Accident and Fire Victims

Most of the vehicles featured on this page met an untimely end through either accidental or fire damage - some however were miraculously repaired and lived on to fight another day!

Last updated : May 5th 2024 (under construction)

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	Bristol Omnibus RELLs suffered a number of engine fires early in their lives and it appears that C1124 (UHU327H) was one of the victims in this view taken in December 1972. Interesting to see how the water has boiled and exited through the filler cap under the driver's cab window. It was repaired and returned to service - presumably having been repainted in NBC green livery.
Bristol Omnibus 1085 (OHW597F) suffered extensive fire damage on November 1st 1969, although the front end survived remarkably intact.	The real extent of the damage to 1085 is revealed in this rear view which shows officers of the Bristol company attending to the wreck. It future was obviously hanging in the balance because it wasn't officially withdrawn until January 1970, fiinally being broken for spares in May 1970.
Badgerline 1092 (RHT141G) had been something of a celebrity locally in the Wells area, surviving in service well past its twentieth birthday and receiving this Tilling green scheme. However this came to an abrupt end at Cheddar in July 1991 when it sustained this front end collision damage. It looked like this would be the end, but it was rescued by Northern Bus, repaired with parts from HDV628E and RBD329G, and saw a further three years of service in Yorkshire before finally passing for scrap in early 1995.	Bristol Omnibus Cheltenham-based RELL6L 1065 (NHU199F) sustained this substantial accident damage in December 1968 while operating a Dowty-ROTOL works service. Its future must have hung in the balance for some time as it wasn't reinstated in service until March 1970, now based at Marlborough Street, Bristol.
Bristol Omnibus 1062 (NHU196F) was hit by a motorcycle whilst on the 376 service at the bottom of Red Hill, south of Chelwood Bridge in September 1971. Unfortunately the impact was so severe that the subsequent fire burned out the RELL completely.	Another view shows the devastation caused by the fire. The remains of 1062 were moved to Lawrence Hill where the bare chassis remained well into 1972 before finally being sold for scrap.
Bristol Omnibus 1022 (MAE25F) suffered this extensive front-end damage in a collision in March 1979. Its future would have hung in the balance when this photo was taken.....	....but a decision was soon made and 1022 was reduced to a bare chassis. Spare parts were used to repair 1134 (UHY629H) before the remains were quickly scrapped.
UTT560J was a late survivor with Independent Coachways but in 1995 this degree of accident damage inflicted on an RE would inevitably spell a one-way trip to the scrapyard which unfortunately proved to be true in this case.	Former Southern National/Western National 1946 (VDV780) was one of a sizeable batch of Lodekkas acquired by Omnibus Promotions (dealer) in 1976, many of which were exported for further use. It is quite likely that 1946 would have made its way to Hawaii with Windjammer Tours along with several of its stablemates but it wasn't to be - the bus was taken underneath Kelvedon railway bridge on its delivery run causing the extensive damage seen here. It is not completely certain that it was scrapped, but it seems likely to have been used for spares and certainly has never been reported again since.
	Western National 2400 (BDV400L) was at the centre of a major incident in July 1982 when it was involved in a major collision with City of Oxford Leyland Leopard RFC9T at the road junction just outside London's Victoria Coach Station. It is seen here being attended to by police and fire services. Fortunately both coaches were empty at the time and the damage was repaired. 2400 went on to carry post deregulation liveries for no fewer than 3 former Western National companies!
By 1993 there were very few sizeable operators of the Bristol RE. One of these was Northern Bus who had a fabulous variety of chassis and body types in use. Sadly even relatively minor collision damage such as this to Plaxton-bodied RELH6G RTT419N was enough to condemn the vehicle to withdrawal and scrapping. This one was clearly on the 208 service when the damage happened in January 1993 and - after stripping for spares - it was dispatched to Barnsley that summer.	This nasty-looking accident befell YFM272L when operating with Penning Blue in 1992. Being 20 years old this inevitably spelled the end and this RELL6G was sold for scrap the following year.
West Yorkshire SRG78 (TYG198F) caught fire in Bradford Hammerton Street depot because of an electrical fault on October 13th 1970. It also caused damage to an adjacent bus and the depot roof. Originally fitted with a flat-front body, it was rebuilt by ECW with the latest curved-screen design in March 1972. It is seen here in Harrogate on October 18th 1970 after being towed from Bradford.	United Auto 1512 (YHN812H) came off the road at Oakley Bank near Ruswarp in February 1973 while on the way to Whitby. It was repaired and was back on the road by June.
On Christmas Day 2021 former Crosville coach FLF AFM113B caught fire in Holland and was seriously damaged. This photo shows it being damped down by the fire brigade.	The following morning the full extent of the damage to AFM113B could be seen. The strange bulge at the front was added when it was fitted with a DAF engine. It has been used for many years to advertise a sauna and was a regular visitor to the Tour de France and the great news is that now - in 2023 - it is undergoing thorough repair and renovation so hopefully we will see it back on the road one day soon.
Former Devon General 115 (KTT45P) was enjoying a second career with Jenkins of Skewen when a fire at the rear abruptly ended this in 1986. It was sold for scrap later that year.	It is true that the Marshall-bodied LHS had a face only a mother could love, but this head-on smash suffered by Devon General 92 (VOD92K) in 1975 (while still carrying pre-NBC livery) spoiled even those looks and threatened to end this little bus's career prematurely. Thankfully it was repaired and had a full service life, later passing to Southern National.
In March 1999 First Western National VR 1235 (WTH951T) was hit by a runaway lorry causing extensive front end damage as can be seen in this view.	1235 was beyond economic repair and was stripped for spares before sale for scrap in July 1999.
Cambus 757 (KRE640P) had started life with Potteries and was cascaded to North Devon before arriving in Cambridge in 1986. In 1992 it sustained this accident damage which saw its withdrawal. There were also reports of fire damage, although this cannot have been extensive looking at this photo of the aftermath.	Former Western National 1238 (LFJ885W) had passed through Devon General, United Counties and Ribble by the time it suffered this fairly light accident damage in August 2000. Unfortunately this was around the time that Ribble was withdrawing its VRs and so this was the end of the road for this one.
First Western National 1220 (LFJ867W) received extensive front end damage at Cremyll in September 1999 which resulted in its withdrawal and sale for scrap in 2001 after spares removal.	Crosville DLB968 (617HFM) was withdrawn early in 1971 after receiving this nasty collision damage. It passed to Green Bus of Rugeley to provide spares for their other Lodekkas and was fitted with the front cowl from XFM249 at some point.
In 1982 Cumberland 436 (KRM436W) was driven full-tilt underneath the 11' Sunnyhill Bridge in Whitehaven causing the extensive damage seen here. It was repaired and lived a full service life until being shipped to New Zealand in 1999 where......	.....it was used by Stagecoach New Zealand on a city circular servicec in Wellington. In 2003 it was - unbelievably - deroofed again by a fitter who drove it underneath the depot canopy! Once again repaired it was sold to Auckland operator Party Bus where it led another full life until sale for spares use in 2011.
	Crosville DFG190 (GFM190C) was withdrawn prematurely as a result of this smash in early 1979.
