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BACKGROUND

  
 

 

    
  Such was the situation in 1973 when 142 DBO, the Leyland PSU3/3RT with Duple Northern C49F bodywork, was pictured above leaving Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Station prior to withdrawal by Black and White in 1974. Originally a Western Welsh asset, it would go on to serve with Wessex National.  
 

 

    
  At 1600 on Sunday 27 May 2012 the very last coaches left what had been Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Station at the end of the final rally prior to the site - a car park since 1985 - being redeveloped for retail use.

Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Station had opened eighty years earlier in 1932 and by the 1960s was second only to London Victoria in national importance with coaches arriving from the North ready for a mass departure of onward Southern connections at 1400, or - after 1972 - at 1400 in summer and at 1430 during the winter timetable to allow for delays due to bad weather.

However, in a town not designed for motor traffic, the ensuing congestion often saw drivers of arriving coaches disembarking their passengers in the street ( and thus adding to the chaos ) so that they would not be late for the Two O'Clock bell.  In the same way, Duty Inspectors at the Coach Station developed the skills of diverting coaches not needed until later in the day to alternative parking spots while checking that the relevant incoming PSVs had actually arrived.

The essence of this colourful and noisy scene was captured by a simplified 4mm scale model of St Margaret's Coach Station on display on Sunday 27 May 2012 aboard preserved Roe bodied Leyland Olympian A 952 SAE.

  
 

 

    
 

The essence of this colourful and noisy scene was captured by a 4mm scale model of St Margaret's Coach Station on display on Sunday 27 May 2012 aboard preserved Roe bodied Leyland Olympian A 952 SAE.

  
 

 

    
  Companies arriving from the North included Yelloways of Rochdale and many other independent Lancashire operators, often yielding a fine collection of six wheeled Bedford VALs which would head home at 1500 after being fuelled, washed and repaired if needed.

At the back of St Margaret's Coach Station meanwhile, Yorkshire and South West Clipper direct services would also break their journeys along with Eastern Scottish, Wallace Arnold, Yorkshire Traction and Yorkshire Woollen vehicles taking on refreshment whilst en route from Devon to Yorkshire and beyond.

Once the 1400 services had left some normality would return to St Margaret's Coach Station, with an army of cleaners from among the 300 employees clearing away the rubbish left by the travelling public, and by 15.00, coaches would start to take up their positions ready for the smaller scale 1630 departures.

More coaches would also start coming in, from Devon, Hampshire, Kent and East Anglia as well as from Lincolnshire & North Wales These vehicles would stay overnight after fuelling and return home on the following day's 1100 services.

With most of its 300 daily departures accounted for, the coach station would then go quiet from 1700 with the indigenous Black & White Motorways vehicles stored under the canopy in readiness for the next day's duty.

In particular, those being used for Black & White's Sunday tours would have been washed & scrubbed, inside & out.   Luxury coach tours were a large part of Black & White’s income along with private hire work.

The end of the day was an 1830 service to London while in the darkness of 2330 the Eastern Scottish vehicles would arrive for refreshment break before continuing on the overnight service from Bournemouth to Edinburgh.  The next departure would then be a 0250 service to London, which originated in Swansea. This was followed by further London departures at 0830 and 1100.

However, Cheltenham's position as a road motor coach hub on the A38 was compromised by - ironically for Black & White -  the M5 motorway, built in sections from 1962 and finally completed to Exeter in 1977.  As such, from the mid 1970s,  Birmingham and Bristol became more logical places to change coaches on the newer, faster six land highway and winter services through Cheltenham became very much curtailed  with the Great Yarmouth service only running as far as Norwich and the Holyhead service terminated at Llandudno.

Such was the situation in 1973 when 142 DBO, the Leyland PSU3/3RT with Duple Northern C49F bodywork, was pictured above leaving Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Station prior to withdrawal by Black and White in 1974.  Originally a Western Welsh asset, it would go on to serve with Wessex National.

The 1970s also saw  the Cheltenham & Gloucester Bus Company take over Black & White who by then had been swallowed up into the National Bus Company, and later National Travel (South West).  Black & White's St.Marks garage was then closed and vehicles transferred to St.Margaret's Road with modifications were made to the fuelling bays and vehicle washing facilities to handle the double deckers.

By 1980 the number of services using the station had declined to a handful, the majority travelling East to West, or Northwest to South East with regular feeder services to Bristol and Birmingham.  The Black & White fleet had diminished to a fleet of some 20 vehicles and the majority of these were transferred to other operators within the National Bus coaching unit.

Vehicles were kept for the 610/612 London Service or 512 Rapide via Heathrow, and for one season a Cheltenham vehicle operated a 375 Gloucester/Edinburgh service.

Eventually the St Marks depot was re opened, all vehicles transferred back and express services used Cheltenham's current Royal Well Bus Station.

 
 

 

    
 

FINAL  DEPARTURES

  
 

 

    
  Leading the 2012 parade however was Austin A35 Inspector's Van HNL 10 from Ian Lloyd Owen's preserved Black & White fleet, which had also been on show in Gloucester Park for a summer event in the Noughties.  
 

 

    
 

In trying to record the final Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Rally I suffered both from arriving rather late - having attended the IPMS Gloucester Branch show at Churchdown earlier in the day - and from friends constantly stopping to say hello and chat.  Not wishing to be rude, my main photographic approach then had to comprise of standing by the gate and shooting each vehicle as it came by.

This was a more appealing prospect in the glorious sunshine of the day rather than the downpour of the corresponding 2011 event, although attending a year before gave me some extra photos of many of the passing PSVs which I have integrated into the coverage below.

Leading the 2012 parade however was Austin A35 Inspector's Van HNL 10 from Ian Lloyd Owen's preserved Black & White fleet, which had also been on show in Gloucester Park for a summer event in the Noughties.

  
 

 

  

 

  
 

Leading the 2012 parade however was Austin A35 Inspector's Van HNL 10 from Ian Lloyd Owen's preserved Black & White fleet, which had also been on show in Gloucester Park for a summer event in the Noughties.

  
 

 

    
  A509 HVT 

LEYLAND TIGER PLAXTON PARAMOUNT 3500

1984

  
 

 

    
 

Forming up behind HNL 10 was another commercial vehicle preserved by Ian Lloyd Owen, new to Midland Red North at Shrewsbury and at one time carrying Hotspur livery. The high floor coach was recently purchased from Caradon Coaches of Liskeard and has been quickly repainted into the National Express livery of the Rapide coaches operated by Black & White until their demise in 1985. In fact I may have taken my first National Express journey from Gloucester to London Victoria in 1985 on this coach - or if not one very similar!

  
 

 

    
  Forming up behind HNL 10 was another commercial vehicle preserved by Ian Lloyd Owen, new to Midland Red North at Shrewsbury and at one time carrying Hotspur livery.  The high floor coach was recently purchased from Caradon Coaches of Liskeard and has been quickly repainted into the National Express livery of the Rapide coaches operated by Black & White until their demise in 1985.  In fact I may have taken my first National Express journey from Gloucester to London Victoria in 1985 on this coach - or if not one very similar!  
 

 

    
  KAD 359V

LEYLAND LEOPARD PLAXTON SUPREME

1980

  
 

 

    
 

This Ian Lloyd Owen PSV was new to Cheltenham and operated service 741 to Helston, the last interchange out of Cheltenham in January 1981. After returning to the lessor it worked for a number of operators until acquisition from Unity Coaches, Retford, restoration to its final National Express livery version and recertification as a Public Service Vehicle. In 2011 KAD 359V attended a wet St Margaret's with the destination blind of the premier 777 Paris service.

  
 

 

    
  This  Ian Lloyd Owen PSV was new to Cheltenham and operated service 741 to Helston, the last interchange out of Cheltenham in January 1981.  After returning to the lessor it worked for a number of operators until acquisition from Unity Coaches, Retford, restoration to its final National Express livery version and recertification as a Public Service Vehicle.  In 2011 KAD 359V attended a wet St Margaret's with the destination blind of the premier 777 Paris service.  
 

 

    
 

This Ian Lloyd Owen PSV was new to Cheltenham and operated service 741 to Helston, the last interchange out of Cheltenham in January 1981. After returning to the lessor it worked for a number of operators until acquisition from Unity Coaches, Retford, restoration to its final National Express livery version and recertification as a Public Service Vehicle. In 2011 KAD 359V attended a wet St Margaret's with the destination blind of the premier 777 Paris service.

