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Stuck in a jam in the centre of Wycombe is former London Country LR41, now 5068. It is one of the mixed bag of vehicles that operated the former Thames Valley / Alder Valley / Bee Line / Wycombe Bus 323/324 services between Wycombe and Aylesbury. The Shires acquired the service in the rationalisation which followed their takeover of most of Motts Yellow Bus operation. This included the M1 service which
competed with Wycombe Bus on the 323/324.
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Part of the takeover included this Northern Counties bodied Olympian which Motts acquired as a playbus
from the London Borough of Lambeth. The bus was acquired at auction when only five years old and had little more than delivery mileage on the clock - indeed the tyres still had the bobbly bits on them. It carried the not inappropriate legend 'Blunderbus'. Motts acquired it for about a fifth of what Lambeth paid for the bus when it was new. The vehicle was fitted out inside by Motts using parts supplied by NCME. It never actually acquired Yellow Bus colours, staying in private hire white - though it was used on the M1 and 280 from time to time.
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Sporting Travelwise colours for Bucks County Council is 5109 (G129YEV) another Northern Counties bodied Olympian, this time an 83 seater acquired secondhand by London Country North West from Ensignbus for Wycombe depot, where it and its fellows have stayed.
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New Northern Counties bodied Olympians were acquired for the 25 Luton-Dunstable group of services but 5146 (N46JPP) is seen in Baker Street in central London on rail replacement service.
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Sister vehicle 5138 (N38JPP) is seen deployed as intended serving the new Dunstable Road Sainsburys.
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