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ANDY PECKHAM'S TRAVEL 2000 LTD

  
 

    
  Helping to get any broken down Travel 2000 vehicles back on the move is the company's trusty short-wheelbase Ford Transit, being followed past vehicles in Provincial livery by an iconic black London taxi.  
 

    
  Helping to get any broken down Travel 2000 vehicles back on the move is the company's trusty short-wheelbase Ford Transit, being followed past vehicles in Provincial livery by an iconic black London taxi.  
 

    
  A radical new attraction to the Cheltenham GWR Modeller's Exhibition in aid of CLIC Sargeant staged in April 2007 was Andy Peckham's Travel 2000 Ltd, a 4mm scale diorama representing a fictional Gloucester based coach and bus firm incorporating both the new brands of Concept 2000 and Provincial as well as the legendary historical style of Black and White - forever linked with mass monochrome departures from Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Station.

Some readers will be asking why a skilled modeller should be striving to perfect fictitious markings when most railway and aircraft builders go into rivet-counting detail trying to replicate reality. The answer is that bus modelling also has a function beyond shape and colour recognition that is more akin to wargaming. As further reported on the Model Bus Federation website and in their regular printed Supplements, some bus enthusiasts will use their scale replicas as the basis for hypothetical bus companies. These will bid for and operate routes and be allocated their own blocks of route numbers by Traffic Commissioners, operating to a timetable interlocking with other operators. Such operators, such as Andy Peckham and The Mellor Brothers also cope with changing conditions inspired by events in the real world such as new bridges and long term roadworks.

Even to the uninitiated however, a look round Travel 2000's busy yard will yield some interesting sights...

  
 

    
  Some readers will be asking why a skilled modeller should be striving to perfect fictitious markings when most railway and aircraft builders go into rivet-counting detail trying to replicate reality. The answer is that bus modelling also has a function beyond shape and colour recognition that is more akin to wargaming. As further reported on the Model Bus Federation website and in their regular printed Supplements, some bus enthusiasts will use their scale replicas as the basis for hypothetical bus companies. These will bid for and operate routes and be allocated their own blocks of route numbers by Traffic Commissioners, operating to a timetable interlocking with other operators. Such operators, such as Andy Peckham and The Mellor Brothers also cope with changing conditions inspired by events in the real world such as new bridges and long term roadworks.  
 

    
  Among the Travel 2000 fleet vehicles is a visiting preserved Bedford OB  
 

    
  Among the Travel 2000 fleet vehicles is a visiting preserved Bedford OB  
 

    
  CONCEPT 2000  
 

    
 

At the top end of the travel range were these rare Concept 2000 marked Dutch built Bova Futuras with the registrations DP20 and AP49

  
 

    
  At the top end of the quality long distance travel range are these rare Concept 2000 marked Dutch built Bova Futuras with the registrations DP20 and AP49. Also in the brown and gold of Concept 2000 is this 1996 vintage Neoplan Cityliner.  
 

    
  At the top end of the quality long distance travel range are these rare Concept 2000 marked Dutch built Bova Futuras with the registrations DP20 and AP49. Also in the brown and gold of Concept 2000 is this 1996 vintage Neoplan Cityliner.  
 

    
  BLACK & WHITE  
 

    
  Black and White meanwhile provided more mundane coach accomodation, although in October 2008 one of their more modern Setra bodied two axled vehicles - registration JB22 - formed a backdrop to one of Andy Peckham's other interests - Jaguar cars. This particular sunroof fitted blue example has the registration A1 - but to be totally accurate of course Andy would have needed two jags, a blonde Cabinet Secretary and some croquet mallets - but anything is possible in modelling!  
 

    
  Black and White meanwhile provided more mundane coach accomodation, although in October 2008 one of their more modern two axled vehicles formed a backdrop to one of Andy Peckham's other interests - Jaguar cars. This particular sunroof fitted blue example has the satirical registration JP1 - but to be totally accurate of course Andy would have needed two jags, a blonde Cabinet Secretary and some croquet mallets - but anything is possible in modelling!  
 

    
  Black and White meanwhile provided more mundane coach accomodation, although in October 2008 one of their more modern Setra bodied two axled vehicles - registration JB22 - formed a backdrop to one of Andy Peckham's other interests - Jaguar cars. This particular sunroof fitted blue example has the registration A1 - but to be totally accurate of course Andy would have needed two jags, a blonde Diary Secretary and some croquet mallets - but anything is possible in modelling!  
 