  
 

 

    
  B472 ENT

LEYLAND TIGER DUPLE DOMINANT

 1984  
 

 

    
 

B472 ENT was a TRCTL11/3R Leyland Tiger new in 1984 to Trefaldwyn of Montgomery and apparently used to work the Thomas Bros journeys on service 103 Llandeilo-Swansea, departing Swansea 0940, 1440 and 1940, possibly subsidised as D Coaches otherwise had a monopoly on the busy service otherwise.

  
 

 

    
  B472 ENT was a TRCTL11/3R Leyland Tiger new in 1984 to Trefaldwyn of Montgomery and apparently  used to work the Thomas Bros journeys on service 103 Llandeilo-Swansea, departing Swansea 0940, 1440 and 1940, possibly subsidised as D Coaches otherwise had a monopoly on the busy service otherwise.

The Duple Dominant bus bodied PSV was also apparently operated by Bennett's of Gloucester later in its career but is now part of the Village Green fleet, based in Shobdon, Herefordshire, and owned by the next generation of the family that owned Trefaldwyn Motors.

Hopefully B472 ENT will be roaming the roads for many years yet, but if the Tiger does ever give up its registration, the licence plate would make a great gift for an ear, nose and throat surgeon - possibly from a dermatologist with a dog called Spot and a white cat named Pus...

  
 

 

    
  EMW 284

BRISTOL L6B BEADLE

1949

  
 

 

    
 

New to Wilts & Dorset with a Portsmouth Aviation body as fleet number 279, this type of vehicle would have been regularly used on the Forces leave services along with Silver Star coaches and as such would have been seen in Cheltenham. Rebuilt with the current Beadle body in 1957, chassis number 65.089 was sold to Andover Round Table in 1962 and converted to wheelchair use. Re-registered as YSV 610 in 1986, the Bristol half cab single decker reverted to its original EMW 284 identity in 1991 under the ownership of Lionel Tancock of Paulton, Bristol.

  
 

 

    
  New to Wilts & Dorset with a Portsmouth Aviation body as fleet number 279, this type of vehicle would have been regularly used on the Forces leave services along with Silver Star coaches and as such would have been seen in Cheltenham.  Rebuilt with the current Beadle body in 1957, chassis number 65.089 was sold to Andover Round Table in 1962 and converted to wheelchair use.  Re-registered as YSV 610 in 1986, the Bristol half cab single decker reverted to its original EMW 284 identity in 1991 under the ownership of Lionel Tancock of Paulton, Bristol.  
 

 

    
 

New to Wilts & Dorset with a Portsmouth Aviation body as fleet number 279, this type of vehicle would have been regularly used on the Forces leave services along with Silver Star coaches and as such would have been seen in Cheltenham. Rebuilt with the current Beadle body in 1957, chassis number 65.089 was sold to Andover Round Table in 1962 and converted to wheelchair use. Re-registered as YSV 610 in 1986, the Bristol half cab single decker reverted to its original EMW 284 identity in 1991 under the ownership of Lionel Tancock of Paulton, Bristol.

  
 

 

    
  J858 FTC

MERCEDES BENZ 709D REEVE BURGESS BEAVER

1991

  
 

 

    
 

This Mercedes Benz 709D with a Reeve Burgess Beaver B23F body was delivered new to Badgerline at Weston Super Mare before joining City Line in January 1996. After passenger service J858FTC was owned by VOSA to train vehicle examiners and since 2010 has been owned by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group. The livery - including web address www.bvbg.org.uk - is the group's impression of what Bristol Omnibus markings would have looked like had it survived to meet this class of bus.

  
 

 

    
 

This Mercedes Benz 709D with a Reeve Burgess Beaver B23F body was delivered new to Badgerline at Weston Super Mare before joining City Line in January 1996.  After passenger service J858FTC was owned by VOSA to train vehicle examiners and since 2010 has been owned by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group.  The livery - including web address www.bvbg.org.uk - is the group's impression of what Bristol Omnibus markings would have looked like had it survived to meet this class of bus.

  
 

 

    
 

This Mercedes Benz 709D with a Reeve Burgess Beaver B23F body was delivered new to Badgerline at Weston Super Mare before joining City Line in January 1996. After passenger service J858FTC was owned by VOSA to train vehicle examiners and since 2010 has been owned by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group. The livery - including web address www.bvbg.org.uk - is the group's impression of what Bristol Omnibus markings would have looked like had it survived to meet this class of bus.

  
 

 

    
  NUD 105L

BRISTOL VRT ECW SEMI COACH

1972

  
 

 

    
 

New to Oxford South Midland for use on the London coach service with full coach seating, NUD 105L was also built to the ultra low height of 13' 5". As such it was one of only nine examples built. It passed to South Midland on Privatization and then to Straffords of Wrexham before preservation in 1997. Dave Clements of Oxford has since overseen the double decker's immaculate restoration to NBC Oxford South Midland livery, which makes an interesting counterpoint to the other liveries featured in Bristol VR - The Big Firm Bus on this website.

  
 

 

    
  New to Oxford  South Midland for use on the London coach service with full coach seating, NUD 105L was also built to the ultra low height of 13' 5".  As such it was one of only nine examples built.  It passed to South Midland on Privatization and then to Straffords of Wrexham before preservation in 1997.  Dave Clements of Oxford has since overseen the double decker's immaculate restoration to NBC Oxford South Midland livery, which makes an interesting counterpoint to the other liveries featured in Bristol VR - The Big Firm Bus on this website.  
 

 

    
 

New to Oxford South Midland for use on the London coach service with full coach seating, NUD 105L was also built to the ultra low height of 13' 5". As such it was one of only nine examples built. It passed to South Midland on Privatization and then to Straffords of Wrexham before preservation in 1997. Dave Clements of Oxford has since overseen the double decker's immaculate restoration to NBC Oxford South Midland livery, which makes an interesting counterpoint to the other liveries featured in Bristol VR - The Big Firm Bus on this website.

  
 

 

    
  NML 657E

AEC ROUTEMASTER

1967

  
 

 

    
 

Of thousands of AEC Routemasters built for London Transport , NML 657E was one of the last left in the Capital and was re-engined with a Scania prime mover. It is now part of the Stagecoach West heritage fleet and is available for hire. A closer look at the AEC Routemaster in model form can be found on The Road to Feltham on this website,

  
 

 

    
  Of thousands of AEC Routemasters built for London Transport , NML 657E was one of the last left in the Capital and was re-engined with a Scania prime mover.  It is now part of the Stagecoach West heritage fleet and is available for hire.  A closer look at the AEC Routemaster in model form can be found on The Road to Feltham on this website,  
 

 

    
  SDD 146R

LEYLAND LEOPARD PLAXTON SUPREME

1977

  
 

 

    
 

The last of Ian Lloyd Owen's Black & White big cats to leave Cheltenham on Sunday 27 May 2012, SDD 146R carried an earlier C53F version of the Plaxton Supreme body fitted to KAD 359V discussed above and was part of a batch of 16 leased from Kirby Bus and Coach to National Travel (South West) and allocated to Cheltenham.

 
 

 

    
  The last of Ian Lloyd Owen's Black & White big cats to leave Cheltenham on Sunday 27 May 2012, SDD 146R carried an earlier C53F version of the Plaxton Supreme body fitted to KAD 359V discussed above and was part of a batch of 16 leased from Kirby Bus and Coach to National Travel (South West) and allocated to Cheltenham. 

Operating both National Express and National Holiday duties, it also formed the 777 service to Paris before returning off lease in 1981.  SDD 146R then spent ten years with Thirlwell of Gateshead before moving to Tower Coaches of Wigton, Cumbria and being preserved in 2005.  Originally restored to National Express livery, it is now in a variant of Black and White paintwork and is a fully licensed PSV.

Black & White became variously National Travel West and South West before the short-lived rebirth of its name. Shortly after, it fell under Cheltenham & Gloucester control, just at the time C&G embarked upon its Cotswold coaching brand. Black & White nearly put paid to Cotswold but both eventually succumbed to the collapse in local coaching, as successor Stagecoach concentrated on local bus services from the early 1990s.

  
 

 

    
 

Operating both National Express and National Holiday duties, it also formed the 777 service to Paris before returning off lease in 1981. SDD 146R then spent ten years with Thirlwell of Gateshead before moving to Tower Coaches of Wigton, Cumbria and being preserved in 2005. Originally restored to National Express livery, it is now in a variant of Black and White paintwork and is a fully licensed PSV.

