Vista Coachways, Yatton. Service 660 - Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12/Mellor B21D L932CTT.

Vista Coachways, Yatton, North Somerset commenced operations in 1988 with a restored Bedford OB that was originally bought by its proprietor Terry Jones in 1975. Originally offering private hires with this vehicle additional coaches and buses were purchased - and all presented to a high standard. In April 2004 Vista were awarded the contract to operate service 660 (North Weston/Portishead - Congresbury) on a Monday to Friday, extended to Monday to Saturday from April 2007. However, with the down scaling of the business the contract was eventually surrendered in April 2008 and the business ceased trading. The first three photos (not great quality, taken with a phone camera) show the company depot at Claverham Road, Yatton in June 2006. The final two photos show L932CTT, Iveco Turbo Daily 59.12/Mellor B21D named Exwick. This rare dual-doored minibus was new to Devon General in March 1994 as part of Harry Blundred's minibus revolution and acquired from Stagecoach Devon in March 2005. These photos show it at the North Weston, Portishead terminus of route 660 on 4th April 2008 in the last few days of trading. 

Old Buses, new colours. First Bristol VR's 38873 & 38895

The far end of Cornwall is often the place where older buses see out their final days. Indeed the Bristol VR saw regular service there until December 2006 with First Devon and Cornwall. Whilst most of them wore the blue and white of Western National or the early "Barbie" livery of First, some were repainted into more modern colour schemes. UAR595W was new to Eastern National in June 1981 as their 3105, transferring to Thamesway and then eventually ending up in Cornwall as First Devon & Cornwall 38895. By July 2005 it had become a Driver Training vehicle based in Plymouth and given a new livery to advertise itself as such. In 2006 it was transferred to Cornwall (possibly as a staff shuttle bus rather than driver training) and is seen here in Penzance on the 10th July 2006. This vehicle is recorded as being broken up for spares in September 2006. LFJ873W, new in Feb 1981 to Western National as their 1226 eventually become First Devon & Cornwall 38873. Fully renovated and repainted into "Barbie 3" livery in July 2006 it was allocated to special events duties - taking part in the final running day of Bristol VR's with First Devon & Cornwall in Penzance on 9th December 2006. By 2007 it had passed to the Western National Preservation Group and is seen here on the Bristol Vintage Bus Group running day in Brislington, Brisol on 12th August 2007. 

First Kernow Dennis Dart 46235 N235KAE.

The far west of Cornwall is often where old buses see out their final years. As far as First Group fleets (and their predecessors) go, First Kernow has an older than average age for its fleet with new purchases being rare and a lot of vehicles cascaded from other fleets. N235KAE (First 46235) is a Dennis Dart 9.8SDL/Plaxton B40F new in November 1995 to Badgerline as their 235. Transferred from Bristol to Cornwall in 2011, when this photograph was taken on 23rd March 2014 at the First outstation in Helston step entrance buses were already becoming a rarity in the FirstGroup fleets. This bus was placed in reserve during 2013 but returned to traffic in 2014 when various rail replacement contracts put pressure on the fleet. At the time of writing (October 2014) it has been reported that this bus has been stripped of fleet names and prepared for scrap.

Bristol Omnibus Co Bristol RE 1268 EHU369K. Service X8, Yate.

Along with many other NBC subsidiaries, Bristol Omnibus Co implimented a large-scale review of its services in the early 1980's as part of the in-house Market Analysis Project (MAP). Surveys undertook both on and off the bus gave a picture of what the public actually wanted from it's local services and this feedback helped shape the future bus network. The town of Yate (along with its neighbour Chipping Sodbury) were liked to Bristol primarily by service 329 (more direct along the A432) or service 328 via the villages of Iron Acton, Frampton Cotterell and Winterbourne along the B4058. Following MAP a new limited stop service was introduced from Yate to Bristol that took the B4058 but without deviating from the road and then picked up the M32 Motorway at Hambrook for a fast journey into Bristol City Centre. Delivered new to Bristol Omnibus in January 1972 for use on Bristol City services, Bristol RELL3/ECW B44D 1268 EHU369K was converted to single door B50F layout during February 1982 for use on "Country" services and is seen in the short lived Yate outstation on the Yate/Chipping Sodbury border where Station Road Yate meets Bowling Hill Chipping Sodbury. A couple of hundred yards away from here on the Yate side of the border is the confusingly named "Chipping Sodbury" Cottage hospital - Birthplace of Harry Potter author J.K.Rowling. 

First 53402, formerly Truronian, T20TVL.

Truronian was established in Cornwall in 1987 by three former Western National managers. Purchases of other local operators and tendered contract wins saw the company expand eventually to a size of 70 vehicles (50 buses and 20 coaches), becoming a dominant operator in the West of England. The company sold out to First (ironically Western Nationals predecessor) in April 2008. Seen at Lemon Quay Truro on 22nd March 2011 is First Devon and Cornwall Optare Solo M880 B29F 53402 (T20TVL) new to Truronian in September 2004.

