felix bus services ltd 1921-2012 - lthlibrary.org.uk

Felix Bus Services Ltd 1921-2012

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Contents

Felix Bus Services Ltd - Fleet History 1921-2012 Page 3

Felix Bus Services Ltd - Bus Fleet List 1921-2012 Page 6

Cover Illustration: 618KRA is a preserved 1959 Bedford SB1 with YeatesC41F bodywork. (Graham Woodward).

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The origin of Felix Bus Services can be traced back to 1921 when NormanFrost purchased an ex-War Department Crossley lorry, which was used totransport miners to and from the nearby West Hallam Colliery. At weekendsit was fitted with a canvas roof and was used to transport the locals toIlkeston and Chaddesden on an irregular service. It also providedtransport for the local football team to away fixtures. In 1924 thevehicle was fitted with a B14F bus body by Dickens of Loughborough,although no regular service was provided and it was not until 1926 withthe purchase of a third vehicle, that the appropriate licence was obtainedand the first regular hourly service between Ilkeston and Derby commenced.It was around this time that the name Felix Bus Service (based on a popularsong of the time) was adopted.

The early vehicles were garaged in New Street, Stanley, outside NormanFrost's parents' home, but in 1937 a purpose built garage was constructedin Station Road and the fleet re-located there.

Vehicles initially carried a livery of chocolate brown and cream but thiswas modified over the years. From the 1950's the familiar red and maroonlivery became standard.

Single-deckers were always used, primarily because of a low bridge on theLNER line between Derby and Ilkeston, although the roadway was


sufficiently lowered later to allow lowbridge double-deckers to pass underit.

Sadly in 1975 Norman Frost passed away and the business was taken over byhis nephew. In July 1975 the company was incorporated as Felix BusServices Limited.

During the 1980’s the Company introduced holiday tours both in the UK andabroad branded as ‘Felix Holiday Tours’.

Throughout the life of the company there was little expansion and theIlkeston – Derby service remained the primary route operated, althoughtours, excursions and private hires were also an additional source ofrevenue. In 1986 the main route was extended to Keddleston Drive inIlkeston and the following year was extended to serve the IlkestonCommunity Hospital. Latterly this service was operated jointly withTrentbarton under 'The Black Cat' name. A limited stop service fromIlkeston to Derby via Kirk Hallam and Spondon under the name 'The IlkestonFlyer' was also jointly operated with Trentbarton. The company operatedschool services from surrounding villages into Kirk Hallam and, onweekdays, a single morning service from the Rose and Crown in Smalley toIlkeston via Mapperley. A football special was also run from Ilkeston toDerby County's football ground on match days.


In December 2011 it was announced that the stage carriage and expressservice would be sold to Midland General from 29 January 2012, however,Felix continued to operate some school journeys into Kirk Hallam untilthe end of March 2012, when subsidies were withdrawn and Felix BusServices Ltd finally came to the end of the road. The holiday toursbusiness subsequently passed to Swiftsure of Burton-on-Trent.


Bus Fleet List1921-2012

This listing is in the format - Year into Stock; Reg. No; Chassis; ChassisNo; Body; Seating.

1921

R7831 Crossley ?? Dickens B14F

R7831 was ex-War Department lorry. There are conflicting reports aboutthis vehicle, it has been quoted as a lorry with bench seats and canvasroof and also as a charabanc with Benton Ch14 body. It was re-bodied byDickens in 1924 to B14F.Withdrawn 1927 (R7831).

1922

NU???? Crossley ?? Lancashire Trading Co Ch14

Withdrawn unknown (NU????).


1926

RA575 Dennis 30-cwt 50912 Short Bros B20F

Withdrawn 1934 (RA575).

1927

RA1780 Dennis 30-cwt ?? ?? B20F


1928

RA5361 Dennis 30-cwt 53044 Taylor B16FYL439 Dennis 30-cwt ?? ?? B16F

YL439 probably on loan (new 1925).RA5361 re-bodied by Willowbrook to B16F 7/1931.Withdrawn unknown (YL439), 1936 (RA5361).

1929

RA7608 Dennis G 70435 Willowbrook B20F



1933

RB7906 Dennis Lancet 170268 Willowbrook B32F

Withdrawn 1937 (RB7906).

1934

VT3170 Reo Pullman GA350 ?? B20FANU821 Dennis Ace 200085 Willowbrook B20FARB472 Dennis Ace 200340 Willowbrook B20F

VT3170 on loan from 3/1934 to 6/1934 from Hipwell, Woodhouse Eaves (new1928).Withdrawn 1944 (ARB472), 1945 (ANU821).

