 |
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| When Carlisle
basks in gentle Spring sunshine it's hard to believe that substantial
parts of the city were under water only two months ago. The
Stagecoach Cumberland depot was completely flooded and 84 vehicles have
subsequently been written off. Stagecoach reacted quickly,
drafting in vehicles from around the empire. Regardless of the
fact that many of these buses are mid-life they are well presented and
carry clear temporary destination boards. The sunshine is
truly shining after the rain. |
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| Carlisle city services were
formerly operated by low floor MANs. These have been replaced
by low floor Darts from London such as 34101 (S101WHK) [above
left] and 34139 (V139MVX) [upper right].
These vehicles still carry promotional advertising for London's 2012
Olympic bid [lower right]. |
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| Although many of the
replacement vehicles are standard fare, several oddities are also in
evidence such as 28933 (H433EFT), a Scania 113 from Busways [above
left]; Western 30342 (N426KPS), a Wright bodied Volvo B6LE,
which was acquired with the business of Docherty of Irvine in October 2004
[above right]; Wales 20407 (G67PFR), an East Lancs bodied
B10M originally from Burnley & Pendle [below left]; Busways 13022
(A22HNC), an NCME/Olympian that started life in Greater Manchester [below
middle]; Wales 32986 (L86CWO), an unusual Wright bodied Dart [below
right]. |
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| Despite the catastrophe at
Carlisle depot, other parts of the Stagecoach empire continue to function
as usual. Not all the fleet was lost, with Alexander bodied
MAN 22804 (V804DFV) surviving [upper left]; Western operate
a daily X75 service from Stranraer to Carlisle - 52510 (S860VAT),
Plaxton/Volvo leaves for its home town [lower left]; Cumberland
continue to operate the trunk 300 service to Whitehaven -
Alexander/Olympian 16652 ( R252NBV) is loading in the bus station [right]. |
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| Carlisle is well served by
National Express services on their way to and from Scotland.
Bebb CN54HFK, a Jonckheere bodied Volvo is seen on the (536)
service from Aberdeen to Cardiff [above left]; Ulsterbus BCZ1660,
a Plaxton/Volvo is on the (921) service from Belfast to Birmingham [above
middle]; Sellwyns 107 (YJ04BYH), a Van Hool bodied DAF is on
the (533) service from Wrexham to Glasgow [above right]. |
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| There are plenty of dull
Darts including (clockwise) East Kent 32604 (N604KGF),
Ribble 30668 (L668MSF), Busways 32124 (K124SRH), and Midland
Red South 32706 (K706PCN). There are also a few Volvo
B6's from Western and Fife such as 30651 (L651HKS) [right].
Strangely Carlisle only had one Dart allocated before the flood. |
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| Another standard Stagecoach vehicle to
feature as part of the replacement fleet is the PS-Type/Volvo.
Only one Transit vehicle is on hire - 20838 (P838GND) [left];
nearby Western has contributed a sizeable number of vehicles such as 20592
(M792PRS) [above]. Extensive neighbourly love has
also been offered by Manchester and Busways. |
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| Perhaps one of the more
interesting aspects of the situation is that loan vehicles regularly find
themselve in Scotland on the (79) service to Dumfries and the part (179)
service to Annan. A most unusual Volvo B10B, 21001
(M901DRG) from Busways is seen in Annan [upper left];
Manchester 20994 (R994XVM), a Plaxton/B10M loads at
Whitesands in Dumfries for Carlisle [lower left]; Lancaster 20436
(M236TBV), an Alexander/B10M heads for Annan from Carlisle [right]. |
| Sunshine
after the Rain |
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| All photos taken in March
2005. Click to enlarge. |
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