Bristol Omnibus Farecards

OK, not a bus - but hopefully an interesting vehicle nonetheless. VHW547H is pictured here in its guise as a publicity vehicle for the Bristol Omnibus Company at the Bristol Bus Rally on 18th August 1981. The livery is an advert for the companies range of ticket savers - launched in late Summer 1979 and running for several years. The range included Fare Cards, Day Out, Off Peak, Rover Card and Week Ender - each with it's own character as part of a family such as Freddie Fare Card and Reggie Rovercard etc. The campaign included on-bus, press and even TV advertising along with some vehicles being painted in an all-over advertising livery such as the five Metrobuses referred to in an earlier post on this site. On a personal note, as a young YTS (Youth Training Scheme) employee with Bristol Omnibus in the early 80's, I clearly remember spending a day dressed casually (as a Student - therefore carrying a large pile of books) on board a Leyland National driving around Bristol being filmed for a TV advert promoting the range of fare saving cards. I did get to see this advert a couple of times, usually on TV around 6:00 to 7:00pm between the local and National news - aimed at the commuter who has just arrived home and switched on the TV for the evening I guess!

Western Greyhound, St Ives

Established in 1998 by former Western National manager Mark Howarth, Western Greyhound has grown into a highly respected multi award winning bus operator - the second largest in Cornwall after First. During the 2000's the company standardised on Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2's as their single deck bus of choice. Two examples are seen at the picturesque Malakoff Bus Station in St Ives on 23rd March 2011.

Thamesdown Transport DMS Fleetline

 London Transport DMS type Fleetlines withdrawn early on in their London career were a good source of newish second-hand double deckers for many an operator in the early 1980's. After gaining many school contracts in 1983 Thamesdown Transport acquired a variety of second hand 'deckers - many of them ex-LT DMS Fleetlines. Freshly repainted into it's new owners livery, ex London Transport DMS2188 OJD188R (now Thamesdown Transport 132) leaves the depot for a School journey in November 1983.

Anchor Butter, Bristol Omnibus Co 5522, PEU517R

Bristol VRT/SL3 ECW H43/31F PEU517R, 5522 in the Bristol Omnibus fleet, was new in September 1977. Allocated to Swindon in the early 1980's it received an allover advertising livery for Anchor Butter who had their British base in the town and were celebrating their centenary in 1982. During 1982 Swindon bus services underwent a review as part of NBC's Market Analysis project (M.A.P.) which resulted in a redesigned network and the introduction of the Swindon & District fleet name. Made surplus to requirements by M.A.P, 5522 subsequently moved around various other depots within the Bristol Omnibus empire. Seen at Bath Manvers Street Bus Station on 2nd April 1983, 5522 is allocated to Bath Kensington depot (BH).

Crosville Motor Services M246YWM

The Original Crosville Motor Company Ltd was formed in 1906 by George Crosland Taylor and his French business partner Georges de Ville - the company name being a combination of their two names. Originally formed to build motor cars, by 1909 a bus service was being run between Chester and Ellesmere Port. Further routes and expansion by acquisitions and mergers followed and in 1942 the company became part of the UK-wide Tilling group.  The 1968 Transport Act brought Crosville into the ownership of the National Bus Company, sporting NBC Leaf Green livery. By this time the company was serving an area that stretched from Manchester/Liverpool and Chester throughout North, Mid and West Wales. Upon de-regulation Crosville was split in 1986 and eventually the company name disappeared under First and Arriva ownership. In 2005 the dormant name was revived by Jonathan Jones-Pratt who was restoring an ex-Crosville Bristol L5G (KFM767) at the time. By 2011 the newly formed company had expanded into local bus routes and contracted supermarket shoppers services within Weston-super-Mare for which M246YWM was acquired. New in May 1995 to Warrington Borough Transport, as their 246, the bus was sold in Sept 2009 to South Wales Transport where it was re-registered M100SWT. Reverting back to M246YWM it passed to Xelabus, Hants, in Dec 2010 and found its way to Crosville in June 2011 - where it sported traditional block letter fleetnames applied to Xelabus's livery which itself was based on traditional Hants & Dorset colours. The bus remained at Crosville until Nov 2013 at which point it returned to Xelabus, remaining  for a month before being scrapped in December 2013. This view shows M246YWM close to the company depot in Weston-super-Mare on 26th August 2012.

