Trivia : Open top buses that have appeared on non tourist services

[Strathclyder]

As part of a summer ad campaign in 2017, McGill's put their then newly converted to open-top DAF DB250/Gemini X23 BUS (G6906) to work on the 17 (Glasgow - Paisley via Partick, the Clyde Tunnel, QEU Hospital, Cardonald & Paisley Road West) in July of that year. Can't imagine many open-toppers have gone through the Clyde Tunnel in normal service! I believe this motor has also worked on select Greenock/Gourock local services as well during the summer months.

(attached images are my own)

 

[KGGXXXY]

Pretty Sure Lothian operated an open topper on the 26 route a good few summers ago, at least 8 years ago when I lived in Edinburgh.

 

[Teapot42]

Hulleys of Baslow indulge in this now and again, the open topper that runs on their "Breezer" service at weekends sometimes sneaks out onto regular services midweek, usually the 170 Chesterfield-Bakewell.

I think the 170 is the only route it can be used on, and even then I have a feeling it omits the Old Brampton section, all due to low hanging branches.

As an aside, other than the sheer cost of rebuilding the body, is there any reason why there are no single-deck open tops? You'd need to raise the passenger section as the driver would of course need cover, but they'd be much more widely usable in the countryside where trees are more of an issue.

 

[Flange Squeal]

I think the 170 is the only route it can be used on, and even then I have a feeling it omits the Old Brampton section, all due to low hanging branches.

As an aside, other than the sheer cost of rebuilding the body, is there any reason why there are no single-deck open tops? You'd need to raise the passenger section as the driver would of course need cover, but they'd be much more widely usable in the countryside where trees are more of an issue.

While there have been some in use in the not too distant past, such as the Mendip Mule Bristol RELL6G 'TDL 564K' and West Coast Motors/Quantock Motor Services Volvo/Alexander PS 'R928 XVM', I can only presume they are deemed to have limited appeal. Particularly with the need for service buses to comply with PSVAR regulations, I guess half the passengers would be sat very low to the ground so require a heavily cut down side but still have quite limited vision - both forwards and sideways? At least with a decker, you don't have a chunk of the forward view blocked by the driver and bulkhead etc?

Alpine of North Wales run a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter type minibus with movable glass sides and roof that I think slide forward (see the below photo). I guess this sort of vehicle benefits from a higher floor, as vehicles of such low capacity aren't required to comply with PSVAR accessibility regulations so the step entrance to a higher floor can be gotten away with. The walls along the main attraction are also, I'd say, much lower than some country hedges. Just my thoughts though!

Photo of a current Great Orme Explorer minibus: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/52168123448/

 

[padbus]

I think the 170 is the only route it can be used on, and even then I have a feeling it omits the Old Brampton section, all due to low hanging branches.

As an aside, other than the sheer cost of rebuilding the body, is there any reason why there are no single-deck open tops? You'd need to raise the passenger section as the driver would of course need cover, but they'd be much more widely usable in the countryside where trees are more of an issue.

I think the reason that there are no open top single deckers these days is because modern low-floor buses do not have a proper chassis. Whilst they may have an underframe, the body is a vital part of the structural integrity of the vehicle with the roof being an essential part. Without the roof, the structural strength of a single decker would be lost. Double deckers have more more bodywork, including between the decks, so the roof can be safely removed.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Last year Beestons used an open topper on the 91, it's supposed to be coming back this year following the removal of the centre door and some other mods.

Mods in progress:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/x10lynxman/52969259741/

Last year:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/southlancs/52288765372

 

[Bayum]

There used to be open top buses on the Lands End routes in Cornwall.

 

[nw1]

Badgerline's Bath Tour open-top VRs used to appear regularly on normal services in the early-mid 90s, presumably off-season in particular. They closed the top, of course. Seem to remember one journey on the 177 or 179 (Paulton Circular) mid-morning was particularly prone to one, and one of the peak 18s to the University (could have been the same working, can't remember now!)

 

[Deerfold]

As an aside, other than the sheer cost of rebuilding the body, is there any reason why there are no single-deck open tops? You'd need to raise the passenger section as the driver would of course need cover, but they'd be much more widely usable in the countryside where trees are more of an issue.

T J Walsh TJ 20 Ford Transit B20 TJW (Britain's First Open Top Minibus)

Explore Matthewburton28's 49429 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[EnviroExplorer]

Surprised no one has mentioned preserved open toppers that can appear just about anywhere, not limited to tourist areas

 

[ajrm]

I think the 170 is the only route it can be used on, and even then I have a feeling it omits the Old Brampton section, all due to low hanging branches.