    
  Black and White meanwhile provided more mundane coach accomodation, although in October 2008 one of their more modern two axled vehicles formed a backdrop to one of Andy Peckham's other interests - Jaguar cars. This particular sunroof fitted blue example has the satirical registration JP1 - but to be totally accurate of course Andy would have needed two jags, a blonde Cabinet Secretary and some croquet mallets - but anything is possible in modelling!  
 

    
  Representing the small, flexible end of Black and White passenger operation is the Ford Transit minibus pictured above while below are two images of PRC1 - the 2004 vintage Volvo with double decked Wright Gemini bodywork named "Silver Lady" and reserved for private hire work.  
 

    
  Representing the small, flexible end of Black and White passenger operation is the Ford Transit minibus pictured above while below are two images of PRC1 - the 2004 vintage Volvo with double decked Wright Gemini bodywork named "Silver Lady" and reserved for private hire work.  
 

    
  Representing the small, flexible end of Black and White passenger operation is the Ford Transit minibus pictured above while below are two images of PRC1 - the 2004 vintage Volvo with double decked Wright Gemini bodywork named "Silver Lady" and reserved for private hire work.  
 

    
  Representing the small, flexible end of Black and White passenger operation is the Ford Transit minibus pictured above while below are two images of PRC1 - the 2004 vintage Volvo with double decked Wright Gemini bodywork named "Silver Lady" and reserved for private hire work.  
 

    
  PROVINCIAL  
 

    
  Travel 2000's provincial division was further split into the brown and cream liveried coaches and buses used to transport office and factory workers and the dedicated fleet of school and university PSVs.  
 

    
  Nearest the camera is a Leyland Tiger with the longer version of the Plaxton Paramount body carrying the three brown stripes of Provincial livery and registered as AJP1.  
 

    
  Nearest the camera is a Leyland Tiger with the longer version of the Plaxton Paramount body carrying the three brown stripes of Provincial livery and registered as AJP1.  
 

    
  Two iconic "people mover" designs formate as a pair of 1960s VW minibuses pass a trio of 1970s Leyland National single deckers. Low sunlight accentuates the corrugated roof and rear air conditioning unit of the PSV nearest the camera.  
 

    
  Two iconic "people mover" designs formate as a pair of 1960s VW minibuses pass a trio of 1970s Leyland National single deckers. Low sunlight accentuates the corrugated roof and rear air conditioning unit of the PSV nearest the camera.  
 

    
  Against a backdrop of brown liveried Bova Futura executive and Concept PSVs, an East Lancashire bodied double decker sets off from Travel 2000 Ltd's Gloucester base to the University of Gloucestershire's Oxstalls Campus, causing a green BMC Mini to pause for a moment.  
 

    
  Against a backdrop of brown liveried Bova Futura executive and Concept PSVs, an East Lancashire bodied double decker sets off from Travel 2000 Ltd's Gloucester base to the University of Gloucestershire's Oxstalls Campus, causing a green BMC Mini to pause for a moment.  
 

    
  Against a backdrop of brown liveried Bova Futura executive and Concept PSVs, an East Lancashire bodied double decker sets off from Travel 2000 Ltd's Gloucester base to the University of Gloucestershire's Oxstalls Campus, causing a green BMC Mini to pause for a moment.  
 

    
  The top front end of one of the Travel 2000 double deck school buses received expert attention before being let out on the road.  
 

    
  The top front end of one of the Travel 2000 double deck school buses receives expert attention before being let out on the road.  
 

    
  Among the dedicated school bus fleet of Travel 2000 Ltd is this Leyland Lynx.  
 

    
  Among the dedicated school bus fleet of Travel 2000 Ltd is this Leyland Lynx.  
 

    
  Behind the Alexander bodied Volvo B10 single deck bus above is the sloping front of a Mercedes engined Optare Metro Rider while another Mercedes midi bus with Vario bodywork leaves the Travel 2000 Ltd compound below.  
 

    
  Behind the Alexander bodied Volvo B10 single deck bus above is the sloping front of a Mercedes engined Optare Metro Rider while S 189 BNU - another Mercedes midi bus, with Vario bodywork - leaves the Travel 2000 Ltd compound below.  
 

    
  Behind the Alexander bodied Volvo B10 single deck bus above is the sloping front of a Mercedes engined Optare Metro Rider while another Mercedes midi bus with Vario bodywork leaves the Travel 2000 Ltd compound below.  
 

    
  TRAVEL 2000 LTD IN 2009  
 

    
  Spring 2009 saw a new short-chassis version of the popular Dennis Dart - registration ES 2 - enter Provincial service as a schools bus while Travel 2000 Ltd responded to the credit crunch by diversifying into a wedding car service. Here, a white Jaguar and a white Bentley are prepared with ribbons while mechanics investigate the engine of one of the Lancashire bodied double deckers.  
 

