As always, if you have any additional information or photos for the pages on this website I would be delighted to hear from you at rob@robsly.com. From September 29th 2007 I shall record all changes of vehicle status on this page with credit to the contributor.
I am in the process of adding a page for every operator who has ever run a VR, RE, LH or Lodekka. You can follow progress by visiting the Operator Cross Reference page.
I am also adding a history page for every individual VR, RE, LH and Lodekka. You can follow progress by visiting the Illustrated History Log page.
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Date of Change |
Source of Information | Details of Change |
| 6th May 2008 | Warren Woodrow/Craig Ryan | Former Western National/Devon General LHS 94 (LFJ848W) has turned up on eBay having been in use as an office to the north of Berwick. It only has a handful of seats remaining. |
| 4th May 2008 | Kevin Nicol | Two interesting Bristols previously thought to have been scrapped have shown up recently in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Former United Counties 962 (VVV962W) is a VR with Party Buses, whilst former Southern Vectis 513 (KDL413) is a 1955 LD6G that was last reported in use as a ticket office in downtown Denver in 1998 and which is now stored at the Regional Transport District depot |
| 28th April 2008 | Sam Wickham | Former Eastern Counties Lodekka FS5G LFS54 (54CPW) spent many years as a mobile home transporting its owner between the UK and Germany, but on their sudden death in 2004 it was purchased by Wealden PSV (dealer) where it remains, seatless, awaiting someone to come along and give it some TLC. |
| 28th April 2008 | Dmitri Paltsev | Some thirty-three years after it was exported, former Southern Vectis 523 (LDL722) is returning to these shores. Its stay will be brief though, as it is to be thoroughly serviced and prepared by Bristol Bus & Coach on behalf of Russian owner Dimitri Paltsev before heading off on an overland expedition from London to Mongolia! |
| 23rd April 2008 | Kevin Going | MEL560P, the only VR operated by Casters Coaches of Romford, has turned up as a non-PCV with Spratton Folk Festival who are hoping to get it up and running around the Northamptonshire countryside very soon. |
| 18th April 2008 | Richard Glaister | The end of an era has come in North Wales with the withdrawal of the final VR by Clynnog & Trefor of Trefor. They have operated many examples since taking the type on in considerable numbers in 1992. The last one was XJJ664V which has now passed to Bristol Bus & Coach. |
| 10th April 2008 | Julian Patterson | Against expectations the former Hedingham Omnibus VRs with Ensign have escaped export and have in fact all travelled north to Bankfoot Buses of Perth |
| 8th April 2008 | Tony Barfiield | Tony sent updates on two ECW-bodied LHs which have not been reported for quite some time and are safely tucked away in storage for possible future restoration. They are former United Auto 1712 (MUP712T) and new to Davies of Pencader NDE916R. |
| 5th April 2008 | Paul Pearson, Ray Evans | With the conversion of Volvo double deckers for open-top use this season First Devon & Cornwall have started to dispose of their remaining VRs. Both GBF78N and RTH931S have been sold for preservation, GBF arriving home in Stoke-on-Trent this evening. |
| 4th April 2008 | Philip Higgs | Classic Bus of Blackpool have in fact swapped XHK217X for WTG360T with Double DeckBus Export of Rotherham (dealer), XHK now being likely to be exported. |
| 1st April 2008 | Carl Lemon, Mark Stokes | Two further Hedingham Omnibus VRs at Ensign are CJH141V and GGM108W. |
| 31st March 2008 | Peter Cook | Four of the withdrawn VRs with Wilts & Dorset have been sold to an exporter in Rotherham. Those in question are 4427 (ELJ219V), 4430 (GEL680V) and 4450/6 (KRU850W/KRU856W). |
| 23rd March 2008 | Steve Simister | The slow run-down of the Hedingham Omnibus VR fleet continues with the sale of RAH260W and RAH268W to Ensign for likely swift export. |
| 23rd March 2008 | Philip Higgs | Classic Bus of Blackpool continue to acquire VRs - the latest is WTG360T latterly with Southern Vectis although not used in service by them. |
| 20th March 2008 | Paul Bateson | Lodekka FLFs continue to show up on a regular basis around the World. Reported for sale (quite separately) on eBay in the U.S.A. at the moment are Western National 2006 (811KDV) and Hants & Dorset 1576 (LLJ442F) |
| 20th March 2008 | Bob Martin | In addition to the eBay entries above, real gems discovered in Jamestown, Pennsylvania are former Crosville ML693 (RFM438) and ML714 (RFM459). The former is still intact but minus an engine, while the latter is collapsing and past redemption. Both have been missing since 1970 - a record 37 years between sightings!! |
| 14th March 2008 | Bill Presley | Former Western National 2056 (BDV264C) is alive and well in Richmond, Indiana, U.S.A. Bill reports that it is currently under renovation |