Midland General 669 (JNU989D) was extensively damaged in this accident at Eastwod and Langley Mill Railway Station in 1969. It was repaired and saw out a long career later with Trent and then as a driver training vehicle.	Crosville CRG107 met an unfortunate end in July 1981 when it had this nasty rear-end accident. It was written off and sold for scrap in September the same year.
Stagecoach South 442 (KRU842W) lost its entire roof under the Charlton Bridge in Andover in August 1993. It is seen here soon afterwards in Aldershot depot where it was declared a write-off and dispatched to a local scrap dealer.	United Counties 427 (BRP427K) had a head-on collision with a Seamarks coach at Westoning early one morning in September 1977. The severe damage saw 427 withdrawn from service and it was eventually broken for spares a year later.
United Counties 423 (BRP423K) suffered this damage in an accident at Bicester in November 1973. The damage was so severe that it was eventually written off and sold for scrap in July 1974.	In August 1969 Luton Corporation UXD122G suffered an engine fire with extensive rear end damage as can just be made out in this view. A number of Leyland-engined REs had had similar incidents and 122 was dispatched to Leyland for investigations to take place. By the time it had been returned and repaired it was June 1970 and Luton had been taken over by United Counties and 122 returned to service repainted in Tilling green livery.
These almost unrecognisable remains are all that was left of United Counties 377 (PXE117G) after an arson attack at Luton depot on the night of February 25th 1979. Also destroyed was PXE118G while MXD102E and MXD104E were badly damaged and - since they were due for withdrawal at the end of the month - were not repaired and also went for scrap.	Yet another engine fire victim was United Counties 371 (PXE111F) which received this damage in 1972. Fortunately it was repaired and - most likely - repainted in NBC green livery at the same time.
	United Counties 354 (VNV354H) received this fire damage in 1976 - fortunately it was superficial and 354 was returned to service and led a full service life.
United Counties 353 (VNV353H) was comprehensively destroyed by fire at Luton in January 1976 as can be seen from this view.	The only part of VNV353H relatively untouched was the front offside, but its career was very obviously finished and after a period being stripped for salvageable spares it was sold for scrap in June 1976.
Former Hartlepool 43 (FEF43E) was used locally by Brinkburn Comprehensive School from 1983 for student transport. In 1987 it was sadly destroyed by an arsonist and was quickly scrapped.	United Counties 330 (RBD330G) sustained this fire damage at its front end in 1979. This may have resulted in its withdrawal but instead it was repaired and lasted in service long enough to pass to Citybus in Northern Ireland in 1987 where, ironically, it was maliciously destroyed by arson on 17th May 1989.
United Counties 327 (RBD327G) received this heavy accident damage early during its life, but thankfully it was repaired and led a full service life, only being withdrawn for scrap in 1986.	In 1971 United Counties flat screen RELL6G 325 (RBD325G) suffered this fire damage. It was rebodied at rebodied at Eastern Coach Works with a curved windscreen version and subsequently enjoyed a normal lifespan with the operator.
To say that United Counties 319 (RBD319G) is a remarkable survivor would be an understatement! The photos above and below show the aftermath of two very nasty incidents when allocated to Luton depot. It then managed to avoid destruction during three perilous years with Citybus in Belfast before being returned by John Robertson for a life in preservation.	This was the result of a collision with a lorry on Dunstable Road, Luton c1973. It was repaired and returned to service.
As mentioned above, RBD319G seemed to be jinxed while at Luton. Having been repaired following the collision with a lorry it soon sustained this damage when avoiding a car leaving the Kingsway Public House in Luton. 319 swerved and hit the porch of the pub. Again the damage was only at the front end and it was mended and - sensibly perhaps - reallocated to Milton Keynes where it led a quiet life until withdrawal in 1987.	United Counties WBD292H was destroyed by fire at Luton depot in February 1979 where it is seen languishing next to the Leyland National that was also lost at the same time.
United Counties WBD285H was involved in a nasty front end shunt in December 1982 which resulted in its withdrawal. It had been operating on service 760 to Northampton as can be seen from the destination display.	United Counties ORP276F received this accident damage in 1983 at a time when similar vehicles were being withdrawn as time expired. It is seen here in the company of others from the same batch prior to disposal for scrap.
A fire at the Wooler depot of Northumbria Motor Services in June 1989 saw the destruction of VRs DUP752S and BPT926S in addition to LH SNU385R.	The ferocity of the fire can be seen here with just the lower portion of the body on BPT926S remaining. The vehicles were quickly scrapped.
Western National 1177 (FDV809V) sustained this severe damage in the early 1980s when it was in collision with 1234 (LFJ881W). The two met on the bends outside Dawlish on the Exeter side and clearly there wasn't room for two buses to pass. It was repaired, repainted in NBC red livery, and saw a full operational life, passing to United Counties as part of a large batch sold to the Stagecoach group.	Here is the damage sustained by LFJ881W in the collision with 1177. It too was rebuilt and was part of the batch sold to Stagecoach in 1988, passing to their Hampshire Bus subsidiary.
Stagecoach Ribble 2041 (LFJ857W) was involved in an RTA in April 1994. The resulting damage can be partially seen in this photo and was enough to see it withdrawn and scrapped.	In 1983 Laing Construction acquired a dozen ex-Ribble RESL6Ls which were shipped to the Falkland Islands and used to transport workers to the building site for the new airport. During 1984 LB1 (LRN282J) was severely damaged when its parking brake was left insecure and it ran away into the back of a Cat D9 digger. The bus was a write-off and LB8 (LRN304J) was later renumbered LB1 to replace it. Eventually all the REs were buried under the runway once their assignment had been completed.
In September 2010 a fire broke out at Wilby's of Hibaldstow destroying several vehicles including this VR, previously Lincolnshire Road Car SVL174W, although it was still carrying the livery of Liverpool City Coaches when it was destroyed.	Also destroyed at Wilby in 2010 was VWS975T, LHS coach with Plaxton body that had been withdrawn for more than a decade.
Hants & Dorset 608 (PRU63G) was severely damaged in a collision while on service 241 in October 1978. The damage was enough for it to be written off, the first RE withdrawal in the Hants & Dorset fleet.	Another photo of PRU63G this time taken by Peter Cook.
Sometimes a vehicle receives accident damage early in its life that would be terminal nearer the end of its career but is economically viable to repair when its book value is high. This was the case with United Counties 858 (RRP858R) which is seen here in November 1978 with substantial damage, including a bent chassis.	It must have been a close call whether or not to repair 858 as it sat for nearly two years before the decision was taken to do the work. Here in June 1980 it is seen with the replacement nearside chassis rail that was needed before it could be returned to the road. This must have been a very time-consuming job to out the old and weld in the new, but the work was successful as 858 went on to have a full service until final withdrawal by Norfolk Green in 2001.
Luton & District 869 (TNH869R) was badly damaged in March 1993 when fire broke out on the upper deck, no doubt due either to a carelessly-discarded cigarette or something more sinister. The damage wasn't too bad and if an open-topper had been needed conversion would have been relatively easy, but time-expired VRs were being sold by now and 869 was soon dispatched to Pontefract for scrap.	Warrington 56 (UED572J) is seen here in 1972 having been towed in to the depot following a collision at the junction of Knutsford Road and Wash Lane.  It was soon repaired and returned to service. This particular batch of RESLs had Seddon Pennine bodywork due to a fire having damaged the East Lancs bodywork factory in 1970 and I wonder how easily a replacement front cowl was sourced to effect the repair.
