With Abus *possibly* closing up this year, it was time to arrange a running day, but with some depots thrown in as well.

The plan was to use all 6 Optare Spectra’s, making the most of them whilst they are still about, and NC Palatine bodied M645 RCP. Abus were working hard to get this ready for the tour, and a week before the tour the vehicle was ready and was going to be the first vehicle of the day.

The depot visit’s were First Bath (Weston Island) and First Bristol (Lawrence Hill & Hengrove). Lawrence Hill was the bonus for the new Scania gas buses that were starting on the Monday (17th Feb).

The first vehicle used from Bath was M645 RCP as planned, this then took us to Bath Weston Island depot and then on to Keynsham Bilbie Green for a photostop (terminus of the route 349) and a bonus vehicle change, bought up by Alan himself, with YG02 FWA.

We went to Abus bottom yard for a change onto AP53 BUS, which then took us to First Hengrove, for a guided tour around the site. AP04 BUS was supposed to be the vehicle swap here but this was unavailable so we returned to Abus top yard on AP53 BUS for a change onto YG02 FWB, which took is to Lawrence Hill.

We were met here by two managers, who were actually on holiday leave but came in especially for us, I’d like to thank them very much for this, as we had a great visit here and had two Scania gas bus vehicles open for us to have a look inside.

We then took a short spin around the city and through the bus station for people to get any numbers of vehicles out on the road, and returned to the Abus yard for a final swap onto YE52 FHF which took us back to Bath.

The trip went very well with 30 attendees, most were local but some came from further afield such as North London, Eastleigh, Carmarthen, Chesterfield and Birmingham.

SPOTTING LOG

Bath Weston Island:

10036
10037
10162
10167
10168
10173
10174
10177
10178
10183
30873
30875
32003
32004
32007
32008
32014
32015
32070
32075
32075
32076
32090
32096
32099
32280
32284
32287
32290
32291
32329
32330
32338
32544
32545
32553
32636
32688
33662
33839
33840
33851
35110
35114
35116
36232
36234
36821
37358
37396
37405
37408
37410
37415
37761
37762
37763
37764
39133
44904
53819
53820
53852
65724
65726
66725
66731
66883
66884
66885
69437
69446
69503
69510

Front garage and front area
10176
10179
32279
32286
33946
33948
33950
35115
36805
37771
44525
66732
66942
69508

Bristol Hengrove:

32249
32260
32345
32546
32619
32620
32623
32624
32625
32625
33061
33062
33064
33072
TN33144
33158
33182
33494
33495
33496
33497
33800
33833
33931
33932
33933
33936
33936
33937
33939
33940
33941
35104
35108
35140
35141
35143
35143
35145
35160
35165
35166
36807
36808
36809
36810
36811
36811
36812
36825
36828
36829
36835
37001
37008
37181
37182
37318
37588
37589
37593
37597
37602
37604
37608
39401
47437
47446
47447
62198
66173
66206
66734
66943
66956

Main Shed (reception)
32331
32334
32548
32621
35167
37317
66724

Bristol Lawrence Hill:

32001
32011
32249
32255
32259
32282
32347
32350
32351
32351
32352
32358
32638
32691
33488
33489
33790
33792
33794
33798
33927
33930
33952
33953
33954
33959
33961
33962
33963
33965
33969
33971
36815
36816
36823
37004
37006
37011
37011
37012
37013
37018
37019
37319
37320
37321
37322
37322
37325
37328
37329
37335
37338
37342
37347
37349
37350
37353
37357
37607
37616
37619
37622
37624
37625
37626
37630
37632
39191
39192
39402
39403
39404
39406
39407
39408
39409
39410
39411
39412
39413
39414
39415
39416
39417
39420
39421
39422
39424
39426
39429
39488
39491
39492
42898
42966
42969
47571

Workshop
32252
32278
37003
37336
42965