Beating the winter blues

12/12/2017 WebSupport Features, Gallery
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Ensignbus’ Running Day at the beginning of December is an important date in the rally calendar, one where the organisers always seem to come up with something new that helps make the event that bit special. 2017 was no exception and David Bell and Kris Lake were amongst the many who went along to experience what was on offer

  • Leyland Tigers of different generations meet at Upminster station on service X21 to Ongar via Brentwood. On the left is the former Ribble Burlingham Seagull-bodied Leyland Tiger Cub that has come from Jones Motor Services of Flint. On the right is the former Southend Duple Caribbean Leyland Tiger. KRIS LAKE
  • Seaford & District provided its well-known former Brighton & Hove 1955 ECW-bodied Bristol KSW6G which worked on route X81 (Shenfield-Tilbury Ferry). DAVID BELL
  • A former Green Line-specification AEC Routemaster that London Buses subsidiary East London used on the Upton Park-based Express X15. It made its Ensignbus Running Day debut in 2012. DAVID BELL
  • As in previous years, Peter Newman was driving this former London Transport 1950 Weymann-bodied AEC Regent III RT-type who was photographed at Lakeside as darkness fell. DAVID BELL
  • Two former London Transport vehicles from the Ensignbus fleet on the X55 (Upminster-Gravesend) were the lowbridge Weymann-bodied AEC Regent III repatriated from the USA and its 1976 Scania Metropolitan. KRIS LAKE
  • This Leeds City Transport Roe-bodied Leyland PD3/5 has been a long-term member of the Ensignbus fleet and is seen arriving at Lakeside on the X81 from Tilbury Ferry. KRIS LAKE
  • Also making its debut at the running day was the preserved CentreWest Alexander AM-bodied Mercedes-Benz 811D that has been exhibited by the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden. DAVID BELL
  • The former Ribble and Jones Motor Services of Flint Burlingham Seagull-bodied Leyland Tiger Cub has only been in the Ensignbus fleet a matter of weeks. KRIS LAKE
  • This Weymann-bodied AEC Regent III RT-type, new in 1950, has been owned by Ensignbus since it was withdrawn by London Transport in 1979 – 38 years. DAVID BELL
  • Working between Gravesend and Upminster on the X55, Ensignbus’ former London Transport 1978 Leyland Fleetline B20 Park Royal which was numerically the last of its type. DAVID BELL
  • Another Seaford & District contribution was this former Crosville ECW-bodied Bristol SC4LK. DAVID BELL
  • Photographed at Lakeside, one of the standard Routemasters in the Ensignbus fleet is this bus which carried Great Northern livery for a time to mark the 50th anniversary of the birth of Routemaster. DAVID BELL
  • The Green Line 1938 London Transport Chiswick-bodied AEC Regal 101T10 that Ensignbus brought back from Australia and restored. DAVID BELL
  • Arriving at Lakeside on the X81 to Tilbury Ferry is Stagecoach South East’s former East Kent 1967 Park Royal-bodied AEC Regent V. DAVID BELL