  
 

 

    
  KLJ 749

BRISTOL LL6G PORTSMOUTH AVIATION

 1950  
 

 

    
 

KLJ 749 is the only survivor of a pair of very rare coaches delivered new to Hants and Dorset in the firm's mainly cream coach livery but repainted a s a bus as early as 1954. Withdrawn in 1965, it was then used by Atomic Power Construction during construction of Dungeness Power Station before being sold to a fruit farmer in Kent. Preserved since 1983, it was recently repainted following its acquisition by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group collection in 2008.

  
 

 

    
  KLJ 749 is the only survivor of a pair of very rare coaches delivered new to Hants and Dorset in the firm's mainly cream coach livery but repainted a s a bus as early as 1954.  Withdrawn in 1965, it was then used by Atomic Power Construction during construction of Dungeness Power Station before being sold to a fruit farmer in Kent.  Preserved since 1983, it was recently repainted following its acquisition by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group collection in 2008.  
 

 

    
 

KLJ 749 is the only survivor of a pair of very rare coaches delivered new to Hants and Dorset in the firm's mainly cream coach livery but repainted a s a bus as early as 1954. Withdrawn in 1965, it was then used by Atomic Power Construction during construction of Dungeness Power Station before being sold to a fruit farmer in Kent. Preserved since 1983, it was recently repainted following its acquisition by the Bristol Vintage Bus Group collection in 2008.

  
 

 

    
  RPC 59X

LEYLAND LEOPARD PLAXTON SUPREME IV

1982

  
 

 

    
 

This Leyland pussycat went new to Bicknells of Godalming, Surrey, as one of the last Leopards built and later served with Lewis of Whitland, West Wales before being purchased for preservation by Myrddin Jones in 2009. Remaining in full PCV, it is not unusual to see RPC 59X at rallies in its Jones International markings.

  
 

 

    
  This Leyland pussycat went new to Bicknells of Godalming, Surrey, as one of the last Leopards built and later served with Lewis of Whitland, West Wales before being purchased for preservation by Myrddin Jones in 2009.  Remaining in full PCV, it is not unusual to see RPC 59X at rallies in its Jones International markings.  
 

 

    
  AFM 106G

BRISTOL RELH   ECW COACH

 1969  
 

 

    
 

While many historic vehicles are preserved singly, AFM 103G and its sister AFM 106G (pictured above) made a very interesting pair and a third member of their batch - AFM 111G - also still exists.

  
 

 

    
  While many historic vehicles are preserved singly, AFM 103G and its sister AFM 106G (pictured above) made a very interesting pair and a third member of their batch - AFM 111G - also still exists.

AFM 103G became Crosville fleet number CRG 103 ( Handbook number 4004 ) on 6 February 1969, Eastern Coachways body 17479 being fitted with 47 coach seats, a bus-style destination panel, a bus-type folding door and a Webasto heating system.  Beneath this, chassis RELH-4-196 was fitted with air suspension, semi-automatic gearbox and a Gardner 6HLX engine.

Although the National Bus Company had been formed in January 1969, AFM102G-AFM111G were still painted in traditional ivory and black Crosville coaching colours with AFM 103G known to have worked the X2 London to Liverpool service in June 1970.  Similarly, with the exception of AFM 111G being used for private hire and day trips from Chester, most of the 1969 vintage Crosville RELH fleet was used on scheduled Capital services from Liverpool and Rock Ferry ( Birkenhead ) Garages.  Indeed, AFM 106G still has the original fluorescent lit panels bearing the words "London Liverpool Motorway Express" along the sides.

AFM 103G meanwhile was withdrawn from Crewe in 1981 and used by two schools before preservation and restoration in 2006.  First appearing in Bristol Greyhound livery, it is owned by Carl Berry of Wotton Under Edge.

  
 

 

    
 

AFM 103G meanwhile was withdrawn from Crewe in 1981 and used by two schools before preservation and restoration in 2006. First appearing in Bristol Greyhound livery, it is owned by Carl Berry of Wotton Under Edge.

  
 

 

    
  WHW 362H

BRISTOL RELH   ECW DUAL PURPOSE

1970

  
 

 

    
 

New to Bristol Omnibus Company for long distance routes, including those through Cheltenham, WHW 362H was originally sold to a group of staff for preservation, but was then resold to Pennine Blue for continued PCV use around Manchester after Deregulation. Continuous preservation began when it was acquired by Mike Ede as the first vehicle of the Stroud RE Group and WHW 362H was initially painted in the green and cream dual purpose Tilling livery. Its 2012 look however is the NBC Blue and White markings used only by Gloucester, East Yorkshire and Jones of Aberbeeg.

  
 

 

    
  New to Bristol Omnibus Company for long distance routes, including those through Cheltenham, WHW 362H was originally sold to a group of staff for preservation, but was then resold to Pennine Blue for continued PCV use around Manchester after Deregulation.  Continuous preservation began when it was acquired by Mike Ede as the first vehicle of the Stroud RE Group and WHW 362H was initially painted in the green and cream dual purpose Tilling livery.  Its 2012 look however is the NBC Blue and White markings used only by Gloucester, East Yorkshire and Jones of Aberbeeg.  
 

 

    
 

New to Bristol Omnibus Company for long distance routes, including those through Cheltenham, WHW 362H was originally sold to a group of staff for preservation, but was then resold to Pennine Blue for continued PCV use around Manchester after Deregulation. Continuous preservation began when it was acquired by Mike Ede as the first vehicle of the Stroud RE Group and WHW 362H was initially painted in the green and cream dual purpose Tilling livery. Its 2012 look however is the NBC Blue and White markings used only by Gloucester, East Yorkshire and Jones of Aberbeeg.

  
 

 

    
  YBD 201

BRISTOL MW5G  ECW COACH

1961

  
 

 

    
 

New to United Counties Omnibus Company at Northampton Depot in 1961, YBD 201 was transferred to Eastern National in Chelmsford, Essex, three years later where it would serve for a further seven years with the fleet numbers 051 and 348 rather than the original 201. A period of work with contractors from 1976 then followed before entering preservation in 2007, although later that year it was sold for conversion to a camper van for touring Portugal. In November 2009 however it was purchased by Dave Fricker of North Somerset Coaches of Nailsea along with the original seats and internal fittings. Restoration was completed under the ownership of Gerry Serpell-Morris of Luton from August 2011.

  
 

 

    
  New to United Counties Omnibus Company at Northampton Depot in 1961, YBD 201 was transferred to Eastern National in Chelmsford, Essex, three years later where it would serve for a further seven years with the fleet numbers 051 and 348 rather than the original 201.  A period of work with contractors from 1976  then followed before entering preservation in 2007, although later that year it was sold for conversion to a camper van for touring Portugal.  In November 2009 however it was purchased by Dave Fricker of North Somerset Coaches of Nailsea along with the original seats and internal fittings.  Restoration was completed under the ownership of Gerry Serpell-Morris of Luton from August 2011.

Earlier on the day of the St Margaret's Rally I was able to use YBD 201 as a backdrop for Rob Ridgway's harvest yellow Vauxhall Victor F-Type, in production from 1957 to 1961 and thus re-creating a typical scene of traffic in the early 1960s.  LJD 352 is a rare survivor of the Detroit-styled General Motors product which replaced the more staid Vauxhall Wyvern.

The Series 1 F-Type Victor - as owned by Rob - was launched in February 1957 at the Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn when a pair of Victors appeared on stage, joined by glamour model Sabrina, Arthur Askey, Ralph Reeder and the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

 

 At first there was only a saloon available, in Standard or Super forms, with the 1507cc four-cylinder powerplant that would be the sole engine option throughout the model’s life.  From the outside though, the Series 1 F-Type was immediately identifiable courtesy of the double-ribbed bonnet, chrome trim along the bottom of the dash and the flat, painted rings around the headlamps.

By March 1958 an estate offered - and built for just 11 months with few current survivors - along with Vauxhall's unreliable Newtondrive automatic transmission while the series 2 F-Type was introduced in February 1959.  This development featured a full-width grille and less glitzy bumpers with the range being topped by the De Luxe, equipped with contoured leather seats in the front and full carpets instead of rubber mats although heaters and screen washers were not yet standard equipment.

 

A further mild refresh in August 1960 brought revised badging, bright cappings to the headlamp cowls (except on the Standard edition) and side flutes that ran the full length of the car. There was also a deeper rear window and vertical flutes on the boot lid – but there were no significant mechanical changes in the 390,747 F-Types constructed.