As an aside, other than the sheer cost of rebuilding the body, is there any reason why there are no single-deck open tops? You'd need to raise the passenger section as the driver would of course need cover, but they'd be much more widely usable in the countryside where trees are more of an issue.

Open-top vehicles tend to be used in applications where the view is important, so a double-decker is generally better. Also, at the risk of stating the obvious, a double-decker provides somewhere undercover for when it starts raining.

 

[JD2168]

There was one today in Cleethorpes. Stagecoach B7TL Gemini open top 16962 (YJ04 FZC) appeared most of today on service 9 through Grimsby & Cleethorpes with the fan roaring away. Normally only used on service 17 during the summer months.

 

[318266]

I believe this motor has also worked on select Greenock/Gourock local services as well during the summer months.

The route 547 has its own interesting history, however it slowly wound down in service until after COVID when it became a summer-only service with a couple ClydeFlyer deadruns thrown in for the winter. Then after the summer of 2022 it was quietly shelved, leaving Gourock with a paltry half-hourly service to Greenock.

 

[scosutsut]

Pretty Sure Lothian operated an open topper on the 26 route a good few summers ago, at least 8 years ago when I lived in Edinburgh.

More recently it's been East Coast Buses 124 that's gotten them - the Longniddry to North Berwick section being particularly deserving of the treatment on a nice summer's day - although having less spare OTs these days might restrict that now.

 

[dvboy]

There was an open-top bus doing the Wimbledon station shuttle service for The Championships on Monday.

 

[busken]

Reading Buses' "Rooftop Bus" V524 ESC has been known to pop up on cross-town route Purple 17 in periods of prolonged nice weather.

Was in use on the Purple 17 yesterday. Not announced, so it was a pleasant surprise when it turned up, I was going into town anyway!

 

[ACBest]

There was one today in Cleethorpes. Stagecoach B7TL Gemini open top 16962 (YJ04 FZC) appeared most of today on service 9 through Grimsby & Cleethorpes with the fan roaring away. Normally only used on service 17 during the summer months.

Both of them out today on the 9, looks like they’ve been out pretty much every day for a week on the 9/10 circuit!

So far have only had to duck for one tree!

 

[Beemax]

Reading Buses' "Rooftop Bus" V524 ESC has been known to pop up on cross-town route Purple 17 in periods of prolonged nice weather.

It was actually operating on the 17 last Friday, though the nice weather unfortunately didn't prolong until the next day.

 

[Towers]

I have to say I dislike the current fad of ‘partial’ open toppers with the front of the upper deck enclosed, it reduces the impact of riding on an open topper quite significantly IMHO!

On the subject of open topped single deckers, Southern Vectis had a novel idea with their “Shanklin Steamer”, a Northern Counties Paladin bodied Volvo B10B which had the last few rows of its side windows removed to create a sort of ‘toast rack’ style effect; not an open topper but quite quirky! Link to a Flickr image of said vehicle, K125 BUD, below. It is now preserved and currently serves as a cafe seating area inside the Isle of Wight Bus Museum.

Southern Vectis 5625 - K125 BUD - the Shanklin Steamer emerges from Chine Avenue Shanklin

www.flickr.com

 

[Flange Squeal]

I have to say I dislike the current fad of ‘partial’ open toppers with the front of the upper deck enclosed, it reduces the impact of riding on an open topper quite significantly IMHO!

I must admit I’m put off by partial open toppers myself too, but I guess from a business point of view if leisure passengers are still tempted by the novelty then it must work. I guess full open toppers aren’t always weather friendly and partial tops may still help attract custom when the weather isn’t being friendly. Seven Sisters Bus & Coach can be pretty good in actually swapping vehicles during the day on their Eastbourne Sightseeing route if the weather changes one way or the other as the day goes on, which is pretty impressive customer service.

 

[busken]

I must admit I’m put off by partial open toppers myself too, but I guess from a business point of view if leisure passengers are still tempted by the novelty then it must work. I guess full open toppers aren’t always weather friendly and partial tops may still help attract custom when the weather isn’t being friendly. Seven Sisters Bus & Coach can be pretty good in actually swapping vehicles during the day on their Eastbourne Sightseeing route if the weather changes one way or the other as the day goes on, which is pretty impressive customer service.