| 13th March 2008 | Chris Wilhelm | Good news is that after many years untraced former Alder Valley VR 606 (GGM76W) has turned up on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is out of use with Duskin who ran three VRs in the late 1990s. The other two are also still present - one is former United Auto 765 (HUP765T), whilst the identity of the open-topper is unclear although documentation shows it to be a 1979 model. |
| 9th March 2008 | Philipp Nordmann | Philipp Nordmann has two Lodekkas safe and well in Germany. SAX989 was an LD6G of Red & White whilst EMR295D was an FLF6G new to Wilts & Dorset |
| 9th March 2008 | Alan Walker | HUD497W is another VR to pass through Bristol Bus & Coach on its way for export to Spain. It is due to sail to Santander next week having arrived from Coachman of Swindon last month |
| 8th March 2008 | Tom James | Village Coaches of Findon have sold open-top VR BCL213T to K & J Logistics (York Pullman) where it will join VDV140S in their outstanding livery |
| 8th March 2008 | Ant Poulton | VR operations with the last former National Bus Company operator are nearing an end. Wilts & Dorset have six remaining while the associated Damory fleet have eight. All are liable to be withdrawn by May when enough replacement Scanias are due to be delivered |
| 7th March 2008 | Steve White | Former Western National 2075 (BUO150B) has turned up at London Bus Company in Lydney. There is a bit of a mystery here - it was last reported in Lydney in 1995, but was for sale online in Austria in 2006 so it is a surprise for it to turn up in the UK again - repatriations are few and far between! |
| 3rd March 2008 | Mike Smith | Abus of Bristol have repainted one of their two remaining VRs, XHK221X in a special livery to celebrate the impending centenary of Bristol Commercial Vehicles in May. |
| 2nd March 2008 | David Oakley | Former United Counties 811 (RNV811M) is still going strong as an advertising unit for Irn Bru. David photographed it in Edinburgh in January. |
| 2nd March 2008 | Danny Chabaud | Another Crosville VR in the news is DVG473 (WTU473W) which is currently for sale on eBay converted for use as a mobile bar in North Devon |
| 29th February 2008 | Philip Higgs | Classic Bus of Blackpool continue to acquire VRs. The latest purchase is former Crosville DVG528 (DCA528X) which has come from Mike Nash (dealer) |
| 28th February 2008 | Allan Macfarlane/Terry Partridge | Well known former East Midland/Southern National open-topper MBZ7140 (ex-OTO151R) has now been sold by Chepstow Classic to Medios Moviles in Spain for use as a mobile advertising unit |
| 21st February 2008 | Jean-Pierre Bourreau/Danny Chabaud | Great to record no fewer than six previously unreported Lodekkas in Brittany, France. Four are in use with Publibus as mobile advertisements and in excellent. These are RFM433, UOD489, FWC427B and HHW459D. Meanwhile two FLFs are undergoing thorough restoration for similar use by Jean-Pierre Bourreau these being AAG125B and OPU825D |
| 9th February 2008 | Paul Turner | Former Ribble RESL OCK366K has spent many years in preservation in Hastings, having operated for Hastings & District in the early 1990s, even into Stagecoach ownership. It has now passed back into ownership closer to home with the Lancastrian Transport Trust |
| 6th February 2008 | Steve White | Former Bristol Omnibus C7252 (FHW157D) is for sale in Cologne, Germany at €40,000 |
| 3rd February 2008 | Michael Wootten | Wootten of Chesham have sold their last VR, JWV273W, for preservation, thus ending eight years of operation. They do however still have a RELL6L in the fleet (SWC24K) |
| 24th January 2008 | Neil Trump | Former Crosville Lodekka ML698 (RFM443) has turned up in a wood near Le Mans in France in use as a static caravan. Efforts are under way to fix serious problems with the Bristol AVW engine and anyone who can help with this is asked to get in touch |
| 22nd January 2008 | John Hembry | Damory 5070 (GEL686V) was withdrawn with accident damage in November, but has now been acquired by a number of drivers at Blandford Forum for repair and preservation |
| 18th January 2008 | Philip Higgs | Classic Bus Lancashire, the operating arm of Totally Transport (which in turn is associated with Lancashire Transport Trust) has acquired XIL1254 (XHK217X) from Flagfinders of Braintree for possible conversion to semi open-top for the 2008 sightseeing season |
| 18th January 2008 | David Mulpeter | SNJ593R has been sold from preservation to Village Coaches of Findon |
| 14th January 2008 | Cliff Essex | Cliff has sent in some fascinating historical views of Lodekkas with Far Eastern operators. FLF AVW397F was with Citybus, Hong Kong and is seen in 1983/4, whilst Fok Lei in Macau had LDs JDL997, NBD905 and SNN77 which are seen in the late 1970s |
| 13th January 2008 | Karl van Camp | News has been received of two VRs in Belgium - PRC851X is with Chantelly Chocolate in Baasrode as a publicity vehicle but is now for sale at €20,000, while BKE852T is in use at Antwerp Docks as a snack bar |
