*..::Excellence Of Photographer Award (Post 1, Award 3)::..*
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One of a few remaining (Rock Island?) searchlight installations left along the Golden State Route observes 181 on its escape from the KC Metro. Didn’t know what to expect as I’ve never had a chance to follow the last 150 miles of my favorite route from Chicago to Kansas City.
It was surprisingly slow from Birmingham to here, giving me ample time to watch the sun peak in and out of the early spring skies. Hard to get motivated about a late morning northbound but here we are. Regardless it was nice to check off some observations on a route i’ve long been curious about.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pow%C4%85zki_Cemetery
Leica Vario-Elmar-R 1:3.5/35-70 E67 (S/N: 3662380)
Agfa APX 400 @400ISO
Fomadon Excel 1+1 for 12 min. (20C)
Daytime long exposure shot at ExCeL Marina Royal Victoria Dock, London. In the background you see the O2 and the Emirates Cable Cars.
HSS Everyone!
After initially being withdrawn a couple of weeks ago the Excels have had a revival as the new service changes has lead to more buses being needed. 225 is seen at Starr Gate afer completing it's duty on the 1. sister 224 was on the 14 as well today making the grand total of 2 excels being in service today
Legendary Devon crabber Excel DH17 in Dartmouth Harbour, Devon on 6th June 2023. Built by J Hinks & Son of Appledore in North Devon, construction of the Excel was one of the fastest on record for a vessel of its size. The wooden fishing boat was launched in 1971 to take part in a lobster boom.
Just giving a little life-sign, this is done in Excel and then just used the aquarell-filter in Photoshop ^^
I'm very bussy this week, gonna reply on comments and stuff next week.
It's our 19th anniversary today and Terry bought me some flowers and this lovely rose was among them :)
Having climbed out of the Minnesota River valley, our eastbound train on the Minnesota Prairie Line continues to trundle along east of Franklin. The large equipment on the left is evidence of some recent maintenance work on the Excel Energy transmission lines overhead.
Express Motors Optare Excels EXI 790 and Y248 DRC are pictured in Penygroes depot. The former was new as 964 to Reading Transport where it was registered X964 BPA while the latter was new to Trent Barton as their 248.
Car: Lotus Excel SE.
Date of first registration: 9th January 1988.
Registration region: Guildford.
Latest recorded mileage: 9,111 (MOT 9th August 2019).
Date taken: 20th November 2019.
Album: Street Spots
Night time at the Excel Centre in the Royal Victoria Dock. I wanted to capture the three people sitting in the centre of the picture in contrast to the movement of the people walking past.
YJ51JXE one of a few Optare Excels which BA purchased new. It has been operating with Menzies at East Midlands Airport for a couple of years but has now been sold. Others of the batch have been exported far & wide but this was about to head over to North Wales to start a new life on Anglesey. Mileages on these buses were remarkably low for the age, they have had sheltered lives as many "airport" vehicles do.
Stagecoach Chesterfield Optare Excel 35023.JAZ9851 in Cavendish Street, Chesterfield on the 13th Ocotber 2009.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Mkt81avak
Professor Lyra Everbane was born on a crisp February morning in 1999, in the enchanting wizarding village of Mould-on-the-Wold. The Everbane family, though not wealthy, was well-respected for their scholarly pursuits, particularly in magical folklore. Her mother, Moira, was a noted magical historian, while her father, Declan, was a wandmaker who specialized in rare woods. From an early age, Lyra was captivated by the legends her mother would recount by the hearth, tales of ancient heroes, magical beasts, and forgotten civilizations.
When she arrived at Hogwarts in 2010, Lyra was sorted into Hufflepuff, a choice that delighted her family. She embodied the house’s values of dedication, patience, and loyalty, often becoming the peacemaker among her classmates. Her warmth and kindness made her a favorite among her peers, while her determined work ethic ensured her success in her studies.
Lyra excelled particularly in History of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures, and Herbology. She was captivated by how myths connected to magical creatures and the natural world. She spent much of her time in the Hogwarts greenhouses or on the grounds, seeking inspiration from nature and befriending the resident creatures. Her fascination with magical folklore deepened under the mentorship of Professor Sprout and later Professor Firenze, who encouraged her to view mythology as more than mere stories—tools of wisdom and prophecy.
After graduating in 2017, Lyra embarked on a journey across the wizarding world. She spent time with Veela in Eastern Europe, learned from centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, and even gained the trust of the reclusive Merfolk communities in Greece. These experiences expanded her understanding of myth as a bridge between cultures and magical practices.
Her travels earned her respect in academic circles, but Lyra always remained grounded, refusing to let accolades overshadow her desire to teach. She returned to Hogwarts in 2029 to become the Professor of Mythological Studies, determined to pass on her knowledge to future generations.
