View allAll Photos Tagged OKX
High Street, Southampton
August 1992
Working for Solent Blue Line, the one & only Iveco double decker. Bodied by Alexander (using Iveco's frontal design) in Iveco's failed attempt to break into the UK bus market.
1991 Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v.
Supplied by Shaw & Kilburn of Luton (Vauxhall/Opel).
Registered as a GTE (not a 16v).
The unique Alexander-bodied Iveco double-decker - new initially as J412 STM and used by Iveco as a demonstrator. An odd mix of standard Iveco structure at the front end and Alexander RH-type bodywork elsewhere.
Manchester, Piccadilly, 30/07/2001.
Brand new Wrightbus Streetlite seen here in Mallusk before going to the docks in Belfast for shipping to England. The bus is fleet number 63297 and reg number SN65 OKX. It carries legal lettering for First Hampshire and Dorset.
and thus, Beddington Cross (BC) followed suit in breaching the Green Zone.
Went out of my way to get this on it's way to stand and not riding it. The heat got to me.
After constant days of hunting on LVF to see it'll ever stray from 407, another 09reg joins and adds to the possibility pool. Next however many hours, it finally happens. With that I can finally forget about an obligatory photo for it. Now I just need to ride it, and not leave it for dust like I did with 2400...
Failing light during the evening peak, so things are a touch fuzzy; but worth it to catch a peek at the unique Alexander-bodied Iveco 'decker when it was owned by Bluebird.
Manchester, Cross Street, 11/02/2000.
A unique vehicle seen here with Bluebird, Middleton was this ex-demonstrator Iveco Turbocity decker with Alexander body.
1994 BMW 525tds SE auto.
Last MoT test expired in November 2010 (SORN).
251,438 miles at its last test in November 2009.
J227 OKX is a unique Iveco TurboCity 480.12.21 with Alexander double-deck bodywork. Developed from a single-deck chassis, it was essentially an Iveco testbed and presented the bodybuilder with a number of problems, especially in relation to passing the tilt test. The eventual result was a somewhat unsatisfactory interior layout. After a very protracted construction process, it was registered as a demonstrator in May 1992.
Needless to say it remained unique, and was acquired by Filer, Ilfracombe, later passing to Bluebird.
A Bus J80 BUS (formerly J227 OKX)
Iveco TurboCity / Alexander, formerly an Iveco demonstrator
Bristol Running Day route 88c
Cadbury Heath Park Estate
18th May 2003
Filers Travel of Ilfracombe caused a surprise by entering into administration on 1st September 2025. Whilst I tend to focus on South Wales operators, it was a company with which I was familiar as a result of Summer day trips on the PS Waverley and MV Balmoral from Swansea to Ilfracombe.
Predominantly a coach operator, the company undertook competitive local bus operations against independently owned North Devon (Red Bus) between the late 1980s and late 1990s. This was with an eclectic mix of vehicles, including the infamous Alexander R-bodied Iveco Ford Turbocity former demonstrator J227 OKX and former Hill's of Tredegar Duple Dominant-bodied Leyland Tiger A774 WHB.
However, after the skirmishes ended, the company concentrated on contracted services for Devon County Council. The local bus fleet then became more 'standardised', and included Mercedes 709Ds and Varios, Dennis Darts, Plaxton Primos, Optare Solos, Enviro200s and Wright StreetLites. The highlight for me was a 'classic shape' Transbus Enviro300, which was usually employed on Service 31 between Ilfracombe and Woolacombe:
www.flickr.com/photos/129716166@N03/36403898996/in/photol...
An unusual acquisition was this 10m Optare Excel, P429 AHR, which had started life as a demonstrator registered P446 SWX. My shot dates from July 2012 and shows her in Boutport Street in Barnstaple having arrived on Service 301 from Combe Martin and Ilfracombe. She was subsequently re-registered JFZ 8261 and received a blue skirt, and left the fleet the following year.
All of the company's contracted local bus services in North Devon passed to Stagecoach in 2023 and 2024, allowing it to concentrate on coaching and contract work.
J227 OKX is a unique Iveco TurboCity 480.12.21 with Alexander double-deck bodywork. Developed from a single-deck chassis, it was essentially an Iveco testbed and presented the bodybuilder with a number of problems, especially in relation to passing the tilt test. The eventual result was a somewhat unsatisfactory interior layout. After a very protracted construction process, it was registered as a demonstrator in May 1992.
Needless to say it remained unique, and was acquired by Filer, Ilfracombe, later passing to Bluebird.
The second day in service this vehicle wears branding for the X4 & X5 Solent Ranger services.
© Copyright PD3
1989 Vauxhall Cavalier 4-door.
Supplied by Shaw & Kilburn of Watford (Vauxhall).
A basic specification Cavalier powered by the 1388cc engine.
Peak Lane, West End, Fareham - passing the beginnings of the construction of the Stubbington by-pass
The last former 'Solent Ranger' Wright Streetlite Max to transfer from Hampshire to Slough after repaint. Seen turning onto Buckingham Avenue on Slough Trading Estate, operating route 12 to Burnham.
Former M & B Travel's Mercedes Benz 614D Reg MK52 OKX standing in Mardens yard awaiting its turn for attention
21 October 2015
Go North East - Green Arrow branded - Scania L94UB / Wright Solar - NK51 OKX is seen at Eldon Square Bus Station, Newcastle unusually operating service X30 to Stanley Bus Station on June 12th 2019.
Go North East's Riverside-based "Green Arrow" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4938 (NK51 OKX) is pictured here on Bensham Road, Gateshead, whilst working "Blue Arrow" service 11 to Metrocentre. 16/10/16
The "Blue Arrow" brand was introduced earlier this year, in line with service changes which saw service 96 re-numbered to service 11, and extended to Whitley Bay, via Newcastle, Wallsend and North Shields.
Complementing the already-established "Green Arrow" brand, the "Blue Arrow" was introduced to promote the fast links between North Tyneside and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, compared to the "Coaster" 1 service, which is also allocated vehicles with a blue base livery.
On evenings and Sundays, the western section on "Blue Arrow" service 11 is operated by Riverside Depot opposed to Percy Main, using "Green Arrow" branded Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB vehicles, interworking with the normal "Green Arrow" 97 service.
East London route 294: Havering Park - Noak Hill, Wincanton Road
Havering Park.
Route 294 was retained by Stagecoach from Romford (NS) with E40D MMCs (10333-10347) on 30 April 2016. Its batch has since frequently intermixed with the original batch of Romford MMCs (10301-10307) for route 498.
©London Bus Breh 2016.