1998
On the whole, 1998 has been a much quieter year for the group than 1997 was. We did, however, undertake some pretty lengthy trips by Fleetline although not all using our own vehicle.
Sunday 18/01/98 - We kicked off the year with a short journey for 123. This was an evening visit to the Yellow Lion in the nearby village of Apperknowle for a meal.
Saturday 31/01/98 - Another evening out for a meal and into the Peak District this time to the White Lion in the village of Great Longstone.
Saturday 07/03/98 - A return to the White Lion. We had agreed to run a free service to the pub as they were holding a disco in their upstairs function room.
Sunday 15/03/98 - A run around some local routes in the Chesterfield area.
Saturday 18/04/98 - Stagecoach driver Chris Brown drove Stagecoach East Midlands 260, the former Chesterfield Transport 150 (UWA 150S) in service on route 272 from Sheffield out into the Derbyshire Peak District to Castleton. This service is normally a minibus.
Saturday 25/04/98 - A birthday outing this evening out via. Sheffield to the Fox House Inn & The Horns at Holmesfield.
Sunday 03/05/98 - Unfortunately, 123 was found to be unfit to attend the Halifax Heart of the Pennines Rally and TM Travel's UWA 159S was substituted at the last minute. A few trips were made with 159 up to the "Stone Chair" on the hills above Halifax before sampling the other vehicles on offer
Sunday 17/05/98 - With 123 back on the road we set off for Abbey Park in Leicester for the Leicester Mercury's annual rally. The route taken was via. Derby and Loughborough with a stop at "The Clock Warehouse" canal side pub at Shardlow on the return journey.
Tuesday 19/05/98 - We joined Transpire, the Chesterfield Bus Society, aboard TM Travel's UWA 159S to coach operator Burton's of Alfreton. We returned via. the M1 motorway to TM Travel.
Sunday 24/05/98 - The first of our public trips of the year was to the seaside, Skegness on board TM Travel's UWA 159S.
Sunday 28/06/98 - Uttoxeter Race Course for the rally organised by PMT. Not a rally we would recommend as there was a £5 entry fee for each person to enter the racecourse. We returned via. Ashbourne and Carsington Reservoir Visitor Centre for a photo stop.
Sunday 05/07/98 - World of Robin Hood. This trip was organised for the 12th birthday of one of the group members daughters.
Saturday 11/07/98 - 123 was taken to Doncaster via. the M1 and M18 motorways for its annual MOT test.
Wednesday 22/07/98 - Evening Tour to the "Black Lion" pub in the village of Firbeck.
Sunday 26/07/98 - Sandtoft Trolleybus Centre near Doncaster.
Sunday 02/08/98 - We joined Transpire, the Chesterfield Bus Society, on Hulley's ECW bodied Fleetline SCH 117X to Ruddington near Nottingham. There was an half hourly service into Nottingham City Centre operated by two vehicles of interest from the Nottingham Fleet, the unique Northern Counties bodied Atlantean ARC 666T and East Lancs bodied "Sprint" single deck Atlantean OTO 555M. There were also trips out to see the Great Central Railways Northern Extension at Rushcliffe Halt on board open top ECW Atlantean ORC 545P and ECW Bristol VRT RCH 629L (ex. Trent / Northern Bus). On the return journey a stop was made at the former home depot of SCH 117X, South Notts at Gotham.
Saturday 08/08/98 - The preserved Chesterfield Leyland PS1 with Crossley bodywork (JRA 635) visited its home town today and we joined it for a run around its former routes with 123. Afterwards we headed for Peak Rail at Darley Dale for a ride on the Beer Train to Rowsley South.
Sunday 09/08/98 - We joined group member Dennis Vickers on board his Thompson Travel Leyland Leopard YFC 14R to Huddersfield.
Saturday 15/08/98 - Another chance this evening to ride on former Chesterfield Fleetline UWA 150S on Stagecoach East Midland service 272 from Sheffield to Castleton this time driven by group member Steven Crossland.
Sunday 16/08/98 - Public trip to Southport on board TM Travels UWA 159S for the Ribble Enthisiast Club's annual rally. The trip to Southport was via. the scenic Snake Pass. On the way home there was a stop at the "Robin Hood" public house near Hazel Grove for refreshments before continuing the journey home via. Tideswell Moor.