I agree, I don't particularly like partial open toppers, or even those with just a front window, but I assume in these days of Health and Safety, "proper" open toppers like Southdown's Queen Marys could be problematic vis a vis low trees etc.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Yorkshire Buses will be running Viscount Travel’s open-top Leyland PD2 LRV 992 on their White Rose Centre - Leeds - Horsforth route on Monday 24th July, to mark the route’s extension. Their publicity says usual fares apply, including concessionary passes and M cards, with the money going to the Cash for Kids charity. It will operate from White Rose Centre at 0900, 1100, 1400 and 1600, and from Horsforth at 1000, 1200, 1500 and 1700. More info can be found on their Facebook post:

Service 29 from 24th July 2023

From Monday 24th July 2023 we are making some changes to service 29, it will still continue to run hourly but will be extended at both ends of it's current route buses will now serve The White Rose Centre travelling direct from Hunslet along Dewsbury Road.

Leaving The White Rose buses will serve Hunslet Shopping Centre and then along existing route via Leeds Dock, Leeds Bus Station City Centre, The Universities, Hyde Park the service will then continue to Headingley, West Park, Old Otley Road, Tinshill Lane, Horsforth Station and Horsforth.

We also have something a little bit special on the first day!

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...RcQU9P4B5STGuobXs9XaNRiLwl&id=100084845648980

 

[jp4712]

How would you characterise the Stagecoach Cumbria 78 service, Keswick - Seatoller? This uses open toppers throughout the summer and indeed many/most users are walkers and trippers. But it’s also a genuine end-to-end service, once the haunt of Bristol MWs and Leyland Nationals. Perhaps on balance it’s a tourist service, I’m not convinced that otherwise the tiny hamlet of Seatoller would justify a 30-minute headway!

 

[RELL6L]

How would you characterise the Stagecoach Cumbria 78 service, Keswick - Seatoller? This uses open toppers throughout the summer and indeed many/most users are walkers and trippers. But it’s also a genuine end-to-end service, once the haunt of Bristol MWs and Leyland Nationals. Perhaps on balance it’s a tourist service, I’m not convinced that otherwise the tiny hamlet of Seatoller would justify a 30-minute headway!

It is both. It certainly takes people staying along or near the road in Borrowdale to Keswick, it also takes walkers and trippers from Keswick out to many possible walks easily accessible from the road and to Seatoller. But it is also a tourist attraction in good weather with people just enjoying the ride.

I think the 599 is similar, it undoubtedly carries lots of genuine traffic along the route and also gets tourists just out-and-back to enjoy the experience.

This must apply to many routes though, Atlantic Coaster, Land End Coaster etc.

 

[Titfield]

There was a Purbeck Breezer Open Topper on the GSC M2 service showing Southbourne at Poole Bus Station this morning (Thursday 13th July) at about 10:35.

 

[Snapper37]

City of Oxford motor services open top VR 301 saw frequent use on the park and ride services in the day.

 

[Ken H]

It is both. It certainly takes people staying along or near the road in Borrowdale to Keswick, it also takes walkers and trippers from Keswick out to many possible walks easily accessible from the road and to Seatoller. But it is also a tourist attraction in good weather with people just enjoying the ride.

I think the 599 is similar, it undoubtedly carries lots of genuine traffic along the route and also gets tourists just out-and-back to enjoy the experience.

This must apply to many routes though, Atlantic Coaster, Land End Coaster etc.

I think the winter service is much sparser, reflecting it becomes a service mainly for locals.

Wonder why Langdale does not get the same treatment in summer.

 

[341o2]

There was a Purbeck Breezer Open Topper on the GSC M2 service showing Southbourne at Poole Bus Station this morning (Thursday 13th July) at about 10:35.

Happened a few times, the problem is that if there is nothing else available, then a branded bus will appear on a different route, so at least something ran. The situation should ease at the end of next week when the school contracts cease for the summer months

 

[Whiteway215]

Badgerline's Bath Tour open-top VRs used to appear regularly on normal services in the early-mid 90s, presumably off-season in particular. They closed the top, of course. Seem to remember one journey on the 177 or 179 (Paulton Circular) mid-morning was particularly prone to one, and one of the peak 18s to the University (could have been the same working, can't remember now!)

Yes you are absolutely right, the convertible VRs on the Bath Tour were reroofed in the winter and used on normal services.

Another journey they worked was an afternoon service from Ralph Allen School to Bathford.

Sometimes they also worked on the 3 Bathford to Foxhill. I remember catching one to Foxhill on a particularly wet winter evening. I remarked to the driver it was a good thing the roof had been put back on! She replied that because this VR leaked so badly anyway it didn’t make much difference if the roof was on or off!

 

[Dave W]

Badgerline turned out a few on the Weston-Burnham buses in the mid 90s (I want to say the route was 112, but I'm guessing)

I remember, as a young whippersnapper, always looking out for one - I think I rode on 1, between Brean and Burnham.