Great Western Coffee Shop

From my news feed ... but no public URL available ... two "bike buses".  It is suggested that these will be n use during engineering works with GWR to help convey cycles on road replacement services.   Scanty information - one said to be owned by Oxford bus company, the other undefined but seems to be in GWR green.

Anyone know more about these?    Please continue thread or send me more on a postcard email.

One is the Oxford bus company you mention, a Citaro.
The second (in GWR green) is owned by First Kernow, is an older Dart carrying personalised registration T12GWR.

Ah ... I knew we would have an expert around  ;D ;D

Any idea what / when they'll be running on public rail replacement services?   Cyclists kinda need to know which are the rail replacement services that they can take cycles on!!

No idea when they’re scheduled, but have been in use. The Oxford one has been in use the last few weekends.
The Kernow one was phot’d working in the Bristol area recently, and posted to Facebook group Firstbus Enthusiasts

………………..there are BUS enthusiasts?

In huge numbers. They’ve a lot more variety to spot than a train enthusiast.
They also turn up in their thousands to heritage running days all over the country. There is many events each month!

Why are the Imberbus weekends always sold out?

Because its SO popular.

Not very often you get the chance to take a selfie proping up your bike, taking a swig from your water bottle with a rusting burnt out hulk of a military battle tank in the background.

Well, you learn something every day!

In Ian Marchant's book, Parallel Lines (or journeys on the railway of dreams) he describes the hierarchy of railway enthusiasts. I no longer have a copy so I'm paraphrasing.

At the top are the 'bashers' who desire to travel on every piece of track. Then there are the 'spotters'. At the bottom, looked down on by other rail enthusiasts, are the 'rivet counters' who must record every minute detail of every piece of rolling stock, from front line expresses to the smallest freight wagon. So, who do the 'rivet counters' look down on?

Bus spotters.  ;) :P ;D

Incidentally, the book is an excellent read. Part travelogue, part lament, as the author travels the UK by train in the early 21st century, sustained mostly by Cafe Ritazza station coffee.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/parallel-lines-by-ian-marchant-96116.html

Where in the hierarchy does tha 'Anoraks' come ?

Very handy when it's raining ☔️.

What Is An Anorak?

https://www.azanorak.com/anorak.html

Or even Azanoraks

https://www.azanorak.com/

My word that brings back some memories!.

Key question ... I have been doing some research ..

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railfan


To which I might add Bashers, Enthusiasts for Rail and Public Transport enthusiasts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_spotting and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_preservation_in_the_United_Kingdom


You have only to see the Jurassic Mule, Warminster and Chippenham Bus running days, and Imber to get some idea of how big the support base is for buses, though it doesn't seem to have crossed over into CBPs and a ACoBP yet. (Community Bus partnerships and an ssociation of Community Bus Partnerships).

Enthusiasm goes wider - looking at ships and boats too ... aircraft spotting and preservtion too. Only the hovercraft, with the hulks of one or two of old cross channel craft langusishing on the Solent - seems to have spartan support or success.  We do have a similar issue in rail preservation, where the provision of running facilities for retired electric trains is notable by its absence.

On the subject of hovercraft, somebody is trying to save the former Saunders Roe hanger at Cowes where they and various types of aircraft were built. English Heritage refuse to list it.