Stagecoach 18023
No mention of the Dennis Tridents at Stagecoach East Midlands can be made without acknowledging the Plaxton Presidents, which are arguably just as (if not more) synonymous with the place than the ALX400s. Despite the majority being new to Manchester, plus a smattering elsewhere, many convened on North Notts and Lincolnshire to see out significant parts of their working lives. Not to mention some operated in Hull, too.
18023 was always nice to see around with its flip dot destination blind and cemented itself as one of my favourites. On 27.7.23 it is departing Lincoln for Sleaford on the 31X and seen immediately outside the bus station, on Norman Street.
Usually at this juncture I complain that none of the East Midlands Presidents survive, but it’s possible that up to three do; 18046 was converted to a non-PSV thing and could still be at large somewhere; 18050 got donated to the police force; and 18056 – which served Bassetlaw but ended its days in Fife – got preserved in Scotland.
Now, all those things occurred between 2021 and 2023 and since then there’s been no update on any of them. Checking the government MOT and tax online database in October 2025, 18046 is shown as taxed until November 2026 but no MOT, while 18050 and 18056 come up as SORN with expired MOTs. So it’s a good indication that they still exist.
As for 18023 in this picture, it comes up with no results on the website so is likely scrapped. However, I can be satisfied in the fact that I was able to cheaply pick up the Northcord model of 18023 last March, so as far as I’m concerned now that *is* 18023... a small and mildly inaccurate representation of the original which fits nicely on a shelf.
MX53 FLC
Stagecoach 18023
No mention of the Dennis Tridents at Stagecoach East Midlands can be made without acknowledging the Plaxton Presidents, which are arguably just as (if not more) synonymous with the place than the ALX400s. Despite the majority being new to Manchester, plus a smattering elsewhere, many convened on North Notts and Lincolnshire to see out significant parts of their working lives. Not to mention some operated in Hull, too.
18023 was always nice to see around with its flip dot destination blind and cemented itself as one of my favourites. On 27.7.23 it is departing Lincoln for Sleaford on the 31X and seen immediately outside the bus station, on Norman Street.
Usually at this juncture I complain that none of the East Midlands Presidents survive, but it’s possible that up to three do; 18046 was converted to a non-PSV thing and could still be at large somewhere; 18050 got donated to the police force; and 18056 – which served Bassetlaw but ended its days in Fife – got preserved in Scotland.
Now, all those things occurred between 2021 and 2023 and since then there’s been no update on any of them. Checking the government MOT and tax online database in October 2025, 18046 is shown as taxed until November 2026 but no MOT, while 18050 and 18056 come up as SORN with expired MOTs. So it’s a good indication that they still exist.
As for 18023 in this picture, it comes up with no results on the website so is likely scrapped. However, I can be satisfied in the fact that I was able to cheaply pick up the Northcord model of 18023 last March, so as far as I’m concerned now that *is* 18023... a small and mildly inaccurate representation of the original which fits nicely on a shelf.
MX53 FLC