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With a history stretching back to the Thames Valley Traction Co. the BeeLine Bracknell fleet has a character of its own.
Any similarity with the former London Country via Luton & District Slough Beeline operation added to the Berks Bucks Bus Company under Q Drive ownership in 1993 ends with the paint job. |
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One of the most obvious differences is the almost total lack of Dennis Darts, the only two in the Bracknell stable claim
the honour of being the first production SLF chassis to enter service.
Since one is painted in dedicated livery for the Legoland Shuttle and spends most of its time in Windsor it is perfectly possible to
visit Bracknell without seeing a Dart all day. |
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Full size single and double deckers make up the bulk of the fleet, suplemented by Wright bodied Renault/Dodge minibuses formerly with CentreWest.
The breadvans and other vehicles first used by CentreWest and London Buslines are on the Old Friends page.
Some of the buses here were delivered to other members of the old AlderValley group and migrated to Bracknell before Beeline separated from the main company. |
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Buses of Bracknell |
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The yellow half of Bracknell's brace of Dart SLFs. Photographed March 1999 |
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An independent thinking choice Scania chassis with Northern Counties body. Photographed February 1999 |
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Beeline Leyland Olympians (right) have a slightly different style of Northern Counties body compared to the ex-Buslines examples (left). Photographed February 1999 |
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Parked in Market Street Depot 808(left) 810(centre) 801(right) Photographed February 1999 |
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With over a year to run on the all over advertising contract 803 was fitted with a new engine in April'99. Photographed March 1999 |
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Some of the last Leyland Lynxes built passed to Beeline from Alder Valley. Photographed March 1999 |
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In March 1999 6 Scania ULF Wright Excelsior buses were delivered in full (f)First "Barbie Coach" livery.
Technical and legal problems prevented them entering service until May when they took to the roads with all over advertising sponsored by Legal & General.
One of the new buses, 823, had the distinction of being the first (f)Beeline vehicle to attend a bus rally
when it went to Classic Auto-Motion at Crowthorne on Sunday 16th May 1999.
Lynxes 800 & 803 were retained for service in Bracknell, while the two Mark IIs from Aldershot went to Slough.
Having no resale value but being usefull as buses the remaining four Leylands went to (f)Thamesway, although only two were expected to enter service. |
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Parked in Market Street Depot, 824 as delivered in full (f)First "Barbie Coach" livery. Photographed March 1999 |
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Early days in sevice, 823 with all over advertising sponsored by Legal & General. Photographed May 1999 |
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Beeline do not quite have the monopoly of Bracknell bus services.
Local independents have a selection of routes and school contracts in the spirit of the
"3 Men, 2 Bedford OBs, 1 Dog & half a set of spanners" tradition of village bus operators.
Courtney Coaches' route 53 between Bracknell and Maidenhead via Shurlock Row has variations A,B,C & D depending
on time of day & day of the week and is one of the few non-Beeline services to use the main Bracknell Bus Station.
White Bus Services of Winkfield share an Ascot to Sunningdale route with Beeline, numbered 1 by White Bus and 161 by Beeline.
Both White Bus and Fargo Coaches from Bullbrook in Bracknell run a school days only timetable. |
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Bracknell Independents |
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Regular passengers call this Carlyle bodied Freight Rover "The Icecream Van". Photographed February 1999 |
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A Mercedes minibus gives route 53 a more modern image. Photographed February 1999 |
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The striking decoration was probably applied by a former owner. Photographed February 1999 |
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