  
 

 

    
 

Earlier on the day of the St Margaret's Rally I was able to use YBD 201 as a backdrop for Rob Ridgway's harvest yellow Vauxhall Victor F-Type, in production from 1957 to 1961 and thus re-creating a typical scene of traffic in the early 1960s. LJD 352 is a rare survivor of the Detroit-styled General Motors product which replaced the more staid Vauxhall Wyvern.

  
 

 

    
 

RMS 714

LEYLAND TIGER CUB ALEXANDER

1955

  
 

 

    
 

RMS 714 was one of the last vehicles outshopped from coachbuilders Alexander before the introduction of the Y type body and also one of the last coaches to be delivered to W. Alexander & Sons in 1961 in blue markings before the Scottish operator split into three smaller organisations. The PSV then passed to Fife and was quickly repainted into the firm's cream and red coach livery, spending all of its working life based at Newburgh Depot near Perth.

 
 

 

    
  RMS 714 was one of the last vehicles outshopped from coachbuilders Alexander before the introduction of the Y type body and also one of the last coaches to be delivered to W. Alexander & Sons in 1961 in blue markings before the Scottish operator split into three smaller organisations.  The PSV then passed to Fife and was quickly repainted into the firm's cream and red coach livery, spending all of its working life based at Newburgh Depot near Perth. 

Latterly converted to one man operation and repainted in bus colours, RMS 714 was withdrawn in 1977 but saved from scrapping by conversion to a stock car transporter.  This involved the removal of all seats and the fitment of a roller shutter to the rear end, but engine failure after years of touring the UK forced the vehicle off the road in 1998.

After restoration by the Scottish Bus Museum in Lathalmond, October 2011 saw RMS 714 acquired by North Somerset Coaches and driven to its new home in Nailsea over two days at 45 mph.  Now fully PCV tested and tachograph fitted, it sees regular local bus service and private hire work.  North Somerset Coaches also sponsored the attendance plaques at the 2012 St Margaret's Rally.

  
 

 

    
  LTA 729

BRISTOL LL6B  DUPLE C37F

1951

  
 

 

    
 

LTA 729 became 1250 in the Exeter based Western National fleet in March 1951, serving until January 1964. The Bristol LL6B chassis numbered 81.038 and carrying 37 seat Duple coach body 54587 then spent 1964 -1967 with Sherrin of Carhampton before being preserved by the West of England Transport Collection at Winkleigh in 1968 before transferring to the ownership of Colin Billington of Fifield in May 1972.

  
 

 

    
  LTA 729 became 1250 in the Exeter based Western National fleet in March 1951, serving until January 1964.  The Bristol LL6B chassis numbered 81.038 and carrying 37 seat Duple coach body 54587 then spent 1964 -1967 with Sherrin of Carhampton before being preserved by the West of England Transport Collection at Winkleigh in 1968 before transferring to the ownership of Colin Billington of Fifield in May 1972.  
 

 

    
 

TFM 267K

BRISTOL REL6H ECW COACH

1972

  
 

 

    
 

Although new as fleet ERL 267 in 1972, TFM 267K carried the NBC dual purpose livery of cream and white on the final style of ECW coach shell body and worked from most Crosville depots until withdrawn in 1985. Converted for use as a mobile classroom in Scotland, TFM 267K was purchased by Bryan Sharpe of Derbyshire in 2002 and restored to its original condition in 2006. The Lowestoft built body was designed to be fitted to the rear-engined RE chassis and so had structural problems when applied to mid-engined types such as the Leyland Leopard.

  
 

 

    
  Although new as fleet ERL 267 in 1972, TFM 267K carried the NBC dual purpose livery of cream and white on the final style of ECW coach shell body and worked from most Crosville depots until withdrawn in 1985.  Converted for use as a mobile classroom in Scotland, TFM 267K was purchased by Bryan Sharpe of Derbyshire in 2002 and restored to its original condition in 2006. The Lowestoft built body was designed to be fitted to the rear-engined RE chassis and so had structural problems when applied to mid-engined types such as the Leyland Leopard.  
 

 		  
  AFJ 727T

BRISTOL LH  PLAXTON SUPREME

1979

  
 

 

    
 

AFJ 727T was one of the 7' 6" wide 41 seat front entrance Plaxton bodied Bristol LH6Ls bought by Western National in 1979 for use on the narrow country lanes of the West Country. Although relatively few Bristol LH chassis were fitted with coach bodies, Western National was a big customer for these vehicles for both its Western and Southern National fleets and even some Marshall bodied coaches received Royal Blue livery. A familiar sight in the Minehead area, AFJ 727T was last used as a driver training vehicle by First Southern National in 2002 prior to preservation by the West Country Historic Omnibus Transport Trust, returning to the road in its current guise in 2009.

  
 

 

    
  AFJ 727T was one of the 7' 6" wide 41 seat  front entrance Plaxton Supreme bodied Bristol LH6Ls bought by Western National in 1979 for use on the narrow country lanes of the West Country.  Although relatively few Bristol LH chassis were fitted with coach bodies, Western National was a big customer for these vehicles for both its Western and Southern National fleets and even some Marshall bodied coaches received Royal Blue livery.  A familiar sight in the Minehead area, AFJ 727T was last used as a driver training vehicle by First Southern National in 2002 prior to preservation by the West Country Historic Omnibus Transport Trust, returning to the road in its current guise in 2009.  
 

 

    
  F3 BBC

VOLVO B10M VAN HOOL ALIZEE

1989

  
 

 

    
 

F3 BBC with its 50 seat front entrance coach body was new to Tellings-Golden Miller and has since worn the blue and grey markings of Coachways Executive Travel before appearing in the brown and cream of Ingles Coaches.

 
 

 

    
  F3 BBC with its 50 seat front entrance coach body was new to Tellings-Golden Miller and has since worn the blue and grey markings of Coachways Executive Travel before appearing in the brown and cream of Ingles Coaches.

The Volvo B10M was one of the most popular bus and coach chassis sold in Britain during its production run from 1978 to 2001, succeeding the Volvo B58 and being powered by a mid engined horizontal underfloor 9.6 litre diesel engine.  Hundreds of examples are still in use each day.

The Belgian built Van Hool Alizee coach body series dates back to 1978 and has been fitted to a wide range of Leyland, Volvo and DAF chassis. The Alizee was replaced by the new T9 series in the late 1990s.

  
 
 

 

  
  RIB 8289

DUPLE 425 INTEGRAL

1990

  
 

 

    
 

This rare example of the futuristic Duple 425 Integral was delivered new to Robin Hood Coaches of Leek, Staffordshire, to work on shuttle services to Spain for which its 10 litre Cummins engine was ideal. Although later downgraded to local work, RIB 8289 is in wholly original condition and livery and never left Robin Hood Coaches until acquired for preservation by R. Feltham of Caerau.

  
 

 

    
  This rare example of the futuristic Duple 425 Integral was delivered new to Robin Hood Coaches of Leek, Staffordshire, to work on shuttle services to Spain for which its 10 litre Cummins engine was ideal.  Although later downgraded to local work, RIB 8289 is in wholly original condition and livery and never left Robin Hood Coaches until acquired for preservation by R. Feltham of Caerau.  
 

 

    
  JMW 168P

BRISTOL RESL ECW DP43F

1976

  
 

 

    
 

New in 1976 as one of five similar vehicles delivered to Thamesdown Transport (Swindon Corporation) with dual purpose seating, JMW 168P was used for National Express duplicates when required until acquisition by Busways Travel Services of Newcastle in 1987. After 20 years of travel on Tyneside however, the PSV was preserved by the Swindon Vintage Omnibus Society in 2007.

  
 

 

    
  New in 1976 as one of five similar vehicles delivered to Thamesdown Transport (Swindon Corporation) with dual purpose seating, JMW 168P was used for National Express duplicates when required until acquisition by Busways Travel Services of Newcastle in 1987.  After 20 years of travel on Tyneside however, the PSV was preserved by the Swindon Vintage Omnibus Society in 2007.  
 

 

    
  HNE 641N

LEYLAND LEOPARD  ECW COACH BODY

1975

  
 

 

    
 

HNE 641N was new to Greater Manchester Transport on 4 April 1975, being the sole survivor of only 22 buses built with this type of ECW body on Leyland Leopard chassis. They were originally ordered by North Western Road Car on Bristol RELH chassis but were changed to Leyland Leopards by GMT following their takeover of North Western.