    
  Spring 2009 saw a new short-chassis version of the popular Dennis Dart - registration ES 2 - enter Provincial service as a schools bus while Travel 2000 Ltd responded to the credit crunch by diversifying into a wedding car service. Here, a white Jaguar and a white Bentley are prepared with ribbons while mechanics investigate the engine of one of the Lancashire bodied double deckers.  
 

    
  Spring 2009 saw a new short-chassis version of the popular Dennis Dart - registration ES 2 - enter Provincial service as a schools bus while Travel 2000 Ltd responded to the credit crunch by diversifying into a wedding car service. Here, a white Jaguar and a white Bentley are prepared with ribbons while mechanics investigate the engine of one of the Lancashire bodied double deckers.  
 

    
Spring 2009 saw a new short-chassis version of the popular Dennis Dart - registration ES 2 - enter Provincial service as a schools bus while Travel 2000 Ltd responded to the credit crunch by diversifying into a wedding car service. Here, a white Jaguar and a white Bentley are prepared with ribbons while mechanics investigate the engine of one of the Lancashire bodied double deckers.


  Representing two extremities of PSV operation within the Travel 2000 fleet at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in October 2009 were N314 BYA - a Volvo B10M coach with Black and White markings on its Van Hool body - seen below and covered in dead insects after a long cross country journey, and the two yellow school buses pictured above.
  
 

    
Representing two extremities of PSV operation within the Travel 2000 fleet at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in October 2009 were N314 BYA - a Volvo B10M coach with Black and White markings on its Van Hool body - seen below and covered in dead insects after a long cross country journey, and the two yellow school buses pictured above.

On the left is a monocoque built Optare Excel while to the right is a short wheelbase Dennis Dart chassis bearing a Ballymena built Wright Handybus body, once a common sight around London.


Representing two extremities of PSV operation within the Travel 2000 fleet at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in October 2009 were N314 BYA - a Volvo B10M coach with Black and White markings on its Van Hool body - seen below and covered in dead insects after a long cross country journey, and the two yellow school buses pictured above.


Finally, Travel 2000 Ltd has now been around long enough for the grass to grow under its fence!


  Finally, Travel 2000 Ltd has now been around long enough for the grass to grow under its fence!  
 

    
TRAVEL 2000 LTD IN 2010


By the time it arrived at St Margaret's Hall, for the Spring 2010 Cheltenham GWR Modeller's Exhibition, Travel 2000 has expanded into a new gravel-floored yard - seen here being occupied by the school bus fleet - and gained an inspection ramp visible just behind the shed and to the left of the three-axle cream coloured Peugeot-Talbot Pullman minibus with brown "Provincial" branding.


By the time it arrived at St Margaret's Hall, for the Spring 2010 Cheltenham GWR Modeller's Exhibition, Travel 2000 has expanded into a new gravel-floored yard - seen here being occupied by the school bus fleet - and gained an inspection ramp visible just behind the shed and to the left of the three-axle cream coloured Peugeot-Talbot Pullman minibus with brown "Provincial" branding.  

Also of note was the Black Knight, a new luxury addition to the Black and White fleet.  Based on the Original Omnibus Company model of a Volvo B12B with Van Hoole Alizee bodywork, this livery was derived from that of Hoddeston, Hertfordshire based Golden Boy.


Also of note was the Black Knight, a new luxury addition to the Black and White fleet. Based on the Original Omnibus Company model of a Volvo B12B with Van Hoole Alizee bodywork, this livery was derived from that of Hoddeston, Hertfordshire based Golden Boy.

Also of note was the Black Knight, a new luxury addition to the Black and White fleet. Based on the Original Omnibus Company model of a Volvo B12B with Van Hoole Alizee bodywork, this livery was derived from that of Hoddeston, Hertfordshire based Golden Boy.

Below meanwhile, Paul Mellor has added some beautiful detail to the AEC Routemaster 18 CLT in the ever growing wedding hire fleet.

Below meanwhile, Paul Mellor has added some beautiful detail to the AEC Routemaster 18 CLT in the ever growing wedding hire fleet.

Below meanwhile, Paul Mellor has added some beautiful detail to the AEC Routemaster 18 CLT in the ever growing wedding hire fleet.


Below meanwhile, Paul Mellor has added some beautiful detail to the AEC Routemaster 18 CLT in the ever growing wedding hire fleet.