August 29th 2017: Fleet Ramblings Fleet Focus Special

Former Yorkshire Traction Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking double decks
✤Stagecoach East Midlands
The number of former Traction Group/RoadCar buses remaining in service with Stagecoach east Midlands has reduced considerably in recent years as investment has been made in both new and mid-life buses.
One of the vehicle types which Stagecoach East Midlands inherited from RoadCar are five batches of East Lancs Vyking-bodied Volvo B7TLs. Eighteen examples remain in service here with a recent fleet rationalisation seeing 14 of the type being based at Skegness (16902/04/05/06/07/08/09/10/11/12/13/14/15/19) with the remaining four at Scunthorpe (16916/17/18/20). Liveries carried include both versions of the InterConnect colours (with purple/gold or purple/lilac colours) as well as standard Stagecoach livery. Application of Stagecoach logos varies and 16911, which has the new-style InterConnect livery but without branding has somehow managed to gain white Stagecoach logos on an off-white back colour - not an ideal combination!
16910 carries standard Stagecoach livery but also carries ‘easyAccess’ and ‘BuggyBus’ logos either side of its destination display. Currently 16906 is awaiting a replacement electronic destination unit and is operating with route numbers on a paper display in the windscreen.
One of our regular contributors Nigel Kirk has paid a visit to Skegness and we are pleased to be able to share a selection of his images.
All images © Nigel Kirk

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