When Hants & Dorset was withdrawing much of its fleet of early LHs in 1981 accident damage like this seen on NLJ516M was enough to condemn a vehicle. However, 3516 received a reprieve like no other and was rescued from the withdrawn line to be rebuilt at Barton Park as a 1920s-style charabanc which was still earning its keep in service in 2020!	This nasty smash ended the operational life of United Counties 650 (650EBD) a few years early in November 1975. Most of the rest of the batch lasted until 1980 but 650 was sold for scrap in the following month.
In April 1998 a thief attempted to steal the cash from the cab of Western National 1155 (AFJ762T) but only succeeded in letting the handbrake off which resulted in the carnage seen here. The location was Callington, 1155 taking the front off the town hall before embedding itself in the Bradford & Bingley Building Society!	The damage to AFJ762T was quite extensive at the front end, but it was still rebuilt and was retuned to service in August 1998. It saw a further seven years' service before finally being sold for scrap in 2005.
United Counties 577 (621LFM) had received a rear end shunt by the time this photo was taken amongst the company's withdrawn vehicles. Although relatively minor this damage condemned it to be scrapped as LDs were already being withdrawn as time expired by the company.	This is the only view I have been able to find of the damage caused to United Counties 572 (22DRB) after it was deroofed under a low bridge in January 1973. In its 15th year, the damage was considered uneconomic to repair and the LD6G was scrapped later in the year.
Prototype LH bus NHU100F led a full life in service with Eastern Counties, but this was abruptly ended in December 1980 as a result of this collsion damage. Had it lasted longer it may have survived into preservation but sadly this damage was enough to see it dispatched to CF Booth in Rotherham for scrap and so the curse of the Bristol prototype continued!	From the Western Daily Press, 21st February 1976: "Four passengers had a miracle escape last night when a two-ton diesel tank fell off the back of a lorry and crashed onto their bus in the centre of Bristol. The passengers were sitting at the front of the bus and the tank fell into the rear. The impact made the bus stand on end, and then push forwards, knocking down the driver, Mr Leslie Morgan. At the time of the incident Mr Morgan was looking at the engine of the bus which had broken down in St Augustine's Parade near the Hippodrome. He was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary where late last night he was being treated for broken ribs. No one else was injured in the freak accident which happened at about 6.30 last night when a lorry belonging to the Goldaming, Surrey, company of Streeters passed by and shed the diesel tank". As can be seen, the vehicle involved was Bristol Omnibus FLF6B C7309 (KHW301E).
OWX164 came to a swift and sticky end in 1975 after a good innings with Wray of Hoyle Mill after sale by West Yorkshire. It is seen here having been comprehensively destroyed by fire.	LHT166L appears to have come a cropper on black ice here. Although the damage was quite extensive it was repaired and returned to service and led a full life with Badgerline and beyond.
Milton Keynes City Bus built up a sizeable fleet of REs in the early 1990s as a reliable low-cost vehicle to operate. Perhaps by that time traffic conditions had changed to the extent that the brakes really weren't up to the job and it looks like the driver of EHU377K may have been caught out. In any case this January 1993 accident spelled the end for this example and it was sold for scrap after having any available spare parts removed by Busways in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1994.	With remarkably similar damage - suggesting a similar accident befell it - this is EHU383K which was withdrawn by Milton Keynes City Bus in December 1993 and also passed through Busways for spares recovery. Steve Thorpe caught up with it soon before the final axe fell in August 1996.
Not accidental damage for once - this is Bristol Omnibus RELL6L 1082 (OHW594F) which was used for a fire brigade turnover demonstration at Lawrence Hill in July 1981.	1082 was immediately dispatched for scrap at Meynell, Carlton alongside many other REs that were cast aside at the same time.
Devon General went through a period of disposing of its VR fleet in the late 1980s and any mishap saw the victim scrapped rather than incur the expense of repair. Here we see 1230 (LFJ877W) which suffered this nasty damage in April 1988 - sure enough it was enough to end its operational life and it was scrapped later that year.	Fife Scottish FLF6G MRD156 (7404SP) ran out of control in early 1974 and collided with the White Heather pub in Hendry Road, Kirkcaldy. Being 12 years ago the decision was taken not to repair it and it was sold for scrap in February of that year. Eastern Scottish LD6G AA781 (YWS871) was acquired instead and was given the same fleetnumber (MRD156) which it carried until withdrawal in 1979.
BRC839T was a candidate for preservation when it finally finished in service in 2009, but sadly it was burnt out by arsonists in 2010 before it could find a safe home.	Bristol Omnibus 414 (REU325S) received fearful damage in a collision on 31st May 1982 when running on the 365 service to Frome. Not surprisingly this resulted in its permanent withdrawal from service and sale for scrap.
Although the damage on TFM263K after its accident in March 1995 with Northern Bus doesn't look too bad this was the end of the line for this RELH. The company was in the process of disposing of its RE fleet in any case, and it was not deemed economically viable to repair.	Not a serious incident, but a nice study of Eastern National 2721 (802WVW) being rescued by the company tow truck having run off the road somewhere on the route 11 to Chelmsford
I know nothing more about this incident than it shows Western National 1965 (517BTA) having turned over on the 46 route to Truro. The LD was repaired and led a full operational life being withdrawn for scrap in 1976.	Eastern Counties LFS43 (43BNG) suffered a nasty collision in 1964 resulting in the rear damage shown in this view. With none of the mechanical units affected it was no problem to the body shop and was repaired and back on the streets within a short period of time (Photo : Tim Moore)
Ulsterbus 2576 (BXI2576) met a particularly unpleasant end on 26th September 2000 when it was sideswiped by a lorry causing extensive damage to the offside. Both vehicles can be seen in this view. The RE was written off and despatched for scrap soon afterwards.	Provincial 509 (AFJ748T) was driven under Newgate Lane railway bridge in Fareham on 25th July 2001 resulting in the damage seen here. It proved to be the end for this VR as it was eventually scrapped after an extended period being used for spares in both Bath and Bristol where it is seen in 2002.
These charred remains are all that are left of Alder Valley 72 (NDP72M), Plaxton-bodied RELH6G. The date is February 1976 and the location is Embleton at Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District.	The remains of 72 lay at the side of the road for about a week before it was removed by a local scrap dealer.
This was the devastating scene caused by an arson attack at South Brent one morning in 2007 captured by Roger Pinder. The burnt out example in the foreground is OJD51R which was immediately sent for scrap, while the one behind is believed to be OJD77R which was saved by Roger for spares use to help with the restoration of KJD413P. The vehicles had been in use as caravans on the site	AFJ706T is seen with extensive roof damage having hit a low bridge at Par in 1998. It was repaired using roof parts from VDV108S, returning to service in mid 1999 carrying a green and cream livery to celebrate Western National's 70th year. It received a revised version of these colours in 2004 and survives in preservation today.
