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The newest large bus operator (so I'm
excluding LCB Travel) to serve Harlow is
TWH Bus & Coach. The TWH stands for Travel with Hunny, after the
proprietor. Following a period concentrated on private hires and TV work
outside of the area covered by this site, there followed a period of association
with Imperial, but from September 2008 TWH elected to operate in its own right.
The initial service 55 competed with Imperial's H1, but was later scaled
down as the "North Weald Flyer" following a vigorous response from
Imperial. From September 2009, route 392 was taken up for one year. The
North Weald Flyer then disappeared, but there was then a change in
fortune when in December 2009 Imperials H1 was withdrawn, and the 55 was
reborn.
Vehicle variety, as can be seen below, has generally been quite high.
| BMC Falcon 1100 There aren't many of these to be found, but two consecutively registered examples arrived as the regular vehicles for the start of route 392. A third has followed. I am told that the ride quality is excellent. |
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| CN04XCK CN04XCL CN04RFZ |
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Red has replaced blue, so far at least. "XCK" is seen during the first week. (R Hudson). | |
| Scania L113/Alexander
Strider Two former Stagecoach Scania's were acquired as the backbone of the 55, and both carried route branding for the service. Perhaps unexpectedly, two different body styles were chosen. The Alexander example is below. |
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| . | M953DRG |
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Smartly repainted and branded before entering service, TWH "953" makes quite a striking an impression as it swings out of Harlow Bus Station. (R Hudson). |
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The same vehicle in service outside Epping Church. Given that this is the first day in service, a reasonable load is evident. (Russell Young). | ||
| AEC
Routemaster The roots of TWH are in private hires, as featured on their website. Suiting the TV and wedding/event type of work that is publicised, two Routemasters are owned. Clearly neither of the registrations are the originals. |
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Where this is a novelty for the launch, or whether more operations are planned is unknown, but RM909 is seen here in revenue earning service on the 55 in the first week of the reintroduction. (R Hudson). | ||||
| Leyland Olympian/Northern
Counties A double decker was used to operate Saturday service L55, but has also seen use on the first incarnation of the weekday 55. The vehicle was once owned by Kentish Bus as part of the fleet used on London services along the Lea Bridge Road, coincidentally including a route 55. Once duel doored it has now been converted, and also fitted with an LED display. |
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| G551VBB |
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A little more blue and less gold is featured on the double deck version of the 55 livery. Note the US highway route sign logo also used. (R Hudson). | |
| Leyland Olympian/Alexander
RH A later arrival, seen after the 55 had morphed into the NWF (North Weald Flyer), but with 55 showing on the side and rear, is this one-time Lothian vehicle. |
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| J847TSC |
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Sporting TWH livery, and looking as those an LED screen is in the process of being fitted, J847TSC is seen leaving Harlow Bus Station. (R Hudson). | |
| Dennis Dart/Marshall An expansion of the 55 led to the acquisition of a fourth vehicle. A fourth style of bodywork has appeared too. |
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| N762SAV |
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Hand-made blinds featured on this vehicle, or at least when it arrived. (R Hudson). | |
| Dennis Dart/UVG UrbanStar And another bodywork style, not to mention extraordinary livery, is represented by this vehicle, which has seen service on the 392. |
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| R83GNW |
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Seen at the Harlow Town Station of the 392, I imagine this vehicle will have turned some heads. Not certain how good the view from the inside is like though! (R Hudson). | |
| Transbus Mini Pointer Dart It didn't take long into TWH's reign on the 392 for the BMC Falcons to be deposed. The replacements are two rather more standard vehicles. |
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| SJ53AXB SJ53AXG |
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After the blue and then the red livery, the MPDs have brought some further variety to the fleet. It is not known whether this is to be retained. (R Hudson). | |
| MCW Metrobus Another ex-London vehicle, circa 1980, but still going strong, and now in half open-top. |
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| GYE443W |
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Actually in service on the NWF, ex-London M443 lays over at Harlow Bus Station. (R Hudson). | |
| Mercedes 0814D/Plaxton Cheetah From one extreme to the other. Almost new, single deck, low floor, different colour etc. but also on the NWF. |
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| KX05KXX |
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Also seen laying over at the Bus Station. (R Hudson). | |
| Volvo B10M/Plaxton
Expressliner This coach has a 70 seat body with 3+2 seating. It has been used on the 392. |
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| S51UBO |
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In service and seen leaving the bus station, S51UBO suggests that red and gold will be the standard TWH colours. (R Hudson). | |