Bristol Omnibus Lodekka's FHW158D and GAE883D

On Saturday 21st July 1984 the last Bristol Lodekka buses in regular service with Bristol Omnibus Company Ltd were withdrawn from service - Bristol Omnibus and Eastern Counties being the last NBC companies to run these vehicles in regular service. To commemorate the occasion B.O.C ran an enthusiasts day on the Sunday where the vehicles acted as duplicates on a variety of city services. 7253 FHW158D is seen here in faded NBC Bristol livery at the start of the day in Bristol City centre alongside 7262 GAE883D freshly repainted for it's last few weeks in service. Or so it was thought - in actual fact 7262 was retained as a company/depot "pet bus" and would see regular service on peak hour routes right up until December 1993. According to the excellent robsly.com, this bus was exported to Germany the following year. 7253 is now a permanent exhibit at the Bristol M-Shed museum whilst 7262 will always hold special memories for me as it was used to transport the guests at my Wedding in 1989!

Bristol Omnibus MCW Metrobus DAE510W (BH6000)

In 1979 Bristol Omnibus Company announced the order of 5 MCW Metrobuses for service in Bristol alongside the usual intake of Bristol VRT's. These vehicles were part of the National Bus Company's vehicle evaluation trials of the time - pitting them against the groups standard VRT/ECW model. The buses were eventually delivered in 1980, but were not to see service in Bristol as intended due to the trade union objections of them being single, rather than dual door as per the standard option on Bristol Joint Services at the time. The buses were diverted to Bath and given fleet numbers 6000 - 6004 (DAE510-4W) and had 76 seat bodywork and Rolls-Royce engines. They were mainly used on Bath City routes 203/213 and all 5 started life in a variety of overall liveries advertising the company's various fare card/ticket offers. The buses passed to Badgerline in 1986 and were all eventually withdrawn in 1994. Three of the batch went on to see service with Capital Citybus which was eventually sold to Firstgroup in 1998 and the vehicles eventually ended up with First Southampton. DAE510W eventually became a First Southampton driver training vehicle before eventually being sold for preservation. Although restored cosmetically into Bristol Omnibus NBC leaf green, it was found to be in a poor condition bodywork/mechanically. It was sold on eBay in early 2012 as "suiting preservation" but was bought by T Wigley & Son in Barnsley for scrap. The first photo shows 6000 at Bath Bus Station on 17th July 1982 unusually working the Limited Stop service 809 to Bristol. The second photo shows the same vehicle in Bristol/NBC leaf green at the Bristol Bus Rally on 23rd May 2004. I am unsure if the vehicle was still in First ownership at this time or had already passed into preservation.

Alder Valley 975 CJH115V and 817 GGM87M, Lambourn 1983.

Two NBC Alder Valley Bristol VRT/ECW vehicles seen at Lambourn on 15th October 1983. On the right is 975, CJH115V and on the left is 817, GGM87M. Both display the Kennetbus local identity fleet names as carried on all Alder Valley vehicles operating from Newbury garage at the time.

Alder Valley Bristol VRT 975 (CJM115V). Lambourn.

Once there were two routes operated by Alder Valley (originally Thames Valley Traction Co in this area) between Newbury and Swindon. There was the 106 via Hungerford and Ramsbury and the 108 via Lambourn. Fall in demand for public transport in the area lead to the complete withdrawal of the 106 and the reduction of the 108 to two through journeys and four shorts each way on Saturdays only. Part replacement for  the services from the Swindon end were implemented as far as Lambourn on Mondays to Fridays by Thamesdown Transport. Proof of the low loadings can be seen in this view of Alder Valley Bristol VRT/ECW 975 (CJM115V) about to leave Lambourn with the 16:15 short working to Swindon on Saturday 15th Oct 1983. Note the Kennetbus local identity fleet name on the bus which is a local name for Newbury derived from the Kennet and Avon canal which runs through the town.

Bristol Omnibus Leyland Olympian/Roe 9529 LWS45Y

To spruce up the image of Bristol Omnibus Company's limited stop services from Bristol city centre to the outlying suburbs, the routes were launched as  the "Clipper" network in 1982 - also the year of Maritime Bristol. Seen in the latter part of 1982 when only a few days old is Leyland Olympian/Roe H47/29F 9529 (LWS45Y).

Western National 1022, VUH379J.

Western National 1022, VUH379J, is seen in Newton Abbot on 2nd August 1982 on service 121 to Torquay. This unusual (for Western National) vehicle was a rare Lowbridge Alexander bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/3, part of a batch of 5 delivered new to Western Welsh as their 379 in July 1971 and sold to Western National upon the company split in 1972. Less than 5 months after this photo was taken the vehicle was transferred to the newly formed Devon General Ltd, formed as part of the preparations for privatisation in 1986. This bus, and all transferred Atlantean's, were to see less than a years service with Devon General Ltd - all being withdrawn by the end of 1983. Apparently this batch - although pleasing to the eye - were heavy, underpowered and difficult to drive.

Grenville Motors, Troon, Cornwall RNR9G.