This is former Mansfield District/East Midland FLF6B 378RNN looking very much the worse for wear in Texas, U.S.A. during 2015. It was very active with Touch of Class Tours in and around Fredericksburg but is believed to have broken down on the day it is seen here. The damage was caused by the towing company attempting a suspended tow using the rear end of the bus - but an FLF has no chassis cross members at the back so all the weight of the bus went on the bodywork which of course buckled catastrophically as can be seen. Contemporary accounts suggest that the towing company dumped the bus and did a runner! Photo : Peter Hellgren	Things weren't looking too good for 378RNN in the previous photo, but yet here it is a year later, in Florida in 2016, having been totally rebuilt and converted for use as a mobile bar, including a hydraulic system for raising the roof on the many sunny days. The has moved on again since and now lives in Virginia at the Cave Ridge Vineyard in Mount Jackson. (Photo : Brian Ross)
HPN78D met a nasty and abrupt end in March 1987 when it fell off a flyover at Cumbernauld on its way to picking up on a school run. The damage inflicted shows that it fell some distance and landed front on. It was owned by Stagecoach but was still in the colours of previous owner, Capitol Coaches of Cwmbran. It is seen here in 1988 at the Spittalfield bus "graveyard" prior to being completely dismantled for spares.	C1138 (UHY633H) was the only flat-front RE to carry an advertising livery for Bristol Omnibus Company when ths scheme for the company's farecards was applied in January 1976. How ironic then that this vehicle suffered an engine fire the following year, causing the company to apply  a similar scheme to curved-screen C1219 (AHT203J). C1138 was repaired and reinstated in standard NBC green livery but was withdrawn during MAP changes in 1981 and was subsequently scrapped early in 1982.
It is well known that the VRL coaches, while magnificent machines, were not successful mechanically on the punishing motorway services between the North West and London. Sold off after only a few years they all found new homes with just the exception of LRN61J, seen here, which suffered fire damage and was scrapped after several years languishing at Askin's scrapyard in Barnsley (Photo : Adrian Griffiths)	In October 1980 former Cheltenham District FLF6G 7264 (HAE273D) left the road and was in collision with a house in Oldmixon. Damage was severe enough to see it withdrawn and later scrapped during 1981 (Photo : Dr Mike Walker)
The bitterly disputed miners' strike of 1984/5 saw some violent events when feelings were running at their highest. One of the most divisive activities was strike-breaking in which miners who wanted to keep working were taken by bus past the picket lines. Several LHs were used (they are listed here) and also several Trent REs were earmarked. A couple of Marshall examples made it into use (as shown here) but a cohort of ECW-bodied examples were firebombed at Pleasley Vale on August 12th 1984 while being prepared by having metal grilles fitted over all vulnerable areas of the vehicle. ORB251K is seen here alongside three further examples (all photos kindly supplied by John Palmer)	This view is taken from the other end of the yard and shows ORB246K with a further unidentified dual-door RELL behind.
The third identifyable RE in the yard was ORB254K. If you have any further information about the REs and LHs used during the miners' strike I would be very pleased to hear from you.	This rare Duple-bodied LHS coach is KGR491N which was new to Scotts Greys of Darlington in 1975. It had a long service life whih resulted in it making it into preservation with John Hembry. Sadly when John sold it on in 2007 the tow bar broke while it was being transported to its new owner, the coach running away and crashing into a stone wall. As can be seen the damage was severe and it seems highly unlikely that it has ever been repaired.
Bristol Omnibus 501 (THU347G) had received only fairly minor accident damage in December 1979 but this was enough to see it withdrawn and it is seen here at Lawrence Hill depot in Bristol in September 1980 being stripped for spares before final sale for scrapping in February 1981 (Photo : Stephen Dowle)	This is North Western RESL6G 276 (KJA276F) which was destroyed by fire when only a year old in 1969. It is one of several REs that were lost in this period before it was realised that fires were being caused by excessive build up of oil and grease which was being ignited within the confines of the then-new rear-mounted engine position. Steps were taken and the fires ceased. Photo : Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
United Auto had a spate of arson attacks where the top decks of double deckers were burnt out. XPT803V fell victim in 1980 when just a few months old. The damage was bad enough for the VR to return to ECW where it was fitted with a brand new body (Photo : Neil Wise Collection)	Western National 2710 (LDV461F) suffered this accident damage after a nasty collision with a cider lorry at Charmouth, c1970. The extensive damage was repaired and the RE went on to have a long career both with the company and then with a couple of Devon independents (Photo : Peter Horrex Collection)
REU327S was only nine years old (although already on its third operator) when it received this front-end damage in 1987 which resulted in its withdrawal by Western National. It was subsequently sold to Willis of Bodmin for spares use for its own fleet prior to scrapping (Photo : David Jory)	United Auto 1327 (GGR431N), a rare Plaxton-bodied REMH6G was severely damaged by an engine fire on the A19 in January 1987 and is seen here the following month awaiting the attention of the scrap man (Photo : Tony Hutchinson)
The early hours of May 13th 2013 saw a devastating fire caused by arson at the Summercourt premises of Western Greyhound. Many normal service vehicles were destroyed in the inferno but also amongst the casualties was "Clarissa", Greyhound's pet VR, ex-Southdown 259 (JWV259W). It had been among the first VRs to join the fleet in 2000 and had been one of a pair that had been retained as a heritage vehicle (LFJ858W being the other one - this survived because it was stored elsewhere whereas Clarissa was still very much in active use). The destruction was almost total as can be seen here - these are the most unrecognisable remains on this whole page. The fire also ripped the heart out of the company which was never really the same again and folded completely little more than a year later. (Photo : Mark Howarth)	The LHs of the BNE76xN batch were oddities, ordered by Wigan Corporation and bodied by ECW with their by-then defunct flat-fronted bodywork, they never sat well in the G.M.P.T.E. fleet and were withdrawn after just a few years of service in 1982. They readily found buyers however and BNE765N (seen here in a photo by LesUpTheWall) lasted in passenger service first in Cornwall and subsequently in Wales until finally scrapped in 2000. The accident damage received here while working in Manchester was soon repaired and the bus returned to the road.
28th May 1980 saw a particularly nasty incidence of arson when four vehicles from the Eastern Counties fleet that were parked in a compound of Heigham Street in Norwich were set alight, almost certainly by children. Two of the casualties were LFS115 (FAH115C) and LFS118 (FAH118C) seen here during the aftermath.	Two further vehicles destroyed on 28th May 1980 in Norwich were LH6L RAH692F and National coach liveried RELH6G GVF887D. All photos in this feature were taken by Tim Moore.
