Old Mr. Lowes had a Farm...

[JFO]

...and on that Farm he has some Stagecoach Buses!

Hi Everyone, I get to the Maidstone Area fairly regulary as there is allways something to see, and as some of you may know the Maidstone Area is Farming Country and with lots of workers, there are lots of Farm Workers Buses to see many of which are ex Stagecoach, and acording to Google Maps Satalite Imagery many of those in Farms use in the Maidstone Area can be found around Five Wents, Langley, Sutton Valence, Coxheath and in particular Mereworth.

I have now visited Mereworth a few times and in September 2019, after finding someone to ask at the main Farm gate I was given Full Permision to do some shots by the Yard Manager and the Site Owner, who were both more than happy for me to do these shots (which were taken with supervision), especially as I had made the effort to seek permision from them, and they were also more than happy for the shots to be published, and a Big Thank You should go to all the very friendly staff at Lowes who could not have been more pleasant.

In total on my visits there have usually been up to 11 vehicles in use with Lowes Transport, including the 6 709D's, 1 PS B10M, 3 Volvo Olympians and 1 Leyland Olympian, I have listed below.

40129 L329YKV ex Stagecoach in Warwickshire.
40550 M350JBO ex Stagecoach in Devon and Wales.
40553 M353JBO ex Stagecoach in Devon and Wales.
40501 N501RVK ex Stagecoach in the North East.
40729 N729RDD ex Stagecoach in Hampshire and the Forest of Dean.
40960 N960NAP ex Stagecoach in East Kent and still had a "Dover & Deal £4.50 DayRider" sticker in it front window.
20598 M598OSO ex Stagecoach in Devon and Aberdeenshire.
16632 P232VCK ex Stagecoach in the Hampshire and Ribble.
16050 R150VPU ex Stagecoach in Devon and London and still painted for Roselyns Buses of Cornwall.
16292 R292HCD ex Stagecoach in Hampshire and East Kent.
14603 F603MSL ex Stagecoach in Fife Scotland.

[Nicholas King]

Very useful – thank you.

Can N960 NAP please be confirmed?  It is recorded as scrapped by Hardwick, Carlton by 12/13.  However, 963 is known to have been with Lowe last summer.

Also not sure that R292 HCD was ever with East Kent?

 

Nicholas King

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[Michael Wadman 2]

I have R292 HCD as new to Stagecoach South (later Hampshire Bus) at Winchester and staying there until sold in 2017. Never with East Kent.

 

Michael Wadman

Sutton, Surrey

 

See my flickr account at https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelwadman/

 

 

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[JFO]

While riding the Arriva Route 7 Bus back towards Maidstone on Saturday, on the A26 approaching Hadlow we passed a PS B10M Bus 20744 K744DAO which is yet another ex Stagecoach vehicle now in use with Lowes Transport at Mereworth to transport their Farm workers and is still painted for Mc Colls Buses in Scotland, and in the morning I was also surprised to see another new arrival in the Farming world, an ALX300 Bus W414JAT still in full East Yorkshire Buses Paint loading up at a farm turning, but it was not possible to get a shot as the Arriva Route 7 Bus I was ridding overtook it on the A26 between Mereworth and Hadlow.

[Chris]

K744DAO was indeed with McColls at some point, but that livery is actually based on that of Howards Travel Group/Springfield Bus and Coach, of Warrington. See photo on Flickr here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/40706822@N08/5039667924/

Chris

[JFO]

While in the Maidstone Area on Saturday, having seen things while passing through several times lately, I felt it was time to make another visit to Mereworth, and while I did not see that ALX300 Bus W414JAT still in full East Yorkshire Buses Paint I'd seen from the Arriva Route 7 Bus in August, while walking up the B2016 Road I once again encountered Lowes Transport PS B10M Bus 20744 K744DAO roaring up Seven Mile Hill, and I think it may have seen better days as I noticed that its interior cab door was being held shut with a bucket of Apples.
Also seen at Lowes was another PS B10M Bus 6 20363 N763CKY, seen parked up with their ex Stagecoach in Devon and London Volvo Olympian Bus 16050 R150VPU which is still painted for Roselyns Buses down in Cornwall, while at their "PackHouse" down the hill, their ex Stagecoach in Devon and South Wales 709D Buses 40550 M350JBO and 40553 M353JBO were visible from the B2016 Road along with a Blue ex Stagecoach J reg Leyland Olympian and Dash Dart Bus.
Finally to confirm Nicholas Kings reports from 2019, while waiting at a bus stop near Mereworth I also saw Lowes ex Stagecoach in East Kent 709D Bus which is indeed 40963 N963NAP but I couldn't get a shot due to traffic.