 
 

 

    
  HNE 641N was new to Greater Manchester Transport on 4 April 1975, being the sole survivor of only 22  buses built with this type of ECW body on Leyland Leopard chassis.  They were originally ordered by North Western Road Car on Bristol RELH chassis but were changed to Leyland Leopards by GMT following their takeover of North Western. 

Due to the body being designed for fitting to a rear engine chassis, the rear ends were prone to sagging due to the lack of support from the Leopard chassis which stopped just after the rear axle. Many were rebodied by Duple for further use in the Charterplan coaching fleet although some had rear end chassis extensions fitted by GMT to support the boot and soldiered on in the bus fleet.

They were delivered between 1973 and 1976 with HNE 641N temporarily allocated to the Selnec Travel fleet for a few months before being transferred to Oldham depot where it stayed until deregulation in October 1986.  It was then transferred to Bury depot for use on the Summerseat service until withdrawal on 26 June 1988.

Following withdrawal, HNE 641N was used by Broughton House Home for Disabled ex Servicemen as resident's transport and a wheelchair lift was fitted to the centre nearside of the body.

When no longer required by Broughton House it went to Hardwicks at Barnsley for scrap but was rescued by Richard Sinclair who then proceeded to restore the bus back into its original GMT condition between 1998 and 2002.

In 2011 the orange and white big cat was sold to its current owner Mark Amis for preservation in the Manchester area and is now displayed as part of the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust. Mark has fond memories of riding on these vehicles ( and perhaps even this very one ) every week while at school in Oldham and even drove up from his new home in Bristol to show HNE 641N off at Cheltenham.  Indeed, the PSV was photographed in service as far south as Plymouth, and so could have formed duplicate services passing through Cheltenham St Margaret's Coach Station on hire to Yelloways.

  
 

 

    
  JHA 227L

LEYLAND LEOPARD  MARSHALL

1973

  
 

 

    
 

JHA 227L with its dual purpose 49 seat front entrance body by Marshalls of Cambridge was delivered new to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company (BMMO) of Smethwick in 1973 as type code S27 in what was then known as the Midland Red fleet. The organisation was renamed the Midland Red Omnibus Company (MROC) on 29 March 1974 and this type of PSV was reclassified as SDP27 in 1980.

  
 

 

    
  JHA 227L with its dual purpose 49 seat front entrance body by Marshalls of Cambridge was delivered new to the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company (BMMO) of Smethwick in 1973 as type code S27 in what was then known as the Midland Red fleet.  The organisation was renamed the Midland Red Omnibus Company (MROC) on 29 March 1974 and this type of PSV was reclassified as SDP27 in 1980.

JHA 227L was then operated by John Sergeant of Telford  from September 1981 to April 1987 before passing into preservation.  It is currently painted in NBC dual purpose livery.

  
 

 

    
  1294 RE

GUY ARAB LUF   BURLINGHAM SEAGULL

 1958  
 

 

    
 

Delivered new to Harper Brothers - a famous independent operator based at Heath Hayes, Staffordshire - 1294 RE operated local bus services, excursions and private hire work as one of four underfloor engined Guy Arabs, two with Burlingham Seagull bodies and two bodied by Willowbrook. Amazingly, all four of this quartet survive - although 1294 RE is the only member fully operational, having been transferred into Midland Red ownership after the takeover of Harper Brothers in 1974 and passing straight into preservation at the BMMO Museum in Wythenhall.

  
 

 

    
  Delivered new to Harper Brothers - a famous independent operator based at Heath Hayes, Staffordshire - 1294 RE operated local bus services, excursions and private hire work as one of four underfloor engined Guy Arabs, two with Burlingham Seagull bodies and two bodied by Willowbrook.  Amazingly, all four of this quartet survive - although 1294 RE is the only member fully operational, having been transferred into Midland Red ownership after the takeover of Harper Brothers in 1974 and passing straight into preservation at the BMMO Museum in Wythenhall.  
 

 

    
  OTT 98

BRISTOL LS6G  ECW COACH BODY

 1953  
 

 

    
 

Delivered new to the famous Royal Blue Coaches at Bournemouth depot in September 1953, OTT 98 operated on both Royal Blue and Associated Motorways services and would have been a regular visitor to Cheltenham. Entering preservation in 1972, it was then extensively rallied by the Dorset Transport Circle and after some years in store passed to the West Country Historic Transport Trust in 2007. In 2009 it took part in the National Centenary Road Run from Penzance to Aberdeen.

  
 

 

    
  Delivered new to the famous Royal Blue Coaches at Bournemouth depot in September 1953, OTT 98 operated on both Royal Blue and Associated Motorways services and would have been a regular visitor to Cheltenham.  Entering preservation in 1972, it was then extensively rallied by the Dorset Transport Circle and after some years in store passed to the West Country Historic Transport Trust in 2007.  In 2009 it took part in the National Centenary Road Run from Penzance to Aberdeen.

Along with its cast fleet number plate of 1299 and Royal Blue name totems, OTT 98 is also easily recognised by its roof mounted luggage box and associated rear integral ladder, causing the rear windscreen to be split into two sections.  As such it makes an interesting comparison with my own model of OTT 89 as displayed at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in October 2006.

  
 

 

    
 

Along with its cast fleet number plate of 1299 and Royal Blue name totems, OTT 98 is also easily recognised by its roof mounted luggage box and associated rear integral ladder, causing the rear windscreen to be split into two sections. As such it makes an interesting comparison with my own model of OTT 89 as displayed at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in October 2006.

  
 

 

    
 

Along with its cast fleet number plate of 1299 and Royal Blue name totems, OTT 98 is also easily recognised by its roof mounted luggage box and associated rear integral ladder, causing the rear windscreen to be split into two sections. As such it makes an interesting comparison with my own model of OTT 89 as displayed at the Cheltenham GWR Modellers Exhibition in October 2006.

  
 

 

    
  PFN 865

AEC REGENT PARK ROYAL TOWING BODY

 1959  
 

 

    
 

Built as a new bus with with a full front Park Royal double deck body for East Kent Road Car, PFN 865 was converted to a towing bus with a shortened single deck body in 1979. It has since been restored to its original East Kent Road Car maroon and cream and was presented at Cheltenham by Robert Leighfield of Bristol. PFN 865 also reminds us of the era when such passenger to towing vehicle conversions were common whereas nowadays custom built heavy tow trucks are hired in by bus and coach companies for recovery operations.

  
 

 

    
  Built as a new bus with with a full front Park Royal double deck body for East Kent Road Car, PFN 865 was converted to a towing bus with a shortened single deck body in 1979.  It has since been restored to its original East Kent Road Car maroon and cream and was presented at Cheltenham by Robert Leighfield of Bristol.  PFN 865 also reminds us of the era when such passenger to towing vehicle conversions were common whereas nowadays custom built heavy tow trucks are hired in by bus and coach companies for recovery operations.  This move has mainly been prompted by changes in both insurance cover and driver licensing that makes  HGV qualification mandatory for such vehicles.  
 

 

    
  HWO 323

LEYLAND PS1 TIGER   LYDNEY COACH WORKS

1950

  
 

 

    
 

One of fifteen Tigers delivered to Red & White Motor Services and allocated for most of its life to Brynmawr Depot, HWO 323 was sold in 1965 to the Leonard Cheshire Home at Rhyadar as a transport for wheelchair users and fitted with a suitable lift. It entered preservation in 1972, has been fully restored to original condition - in which it would have regularly visited Cheltenham - and is now owned by Cardiff Transport Preservation Group.

  
 

 

    
  One of fifteen Tigers delivered to Red & White Motor Services and allocated for most of its life to Brynmawr Depot, HWO 323 was sold in 1965 to the Leonard Cheshire Home at Rhyadar as a transport for wheelchair users and fitted with a suitable lift.  It entered preservation in 1972, has been fully restored to original condition - in which it would have regularly visited Cheltenham - and is now owned by Cardiff Transport Preservation Group.

HWO 323 also has a rare surviving roadworthy example of a Lydney Coach Works body.  Based on Lydney Industrial Estate for only about five years until 1950, Lydney Coach Works - like Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft - took in powered rolling chassis and turned out finished coaches and buses. 

The white van in the background is being driven by Chris Morgan of Cheltenham Model Centre.

  
 

 

    
  FEL 751D

BRISTOL MW6G  ECW COACH BODY

1966

  
 

 

    
 

FEL 751D - comprising Bristol MW6G chassis 225.143 carrying 39 seat front-entrance ECW coach body 15740 - joined Bournemouth based Hants & Dorset as its fleet number 904 in April 1966. White perspex indicator panels with red lettering were soon added to the front although the PSV was re-allocated to Southampton in February 1969 and the fleet number changed to 1016 in September 1971.