Sunday 30/08/98 - A short run for 123 today to the National Tramway Museum at Crich.
Monday 31/08/98 - After yesterdays short run was 123's longest trip of the year to Longbridge in Birmingham for the Rear Engine Rally. This rally was held on two sites, the other being at the museum at Wythall. A bus service was provided between the two sites using vehicles of interest including former Trent Willowbrook Atlantean ONN 571P, former Derby Alexander bodied Ailsa TRR 814R (originally registered RTO 1R), Walsall short length Fleetline XDH 516G, and former West Midlands Fleetline JOV 613P.
Saturday 05/09/98 - A 21st birthday outing to the "Mires Cafe" and "Three Stags Heads" at Wardlow Mires.
Sunday 13/09/98 - Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield. Vehicles gathered at Chesterfield Town Hall at 10:00 included 123, TM Travels former Chesterfield Fleetline UWA 154S, former Chesterfield Northern Counties bodied Leyland Panther ENU 93H, Thompson Travel Leyland Leopard YFC 14R and former South Yorkshire PTE Marshall bodied Atlantean JKW 331W. On the return journey the opportunity was taken to take 154 to Ashmore's yard for photographs with 124 and 123.
Sunday 20/09/98 - 123 operated a free service today on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council from Herringthorpe Playing Fields to Clifton Park.
Sunday 11/10/98 - Public Trip to Emmerdale on TM Travels UWA 159S. We travelled up the M1 motorway to Leeds to the largest single floor television studio in the world - the Emmerdale studio. After a tour of the sets we had dinner at Harry Ramsdens Fish & Chip Restaurant in Guisley before proceeding to the village of Esholt near Bradford where Emmerdale was previously filmed.
Sunday 18/10/98 - Today was the last day of operation by Hulley's of route X67 from Chesterfield through the Derbyshire Peak District to Manchester. The route was normally worked by minibuses but for the last day, Fleetline SCH 117X was used on the morning journey.
Sunday 25/10/98 - We hired Stagecoach East Midlands Alexander bodied Fleetline OCU 822R (formerly with Sunderland Busways) for the Nocturnal Heart of the Pennines Rally at Halifax. The bus spent the majority of the day parked at the "Stone Chair" before visiting the Piece Hall during the evening before we left for home.
Saturday 31/10/98 - 123 operated a free service on behalf of Bolsover District Council carrying civic dignitaries from the Council offices to Bolsover Castle for the annual fireworks and laser display.
Sunday 08/11/98 - Our third annual public trip to Blackpool Illuminations on board TM Travels UWA 159S. The bus was parked at Blackpool Pleasure Beach before making the journey to Bispham for a run through the famous Blackpool Lights. Traffic was very quiet and we made the journey through the lights in a record time of just 40 minutes before leaving for the journey home.
Sunday 06/12/98 - A sunny Sunday morning so 123 was taken for a run to Bolsover for photographs with the Castle in the background and then on into Chesterfield Town Centre and via. New Whittington back to Staveley.
Saturday 12/12/98 - Our Christmas shopping trip this year was to the Trafford Centre, the brand new shopping and leisure complex in Manchester. The vehicle used was TM Travels Duple bodied Leyland Tiger, B160 WRN.
Sunday 20/12/98 - Our usual Christmas outing took place today but with a delayed start. There had been a hard frost the night before and 123 was parked up behind some of TM Travels deckers, some of which did not want to start. 123 itself had flat batteries and had to be started with jump leads. Almost an hour late we made our way to the Town Hall and then to Sheffield before returning to Staveley to pick up TM's UWA 154S and Alexander bodied Fleetline WDS 112V. Unfortunately UWA 159S had been sent out on a private hire as WDS had flat batteries. We made our way to Stagecoach East Midlands depot at Stonegravels for photographs with their Fleetlines. Even though they are kept under cover, one of the former Sunderland Fleetlines had to be started with jump leads from its sister bus. On the car park there was a line up from left to right of former Chesterfield UWA 154S, UWA 151S, UWA 150S, NNU 123M, Former Sunderland Busways Alexander bodied OCU 819R, TM's WDS 112V and Busways OCU 822R. After returning the TM buses to Staveley we made our way to Apperknowle for Christmas dinner before returning to Chesterfield Town Centre for photographs of 123 under the Christmas Illuminations and Christmas Tree.