1935

BRA86 Dennis Lancet 170861 Willowbrook C32F

BRA86 re-bodied by Yeates to C35F in 1947 (also quoted as C32F and C33F).Withdrawn 1956 (BRA86).


ARB472 was a 1934 Dennis Ace with Willowbrook B20F bodywork, one of two purchased that year.(The Bus Archive).


1937

DRB861 Dennis Lancet 171181 Willowbrook C32F

Withdrawn 1950 (DRB861).

1938

ERB398 Dennis Lancet 171187 Willowbrook C32F

Withdrawn 1950 (ERB398).

1940

GRB739 Dennis Falcon 280004 Dennis C32FVJ6497 Dennis Lancet 170693 Willowbrook C32F

VJ6497 ex-War Department (new 1934 to Williams, Ewyas Harold).Withdrawn unknown (VJ6497), 1952 (GRB739).

1943

HRB5 Bedford OWB 12456 SMT B32F

Withdrawn 1952 (HRB5).


1944

HRB814 Bedford OWB 20483 Duple B32F

Withdrawn 1953 (HRB814).

1946

JRA476 Bedford OB 15920 Duple B32F

Withdrawn 1956 (JRA476).

1947

LNU36 Dennis Lancet III 200J3 Yeates C35F

LNU36 re-bodied by Yeates to FC35F in 1956.Withdrawn 1965 (LNU36).

1948

MRA279 Dennis Lancet YS48 Yeates C32FMRA903 Crossley SD42/5 97615 Yeates C35F

MRA279 rebuilt lorry chassis (new 1933) rebodied and fitted with DennisO4 engine and re-registered as shown 7/1948.Withdrawn 1959 (MRA279), 1963 (MRA903).


MRA279 started life as a lorry but was rebuilt and re-bodied to C32F by Yeates and fittedwith a Dennis O4 engine, joining the fleet in 1948. (Robert Mack).


1950

ONU706 Dennis Lancet III 749J3 Yeates C35F

Withdrawn 1964 (ONU706).

1952

EX5777 Bedford OB 50138 Duple C27F

EX5777 ex-Seagull Coaches, Great Yarmouth (new 1947).Withdrawn 1961 (EX5777).

1953

KWA729 Bedford OB 57984 SMT C29F

KWA729 ex-Sims, Sheffield (new 1947).Withdrawn 1959 (KWA729).

1954

LDD507 Dennis Falcon II 122L6 Duple C33F

LDD507 ex-Say, Gloucester (new 1952).Withdrawn 1967 (LDD507).


1955

LTO715 Bedford OB 108111 Duple C29F

LTO715 ex-Makemson Bros., Bulwell (new 1949).Withdrawn 1962 (LTO715).

1959

BSN259 Bedford OB 127290 Duple C29F618KRA Bedford SB1 70056 Yeates C41F

BSN259 ex-Maurice Coachways, York (new 1950)Withdrawn 1966 (BSN259), 1969 (618KRA).

1961

47UNU Bedford SB1 87996 Yeates C41F

Withdrawn 1971 (47UNU).

1962

3XRA Bedford SB5 90481 Yeates C41F

Withdrawn 1972 (3XRA).


3XRA was a 1962 Bedford SB5 with Yeates ‘Europa’ C41F bodywork. It was withdrawn in 1972.(Len Wright).


1963

6881R Bedford SB5 92043 Yeates DP45F

Withdrawn 1970 (6881R).

1964

ANU158B Bedford SB5 94452 Plaxton C41F

Withdrawn 1973 (ANU158B).

1965

FRB114C Bedford SB5 97461 Plaxton C41F

Withdrawn 1973 (FRB114C).

1966

KNU452D Bedford SB5 96698 Plaxton C41F

Withdrawn 1975 (KNU452D).


1968

URA414F Bedford SB5 7T451399 Plaxton C41F

Withdrawn 1975 (URA414F).

1969

DRA35G Bedford SB5 9T470035 Plaxton C41F

Withdrawn 1975 (DRA35G).

1970

GNU699H Bedford VAM70 0T476551 Plaxton DP45F

Withdrawn 1978 (GNU699H).

1971

ORB554K Bedford YRQ 1T485464 Plaxton DP45F

Withdrawn 1978 (ORB554K).

1972

VNU484K Bedford YRQ 2T470332 Plaxton C45F

Withdrawn 1979 (VNU484K).