BKH982T was operating for Roselyn Coaches in Cornwall in the year 2000 when it suffered this fairly serious damage in a low bridge accident. It was never repaired and was photographed by Alistair Friar shortly before being sent for scrap the following year.	By 2007 the kind of accidental damage that would have been repaired as a matter of course in earlier years could easily result in the withdrawal and scrapping of a whole vehicle. This was true of Truronian AFJ771T which received fairly light roof damage in December 2006 but was never repaired and was eventually scrapped in 2008. (Photo : Glyn Williams)
Truronian's ex-Trent VR PRC856X was destroyed by fire at their depot on December 31st 2005. This poor image was taken from the BBC News website at the time but conveys the devastation at the scene. BKE857T was also destroyed in the incident.	Western National/Royal Blue RELH coach 2354 (840SUO) suffered a nasty accident on the A38 at Drumbridges near the Ilsington turn-off in the mid 1960s. As the driver, Harry Roberts, crested the hill he was blinded by the sun. Meantime a badly-parked earthmover was at the side of the road while the driver called for directions. Unfortunately the bucket cut through the side of the coach; fortunately there were no serious injuries, although a lady who had been in the nearside front seat had moved back at Exeter after complaining about a draught from the door! It was repaired and saw a full service life with the company. (Photo : Stuart Andrews)
United Auto 761 (HUP761T) came to grief in extremely strong winds on Redheugh Bridge which crosses the Tyne linking Gateshead with Newcastle. Local press reports suggested the fence construction was the only factor which prevented the bus from going over the edge. Certainly the wind was so strong that rescue attempts had to be abandoned until it died down. 761 was subsequently repaired and went on to have a further career as a sightseeing bus in New York.	Red & White FL6G L2060 (20AAX) came to grief in the snow and ice of December 1967. Two policemen survey the scene but obviously a successful recovery was effected as the bus survives today in preservation (Photo : Clive Jones)
United Auto 697 (UGR697R) came to grief in July 1987 on Blue Bank at Sleights when it was hit by a runaway lorry trailer. Fortunately it was running empty as the damage to the rear of the bus severe as can be seen. The engine was turned through 30 degrees in the impact! Not surprisingly 697 was scrapped as a result (Photo : Brian Waller)	United Auto 630 (DHN230H) was extensively cannibalised in 1983 after withdrawal for parts to repair CPT738S which had been badly damaged by fire. 630 is seen here - the latter survived a further 18 years to be the last VR in service with Arriva North East and a further 8 years at Ripley's scrapyard.
Southern Vectis 684 (DPX684W) was the last closed-top VR in service with the company, but it came to an ignominious end on ice at Bembridge in December 2000. The hill was described as "like glass" and 684 ended up wedged between a wall and a bush. The damage was not extensive but was deemed enough to see the bus withdrawn. (Photo : Isle of Wight County Press)	684 lingered for quite some time at the back of Ryde depot before being finally scrapped on site in late 2003. In the meantime it yielded many useful spares, the upper deck and roof structure was donated to NDL490G which proved particularly useful as it was being converted back to a bu. The engine and gearbox went in open-topper UFX856S which kept it going until 2007. (Photo : Gav Rowney)
Midland General 309 (TRB576F) came to grief as seen here some time early in its life. The survival of some vehicles after such treatment might be in doubt, but the FLF was back on the road within days and today - 2017 - it still survives on the small island of Inisbofen off the coast of Ireland as a static cafe. (Photo : Derek Brown Collection)	TUO503 has been working for FEEL Events in Linz, Austria since 2011, but in 2016 it was rear-ended by another vehicle causing this extensive damage. By great luck a donor vehicle was already in town in the form of UOD487 which was being used as a grandstand for the local speedway club and the rear end from this was in the process of being grafted on in early 2017 (Photo : Wolfram Niedermayer).
Lincolnshire 1912 (NVL990K) had received minor accident damage when seen here at Road Car's Bracebridge Heath complex in March 1978. It was repaired and put back to service, but was damaged again in an accident with a milk float in January 1983 and was replaced by East Midland FRB212H which was bought from APT (the NBC dealer ironically located at this same Bracebridge Heath site) for considerably less than the cost to repair 1912. (Photo : David Russon)	In 2001 ECY990V was in preservation after a long career with South Wales Transport, finally passing into First ownership, receiving their latest livery in 1999. Sadly it was the victim of an arson attach which saw it scrapped before any restoration work could be effected (Photo : William Blower)
A depot fire at Wilby of Hibaldstow in September 2010 claimed two Bristol-built victims. Here are the remains of ex-Lincolnshire VR SVL174W.	The other vehicle destroyed was Plaxton-bodied LH VWS975T seen here. Both vehicles remained on site with at least the LH still there into 2017 (Photos : Alex K)
The day is July 21st 2005 and Abus XHK222X was trundling around the back lanes, driven by none other than Bristol Interest Circle chairman Allan Macfarlane when a 4x4 thundered around a bend, lost control and side-swiped the VR. The car can be seen in the background on its side where it finally ended up.	The damage to the front offside of the VR was extensive, but it is testament to the build quality of both chassis and body that Allan was able to walk away from the impact unscathed. The same cannot be said of XHK222X however - it was never to run again and was used for spare parts over a number of years (Photos : Gareth Crowther)
The conversion of STW26W into the Menehune Tiki Bus catering vehicle in Ohio, U.S.A. had only been completed in May 2016 when just three months later a deer jumped out in front of owner Danny Webb as he was driving it on the freeway. In swerving to avoid impact with the animal he lost control and ended up some 100 feet into a bean field as can be seen here.	Danny grazed a telegraph pole but then hit a ditch which pitched the VR up in the air. The subsequent impact sadly damaged the frame and rendered it an insurance write-off. The bus has now been sold for scrapping and the Menehune gods have claimed another victim! (Photos : Danny Webb)
On the night of December 24th 1994 a blaze started in one of the vehicles at the back of First's Colchester depot. As can be seen here the blaze took hold quickly and a number of vehicles were totally destroyed, including VRs UVX1S, KOO786V, ONH924V, STW35W, UAR585W, XHK219X and XHK233X. In addition STW22W and STW35W were badly damaged, but were later repaired and reinstated, while XHK232X was undamaged despite being surrounded by destroyed vehicles. A fireman can be seen in the cab of the nearest VR preparing to drive it away from the inferno - this brave act saved the unidentified VR from destruction. (Photo : Colchester Evening Gazette).	The following morning (Christmas Day 1994!) the aftermath of the fire was clearly visible. Seen here are the remains of UVX1S which had been reinstated earlier that summer to replace XHK216X which had itself been destroyed by fire at Marks Tey on August 5th (Photo : Ian Hardie).
Lincolnshire 2526 (BVL286C) had a nasty accident on ice at Long Bennington on February 13th 1978. Luckily there were no passengers on board and the vehicle was soon repaired and reinstated (Photo : Grantham Journal)	The driver of Lincolnshire Road Car 1283 (XFE441) had a lucky escape on January 2nd 1976. He had stopped to examine a fallen tree in the road ahead when another one came crashing down on his bus! Fortunately nobody was hurt, although it was the end of the line for this former coach. (Photo : Grantham Journal)
	On January 4th 2017, EDV517D had a nasty accident near Bartleheim, Holland in which it ended up in a ditch along with a car. It is not yet known what the extent of the damage is, or whether it will be back on the road in future (Photo : RTL News)
Eastern National RELL6G RPU883K was very badly damaged by fire in May 1983. Here it is seen in September 1983 in the background of the Anlaby Common works of East Yorkshire who had acquired it for spares (Photos : MT Davies)	East Yorkshire later moved RPU883K to Beverley for storage prior to spares retrieval. Unfortunately the 100-year-old former North Eastern Railway depot blew over in high winds in January 1984 destroying the remains of the RELL before it could be put to any use. Not the most auspicious end for this particular vehicle!