[JFO]

While driving to and from Tonbridge on Saturday, I stopped off in Mereworth again, where no visit would be complete without a walk passed Lowes Farm, and while walking up the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill I once again spotted Lowes Transport PS B10M Buses 20744 K744DAO and 6 20363 N763CKY, while at their "PackHouse" down the hill, their ex Stagecoach in Devon and London Volvo Olympian Bus 16050 R150VPU which is still painted for Roselyns Buses of Cornwall, was seen parked up with 4 of their 709D Buses, a Dash Dart Bus and a Blue ex Stagecoach Leyland Olympian 21 14988 K238NHC, which was snapped from the public pavement of the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill with permision of two farm workers.

[Neil Gow]

I think those with fleetnumbers are a hangover from when they worked with another farmer in Cornwall. Chepstow Classic supply the vehicles to both groups of farmers. N763 CKY doesn't look any different to when I photographed it on hire to Cotswold Green in December 2014.

Neil G.

[JFO]

Thanks Neil, and while in Mereworth on Saturday 8th, naturally I did some more shots and while walking up the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill I spotted Lowes Transport recently arived ex Stagecoach in East Kent PS B10M Bus 20642 N642LPN: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51166504763/, with their ex South Yorks Transport/First Group example 6 N763CKY parked up nearby, while at their "PackHouse" down the hill 2 of their 709D Buses 40550 M350 JBO and 40553 M353JBO were seen with permision from a public foot path I hadn't noticed before: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51167051074/, and were parked up with their ex Stagecoach Sussex Coastline Leyland Olympian 21 14988 K238NHC and a more recently arived Leyland, 14484 D384XRS still painted for Lawsons Buses in Northamptonshire: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51166504768/, which were also snapped from the public pavement of the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill with permision of two very pleasant farm workers who even complimented me on my English!

[JFO]

While driving to and from Tonbridge on Saturday, we stopped off in Mereworth again where no visit would be complete without a walk past Lowes Farm, and from the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill we once again spotted Lowes Transport ex Stagecoach in East Kent PS B10M Bus 20642 N642LPN: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51258110888/, parked up with recently arrived ex Stagecoach Scotland PS B10M Bus 20792 M792PRS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51258952005/, which was also seen driving along the A26 towards a farms site located behind the  depot of Starline Coaches, who's yard we saw them drive through.

[JFO]

While exploring the country on Saturday 24th I found myself in Mereworth again, and from the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill I spotted Lowes Transport's recently arrived ex Stagecoach Scotland PS B10M Bus 20792 M792PRS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51333554529/, which was seen with their also recently arived ex Stagecoach Leyland 14484 D384XRS that is still painted for Lawsons Bus & Coach of Corby in Northamptonshire whose legals it still wears: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51333829335/, and was captured turning out onto the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51333829310/.

[JFO]

While driving back from Tonbridge on Saturday, we stopped off in Mereworth yet again because its like a "force field" that prevents me from just driving past, and from the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill we once again spotted Lowes Transport ex Stagecoach in East Kent PS B10M Bus 20642 N642LPN parked up with their recently arrived ex Stagecoach Leyland 14484 D384XRS that is still painted for Lawsons Bus & Coach of Corby in Northamptonshire: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51394056804/, while their also recently arived ex Stagecoach Scotland PS B10M Bus 20792 M792PRS was captured turning out onto the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51393326221/.

[JFO]

Thanks to Neil Gow's recent postings, as I was nearby I felt compelled to return to Mereworth on Saturday 11th, and Lowes 709D 40553 M353JBO and ex Stagecoach in East Kent PS B10M 20642 N642LPN were seen parked up with their recently arrived ex Stagecoach South Volvo 16502 R502UWL: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51449826603/.

[JFO]

While driving to Tonbridge on Saturday 6th, we stopped off in Mereworth yet again as the "force field" sucked me in, and from the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill we once again spotted Lowes 709D 40553 M353JBO, ex Stagecoach Scotland PS B10M Bus 20792 M792PRS and their recently arrived ex Stagecoach South Volvo 16502 R502UWL: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51660850645/, which were parked up with a Volvo that might be more familiar to Neil Gow and Michael Wadman, Plaxton Derwent Volvo 184 TIL1184 new to Tillingbourne Buses of Surrey as K101XPA and still painted for Tappins Buses of Oxfordshire: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51660651724/.

