MAIDSTONE
JUBILEE BUS DAY |
NORTH
KENT VEHICLE PRESERVATION GROUP |
As well as a display of buses at the West Station, Nu-Venture substituted its regular vehicles on many of its journeys on commercial services 78, 79, 82 between 1000 and 1600, and a few journeys on services 13, 58, and 89. A Saturday service was in operation on most Nu-Venture routes, with a normal Monday to Friday Non Schoolday service on routes 79 and 82.
Services 50, 51, 58, 78, 79, and 82 all called at the West Station bus stops on route to their destinations. Services 13 and 89 departed from the Town Centre.
On the classic vehicles, conductors returned to collect fares as in the old days. These were welcomed by regular passengers. Whilst the classic vehicles were working the off peak journeys the Nu-Venture vehicles were displayed at the West Station car park along with the others.
Route 13 | Hollingbourne to Maidstone via Leeds and Langley Heath |
Route History: Nu-Venture first began operating route 13 during April 2002. The normal vehicles allocated to the route have been the Leyland National Greenways, and more recently one of the ex Metrobus MetroRiders.
| Just one round trip was operated with a classic vehicle on route 13. Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard (EKJ 448K) once operated by Maidstone & District worked the 1237 from Maidstone and the 1316 back from Hollingbourne. It
was caught by the camera outside Maidstone West |
Jubilee Route 50 | Maidstone Town Centre Circular |
Special
service 50 was operated only on Jubilee Bus Day. It operated a circular service
around the and through the Town Centre providing the opportunity to ride on a
variety of classic buses and for those who parked their cars in the town centre
car parks or arrived by bus from other parts of Kent.
Cobham Bus Museum provided their RTL139 (KGK 803) for three trips, Sullivans Routemaster (69 CLT) and Titan (OHV 747Y) providing one trip each, The Chatham Dockyard Leyland Leopard one trip, with the first trip of the day being operated by Nu-Venture's own National 2 (XFG 29Y). Pictured on the right is Cobham's RTL (KGK 803) taking a break between journeys at Maidstone West Station. |  (click on photo to enlarge) |
| Sullivan Buses Leyland Titan (OHV 747Y) operated the 1400 departure on service 50 from Maidstone West Station complete with destination blind. It wears the special gold Leyland livery that it wore when new in 1983. It is pictured later in the afternoon after operating the journey, at Maidstone West Station. |
Jubilee Route 51 | Chatham Dockyard to Maidstone West Station |
Special service 51 was operated only on Jubilee Bus Day. Just one journey in each direction was operated to enable visitors from the Medway Towns to get to the event. Chatham dockyard Atlantean (558 LKP) was used on both journeys.
Route 58 | Trottiscliffe to Maidstone via Maidstone Hospital |
Route History: Nu-Venture first began operating this route during 1986. Then it was operated jointly with Farleigh Coaches and it was marketed as 'Farleigh-Venture'. Nu-Venture's contribution to the route consisted of ECW bodied Bristol RE (ECG 108K). The route was withdrawn in the Spring of 1991. During the years that followed Farleigh Coaches operated the route using Leyland Nationals. One of these (SAE 758S) was displayed at the West Station for the Jubilee Bus day event. After an eleven year break Nu-Venture regained the route and from April 2002 began operating it again. This time the regular vehicle has become Leyland National 2 (XFG 29Y), however during the first few months Mk2 Bristol VR (GNJ 573N) operated on the route.
Again just one round trip was operated with a classic vehicle on route 58. due to the low bridge at West Malling station a single deck vehicle had to to operate on it or a low height double decker. Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard (EKJ 448K) was once again used and operated the 1451 from Maidstone Town Centre and the 1542 back from Addington Green. The vehicle being of the same age as the bus once used by Nu-Venture on the service.
It had been intended to use the Nu-Venture fleetline on the day, but during the week before it became unavailable for service, and had to be replaced by a single deck vehicle due to the low bridge at West Malling. The vehicle scheuduled as replacement was Dennis Dart (N3 FPK), although not a classic vehicle, it provided a different vehicle for use on the 58 for the day. Here the bus is seen approaching Queens Monument nearing the end of its journey from Trottiscliffe. |  Photo taken by: Richard Thomas (click on photo to enlarge) |
Route 78 | Maidstone Hospital to Maidstone via Queens Road |
Route History: Nu-Venture first began operating the route during June 1992 taking the route over from Boroline of Maidstone. The early vehicles on the route were Talbot Pullman minibuses and a mk1 Leyland National acquired from Boroline of Maidstone. Many timetable revisions were effected over the years and variations to the route. from 1993 the route was extended beyond Banky Meadow to serve the Maidstone Hospital. To celebrate 10 years of Nu-Venture operation of the service the route was re-launched in a ceremony at the Barming 'Bull' during February 2002. A Dennis Dart (On display at the West Station for the Jubilee Bus Day event) was treated to 'Best Bus in Barming' vinyls for dedicated use on the route. from the same time a Saturday timetable was introduced.