United Counties 771 (XBD771J) was comprehensively destroyed in a fire at Arlesey in August 1983. The remains are seen here the following month prior to dispatch for scrap (Photo : Andy Warton)	The only remaining identifying mark on this badly burnt out VR is the stylised "S" logo in use by Southdown at the time. This is June 1989 and EAP981V was comprehensively written off in this incident (Photo : PD3)
Brighton & Hove 633 (UFG633S) met its end abruptly in August 1995 in a nasty head-on collision. The batch was already in the process of being withdrawn and 633 was swiftly despatched for scrap (Photo : Brighton & Hove website)	A disastrous fire struck the Conway Street, Hove garage of Southdown on April 14th 1978. Seen here in the middle of this destroyed trio is 997 (TNJ997S) which was only eight months old at the time. Also destroyed were SCD502H and WUF531K, flat-fronted Series 2 VRs. (Photo : Dale Tringham)
It was decided that the damage to ELJ212V was uneconomic to repair and it was stripped for spare parts on site at Winchester depot prior to disposal to Barnsley for scrap. Grateful thanks to Gareth Crowther for these photos.	Stagecoach South (Hampshire Bus) 432 (ELJ212V) was damaged in an accident on June 3rd 1996 and is seen here dumped at the back of Winchester depot pending a decision on its future.
Yorkshire Traction FHE812L was destroyed by fire at Yorkshire Traction's Upper Sheffield Road premises in Barnley in May 1979 along with at least one other vehicle in a suspected arson attack. It was despatched later that month to local dealer Askin for scrap (Photo : Henry W1)	West Riding 833 (RYG387R) was damaged as seen here in June 1984 when a fire was started (maliciously presumably) at the rear of the upper deck. The damage was so extensive that the bus was never repaired and was scrapped soon afterwards.
	Potteries 628 (HRE528N) was destroyed by fire in 1982 and was subsequently withdrawn. I have no further information on this incident. (Photos : Cliff Beeton)
National Welsh RESL6L RS3467 (LAX106E) came to grief in fog on Maerdy mountain in 1980, driving through the crash barrier and ending up grounded on the precipice above a massive drop. Another five feet and this scary incident would have become a catastrophe. It was recovered the following day with just a broken skirt and fog lamp and was back on the road within two days!
P.M.T. 687 (YBF687S) came to grief in April 1987 - as can be seen here it even took the bus stop with it (Photo : Cliff Beeton)	Eastern Counties VR163 (MCL939P) was severely damaged by fire in September 1990 as seen here. It was stripped and scrapped a few months later. VR382 (OCK992K) was also damaged and subsequently written off in the same incident (Photo : Peter Horrex)
Eastern Counties MCL943P received this accident damage in a collision with VEX284X near Wisbech in June 1986. The latter was repaired and survived a further 16 years, but this damage was considered uneconomic to repair and the bus was stripped for spares and scrapped (Photo : Julian Patterson)	Eastern Counties RAH127M was destroyed by an arsonist in Sudbury Town Centre on 12th March 1989. Its remains are seen here soon after and it was sold for scrap soon after (Photo : Salopbus)
Eastern Counties SNG435M caught fire at Hargrave in September 1991 soon after dropping off the last of its student passengers. The inferno that followed  was so intense that the aluminium body melted and the remains had to be cut apart in situ to remove it from the tarmac. This photo is courtesy of Peter Horrex and came from a local newspaper cutting.	In 1986 British Gas was privatised and ran a campaign with the line "If you see Sid, tell him...". A variation of this was carried on the side of Eastern Counties VR190 (VPW85S) when it hit trouble on this icy country road - the advert read "Did Sid escape by bus?" and overnight someone climbed up the side of the VR and wrote underneath "not on this f**ker"!! Thanks to Julian Patterson for the photo and background story.
LHT727P spent 15 years as an exhibition unit for the Bath Chronicle newspaper, then moved on in 2004 to promote this adult entertainment company, based in Oldham. It was destroyed by arson in 2006 which was a great shame as it was one of the last operational VRs fitted with a Leyland 501 engine. It isn't known whether or not the attack was motivated by the controversial material being advertised (Photo : Robert Missen)	Badgerline's former United Auto 5607 (HPT85N) was destroyed by fire at Almondsbury, underneath the M5 flyover, on March  12th 1987 after the driver had been made aware of smoke coming from the rear end. Fortunately he had the presence of mind to evacuate it before fire broke out (Photo : Dr Mike Walker)
In July 1979 a disastrous fire took place at the Durham depot of United Automobile Services. The building was gutted and no fewer than 13 REs were destroyed : 2821 (VHN21G), 4200 (WHN400G), 4203/5 (YHN803/5H), 4232 (BHN432H), 4244/6 (JHN344/6K), 4273/9 (PHN173/9L), 6018/9 (UHN782/3G), 6025 (BHN209H) and 6040 (EHN624J). All photos of the sad event are by Chris Dugdell.	6019 (UHN783G) doesn't appear to be too damaged here and even seems to be being driven out of the depot, but the scorching at the front and towards the rear tell a different story and it was never to re-enter service.
Two LHs were also badly damaged in the Durham fire, but 1614 (GUP898N) and 1630 (GUP914N - seen here) were later rebodied at Eastern Coach Works and both gave a further 15 years of sterling service to the company.	In 1986 VRs were becoming an endangered species in the Devon General fleet due to their wholesale replacement by minibuses, so when MOD568P received front end damage in a collision it was immediately withdrawn and robbed for spares (Photo : Graham Bailey)
In 1992, Thornton Dale Coaches of Pickering had unwisely taken on Scarborough & District (owned by East Yorkshire Motor Services) on route 128 (Scarborough - Pickering). It was a short-lived contest with TDC going bust and EYMS buying them out. Included in the deal was PUF589R which needed welding work to bring it up to scratch, and in the course of travelling over the Moors on the A171 between Whitby and Scarborough it blew over on its side in strong winds. It had been planned for it to join the Primrose Valley subsidiary but it was recovered to Hunmanby where John Darwent took these photos. It was considered beyond economic repair and scrapped without receiving an EYMS fleet number.	This rear view shows further the extent of the damage when PUF589R was blown off the A171. It would no doubt have yielded a good selection of spares for the still-massive EYMS fleet of VRs in 1992 (Photo : John Darwent)
The front end of United Auto 2859 (JHN559K) was completely destroyed in March 1983 when it was hit by a tree (Photo : Mark Harrington)	Another United Auto RE which was withdrawn prematurely was SHN77L, seen here in January 1984 after a nasty front end shunt. Apparently it went into a narrow brick railway arch on a bend at the same time as a coal lorry coming in the opposite direction near East Hetton Colliery coming down the hill from Quarrington Hill. Fortunately the driver managed to jump out of the cab just prior to impact. Rumour has it he was suspended for leaving his ticket machine and change unattended LOL (thanks to Robert Facey and Stan Miller for the additional information about this incident)  (Photo : Mark Harrington)
POI2140 was one of the many RELL6Gs destroyed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this one in 1986 (Photo : Allan McCullough)	Lincolnshire 1985 (NAG592G) seen here at Bracebridge Heath in March 1978 has received a nasty front-end shunt, but it was easily repaired and went on to see service with Road Car right through to 1989 (Photo : David Russon)
A disastrous fire engulfed Trent's depot in Derby on 14th July 1976 destroying many vehicles which included RELH coach YCH892M and VRs ORC259N, MAL793P and MAL794P. The coach is seen to the far right of this scene (Photo : Steve Thorpe Collection)	Not an accident victim on this occasion, SVF895G had almost all of its original ECW body removed in 1981 in preparation for a new B51 body to be fitted and give the coach a new lease of life. However, Leyland had some brand new end-of-run Leopard chassis available and these received the bodywork instead - with disastrous consequences as the Leopard had no rear structure which led to the boots falling out of them (sometimes leaving all the luggage on the motorway) in very short order. Should have trusted in the REs after all! (Photo : Viv Carter)
Eastern Counties RL713 (VPW713H) came to grief during the summer of 1976 when it ran off the road and into a field as seen here. Although the front end took a heavy impact which spelled the end of the bus as it was considered uneconomic to repair, it is noticeable how only that section of the bodywork was distorted and the main part of the body retained its structural integrity.	The full force of the impact can be appreciated from this offside view of the aftermath of the accident.
