Last Updated : August 5th 2010 (MacEwan Coach Services added)
| MacEwan Coach Services of Dumfries |
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The latest person to almost single-handedly cover a fleet is Stuart Dobie who has provided a wide variety of photos of the LHs which were operated by MacEwan Coach Services. As ever, if you can fill in any of the gaps I would be delighted to hear from you. | August 5th 2010 |
| Red Bus Services of Aylesbeare |
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I was delighted to hear from Richard Holladay recently, proprietor of this enthusiastic Bristol operator in the late 1980s/early 1990s, wondering if I would like photos to complete the photo archive for his fleet. Would I? Not half! You will see that Richard kept comprehensive photographic records which I am pleased to share with you here. | June 24th 2010 |
| Crosville RE |
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After taking four months to complete the West Riding VR operator focus (due to the volume of current updates in the world of Bristol buses) I have now moved on to Crosville REs. This gives me a chance to showcase the photographic collection of Graham Senior, already used extensively for Crosville LHs, which includes views of nearly every RE that ever ran for the great company. Above is SRG165 (EFM165H), one of the last flat-screened RELLs. | May 24th 2010 |
| West Riding VR |
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I am continuing to draw on the photos supplied by H John Black of VRs taken in Yorkshire in the 1970s and 1980s. This time it is the turn of West Riding, also incorporating Yorkshire Woollen and Selby & District. This lengthy project is now finished and I will soon be moving on to Crosville REs. Meantime this photo is of TWR462W, one of several similar schemes this VR carried for Appleyard car dealership. |
December 26th 2008 |
| Isle of Man Road Services RE |
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Isle of Man Road Services only ever operated four REs, bought new, and they only lasted a couple of years before being returned to the mainland, but they were interesting examples and deserve further scrutiny here. Seen here is Duple-bodied RELH6L 37 (37UMN) seen in Douglas in May 1970 courtesy of the camera of Dave Mant. | November 14th 2008 |
| Cheltenham & Gloucester RE |
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When Cheltenham & Gloucester was formed out of the Northern Area of Bristol Omnibus Company in September 1983 a couple of dozen REs remained in service, mostly based at Stroud depot. None lasted beyond 1986, but GHY132K seen here was unique in receiving City of Gloucester blue and white dual-purpose livery in 1984. | October 26th 2008 |
| Yorkshire Traction VR |
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I have been lucky to be sent a great many photos of Yorkshire Traction VRs recently by H John Black, so what better than to add them all to the website? This photo shows HWJ932W, one of only two to have carried this version of fleet livery. | September 4th 2008 |
| Chicago Motor Coach Company |
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A surprising number of Bristols were operated by Chicago Motor Coach, including some of the rare Standerwick VRL coaches. The VR seen here is Series 2 VRT NUD108L which retains its coach seating carried from new with City of Oxford. I am building out a number of US operator lists at the moment - an index can be found here. | August 24th 2008 |
| Midland Red South |
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No VRs were delivered new to the Midland Red company, but post deregulation all four demerged corners (South, West, North and....err...Fox) operated at least some VRs. Midland Red (South) had a particularly rag-tag collection which were operated in all sorts of liveries, later some receiving Stagecoach stripes following takeover. Here we see recently-rediscovered NHU671R operating a schools service in former Cheltenham/Swindon colours (Photo : Dave Beardmore) |
August 6th 2008 |
Johnson of Hodthorpe |
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Things have been quiet at Johnsons for quite some time now, but their immaculate fleet of VRs continue to run services for the lucky schoolchildren of the East Midlands. A few have been repainted into their new blue livery (as shown by KKY835P above) and a couple have so far received the new green Redferns livery. I have taken the opportunity to update their page format to the standard operator history layout showing all VRs that have been owned as well as previous owners and photos of all liveries carried. | July 18th 2008 |
Bristol Omnibus Bristol RE |
Bristol Omnibus amassed the second largest fleet of Bristol RE saloons and coaches in Britain (United Auto had the largest) so listing them all with photos has been a big job (over a number of years). I am now completing this task and would appreciate any contributions to fill in the blanks. The first batch to be completed with all available photos is the famous "THU-G" batch of RESL6Ls, known as the "Thugs". These carried three liveries with Bristol - Tilling green, "OMO" green and cream and NBC green, and many also had an Indian Summer in South Wales, so lots of ground to cover here. |
May 31st 2008 | |
Royal Blue Line of British Columbia, Canada |
British Columbia has been home to many Bristol double deckers since the 1970s. You might think that activity would now be winding down, but not a bit of it - Royal Blue Line have recently received two of the fine fleet of flat screen VRs from Gray Line of Vancouver and have now begun repainting them into their smart blue and white livery. The Gray Line franchise in Victoria has also been home to many Lodekkas over the years, although the information for this fleet is incomplete and I would be very grateful for any additional vehicle details, dates or photos for this operator or its predecessor, Marguerite Line. | May 16th 2008 | |
Wilts & Dorset VR |
In recognition of the impending end of VR operation by Wilts & Dorset I am putting together a history page for all 102 VRs owned by this operator since it was created in April 1983 by the separation of Hants & Dorset into four units. All of those remaining in service into 2008 were current then, precisely a quarter of a century ago!! The lists of Series 2 VRs, Early Series 3 VRs, Late Series 3 and Secondhand are now complete with all photos and information to hand - all additional contributions are very welcome. |
April 30th 2008 | |
Crosville LH |
Crosville took delivery of all sorts of LHs from new as well as a selection of secondhand examples. Particular thanks go to Graham Senior for his help in providing extensive coverage of this fleet. |
March 3rd 2008 | |
Widnes Corporation |
Widnes is another municipal which operated a number of East Lancs bodied REs this time becoming Halton Borough in 1974 who also went on to buy further new REs, including the very last RELL chassis for mainland Britain (MCK213P). | February 14th 2008 | |
Accrington Corporation |
Accrington operated a number of East Lancs bodied REs before becoming Hyndburn Borough in 1974 who went on to buy further new REs. I do not intend to describe the operators further here - Peter Gould does that much better than I could ever do on his website at http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/index.html - but do take a look and get in touch if you can add any details and/or photos. I will maintain an Operator Focus Archive page here. |
February 5th 2008 |