  
 

 

    
  FEL 751D - comprising Bristol MW6G chassis 225.143 carrying 39 seat front-entrance ECW coach body 15740 - joined Bournemouth based Hants & Dorset as its fleet number 904 in April 1966.  White perspex indicator panels with red lettering were soon added to the front although the PSV was re-allocated to Southampton in February 1969 and the fleet number changed to 1016 in September 1971.

FEL 751D was repainted in NBC red & white dual purpose livery in 1974 but passed to Glover of Ashbourne in 1978 before preservation at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre at Ruddington in April 1999.  Since June 2005, FEL 751D has been owned by Dennis Chick & Royston Morgan of Solihull.

  
 

 

    
  REL 402R

LEYLAND LEOPARD   WILLOWBROOK SPACECAR

1976

  
 

 

    
 

Bristol Youth Bus REL 402R was a Leyland Leopard PSU3D/4R that was new to National Travel South West with a Willowbrook Spacecar coach body, which while stylish was far from durable and like most of its fellows didn't last long in original condition, if at all. More information on the practical work of the Avon Youth Association can be found on its own website.

  
 

 

    
  Bristol Youth Bus REL 402R was a Leyland Leopard PSU3D/4R that was new to National Travel South West with a Willowbrook Spacecar coach body, which while stylish was far from durable and like most of its fellows didn't last long in original condition, if at all.  More information on the practical work of the Avon Youth Association can be found on its own website.  
 

 

    
  YHT 802J

BRISTOL RESL ECW

1971

  
 

 

    
 

YHT 802J was one of the less popular shorter RESL variants of the Bristol RE, of which Bristol Omnibus itself only had 30 examples. On withdrawal it was donated to Soundwell Technical College for vehicle repair training before being bought by Dave Stanton of Stroud who repainted YHT 802J in Tilling One Man Operation livery. The rear engined PSV was purchased by Derek Ferris and a group of friends in 2008.

  
 

 

    
  YHT 802J was one of the less popular shorter RESL variants of the Bristol RE, of which Bristol Omnibus itself only had 30 examples.  On withdrawal it was donated to Soundwell Technical College for vehicle repair training before being bought by Dave Stanton of Stroud who repainted YHT 802J in Tilling One Man Operation livery.  The rear engined PSV was purchased by Derek Ferris and a group of friends in 2008.  
 

 

    
  KUL 343D

BEDFORD VAS  DUPLE

1966

  
 

 

    
 

Delivered new to the Inner London Education Authority and used as a school bus, KUL 343D was sold at auction in 1976 to a private owner who used it as a hospitality bus after conversion by Moodies of Liphook, Hampshire. It was in action at Silverstone and by Miss UK 1980, after which it was laid up for 20 years but was saved from scrapping and restored as a mobile home in 2006. Today it is owned by Mr Krawczyk of Chard in Somerset.

  
 

 

    
  Delivered new to the Inner London Education Authority and used as a school bus, KUL 343D was sold at auction in 1976 to a private owner who used it as a hospitality bus after conversion by Moodies of Liphook, Hampshire.  It was in action at Silverstone and by Miss UK 1980, after which it was laid up for 20 years but was saved from scrapping and restored as a mobile home in 2006.  Today it is owned by Mr Krawczyk of Chard in Somerset.  
 

 

    
  EDV 505D

BRISTOL MW6G  ECW

1966

  
 

 

    
 

Although new in the famous Royal Blue livery as a touring coach at Plymouth and Callington depots, EDV 505D carried Western National branding and the fleet number 1423.. Withdrawn in 1978, it passed to a Mr Walford of Bristol for preservation but then served with Classic Coaches until acquired by Mr R. Johnson of Cardiff in 2001.

  
 

 

    
  Although new in the famous Royal Blue livery as a touring coach at Plymouth and Callington depots, EDV 505D carried Western National branding and the fleet number 1423..  Withdrawn in 1978, it passed to a Mr Walford of Bristol for preservation but then served with Classic Coaches until acquired by Mr R. Johnson of Cardiff in 2001.  
 

 

    
  WKG 284

AEC RELIANCE   WILLOWBROOK

1961

  
 

 

    
 

New to Western Welsh as a dual purpose coach, WKG 284 was withdrawn in 1972 and passed to Gelligaer Urban District Council and subsequently Rhymney Valley and Pengam School for further service. First acquired for preservation in 1980, it was laid up for many years and became semi derelict by the RE-LIANCE Group of Tredegar and restored to its original Western Welsh red and ivory markings.

  
 

 

    
  New to Western Welsh as a dual purpose coach, WKG 284 was withdrawn in 1972 and passed to Gelligaer Urban District Council and subsequently Rhymney Valley and Pengam School for further service.  First acquired for preservation in 1980, it was laid up for many years and became semi derelict by the RE-LIANCE Group of Tredegar and restored to its original Western Welsh red and ivory markings.  
 

 

    
 

New to Western Welsh as a dual purpose coach, WKG 284 was withdrawn in 1972 and passed to Gelligaer Urban District Council and subsequently Rhymney Valley and Pengam School for further service. First acquired for preservation in 1980, it was laid up for many years and became semi derelict by the RE-LIANCE Group of Tredegar and restored to its original Western Welsh red and ivory markings.

  
 

 

    
  GOH 357N

LEYLAND LEOPARD  MARSHALL

1974

  
 

 

    
 

One of fifty Marshall bodied dual purpose Leopards built to BET specification for Midland Red in NBC days, GOH 357N was new to Digbeth coach station for express work but later transferred to Midland Red at Kidderminster when Digbeth became a pure coach station. GOH 357N was used for many years on the X92 / X93 services from Birmingham to Hereford and Worcester and was purchased direct from Midland Red West for preservation by Mr P. Yarsley of Stourport in 1989.

  
 

 

    
  One of fifty Marshall bodied dual purpose Leopards built to BET specification for Midland Red in NBC days, GOH 357N was new to Digbeth coach station for express work but later transferred to Midland Red at Kidderminster when Digbeth became a pure coach station.  GOH 357N  was used for many years on the X92 / X93 services from Birmingham to Hereford and Worcester and was purchased direct from Midland Red West for preservation by Mr P. Yarsley of Stourport in 1989.  
 

 

    
  SWO 986

BRISTOL MW6G  ECW

 1958  
 

 

    
 

SWO 986 was delivered to Red & White Services Limited, Chepstow, in May 1968 with cream window surrounds on its red paintwork and the fleet number UC758. The combination of chassis 135.125 and 39 seat front entrance body 9932 was then transferred to Cheltenham and repainted in cream with a red band in January 1963.

  
 

 

    
  SWO 986 was delivered to Red & White Services Limited, Chepstow, in May 1968 with cream window surrounds on its red paintwork and the fleet number UC758.  The combination of chassis 135.125 and 39 seat front entrance body 9932 was then transferred to Cheltenham and repainted in cream with a red band in January 1963.

Following spells of delicensing and allocations to Aberdare and Cardiff, SWO 986 was converted to a dual purpose vehicle without bus type indicators in May 1969, repainted in cream and red and given DS758 as a new fleet identity before allocation to Tredegar and then Newport.  SWO 986 then became fleet number UD758 in February 1972 before entering Red & White's Central Repair Workshop at Chepstow in July 1972 for conversion to Mobile Enquiry Office, later used by National Travel at the Severn Bridge service area.

Following a repaint in NBC colours in 1973, SWO 986 then variously served with National Welsh Omnibus Company Limited, Roger Annetts of Parkend in 1978,  and the Warrington family in Wickham and Swanmore before being preserved and restored as DS758 from 2007

  
 

 

    
  VX09 NBK

SCANIA N230UD ALEXANDER DENNIS ENVIRO 400

 2006

  
 

 

    
 

VX09 NBK with the fleet number15526 is one of the elite Stagecoach Gold buses operating the 94 service between Gloucester and Cheltenham via Churchdown and Staverton and the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double deck concept has also caught the attention of The Mellor Brothers.

  
 

 

    
  VX09 NBK with the fleet number15526 is one of the elite Stagecoach Gold buses operating the 94 service between Gloucester and Cheltenham via Churchdown and Staverton and the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double deck concept has also caught the attention of The Mellor Brothers.  
 