East Midlands 163 (URB163S) was destroyed by fire in April 1979. It languished in Mansfield garage for a few months, where Berisford Jones was able to snap this photo, before being despatched for scrap.	Pike of Smannell operated a number of VRs in the Andover area, and the driver of SKL680X on 12th May 2009 had an unlucky break when a parent was taken ill on his morning school run. He helped the man by taking him to the local hospital but then totally forgot that the bridge on Charlton Road was too low for double deckers thus taking the roof off the VR on his way back. There is a contemporary newspaper article here. It was very soon dispatched to Doncaster for scrap (Photo : Shaun Courtnage)
By strange co-incidence sister ex-East Kent VR SKL685X was also deroofed under a Basingstoke bridge (this time in East Oakley) several years earlier in December 2001 when owned by fellow Stagecoach operator Hampshire Bus (Photo : Basingstoke Gazette)	The driver certainly did a comprehensive job on this one - the entire upper deck structure ended up on the road (no mean feat given the inherent strength of the ECW body) and the VR didn't stop until well past the bridge itself as can be seen in this photo taken very soon after the incident by David Farrow. Not surprisingly the remaining body was badly distorted and was soon sold for scrap.
FPM73C came to an abrupt end in May 1989 when its Western Scottish driver under tuition managed to drop it off a bridge and into the River Cart. A close look reveals some considerable damage to the chassis.	On turning back onto its wheels the extent of the damage to the body can easily be seen, confirming that the vehicle was a total write-off. It was scapped later in 1989 (Photos : David Devoy)
Tim Major has sent this photo from 1981 showing Eastern Counties RL720 (YAH720J) after it had been crushed by a container which fell off a lorry. The RE was scrapped later that year.	Here is another view of RL720 with the damage that saw its withdrawal.
West Yorkshire DX14 (OWX158) had a nasty accident at Sheepscar on 20th January 1956 when on the way to Harrogate it fell into a canal and had to be rescued by a crane.	The resulting extensive damage can be seen here. It was returned to ECW where it was rebuilt and had a full service life before being sold for scrap in 1971 (Photo : Alex Lawson)
LEU260P met a premature end with Circle Line in Gloucester after having its nearside windows and pillars ripped out in collision with a JCB. It was not easily accessible to photograph, but this view shows clearly the damage to the rear dome. It was eventually scrapped in this position (Photo : Rob Sly)	In February 1980 West Yorkshire Road Car 1358 (MWW751K) ran off the road with this result. It was not badly damaged and after being repaired saw many years of further service with WYRC and subsequent operators.
Stephen Dowle has the most fantastic Flickr photostream (under the name Fray Bentos) in which he captions many interesting photos with even more informative stories. This photo of Bristol Omnibus 5084 (NFB120R) shows the vehicle after it was driven the wrong way out of Avonmouth depot one morning in October 1979. The driver decided to swing round in the forecourt of a disused garage and forgot about the height of the canopy with this result. The bus was rebuilt and led a full life hard at work in the city until 1993.	Not perhaps the most severe damage imaginable, but this was enough to condemn LEU256P when it was operating open-top services in West Cornwall for First Devon & Cornwall in 2006 (Photo : Shaun Courtnage)
RDV421H was severely damaged when fire broke out in the workshops at Plymouth depot in 1977. It is seen here parked outside the depot works later that year (Photo : Richard Bache)	The body was considered beyond economic repair and was removed from the chassis which was subsequently used to store the roofs from Western National's convertible open-top VRs (Photo : Alwyn Ladell)
841SUO was withdrawn and subsequently scrapped following accident damage when in service with North Cornwall Cars and is seen here in June 1981 alongside former Alder Valley CBL355B and a Ford R226 of the same operator. Photo : Alan O Watkins	KRE643P obviously hit a low bridge at some considerable speed to cause this sort of damage. Unlike the modern construction of double deckers where the whole roof structure will come off in one piece, the ECW body was incredibly sturdy and fitted in ribbed sections, so a lot of energy is required to do this much damage. Regardless 643 was repaired and went on to receive P.M.T.'s post-deregulation livery and was finally withdrawn and scrapped in 1991 (Photo : Stokie14)
GHY133K was one of a number of former Badgerline REs which went on to see further service with Phil Anslow Travel of Garndiffaith. Unfortunately it was destroyed in 1994 in a depot fire; a sad end to a fine vehicle.	Top Deck Travel are always good for a shunt picture and this one doesn't disappoint! The amazing thing is that if you look at the rear destination it reads "Tadpoles" (aka PDL519) which any fan of the company will know is the one that still remains with them and ran a final overland tour to Kathmandu in 2011. This accident happened when Tadpoles was running on only four cylinders and limping back to the UK when it was rammed from behind by a lorry in France. No doubt this damage was nothing to the resourceful TDT engineers and the bus went on to make many further trips over the following 17 years!
I was in Bournemouth on the morning of July 25th 1976 and well remember as an 8-year-old being told that the Bus Station had burned down that night. In fact the building still stood, but was gutted on the lower floor (used by coaches) and unsafe on the upper deck (where the buses departed). Heroic efforts saved many of the buses, but little could be done for those caught in the inferno downstairs and four RELH coaches were completely destroyed - Hants & Dorset's pair AEL6B and AEL7B and Royal Blue OTA641G and BDV401L. In addition PDV407M was smoke-damaged but was repaired and enjoyed a full career, while OTA645G was badly damaged but was rebuilt with non-standard "Bristol dome" destination equipment which almost certainly ensured its long-term survival due to its suitability for stage-carriage services. It is now owned by Preservabus in Nuneaton where it is used on occasional driving experience days repainted in Midland Red coach livery.	In March 1988 Eastern Counties VR266 (RAH266W) fell into an old chalk mine with these startling results. Of course the bulk of the weight of the chassis is at the back of the VR with the engine, gearbox and transmission all sited behind the (equally heavy) rear axle, so it is no surprise that it assumed this position! The bus is seen being recovered and was quickly repaired for a return to service. It went on to live a very full life and saw eventual withdrawal in 2000 and was scrapped some time later. A full report of the events of that day is presented here.
