Early Morning Maidstone: Nu-Venture selection

[Chris]

I dragged myself out of bed at a time rarely seen since commuting stopped on 11th June and took my trusty steed into Maidstone for some early morning photography. 

It would be just my luck that it was the dullest morning in weeks, which was both advantageous in removing any issues with sun in King Street, but disadvantageous in producing light levels closer to March than June. If Maidstone is bad enough during the day for people and other vehicles, it seems to be even worse in the morning peak, so there is plenty of "street scene" too, I'm afraid!

The first selection is of Nu-Venture services: E200 821 is seen approaching the Cannon on the sole working of service 25A, which starts from Chainhurst and runs via Yalding and Gallants Lane to the town centre and London Road schools. 

Ex-Lothian 145 is seem a few minutes later (avoiding the same people at the bus stop behind me, and with the same parked car in the way) on the sole working of the 7, which has since been withdrawn, to Oakwood Park. Introduced after the withdrawal of the 88, passenger numbers were limited (indeed, on this day was carrying nobody at this point). 

Finally, all-white Volvo WVL239 is seen on the 555, unusually (in comparison to most other services) turning left out of Pudding Lane. As this service is not scheduled to stop at the Cannon, or indeed anywhere in the town centre (non-stop between Wateringbury and West Station, and West Station and the eastern Schools), it can take advantage of various routings to avoid traffic; on this morning, Earl Street and Pudding Lane was clearly faster than Fairmeadow and Cannon. 

Unfortunately, my pictures of the 554 and the Nu-Venture journey on the 5 weren't sharp, so I'm going to have to try again! 

Chris

[Chris]

I clearly decided one early morning wasn't punishment enough, and a little over a month later on 8th July, repeated the exercise and tried to fill in the gaps!

Former Lothian 145 appears again, this time on the lesser-spotted Nu-Venture working on the 5, which starts in Cranbrook and forms one of many closely-timed workings to handle the Maidstone peak and schools traffic. It is captured here making the turn from Mill Street into Palace Avenue. 

DE498 was acquired a little under two years ago from The Green Bus, and as well as the shade of green, are notable within the fleet for their different destination displays, offering a larger variety of customisable colour offerings. It's captured here at a particular verdant Cannon on the 554, which essentially operates the same route as the 555 from West Malling and Kings Hill, but serving the Huntsman Lane schools rather than the Boys' Grammar. 

Last in this trio is WVL372, which retains the livery of former operator Ellie Rose of Hull. It is seen approaching Cannon from the east on the 527, which operates from Marden and Linton along the line of regular route 27, extending in both directions to Oakwood Park. 145 approaches behind Not in Service heading for the Earl Street stands - this would have been the 7 working as pictured above before withdrawal. 

Chris

[Chris]

This post generated a little bit of behind the scenes discussion as to the heritage of WVL372. Although it was recorded at the time as being direct from Ellie Rose of Hull (via Cambridge Bus & Coach as a dealer), it transpires that it should actually have been recorded with CB&C as the previous operator, as now updated in the August Invicta. 

Whilst Cambridge Bus & Coach did acquire a number of vehicles from Ellie Rose in a dealer capacity (hence the misattribution), they had a short-term need for additional fleet members for their (school) services and it was used in service by them as an operator. Although I didn't specify precisely in the original post, it may help to note Ellie Rose was a former operator, and not the former operator! 

Thanks to those involved in setting the Club records straight! 

Chris