 

    
  E323 PMD

VOLVO B10M  PLAXTON DERWENT

1987

  
 

 

    
 

Cheltenham-based Marchants are normally represented at local rallies through driver Les Mitchell but on this occasion his choice of vehicle was rather compromised by virtually all of the fleet being used to take Cheltenham Town football fans off to their unsuccessful play-off final against Crewe Alexandra at Wembley.

  
 

 

    
  Cheltenham-based Marchants are normally represented at local rallies through driver Les Mitchell but on this occasion his choice of vehicle was rather compromised by virtually all of the fleet being used to take Cheltenham Town football fans off to their unsuccessful play-off final against Crewe Alexandra at Wembley.

E323 PMD had a Plaxton Derwent body based on a Volvo B10M-46 chassis similar to that of F3 BBc above.  The vehicle was new to Capital of West Drayton.		  
 

 

    
  FJ60 EFS

 VOLVO   CAETANO LEVANTE

 2010  
 

 

    
 

First registered on 27 October 2010, FJ60 EFS is one of the Caetano Levante II bodied Volvo B9R coaches in the fleet of Bennetts Coaches of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, liveried for National Express services and often seen en route to London Victoria Coach Station.

  
 

 

    
  First registered on 27 October 2010, FJ60 EFS is one of the Caetano Levante II bodied Volvo B9R coaches in the fleet of Bennetts Coaches of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, liveried for National Express services and often seen en route to London Victoria Coach Station.

The Volvo B9R is a weight-optimised chassis offering high reliability, low fuel consumption and good environmental properties, intended for tourist and express operations. The straightforward chassis design offers high capacity, while the fuel-efficient driveline with Volvo's latest 9-litre engine and automated I-Shift gear changing system contributes to low operating costs.

 
 

 

    
  HWO 342

GUY ARAB   DUPLE

1949

  
 

 

    
 

Duple bodied Guy Arab double deckers were only issued new to Red & White and Barton and HWO 342 is the only survivor of the Red & White batch. Mostly allocated to Chepstow depot for the long Gloucester-Cardiff route, it was regularly crewed during 1959 and 1960 by Ken Morgan and his future wife Shirley who rescued and now own the vehicle. Ken himself went on to drive for Associated Motorway services, and - after leaving Red & White in 1968 - HWO 342 spent a further three years working in Scotland before being left to deteriorate for over 20 years. It was finally restored in 2003.

  
 

 

    
  Duple bodied Guy Arab double deckers were only issued new to Red & White and Barton and HWO 342 is the only survivor of the Red & White batch.  Mostly allocated to Chepstow depot for the long Gloucester-Cardiff route, it was regularly crewed during 1959 and 1960 by Ken Morgan and his future wife Shirley who rescued and now own the vehicle.  Ken himself went on to drive for Associated Motorway services, and - after leaving Red & White in 1968 - HWO 342 spent a further three years working in Scotland before being left to deteriorate for over 20 years.  It was finally restored in 2003.  
 

 

    
 

Duple bodied Guy Arab double deckers were only issued new to Red & White and Barton and HWO 342 is the only survivor of the Red & White batch. Mostly allocated to Chepstow depot for the long Gloucester-Cardiff route, it was regularly crewed during 1959 and 1960 by Ken Morgan and his future wife Shirley who rescued and now own the vehicle. Ken himself went on to drive for Associated Motorway services, and - after leaving Red & White in 1968 - HWO 342 spent a further three years working in Scotland before being left to deteriorate for over 20 years. It was finally restored in 2003.

  
 

 

    
  HGD 903L

LEYLAND ATLANTEAN   ALEXANDER

1973

  
 

 

    
 

New to Glasgow Corporation in June 1973 with its Panoramic windows, HGD 903L was one of the first Atlanteans to receive the new Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive livery of Verona Green, Goldcup Yellow and Snowdrift White in which it is now preserved. Withdrawn from passenger service in 1980, it survived as a training vehicle until 1997 and was preserved by Mr Carroll of Bristol in 1998 as the last surviving dual door bus from this era. It was also used in the making of Peter Mullan's award winning film "Neds", looking back at Glasgow's non-educated delinquents of the 1970s, released in January 2011.

  
 

 

    
  New to Glasgow Corporation in June 1973 with its Panoramic windows, HGD 903L was one of the first Atlanteans to receive the new Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive livery of Verona Green, Goldcup Yellow and Snowdrift White in which it is now preserved.  Withdrawn from passenger service in 1980, it survived as a training vehicle until 1997 and was preserved by Mr Carroll of Bristol in 1998 as the last surviving dual door bus from this era.  It was also used in the making of Peter Mullan's award winning film "Neds", looking back at Glasgow's non-educated delinquents of the 1970s, released in January 2011.  
 

 

    
 

New to Glasgow Corporation in June 1973 with its Panoramic windows, HGD 903L was one of the first Atlanteans to receive the new Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive livery of Verona Green, Goldcup Yellow and Snowdrift White in which it is now preserved. Withdrawn from passenger service in 1980, it survived as a training vehicle until 1997 and was preserved by Mr Carroll of Bristol in 1998 as the last surviving dual door bus from this era. It was also used in the making of Peter Mullan's award winning film "Neds", looking back at Glasgow's non-educated delinquents of the 1970s, released in January 2011.

  
 

 

    
  307 WHT

SCANIA L941B  IRIZAR CENTURY

1998

  
 

 

    
 

This 53 seat front entrance air-conditioned coach was new in June 1998 registered as R463 YDT and joined North Somerset Coaches in March 2012.

  
 

 

    
  This 53 seat front entrance air-conditioned coach was new in June 1998 registered as R463 YDT and joined North Somerset Coaches in March 2012.  
 

 

    
  FHW 156D

BRISTOL MW6G ECW COACH

1966

  
 

 

    
 

A newer version of the Bristol MW based broadly on the Bristol RE body. When new, a number of these coaches were used to open the then-also-new Severn Bridge ( now carrying the M48) and they also took part in a charity bus shuttle across the latest M4 Severn Bridge in 1996. On withdrawal as a Bristol Greyhound asset in 1973, FHW 156D passed to an operator in Cornwall, then to Kimes of Sleaford, finally entering service with Scarborough and District until acquired for preservation in 2009 by Dr Mike Walker as part of the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.

  
 

 

    
  A newer version of the Bristol MW based broadly on the Bristol RE body.  When new, a number of these coaches were used to open the then-also-new Severn Bridge ( now carrying the M48)  and they also took part in a charity bus shuttle across the latest M4 Severn Bridge in 1996.  On withdrawal as a Bristol Greyhound asset in 1973, FHW 156D passed to an operator in Cornwall, then to Kimes of Sleaford, finally entering service with Scarborough and District until acquired for preservation in 2009 by Dr Mike Walker as part of the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.  
 

 

    
 

A newer version of the Bristol MW based broadly on the Bristol RE body. When new, a number of these coaches were used to open the then-also-new Severn Bridge ( now carrying the M48) and they also took part in a charity bus shuttle across the latest M4 Severn Bridge in 1996. On withdrawal as a Bristol Greyhound asset in 1973, FHW 156D passed to an operator in Cornwall, then to Kimes of Sleaford, finally entering service with Scarborough and District until acquired for preservation in 2009 by Dr Mike Walker as part of the bristol Omnibus Vintage Collection.

  
 

 

    
  NAE 3

BRISTOL L6B  ECW QUEEN MARY

1950

  
 

 

    
 

NAE 3 was one of the first batch of postwar coaches for Bristol Tramways and was regularly seen at Cheltenham on Greyhound services. Withdrawn in the early 1960s, it npassed to pearce of Claverham where it remained for many years. After much deterioration it eventually passed to Tony Brown and then to Dr Mike Walker of BOVC. It was restored at Lathalmond in time for the first St Margaret's Coach Station Rally in 2009.

  
 

 

    
  NAE 3 was one of the first batch of postwar coaches for Bristol Tramways and was regularly seen at Cheltenham on Greyhound services.  Withdrawn in the early 1960s, it npassed to pearce of Claverham where it remained for many years.  After much deterioration it eventually passed to Tony Brown and then to Dr Mike Walker of BOVC.  It was restored at Lathalmond in time for the first St Margaret's Coach Station Rally in 2009.  
 

 

    
  BHU 92C

BRISTOL MW6G ECW BUS SHELL BODY

1965

  
 

 

    
 

New to Bristol Omnibus Company for Associated Motorways services to the South Coast, BHU 92C was part of an order diverted from Eastern National. After many years on Bristol Greyhound express services, it later became the school bus through Wick to Marshfield used by Rally Organiser Kelvin Amos and was preserved from Wells Depot by Ken Horler and then Kelvin's father Ted Amos, who restored the correct livery as seen today and took BHU 92C to rallies as far away as Eire. On Ted's death the vehicle was sold by the Amos family to Dr Mike Walker and became one of the first in the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.