Seen in Derby Bus Station awaiting departure to Ilkeston is ORB554K, a Plaxton DP45F-bodiedBedford YRQ dating from 1971, (LTHL collection).


1973

BRA191L Bedford YRQ CW451049 Plaxton C45FPRA836M Bedford YRQ CW451080 Plaxton C45F

Withdrawn 1980 (BRA191L, PRA836M).

1975

HNU701M Bedford YRQ EW450209 Plaxton C45F

Withdrawn 1981 (HNU701M).

1976

RCH76R Bedford YMT FW455073 Plaxton C51F

Withdrawn 1981 (RCH76R).

1978

WRC826S Bedford YMT HW450352 Duple C53FBRR684T Bedford YMT HW457708 Duple C53F

Withdrawn 1996 (BRR684T), 2003 (WRC826S).


1979

BRR685T Bedford YLQ JW451947 Duple C45F

Withdrawn 1984 (BRR685T).

1980

FFR686V Bedford YMT JW457661 Plaxton C53FKVO687W Bedford YMQ KW453678 Plaxton C45F

Withdrawn 1983 (KVO687W), 1988 (FFR686V).

1981

ORA688W Bedford YMT KW452021 Duple C53F

Withdrawn 1988 (ORA688W).

1982

SNU689X Bedford YNT LW452926 Plaxton C53F

Withdrawn 1984 (SNU689X).

1983

YAL690Y Bedford YNT DT101782 Plaxton C53F

Withdrawn 1986 (YAL690Y).


1979 Bedford YRQ BRR685T carried Duple C45F coachwork. It remained with Felix for just 5years, being withdrawn in 1984. (John Law).


1984

A691ERB Bedford YNT DT109761 Plaxton C53F

Withdrawn 1991 (A691ERB).

1985

B692JAU Bedford YNT ET105212 Plaxton C53F

Withdrawn 1988 (B692JAU).

1986

C693PRA Bedford YNV FT700261 Duple C53FDTN958W Leyland PSU3E/4R 7930171 Plaxton C53F

DTN958W ex-J&G Holmes, Clay Cross (new 1980 to Craiggs Ltd, Radcliffe).Withdrawn 1990 (C693PRA), 2000 (DTN958W).

1987

BES270V Leyland PSU3E/4R 7902735 Plaxton C53FD694WAU Bedford YMT HT101262 Plaxton B60F

BES270V ex-Earnside Coaches, Glenfarg (new 1979).Withdrawn 1988 (D694WAU), 1999 (BES270V).


1988

E695-96CRC Dennis Javelin 12SDA1907/109-10 Duple C57FGRF264V Leyland PSU3E/4R 7901966 Duple C53FF697HNU Leyland TRBTL11/2RP TR00267 Plaxton B54F

GRF264V ex-Tillingbourne Bus Co (new 1979 to PMT; No.64).Withdrawn 1993 (E695-96CRC), 2000 (GRF264V), 2005 (F697HNU).

1990

G698-99PRR Dennis Javelin 12SDA1907/306/34 Duple C57F

G698PRR re-registered G699PRR 2/91 (due to administrative error).G699PRR re-registered G698PRR 2/91 (due to administrative error).Withdrawn 1997 (G698-99PRR[G699/98PRR]).

1991

YPD130Y Leyland TRCTL11/2R 8201424 Duple C46F

YPD130Y ex-London Country (new 1983; No. TD30); re-seated to C53F 8/92.Withdrawn 1996 (YPD130Y).


F697HNU was a 1988 Leyland TRBTL11/2RP ‘Tiger’ with Plaxton B54F bodywork. (LTHL ImageBank/John Blannin).


1992

J348GKH Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3004/438 Plaxton B40FJ564URW Leyland LX2R11C15Z4S LX2050 Leyland B51F

J348GKH on loan from Plaxton 3/92-4/92.J564URW ex-demonstrator (new 1992).Withdrawn 2010 (J564URW).

1993

FHA609Y Leyland TRCTL11/2R 8300072 Duple C49FL701-02MRA Dennis Javelin 12SDA2117/808/09 Plaxton C53F

FHA609Y ex-Safeway Services, South Petherton (new 1983 to LondonCountry; No. TD37 [registered YPD137Y]).Withdrawn 1996 (FHA609Y), 1997 (L701-02MRA).

1994

M291OUR Iveco 480-10.21 6001885 Wadham Stringer B47F

On demonstration during 1994.


J564URW dates from 1992 and was an ex-Leyland demonstrator. It was an all-Leyland B51F ‘Lynx’and was withdrawn in 2010. (John Law).