Route 78 saw classic vehicles operate on most journeys through the day. As a Saturday timetable was in operation buses operated every hour. Two classic vehicles operated on the route.
| Sullivan
Buses provided Park Royal bodied AEC Routemaster (69 CLT) for the day. It spent
most of the day on route 78, complete with the regular Nu-Venture '78 driver'
acting as conductor for the day. It operated four round trips between the Hospital
and Town Centre. It was caught by the camera hospital bound, loading at the Maidstone West Station bus stops. |
Blue Triangle provided their Park Royal bodied AEC Regent lll RT3871 (LLU 670) for the day. It spent most of the day operating on other routes, but finished up operating two round trips on service 78. It is pictured here at the Maidstone Hospital terminus of route 78 with its conductor standing alongside. |
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The Peak journeys were operated by 'normal' Nu-Venture vehicles. Although not regular vehicles on the route. Nu-Venture fielded one of the low floor Dennis Dart SLF's (R720 BNF) normally allocated to the Hoo depot for routes 113 and 114. The first and last journeys extended to and from Trottiscliffe were worked by an Optare MetroRider.
Route 79 | Penenden Heath to Allington via Maidstone Town Centre |
Route History: Operated by Nu-Venture since 1996 during the peaks, the following year saw a Monday to Friday daytime service introduced hourly through the day. The early vehicles operated were Leyland Nationals until 2000 when a Dennis Dart was aquired for the service.
A normal Monday to Friday service operated on this route. The three mid-day journeys on route 79 were operated using classic vehicles. The ex Maidstone & District Leyland Leopard (EKJ 448K) operated one return journey.
| Blue Triangle RT RT3871 (LLU 670) operated two round trips. Nu-Venture schueduled 'normal' vehicles for all the other journeys. These included Mercedes and Optare minibuses, a Dennis Dart and a Leyland National. Here we see the RT loading up Allington bound on the bus stops outside Maidstone West Station. |
Route 82 | Park Wood to Maidstone Hospital via Maidstone Town Centre |
Route History: Nu-Venture began operating early morning journeys on route 82 from 1996. In 1998 a daytime service and vehicle (XFG 29Y) were taken over from Bygone. During 1999 the frequency was increased adding a second vehicle to the 82 run out, a year later the early morning journeys were withdrawn. Minor timetable revisions have taken place since. The regular vehicles since 1999 have been Leyland Olympian (TPD 103X) until 2001 and since then Leyland Titans.
A non-schoolday Monday to Friday timetable operated on this service which saw most journeys between 1000 and 1600 operated by classic vehicles.
| Chatham Dockyard owned ex Maidstone & District MCW bodied Leyland Atlantean (558 LKP) operated two round trips and is seen loading in King Street, Maidstone under the Christmas lights bound for Maidstone Hospital via the West Station and Tonbridge Road. Blue Triangle's RT3871 (LLU 670) also operated one round trip on this service. |
In addition to the above vehicles Sullivan Buses gold Leyland liveried Leyland Titan T747 (OHV 747Y) operated three round trips. The Leyland Titan being very similar to the vehicles normally used by Nu-Venture on the route. Seen here about to stop at the Queens Monument on route to Park Wood. |
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Nu-Venture provided ex Brighton & Hove Leyland National 2 (XFG 29Y) for some peak journeys for the day. This vehicle was aquired from Bygone buses along with route 82, and was the first Nu-Venture vehicle to operate on the route. It rarely sees use on route 82 now, and returned to it especially for the day. Various other peak journeys were provided by Dennis Darts.
Route 89 | East Farleigh to Maidstone via Coxheath |
Route History: Nu-Venture first operated this route early mornings from 1996. A year later an evening service was registered. In 1998 daytime journeys on the route began every hour during the mornings. The next year it was extended to operate hourly all day. The regular vehicle in the early days were Mercedes-Benz minibuses.
Two afternoon round trips were operated by classic vehicles on this route which was operating every hour to a Saturday timetable. One round trip was operated by ex Maidstone & District Leyland Leopard (EKJ 448K) and the other Leyland Atlantean (558 LKP) both owned by the Dockyard and in Maidstone & District livery.