THE LONDON & HOME COUNTIES BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Carousel Buses | Optares
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 A unique vehicle in the Carousel fleet was this Optare Excel, P202BNR. It is seen in February 2007 in the rain about to enter the Wycombe's Eden Bus Station. |
 Four months later, and still bereft of fleetnames, the former Trent Optare, 202 (P202BNR), is earning its keep on Line 2 in West Street, Marlow. |
 After the Excel Carousel received a number of Optare Tempos to replace an assortment of vehicles, shortly after the company was acquired by Go-Ahead. It was a little while before the first Solos arrived in the fleet. Seen in Wycombe Bus Station shortly after arrival in June 2014 and still bereft of fleet insignia was Solo 711 (MX58AAF). The bus was new to E&M Horsburgh of Pumpherston in Scotland, but came via neighbouring Go-Ahead group member Thames Travel. Picture ref A3678 |
 Also from Thames Travel and initially with E&M Horsburgh was 713 (MX58AAN) seen in Watford later that year in September. The Solos were a popular choice for the 336 from Watford to High Wycombe and an economical choice for Sunday services, particularly the Heathrow A40. Also in the picture is Arriva the Shires Alexander Dennis Enviro400 5458 (SN58EOE). Picture ref A5124 |
 Debuting at SHOWBUS international in 2012 at the Imperial War Museum was the first of the Optare Tempos brought in by Go-Ahead. Route branded for Line 4 the Tempo has acquired the C1WYC registration from the displaced Irisbus Agoras. The bus regained its original registration, YJ06FXW, in 2015 allowing C1WYC to transfer to a new Wright Streetlite. The bus was new to Paul James in Leicestershire who were acquired by Veolia. The Tempo was transferred to Veolia Cymru and rendered surplus to requirements when Veolia closed down its UK bus operations. It was picked up by Wilts & Dorset as their 2501 from whence it came to Carousel. |
 Seen battling the myriad of traffic lights that festoon Wycombe Bus Station, which appear to have no bus priority, is newly arrived 802 (YJ56WUB), yet to acquire C2WYC in April 2012. The bus was new to Pullman Coaches in South Wales, another Veolia acquisition. Initially it moved on to Wilts & Dorset where it was 2502 but was transferred to Wycombe by Go-Ahead. |
 The following month 802 is seen on layover in Wycombe Bus Station. |
 From the same sources as 802, this is 804 (YJ56WUD) - formerly Wilts & Dorset 2504 - seen departing Heathrow Bus Station in June 2015 for High Wycombe.
Picture ref B7 |
 Seen at Duxford for SHOWBUS international 2007 in Veolia Transport livery, this Tempo, 808 (YJ56WVU) was new to Dunn-Line. It arrived with Carousel from Wilts & Dorset where it had been 2508. Now Carousel 808 was seen at Heathrow Central Bus Station in August 2016. Typical of Arriva their bus on layover on the left from the 724 servce has no intention of going anywhere near Southend, though it brings back memories of Southend Transport's Heathrow Express.
Picture ref B4174 |
 The bus exits Central Bus Station for High Wycombe.
Picture ref B4175 |
 In June 2018 Solo 711 was one of several buses to acquire "Chiltern Hundreds" branding for the recast services east out of Wycombe to Beaconsfield and beyond. Together 101 to Uxbridge, 102 (the former airport A40), 103 to Watford and the 104 provided a fifteen minuye service between the two towns. The routes have changed many times since with most notably the 103 being switched from Watford to Slough!
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 Another innovation was the X80 "Regatta Line" with several Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scanias gaining route branding for the service competing with Arriva's 800/850 to Reading. Whilst the X80 was faster it lost its time advantage with a long layover in Henley before continuing to Raeding. The service was not long lived, though when Arriva quit Wycombe in 2024 Carousel took over the Raeding routes. Unusually this little Solo, 712 (MX58AAJ), was seen leaving Wycombe Bus Station for Reading on the X80 in September 2017. Like 711 it was new to Horsburgh of Pumpherston.
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 The Solos were regulars on the Watford service and 711 is seen in Watford centre on August 2016. Oddly on Saturdays the route was worked by doubledeckers, but clearly not for passenger loadings.
Picture ref C4650 |
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 Trundling through picturesque West Wycombe on the 40 service from Thame in September 2017 is Solo 713 (MX58AAN). The fourth member of the Horsburgh batch, MX58AAO did not join the trio.
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 Arriving back from Watford in Castle Street, High Wyocmbe in August 2016 is 711 followed by a sister Solo..
Picture ref P8053 |
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Desperate for some more Euro6 compliant buses to comply with the ULEZ zone for the Uxbridge and Heathrow services Carousel acquired two former Courtney buses. This is 432 (YJ65EVN), the other was 431 (YJ65EVM) which Courtney has branded for the Camberley service. Seen in December 2021 432 is climbing Wycombe's Corporation Street as it returns with a 102.
Picture ref P9391 |
 Seen the same month 432 is passing through the short pedestrianised section of Church Street returning from Uxbridge on the indirect 104.
Picture ref P9392 |
 The bus is seen again in October 2023 on the short lived and confusing X8 service which linked High Wycombe Coachway Park & Ride site by a route almost as convoluted as the 104! Wycombe's P&R service has been through so many incarnations it is difficult to keep track of them all!
Picture ref D4539 |
 By May 2025 Carousel had Wycombe services largely to itself. With Go-Ahead's new national numbering scheme 432 had become 80432 and is seen in Frogmoor on former Arriva town service 30 to Downley.
Picture ref P9900 |
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