1995

M301KRY Volvo B10B-58 01646 Alexander B51FM21UUA Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/327 Optare B47F

M21UUA ex-demonstrator (new 1994).Withdrawn 2000 (M21UUA), 2012 (M301KRY).

1996

N703AAL Dennis Javelin 12SDA2155/1274 Plaxton C53F

Withdrawn 2000 (N703AAL).

1997

R704RNN Volvo B10M-62 046763 Plaxton C57FR705MNU Volvo B10M-62 046762 Plaxton C57F

Withdrawn 2004 (R704RNN), 2006 (R705MNU).

1998

R706MNU Volvo B10M-62 060467 Plaxton C57FS590KJF Volvo B10BLE 003036 Alexander B45F

Withdrawn 2003 (S590KJF), 2006 (R706MNU).


1999

E260-61TUB Leyland LX1126LXCTZR1S LX1092-93 Leyland B49FE263TUB Leyland LX1126LXCTZR1S LX1099 Leyland B49FV707ENN Mercedes-Benz O814D 670374-2N-78073 Plaxton B31F

E260TUB, E261TUB, E263TUB ex-Arriva, Yorkshire (Nos. 260, 261, 263respectively; new 1988 to Sheffield & District Transport).Withdrawn 2008 (E260-261TUB, E263TUB, V707ENN).

2000

V708GRY Volvo B10BLE 003110 Alexander B43FW709PTO Volvo B10M-62 060901 Plaxton C53FX711GJU Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1X14262 Plaxton B39F

W709PTO to Swiftsure, Burton-on-Trent 5/12.Withdrawn 2007 (X711GJU), 2012 (V708GRY).

2002

FE02LWD Optare M920 19000000000754 Optare B33FFG52WUC Optare M920 19000000000911 Optare B33FD345YDO Leyland TRCTL11/3RZ 8600214 Plaxton DP51F

D345YDO ex-Kime & Co., Folkingham (new 1986 to Ministry of Defence[registered 82 KF 07]).Withdrawn 2005 (D345YDO), 2012 (FE02LWD, FG52WUC).


Sporting Felix Holiday Tours branding is W709PTO, a Volvo B10M-62 with Plaxton C53F coachworkdating from 2000. It passed to Swiftsure in 2012 with the Holiday Tours business. (LTHLcollection).


2003

YN03WRA Scania L94UB YS2L4X200001842402 Wright B43F

YN03WRA to Midland General Omnibus Co 1/12 (re-numbered 598).

2004

YN04AGY Scania L94UB YS2L4X200001846212 Wright B43F

YN04AGY to Midland General Omnibus Co 1/12 (re-numbered 599).

2005

YN05GZB Scania L94UB YS2L4X200001850854 Wright B43F

YN05GZB to Midland General Omnibus Co 1/12 (re-numbered 600).

2006

YN55YSE-SF Irisbus 397E.12.31 ZGA7B2N000E002381/83 Plaxton C57F

YN55YSE to Swiftsure, Burton-on-Trent 5/12.Withdrawn 2012 (YN55YSF).

2007

YJ56KBF VDL DE02CSSB200 XMGDE02CS0H013509 Plaxton B45F

YJ56KBF to Notts & Derby Traction Co 1/12 (re-numbered 791).


2008

YJ08EFL VDL DE02FSSB200 XMGDE02FS0H015858 Plaxton B45F

YJ08EFL to Notts & Derby Traction Co 1/12 (re-numbered 793).

2010

FJ10NFV Volvo B7RLE YV3R6K6209A133599 Plaxton B45F

FJ10NFV to Kinchbus, Heanor 1/12 (re-numbered 767).


YJ08EFL was one of the last vehicles to join the Felix fleet. It was a 2008 Plaxton B45Fbodied VDL that passed to Notts & Derby in 2012. (LTHL Image Bank/John Blannin).

© Local Transport History Library 2020

Additional information, corrections and photographs are always welcome.Our general email address is: [email protected]

In producing this booklet reference has been made to the following publications: Felix BusServices Ltd of Stanley, Derbyshire, Paul D. Chambers, 2006; PSV Circle Historic Journal917-HJ, June 2016.

Photographs courtesy LTHL Image Bank, Bus Archive, R.F.Mack, John Law, Graham Woodward andLen Wright.

Series Editor: Peter Gould ([email protected])

mailto:[email protected]

felix bus services ltd 1921-2012 - lthlibrary.org.uk

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