LATEST NEWS
Not much to report as this is usually a quiet time of year for Quicksilver, with several vehicles out on tour over the Christmas period and others in the workshop for routine maintenance. In fact it has not been a busy year with only nine additions to the main fleet since January, and disposals have outnumbered arrivals. Volvo B10M/Plaxton A246 CRE (formerly SIL 4322) is another vehicle sold to Premier Coaches, rejoining its former stablemate G565 MWX there, while a dealer stock Leyland National is to go to London & Surrey after Christmas.
Exactly a month since the last update and the main fleet news concerns Arden Forest Coaches. An additional school contract was taken on at short notice in mid-November after its previous operator pulled out abruptly. A double-decker is required and with no such vehicles in the fleet, arrangements were hurriedly made to borrow Fleetline NFC 805W from the Padbus Preservation Partnership; fortunately its green and white Padbus livery is all but identical to AF's own colours! The Fleetline ran here for about three weeks, by which time a suitable vehicle had been sourced from Quicksilver's dealer stock: this is former Anglia Travel Metroliner 1001 VT, now numbered 10 and still in its original three-tone green livery with the name 'River Colne'.
The pace of vehicular additions has slowed down in recent months as the fleet has reached what we consider to be an optimum size of around 100 vehicles. Just one change to report is the surprise disposal from the heritage fleet of Bombardier UVV 745Y; this had been out of use for some time with mechanical problems and although it was hoped to have it returned to the road for the Birthday Rally this didn't happen due to difficulties in sourcing parts. It has found a good home with Kingston Travel who have promised to give it the attention it deserves. Coming from Kingston in exchange is rare Willowbrook Spacecar-bodied Bedford YMT LYU 549P, which is in need of some restoration work but will hopefully be on the road in time for the 2010 rally season.
The Birthday Rally proved to be a great success and a full report with photos can be found here. Many thanks to all of the model fleet operators who supported this most enjoyable event. There is just one fleet addition to report, a surprise which was unveiled at the rally: open-top RF-type AEC Regal MLL 936. This is a replica of Quicksilver's very first vehicle with which operations commenced back in September 1999; the original was scrapped years ago and this replica was built in secret by the workshop staff working from memory alone as no photos exist. It took centre stage at the event and is officially part of the heritage fleet but may see occasional use as a backup for our other open-toppers.
As is customary, the open-top fleet were in use again for the annual Tinglewick Christmas Parade, Routemaster NMY 653E transporting the brass band and the others positioned around town as static viewing platforms. The ERF snowplough has been out at work for the first time since its acquisition in March, doing sterling service keeping the depot accesses clear of snow, although conditions have not been as bad as the heavy snowfalls of February.
That's it for this year so it only remains to wish all readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and hope that you will continue to follow Quicksilver in 2010.
5 December 2009
Another contract won at about the same time is for the new Sunday service on the Stratford-upon-Avon park and ride, hitherto operated Monday to Saturday only by Johnsons of Henley. This is contrary to the company's initial statement that stage services were not to be operated but was seen as an excellent opportunity. Although officially awarded from December 1, this being a Tuesday means that tomorrow (December 6) is the first day of operation. Two low-floor vehicles have been sourced for this route: 34 (R34 ADL) is a Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 formerly with AJ Tours of Rugeley, and 51 (PR51 AFC) is a re-registered Optare Solo, both having been obtained from dealer stock. They are expected to see use on school contracts during the week.
The Quicksilver coach fleet has not changed since the last update, but the continuing success of the wedding car hire venture launched earlier this year has meant the arrival of an additional vehicle in the form of an Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire registered 601 SDP. There have also been three new additions to the Local Collection.
5 November 2009
The four 12-seat minibuses withdrawn in 2005 and stored in dealer stock since then have all now found new homes and will hopefully be departing shortly. Citroens D121 TUD, E802 ETA and E803 EBK have been sold to Redline Travel, while Fiat D450 SDF is going to Cleveland Coaches along with Albion Coachways' Volvo/Plaxton ALZ 9661. Finally, the fire brigade and Local Collection have also seen some very small additions!
11 October 2009
The Links page of this site has also been updated as a number of model fleet operators now have websites which are listed here.
