Snap on Sunday

Merry Christmas from PTOTHA

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at PTOTHA (well, just me!). Not quite the start I was hoping for I have to admit for this blog, but with a new year's resolution behind me, and a bit of effort, I do hope to increase posts to around the same level PTOTPA used to enjoy before my move to Huddersfield. Learning the new area has taken longer than I expected, with repaints constantly going on, but me not being observant enough to notice individual buses migrating into the new livery and photographing them, but hopefully with the aid of other this can become a more regular feature, as well as being able to note other relevant changes within the local scene. The photo I post for the Christmas message this year is of a frosty terminus for Halifax based Volvo B10BLE, S676 SVU, pictured in Commons at the terminus of the 560. 

Snap on Sunday

Firstly a quick apology from me. Last few weeks have been completely manic with all sorts going on, including my first set of exams at University, something I certainly didn't want to slip up on, considering they're the first of many hurdles. Start as you mean to go on as they say! This has concluded in comparatively little time for the hobby unfortunately, but no matter, I shall attempt to press on! 

Nothing of particular interest unfortunately for this week's SoS, with low winter sun proving a particular challenge for good photography at the moment, but I was relitively pleased with a couple of photos I managed to snap on an afternoon free this week. 

Firstly is this one of First's Volvo B7TL W708 CWR, on the 398 coming up to Storthes Hall. It's lovely how the scene up this road has changed so quickly, and dramatically, causing some lovely change in colour over the past few weeks. It's also quite convenient that this batch of buses are so slow, meaning you have a decent amount of time to compose the shot and fiddle with settings before clicking the shutter! 

The other photo I was quite pleased with, more by fluke, was this one of Huddersfield Bus Company's Optare Tempo, YJ05 XOO. I don't usually like photos this 'front on' so to speak, but this one accidently came out quite well! 

The bus I'd actually gone out with the aim of photographing that afternoon, was HBC's unique Bluebird LMB NK53 TJV. I've been waiting to see this bus out since I moved here, and admittedly  I'd completely forgotten about it, so I was shocked to see it pass by me on Thursday afternoon, so I thought a photo must be had! After some research it does appear that she has been off the road for quite a while, thanks to ongoing issues, but it's nice they've persevered with it! Hopefully I'll get the chance to sample it soon! Apologies for the quality of photo on this one, really wasn't in the right place to get a good shot! 

Snap on Sunday

 Hmmm, another difficult one this week! As the Olympians continue to work into their final few weeks in service (from what appears to be the current withdrawal rate!) I've been taking advantage of them as much as possible. Thankfully, and very conveniently  the University's open day tied in with this quite nicely, and I was able to achieve this shot! The photo shows a trio of Volvos lined up at Storthes Hall Park, with R643 and R644 HYG on open day shuttles, and T661 VWU operating on the normal service 398. Not often you're able to photograph them posed so perfectly! It's becoming increasingly rare to see any at all make it onto the 398, with more B7TLs continuing to arrive in from Leeds. A couple of shots below depict T661 VWU and R638 HYG at various points along Storthes Hall Lane. More can be viewed on my Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11717981@N02/

Nocturnal Nostalgia

This Sunday will see the even popular 'Nocturnal Heart of the Pennines Rally', organised by the Aire Valley Transport Group, return to Halifax for another year. I'm very much looking forward to sampling a brand new preservation scene, and indeed, looking back at previous events, there's plenty of variety to be had! It all kicks off at 12:00 on Sunday at The Piece Hall, continuing on into the evening, finishing up around 19:00. It is hoped that there will be 30 vehicles on offer, operating the services from The Piece Hall to the Sportsman Inn in Ploughcroft. There's variety to tickle anyone's fancy on offer, so it certainly looks like its worth a visit - 5'500 people riding last year can't be wrong! 

By Royale Appointment

Another guest post this week from Nathan Jenner, giving you the up to date information on withdrawals and allocation changes! My sincere thanks go to him for producing this post.

It started Monday morning when I received a text saying 30792 would be withdrawn that evening but despite 2 hours in the cold bus station I couldn’t find it. This is the first Royale to be withdrawn due to the influx of newer B7TL ALX400 and B7RLE Eclipses; at first only the Darts were to be withdrawn but then the news that 30792 R612JUB 30788 R608 JUB and 34045 P245 UCW (palatine 2) with 30792 being the first on the Monday 30788 on Friday and 34045 today but out of the 8 ALX400’s we have, only 3 are on the road. So Monday night 30792 was withdrawn destination removed and ticket machine taken out, but the shock come Tuesday when 30792 was in fact reinstated and the withdrawal of 30788 34045 was suspended until the newer B7TL had all been fixed. 

So myself and James went out to picture the Royales and the elusive 34045 and what a day it was, involving myself falling on some wet leaves but still got my picture. We started the day on 30809 going to Sowerby Bridge then picturing 30844 T664 VWU then 34045 come storming up the hill so we pictured it and moved further up the hill to picture 30844 on its return. We then got 30792 to Commons and returned to Halifax, then went on to Leeds to see the new Gemini 2s. I have included some pictures of the day for you to see. The good news is 30792 30788 34045 have got a longer lease of life but for how long?

Another part for this week’s blog is the transfer of Route 576 from Halifax to Bradford depot with buses 32528-32538 going to Bradford depot to run the route. The first 2 buses transfered on 23/10/2012, 32530 and 32535 and further 2 buses per night. I went out and pictured 30842; 30842 was new to Halifax for the 576 route branded up for the 576 30840-30845, so this Sunday with the 576 transferring to Bradford.  Bradford are losing the 72 to Bramley and FTR’s been used with the slogan “Hyperink”.

A brief encounter

Just as I'd managed to catch up with an old friend from back 'home', so it is that she is taken away from me again - and how prematurely! Dennis Dart R460 CCV was unfortunately within the next batch to be withdrawn and taken away for scrap, pictured here resting before her final journey, in Old Fieldhouse Lane Depot. Somewhat frustrating in that I never actually got to ride on her to 'remind me of home' before she was withdrawn. As Nathan picked up on last week though, its so surprising that all these relitively young, low floor vehicles are being withdrawn up here, while down in Devon and Cornwall, more and more step entrance vehicles have been added to the fleet in recent months, including increasing numbers of the K-LAE batch of Leyland Olympians, and N reg step entrance Dennis Darts from Bristol. Why not send R460 back home to join her sisters, who have returned home to Plymouth after spending time in Barnstaple over the last few years, until its unfortunate closure this month. I'm sure she'd be most welcome!