[JFO]

While exploring North and Mid Kent on Saturday 5th, we stopped off in Mereworth as the "force field" sucked me in yet again, and from the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill we once again spotted Lowes 709D 40553 M353JBO and their recently arrived ex Stagecoach South Volvo 16502 R502UWL: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51864234566/, while at another Lowes Farm Site near Swanley (which is crossed by a Signposted Public Footpath) we found 4 more of their 709D's, 40550 M350JBO, 40717 N717KAM, 40729 N729RDD and 40731 N731RDD, the later still painted for Emsworth & District Buses in Hampshire: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51864559319/.

[JFO]

While driving to and from Tonbridge on Saturday 30th I stopped in Mereworth yet again, and saw that Lowes ex Stagecoach South Volvo 16502 R502UWL has been joined by a rather familiar 709D, ex Stagecoach in East Kent 40958 N958NAP: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52039841387/, which I'm told once ran out of Dover...

[JFO]

While driving to and from Tonbridge on Saturday 11th I passed Mereworth yet again, and saw that Lowes ex Stagecoach South Volvo 16502 R502UWL has been joined by yet another ex Stagecoach in East Kent expat, PS B10M 20832 P832FVU: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52139619920/, which ran out of Dover and if I recall correctly was the last active B10M we had at East Kent.

[JFO]

While exploring the Countryside on Saturday 30th I couldn't not return to Mereworth could I?, and while walking up the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill I captured Lowes ex Stagecoach in East Kent 709D 40963 N963NAP: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52252745295/, and then at the top of the hill I saw their recently arrived ex Stagecoach PS B10M 20816 N816DNE parked up with Chepstow Classics Buses Volvo 16145 R145EVX: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52252258363/.

[JFO]

While exploring the Countryside on Saturday 17th naturally I returned to Mereworth, and while walking up the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill I captured Lowes ex Stagecoach Scotland PS B10M 22 20792 M792PRS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52365159788/, and then at the top of the hill I saw that Volvo 16502 R502UWL has returned and has been joined by another 709D ex Stagecoach Glouster CtiyLine 40717 N717KAM: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52365354930/, while their recently arrived ex Stagecoach PS B10M 20816 N816DNE was also driving around but snuck up on me as I started to walk back down the hill...

[JFO]

While in Mereworth on Saturday 3rd of June 2023 naturally I checked in on Lowes again, and Volvo's 16502 R502UWL and 22 20792 M792PRS were present, and also atached are a few shots from 2022 mainly to show a few ex Stagecoach in East Kent vehicles I have seen there.

[JFO]

While in Mereworth on Saturday 29th, I saw that Lowes had ex East Kent 709D 40963 N963NAP driving around, and then while driving along the B2016 Road Seven Mile Hill, I spotted their ex Stagecoach Scotland PS B10M 22 20792 M792PRS turning out of a field ahead of me and pulled over for a shot.

[Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup]

While in Mereworth on the 16th naturally I looked in on Lowes Farm again, and from a Signposted Public Footpath I spotted an ex Merseyside Wright N588CKA parked up, while out on the road Lowes had ex Stagecoach in East Kent 709D's 40958 N958NAP and 40963 N63NAP, ex Stagecoach South Volvo 16502 R502UWL, and their latest PS B10M arival Ex Stagecoach in Lancaster 20457 M457BCW.

[JFO]

While in Mereworth on the 27th naturally I walked passed Lowes Farm again, and Volvo 16502 R502UWL, PS B10M 22 20792 M792PRS and 709D 40129 L329YKV were seen at the top of the hill, while from a Signposted Public Footpath I spotted several more recent arivals, including ex Dublin Bus Volvo P488UFM which I had previously seen with Brooks Farms at Graveney near Faversham, and their latest PS B10M arival ex Roselyns Buses of Cornwall's SUI1478 and Stagecoach in Warwickshire 20226 R226CRW.

[Neil Gow]

SUI 1478 clearly not roadworthy. I wonder what it's doing there as I doubt they do any heavy maintenance themselves, with Chepstow Classic swapping in replacement vehicles as required (M792 still displays the fleetnumber of one of the Cornish farms also supplied by Chepstow).

[JFO]

When I returned on the 15th, I saw that the Roselyn's SUI1478/R226CRW and M792PRS have been replaced by the oldest PS B10M I have ever seen at Mereworth, 20700 K700DAO which I belive was the first PS B10M delivered to Stagecoach, and I captured it climbing Seven Mile Hill and then again at the top of the hill with ex Stagecoach in East Kent 709D 40963 N963NAP and ex Dublin Bus & Plymouth Target Bus Volvo P488UFM which was previously with Brooks Farms at Graveney near Faversham, for company.