Paignton Visit

Former Southport Corporation Leyland Titan FFY403 on a sightseeing tour

Yesterday I paid a visit to Paignton to take some pictures of the incoming Cathedrals Express hauled by steam locomotive Nunney Castle and to observe the local bus scene.

We left the car outside the guest house and decided to 'work off' the cooked breakfast by walking there along the coast road and footpath. It took in excess of half an hour to get to the station

Local Link Optare Solo at Paignton Bus Station awaiting its next working

after consuming a cappuccino on the pier

As we were entering Torbay Road to access the commercial area, Leyland Titan PD2/3 FFY403 turned in front of us. It was built for Southport Corporation in 1948 and subsequently converted to an open top. In 2013 it was acquired by Riviera Sightseeing Tours of Torquay who was operating it on the one hour and thirty minute tour around the 

Stagecoach Optare Solo WA59CRZ works the Foxhole service

English Riviera

After a short visit to the Dartmouth Steam Railway to witness ex GWR steam loco 4277 Hercules running around it's train, I visited the neighbouring bus station. I immediately espied an independent Local Link Optare Solo YN53ELU laying over among the numerous Stagecoach buses. One of the latter was another Optare Solo 47695 WA59CRZ, 

Volvo Olympian M832HVC on a Rail River Link service

employed on the FOX service to Foxhole.

Also seen was Rail River Link Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian M832HVC operating a service. The bus has previously seen use in Cambridge as a demonstrator and more recently
 with Finglands and East Yorkshire
Motor Services

Finally, I observed the bottom half of ex Portsmouth Corporation Leyland PD2 LRV992 peeping out of a building on the site. The open topper was painted in Devon General colours

I then retraced my steps in time to get some photos of the steam train arriving prior to heading back to Torquay by bus