On 25th March 2007 former Eastern Counties FS5G LFS68 (68DNG) was driven off the road and into a dyke whilst running for Party on Wheels, Ulvenhout, Holland. Sadly the vehicle has never run again and now sits forlornly with the leasehold company after having been rescued from the muddy waters. (Photo : Peter Bakker)	This rear view of the incident shows how scary this accident must have been from the driver's seat. Let's hope the bus gets back on the road again one day. (Photo : Peter Bakker)
Potteries 216 (PVT216L) was extensively damaged in June 1984 after a collision with a cement mixer when on a colliery service. The damage was serious enough for the RE to be withdrawn and subsequently sold for scrap. (Photo : Cliff Beeton)	This photo shows the immediate aftermath of the accident with the lorry embedded in the front of the bus. (Photo : Paul Leonard)
Here we see Potteries 648 (PEH648R) having come off the road at Mow Cop. As is often the case in these pictures, the underlying strength of the ECW body is indicated by the lack of distortion in the structure. Sure enough, 648 was soon repaired and back on the road. Photo : Martyn Hearson	Like many double deckers before it, KRU237F ended its days losing its roof under a low bridge. However this one had already led a productive second life as fleet number 005 in the Boston Double Deckers fleet and the accident didn't happen until 1988. It is seen here a year later in a yard used by British Promotions who will certainly have used every last piece of salvage in their many other Lodekka projects.
This cutting from a local paper shows the aftermath of a tragic accident involving Eastern National 3002 (CPU981G). The newspaper report is shown opposite
CPU981G was clearly not a lucky bus as it was also deroofed in 1974 - it is seen here later on in the depot with all the bits gathered up and being surveyed by the engineers - I can't imagine too much of it was reusable! Opposite is the contemporary newspaper report of this incident.
This scene of devastation is the aftermath of a collision in Yugoslavia between Top Deck's aptly named "Crunch", aka LDL735 and two lorries in March 1985.	This side view shows just how violent the impact between the bus and the lorry was. It appears that the Top Deck driver ran the bus off the road in an attempt to avoid the accident but there was simply nowhere to go. It is notable how the bays of the ECW body not involved in the impact are barely damaged and many of the windows remain intact. It is this build quality which has meant that many hundreds of ECW vehicles remain in existence today. Sadly "Crunch" is not amongst them as it was recovered to the UK and scrapped at Top Deck's amazing Horsell Common farm "depot".
Dave Mant has kindly supplied several photos of the Lodekkas acquired secondhand by Hants & Dorset from Eastern National including this view of 434FEV which was destroyed by a fire at Basingstoke depot in September 1974.
This newspaper cutting shows the result when Top Deck Travel's YHT932 was driven under a low bridge in Guildford when running empty to the Horsell Common farm which they used as their base in the early 1980s. The bus was repaired using the roof from another LD, ran for many more years for Top Deck, and still exists today as an exhibition unit in Holland.	AEV812F was one of Eastern National's 31' long FLFs and was among those Lodekkas which found their way to Stagecoach for operation in Perth in the early 1980s. Sadly it was destroyed by fire as seen here after only a few months in service with them, in November 1983. This photo was courtesy of Paul Harrison's collection.
This 1963 FLF6G came to a fiery end in North Carolina, U.S.A. in 2004. It is former Eastern National 934LWC and was captured by Bob Martin on one of his "Busman's Holidays".	This Crosville school bus got just a little bit too cosy with the gymnasium at Kings School, Chester. After disgorging the pupils DFG66 (876VFM) mounted the kerb and caused quite substantial damage in the process. The Headmaster looks on almost in disbelief but I bet the kids loved it!
There are plenty of photos of REs having been destroyed during The Troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1970s and 1980s but very few show the perpetrators in action, so this view represents an interesting piece of social history regardless of your opinion as to the rights and wrongs. The poor victim on this occasion is Ulsterbus 1062 (9062UZ), one of the initial batch of 20 delivered in 1969 of which only one survived to normal withdrawal and thereon to preservation (9058UZ).	Later that same day a father and his sons walk nonchalently past the burning wreck of 1062 with barely a glance, as if it is a daily event - which at the time it almost was. Ulsterbus replaced these native RELLs with REs from the mainland which themselves became targets and were destroyed in huge numbers. These photos are copyright Peter Marlow/Magnum Photos.
Several London Transport LHs came to a sticky end over the years. Here we see BL6 (KJD406P) after suffering severe front-end accident damage taken by the camera of SMS88AEC. It passed to Davies, Pencader in January 1983 where it lingered for a while yielding spares for their LH fleet.	Another one from SMS88AEC is BL41 (OJD41R) which was a late survivor with London Buses in its Metroline subsidiary until this engine fire saw it off in January 1990.
Busways built up a large fleet of REs in the early 1990s including many which were acquired purely for reclamation of spare parts. A huge fire at Byker depot in March 1995 destroyed a good number of these spares donors, including AAH736J seen here before finally being towed away for scrap (Photos : Steve Thorpe)	Another victim of the Byker fire was former Southern Vectis TDL568K.
Yet another victim of the Byker fire was a particularly sad loss - the last surviving ex-Black & White Plaxton/RELH ADG335K.	The only LH destroyed in the Byker fire was 1605 (TPJ60S).
John Allcock has turned up some photos of some of the most extensive damage I have ever seen an accident cause to an ECW body. This is Mansfield District 358 (377RNN) which was in collision with a slurry lorry in January 1977. The accident was caused when 358 veered across the carriageway into the path of the lorry. The impact brought the bus to a sudden halt which then caused it to be hit by the following bus which was 352 (248MNN). Sadly the lorry driver was killed, but utterly amazing was that none of the 141 bus passengers or either bus driver was killed, although 70 were hospitalised (many of them schoolchildren). 358 was comprehensively written off. 352 was badly damaged too, but it was repaired and survived to see further service with Peter Sheffield of Cleethorpes and then on to be exported to Italy in 1988. 358's driver was found guilty of driving without due care and attention and was fined £100 with £12 costs. Many thanks to Berisford Jones for providing the details of this very unfortunate event.
BNU681G, new to Midland General, was rebuilt to left-hand drive in 1984 as a pilot to test the market for such conversions in North America. It was not followed by further conversions so presumably was not deemed a commercial success, but it did run for Rochester City Lines in Minnesota for several years before passing to Miami Double Deck Tours where it became fleet number 24. Sadly it came to grief by June 2000 receiving the accident damage shown above. It was still there in the same condition in February 2004 after which there have been no further reports. (Photo : Alex Hall)	Here is another view of BNU681G stored in Miami in February 2004 with the front upper-deck corner missing from the accident. Note also the viewing windows cut into the upper-deck ceiling for sightseeing purposes.
The accident which caused this damage and the withdrawal from service of East Kent 7656 (XJJ656V) also - unusually - ensured its long-term survival! The driver hit an unlit skip at speed when running dead on return from Sandwich one evening in October 1992. It is seen here on MoD land at Manston later that year. (Photo : David Moth)	The damage was panelled over, along with most of the lower deck, and the bus was used by the MoD for evacuation training. Some 21 years later, in June 2013, the remains were acquired by local preservationist Jake Bamford for spares recovery and even further use as a storeshed, so although 7656 never ran under its own power again the accident did see its survival for many years longer.
Bristol Omnibus 5507 (KOU793P) was previously an overall advert for the Great American Disaster fast-food restaurant, but in July 1983 it became a disaster itself when it caught fire when going up Shockerwick Hill near Bath. It is believed that the fire started when the compartment beneath the lower deck rear seat overheated, probably igniting the oil that tended to collect there. This was not uncommon in VRs, but this was the most spectacular example! Seen here having been recovered to Bath depot it was broken for whatever spares could be re-used and the remains were soon scrapped.

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