As a professor, Lyra's Hufflepuff traits shone through. Her classroom became a haven for all students, a place where they felt valued and encouraged. She filled her lessons with interactive experiences, bringing myths to life with illusions, enchanted relics, and the occasional magical creature. Her ability to make every student feel seen and supported made her a beloved member of the Hogwarts staff.
While her sunny demeanor endeared her to many, Lyra carried an air of quiet mystery. Rumors swirled among students about the source of her knowledge of Thestrals, and some speculated that her compassion stemmed from personal loss. Despite this, she remained a constant source of hope and wisdom, always reminding her students that even the darkest myths often held lessons of resilience and light.
Today, Professor Everbane continues to inspire young witches and wizards, weaving together the wisdom of the past and the promise of the future in her teachings. Her loyalty to her students, her love of magical lore, and her steadfast determination ensure that her legacy will endure at Hogwarts for years to come.
Optare Excel demonstrator T790 KNW, on loan to First Manchester.
Manchester, Cannon Street, 06/03/2000.
Amb passió, voluntat, amor ... i molta delicadesa ... el resultat no pot ser un altre que excel·lència !!
Shot on Olympus E-PL3 and TTArtisan 25mm f2. Created with darktable 3.8.1 and GIMP, Ilford HP5 film simulation filter
I took great delight in seeing this. It's ages since I'd seen one, and never knowingly out on the street. I was leaving town for home when it caught my eye, absolutely had to get some shots.
A new keeper in 2022, after being with its previous one for 20 years. Hopefully it's now relatively local to me and I'll see it again. From what I can gather, most Excels are registered as Eclats, or Eclat Excels; I can't be 100% which version this is right now.
Having sold its 3 Excels to Swallow, Rainham in 10/14, it left Filers with a Dennis bus fleet. However a few weeks ago V118LVH was acquired from Lodge, High Easter and is seen here standing in for the E300 on the Ilfracombe-Woolacombe service.
One of those short stop gap acquisitions was the four Optare Excels transferred down from First Glasgow, they looked smart and were something different on the Plymouth scene.
However you had this feeling it wouldn't last and they were withdrawn and put into store at Muller Road to allow the book value to drop low enough in order for them to be disposed of.
Three out of the four were regular performers (W52WDS being the frequent sick note) they appeared on just about any route but the 2 & 3 was common, 62936 heads along Union Street towards Royal Parade before switching to work the 2 out to Mount Batten.
Seen waiting to start the days work in First's Searle Crescent, Weston bus depot is one of the Excel branded E400s. This example is one of the former London examples used on the service. I rather think this branding is smart and eye catching.
First West of England's LK08 FLA (33508) is seen early on a Sunday morning in the Weston-Super-Mare depot. Excel is the branding used for services with an 'X' that run out of Bristol. It is also used for the X1 between Norwich and Peterborough. LK08FLA was new in May 2008 to First Capital, as their DN33508 to the typical TFL specification. DN 33508 then left London and went to Leicester for use on local services such as the 22 and 54 with some sister vehicles gaining branding for these services. After leaving Leicester, it moved to the West of England for use in Bristol, but was later transferred down to Weston. It is an Alexander Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 400.
33813 YX63LKA seen at Peterborough, Queensgate Bus Station about to start a trip on route XL towards Norwich.
Notts & Derby Optare Excel 264 - Y264 DRC lays over in Derby bus station before operating route 11 to Ilkeston Hospital.
Quite a nice Excel is this one, which is ironic seeing as it's, well, an Excel.
Safeguard - X307CBT - Brooklands Spring Gathering 2015.
Apologies for the poor photo but the light is rubbish tonight. With less than two weeks of Excel operation in Blackpool, we still can field eleven from our twelve remaining machines. 218/20/1 seen awaiting their wash and positioning for tomorrow's duties
Back around 2003 our local bus enthusiast club went for a ride around South Staffs aboard an ex Ipswich AEC Regent V, visiting a few garages and stopping off for lunch ... the latter always being of paramount importance.
The largest of the firms visited that day was Choice Travel, a business founded in the early 1990s. The fleet contained quite a variety of vehicles at the time and included Dennis Falcons, Leyland Leopards and Tigers, various minubuses and these quite youthful Optare Excels.
I have had limited experience of the Excel and I suppose in that, I've been spared the traumas which various operators of the type appear to have experienced. If nothing else, they were visually a stylish bus and certainly would have created a favourable impression with intending passengers as they pulled up at a stop.
Without researching its history on the net, I'm going to guess that R741 BUJ, by its Shropshire reg. and livery, was formerly something to do with the Williamson's of Shrewsbury business? I believe the Choice business , after being re-named Midland Choice, was absorbed into the Arriva empire circa 2012 but I could be wrong.