Grenville Motors of Troon, Cornwall, was formed in 1948 when four businessmen bought out local operators Berriman, Berryman's Motor Services and Godolphin Motors. Over the following decades various other operators were taken over, increasing the fleet until Grenville became Cornwall's largest independent operator. Eventually the company was bought out by Western National in March 1988, initially operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary but eventually being absorbed into the main fleet in April 1989. This view, taken on the 3rd August 1981 at the main depot in Troon near Camborne, shows RNR9G a Willowbrook bodied Bedford VAM70 fitted with 45 dual-purpose seats. This vehicle was new in 1969 to Gibson, Barlestone and was acquired by Grenville from Boyden, Castle Donington in 1978.

Quantock Motor Services YN55RDV, Minehead (Somerset).

Quantock Motor Services Coastal Link service 300 running from Minehead (Somerset) to Lynmouth (Devon) has received numerous accolades along the lines of "Britain's most scenic bus service" - running alongside the spectacular Exmoor Coastline. For a number of years until 2012 the regular performer on this route was YN55RDV, a Scania N94UD/East Lancs partial open top bus (PO43/26F) new to Quantock in October 2005 and eventually replaced in 2012 by rare single deck Alexander PS semi open top Volvo B10M R928XVM. Quantock Motor Services, Bishops Lydeard (Somerset), was established in 2001 as an associated company to specialist rail plant machinery manufacturer Rexquote Ltd - a business owned by Stephen Morris that also owned and operated a number of heritage buses for private hire and tourist services. Sadly, at the time of writing (Sept 2014), it appears that QMS have ceased trading due to problems obtaining insurance cover. The heritage vehicle operation of Rexquote remains unaffected. This view of YN55RDV was taken in Minehead on Good Friday, 21st March 2008.

First Somerset & Avon 38005

Open top buses have operated in Weston-super-Mare along the sea front to Sand Bay every summer for many years. The service was started by Bristol Tramways in 1950 and has been operated by it's various successors as service 1 until 2013 when the service was withdrawn. Local independent operator Crosville Motor Services started their similar service 100 in 2012 which still operates at the time of writing. Seen at the Sand Bay terminus on a cloudy Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August 2012, is First Somerset and Avon Volvo B10M Citybus/Alexander 38005 D705GHY. This vehicle, originally fitted with 82 coach seats, was new to Badgerline in May 1987 as 5705 and was part of a batch of 10 similar vehicles.

Eurotaxis Solo, Portishead - Service 695

As part of the development conditions of the old Portishead Harbour/Power Station area into the new residential development of Portishead Marina and Village Quarter, the developers involved had to provide funds to North somerset council for the provision of a new bus service that linked the area to Bristol. The new route would differ to the existing Portishead - Bristol bus services in that it would run via the M5 Avonmouth Bridge and The Portway into Bristol rather than follow the traditional route along the A369 as per First's 358 & 359. The tendered contract was won by Eurotaxis, (Westerleigh near Yate) and commenced in September 2004 as service 695. Eventually in 2008 the service was retendered and won by First who incorporated the 695 into their existing Bristol - Portishead routes as service 357. Crucially, this meant that the route followed the A369 from Portishead into Bristol and whilst the new 357/8/9 routes gave an improved 20 min headway (up from half hourly), it did mean that the connections from Portishead to Avonmouth and Shirehampton were lost. This view, taken in 2008 shortly before the 695 ceased to become the 357, sees Eurotaxis Optare Solo M850 MP51BUS leave Portishead heading through the new development towards Bristol. This vehicle was new to Perry, Bromyard (in which livery it still carries) in October 2001 and was acquired by Eurotaxis in October 2004 for service 695.

Bristol Marlborough Street Bus Station, July 1982.

A busy scene inside Bristol's Marlborough Street bus Station on 17th July1982. The Olympian on the left JHU902X (MH9502) was new to Bristol Omnibus the previous month. This photo was taken on a busy summer saturday when the bays at Marlborough Street would have been full and buses and coaches on summer saturday duplicates were double parked at the rear of the depot. This photo is out of focus and over exposed, yet every time I look at it it makes me smile - there are twelve vehicles in this simple shot with a wide variety of chassis, bodywork and owners!

Western National Bristol Lodekka 824 KDV, St Ives, Summer 2014.

For the Summer season 2014 First South West has split the previously circular service 300 into three parts. The remaining service 300 links Land's End with St Just and St Ives. Service 1/1A serves Penzance - Land's End and service 17 serves St Ives - Penzance, with 17B providing open top services also serving Marazion. To promote the service First are also trialling the use of a vintage bus on the 300. On Tuesday 12th August 2014, preserved 1963 Western National Bristol Lodekka 824 KDV prepares to turn right onto Tregenna Hill from Gabriel Street, St Ives, and make it's way up to The Malakoff bus station. I am pleased to say, that on this occasion at least, the bus was carrying a very healthy load.