  
 

 

    
  New to Bristol Omnibus Company for Associated Motorways services to the South Coast, BHU 92C was part of an order diverted from Eastern National.  After many years on Bristol Greyhound express services, it later became the school bus through Wick to Marshfield used by Rally Organiser Kelvin Amos and was preserved from Wells Depot by Ken Horler and then Kelvin's father Ted Amos, who restored the correct livery as seen today and took BHU 92C to rallies as far away as Eire.  On Ted's death the vehicle was sold by the Amos family to Dr Mike Walker and became one of the first in the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.  
 

 

    
 

New to Bristol Omnibus Company for Associated Motorways services to the South Coast, BHU 92C was part of an order diverted from Eastern National. After many years on Bristol Greyhound express services, it later became the school bus through Wick to Marshfield used by Rally Organiser Kelvin Amos and was preserved from Wells Depot by Ken Horler and then Kelvin's father Ted Amos, who restored the correct livery as seen today and took BHU 92C to rallies as far away as Eire. On Ted's death the vehicle was sold by the Amos family to Dr Mike Walker and became one of the first in the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.

  
 

 

    
 

New to Bristol Omnibus Company for Associated Motorways services to the South Coast, BHU 92C was part of an order diverted from Eastern National. After many years on Bristol Greyhound express services, it later became the school bus through Wick to Marshfield used by Rally Organiser Kelvin Amos and was preserved from Wells Depot by Ken Horler and then Kelvin's father Ted Amos, who restored the correct livery as seen today and took BHU 92C to rallies as far away as Eire. On Ted's death the vehicle was sold by the Amos family to Dr Mike Walker and became one of the first in the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection.

  
 

 

    
 

A952 SAE

LEYLAND OLYMPIAN ROE

1984

  
 

 

    
 

One of the last Olympians built at the famous Bristol Commercial Vehicle Works at Brislington, A952 SAE is also believed to have been the last Bristol bus operating in its home city. Used at St Margaret's as a control vehicle, mobile model coach display and top deck cinema, A952 SAE appeared painted in Bristol Tramways livery with lettering to celebrate the centenary of Bristol buses from 1908 -2008 and named after Sir George White, founder of both Bristol Tramways and the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

  
 

 

    
  One of the last Olympians built at the famous Bristol Commercial Vehicle Works at Brislington, A952 SAE is also believed to have been the last Bristol bus operating in its home city.  Used at St Margaret's as a control vehicle, mobile model coach display and top deck cinema, A952 SAE appeared painted in Bristol Tramways livery with lettering to celebrate the centenary of Bristol buses from 1908 -2008 and named after Sir George White, founder of both Bristol Tramways and the Bristol Aeroplane Company.  
 

 

    
 

One of the last Olympians built at the famous Bristol Commercial Vehicle Works at Brislington, A952 SAE is also believed to have been the last Bristol bus operating in its home city. Used at St Margaret's as a control vehicle, mobile model coach display and top deck cinema, A952 SAE appeared painted in Bristol Tramways livery with lettering to celebrate the centenary of Bristol buses from 1908 -2008 and named after Sir George White, founder of both Bristol Tramways and the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

  
 

 

    
  DOD 518

BRISTOL L5G  BEADLE BUS BODY

1939

  
 

 

    
 

Originally built with a 31 seater Bristol Bus Works body, DOD 518 entered service with Western National in 1940 in wartime grey livery. It was repainted green and cream in 1945 and rebodied by Beadle in 1950. After withdrawal in 1961 it was used a s a mess room at both Launceston and Padstow but is now owned by Tim Riley of Gloucester.

  
 

 

    
  Originally built with a 31 seater Bristol Bus Works body, DOD 518 entered service with Western National in 1940 in wartime grey livery.  It was repainted green and cream in 1945 and rebodied by Beadle in 1950.  After withdrawal in 1961 it was used a s a mess room at both Launceston and Padstow but is now owned by Tim Riley of Gloucester.  
 

 

    
 

Originally built with a 31 seater Bristol Bus Works body, DOD 518 entered service with Western National in 1940 in wartime grey livery. It was repainted green and cream in 1945 and rebodied by Beadle in 1950. After withdrawal in 1961 it was used a s a mess room at both Launceston and Padstow but is now owned by Tim Riley of Gloucester.

  
 

 

    
  LDV 483

BEDFORD OB DUPLE VISTA C29F

1950

  
 

 

    
 

LDV 483F was delivered new to Gourds Coaches of Bishops Steighton, Devon and used for British and Continental tours before passing to Parsons Coaches of Holsworth, Devon. Parsons were later taken over by Jennings of Bude, whose garage housed LDV 483F for many years before it was preserved by Andrew Higgs and given a body rebuild and repaint in to Slad Valley Coachway livery.

  
 

 

    
  LDV 483F was delivered new to Gourds Coaches of Bishops Steighton, Devon and used for British and Continental tours before passing to Parsons Coaches of Holsworth, Devon.  Parsons were later taken over by Jennings of Bude, whose garage housed LDV 483F for many years before it was preserved by Andrew Higgs and given a body rebuild and  repaint in to Slad Valley Coachway livery.  
 

 

    
 

LDV 483F was delivered new to Gourds Coaches of Bishops Steighton, Devon and used for British and Continental tours before passing to Parsons Coaches of Holsworth, Devon. Parsons were later taken over by Jennings of Bude, whose garage housed LDV 483F for many years before it was preserved by Andrew Higgs and given a body rebuild and repaint in to Slad Valley Coachway livery.

  
 

 

    
  KPM 91E

BRISTOL FLF

1967

  
 

 

    
 

KPM 91E was new to Brighton & Hove District as a closed top double decker bus with a high ratio axle but was then sent to Scotland as part of the VRT/FLF exchanges, becoming Eastern Scottish fleet number AA971. It was based at Broxburn and Edinburgh and was the last FLF in service when it retired in its original form in 1983. Soon afterwards converted to an open top bus, it saw little service and was later sold to Ian Manning and Sholto Thomas of Stagecoach West, who operate it in service today.

  
 

 

    
  KPM 91E was new to Brighton & Hove District as a closed top double decker bus with a high ratio axle but was then sent to Scotland as part of the VRT/FLF exchanges, becoming Eastern Scottish fleet number AA971.  It was based at Broxburn and Edinburgh and was the last FLF in service when it retired in its original form in 1983.  Soon afterwards converted to an open top bus, it saw little service and was later sold to Ian Manning and Sholto Thomas of Stagecoach West, who operate it in service today.  
 

 

    
  PWS 429S

LEYLAND LEOPARD   PLAXTON PARAMOUNT

1978

  
 

 

    
 

PWS 429S was originally delivered to Bristol Omnibus Company as a full coach in National Express livery with a Plaxton Supreme body, which caught fire and was destroyed on the M27 near Portsmouth in 1982. In 1983 the Leyland Leopard chassis was rebodied with a Plaxton Paramount similar to those fitted to a batch of Leyland Tigers being delivered at the time. Remaining in service through the Badgerline era, PWS 429S then passed to Brewers and Western National until reaching preservation in 2003 and the ownership of Kelvin Amos of Nailsea in 2005.

  
 

 

    
  PWS 429S was originally delivered to Bristol Omnibus Company as a full coach in National Express livery with a Plaxton Supreme body, which caught fire and was destroyed on the M27 near Portsmouth in 1982.  In 1983 the Leyland Leopard chassis was rebodied with a Plaxton Paramount similar to those fitted to a batch of Leyland Tigers being delivered at the time.  Remaining in service through the Badgerline era, PWS 429S then passed to Brewers and Western National until reaching preservation in 2003 and the ownership of Kelvin Amos of Nailsea in 2005.  
 

 

    
 

PWS 429S was originally delivered to Bristol Omnibus Company as a full coach in National Express livery with a Plaxton Supreme body, which caught fire and was destroyed on the M27 near Portsmouth in 1982. In 1983 the Leyland Leopard chassis was rebodied with a Plaxton Paramount similar to those fitted to a batch of Leyland Tigers being delivered at the time. Remaining in service through the Badgerline era, PWS 429S then passed to Brewers and Western National until reaching preservation in 2003 and the ownership of Kelvin Amos of Nailsea in 2005.