| 11th January 2008 | Dale Tringham | LFJ859W was only operated for half a term by Michael's Travel in the Forest of Dean before returning to Emblings for resale in October. It has now turned up working a Leicestershire schools service with Powner of Market Harborough still in Embling's livery |
| 6th January 2008 | Dave Clements/Leo Roberts | I have received updates on no fewer than three preserved flat-front VRs today. Restoration efforts continue on former City of Oxford 302 (OFC902H) as well as Southern Vectis 622 (NDL490G) and 628 (SDL638J) with the Isle of Wight Bus Museum |
| 29th December 2007 | Tom James | Now rare Plaxton-bodied LHS coach PHL454R has recently passed to York Pullman for continued PCV use |
| 29th December 2007 | Steve White | The sole surviving Greenslades RELH coach, UFJ229J, was recovered for preservation during Christmas week and is now safely stored in Exeter awaiting restoration |
| 28th December 2007 | Diamond M Ranch | Lodekkas continue to surface even in 2007 in all corners of the globe. The latest is former Hants & Dorset 1560 (KRU227F) which is in use (albeit static) on a ranch in Alaska |
| 24th December 2007 | Steve Simister | Flagfinders of Braintree have finally retired their last VR, XIL1254 (ex-XHK217X). It is currently for sale but must be off site by the end of January |
| 23rd December 2007 | Ross Newman | The two VRs sold by Travel Master to Ensign last month have now been sold on to Star Line Tours, the City Sightseeing franchise in Hollywood, California, U.S.A. They are VAH278X and SKL683X |
| 22nd December 2007 | Paul Brunton | One of only two roadworthy Standerwick VRL coaches anywhere in the World, OCK66K is out and about in Victoria, Australia this Christmas running Santa Specials. The other runner is LRN55J. |
| 20th December 2007 | Richard Glaister and Andy Barlow | HJB463W, withdrawn by Alpine back in February, has now been despatched to Wigley, Carlton for scrap |
| 19th December 2007 | Chris Stewart | The final VR with Cedric of Wivenhoe, former Maidstone & District 5881 (FKM881V) has recently been sold for scrap after suffering major mechanical failure during its last day in service in July |
| 17th December 2007 | James Ingram | United Auto LH6L AHN611M has been rescued for preservation by Neil Halliday, Shipley via James Ingram as dealer |
| 10th December 2007 | Mark Golding | Former Bristol Omnibus FLF6B 501OHU which previously ran for New York Double Deck Tours has turned up in Ohio with a private owner |
| 10th December 2007 | Rob Tyley and Maurice Bateman | Co-incidentally two Fife Scottish Lodekkas have turned up in very different parts of Europe. FS6G BXA462B is in Moscow having been exported in 2005, while FLF6G HXA413E is on the French Mediterranean coast, both in use as exhibition/advertising units. |
| 10th December 2007 | Andy Veitch | Another VR has made it into preservation - former Maidstone & District/Highland BKE832T was saved by Russell & Nigel Kirk and has now passed to Andy Veitch and Mark Plant |
| 6th December 2007 | Andy Richings | FDV837V left the UK on the noon Plymouth-Santander ferry on December 5th for a new life in Spain having been sold by Chepstow Classic Buses |
| 6th December 2007 | Gerry Tormey | Brijan Tours of Curdridge (formerly Bishops Waltham) have sold their two VRs - XJJ668V and BEP968V- as yet another long time Bristol finds themselves without the marque in their fleet |
| 6th December 2007 | Chris Lefort (BBANA) | The largest collection of flat front VRs anywhere have been retired from the Gray Line Vancouver tour which they have operated every year since 1992. It's not the end though, as they have all crossed to Gray Line Victoria for operation during 2008. |
| 3rd December 2007 | Bruce Henderson | Hants & Dorset FLF6L KRU237F is undergoing refurbishment at Vic Rabb's in Charlotte, NC in preparation for use by Hard Rock Cafe, Myrtle Beach, SC |
| 3rd December 2007 | Neil Markwick | Former City of Oxford 482 (OUD482T) was previously thought to have been scrapped, but is being used as a private static playbus on the premises of Horrocks of Brockton |
| 27th November 2007 | Graeme Wright | Graeme reports the continued existence of two Lodekkas in the USA - former Brighton, Hove & District LDS6B 8 (OPN808) is still in Virginia, whilst former Bristol Omnibus FLF6B C7294 (JHW62E) is in Florida |
| 26th November 2007 | Graham Jones | Wilts & Dorset 4422 (ELJ214V) has been transferred to sister fleet Damory Coaches as a result of the withdrawl of 5070 (GEL686V), the latter having sustained significant accident damage |
| 22nd November 2007 | Chris Stewart | Thanks to Chris there is a major update to the Lough Swilly RE page listing latest withdrawals and disposals |
| 22nd November 2007 | Martin | One of the very few remaining Leyland 501-engined VRs left in service was withdrawn at the end of October. It is GTX750W and was operated by M & E Coaches |
| 22nd November 2007 | DVLA website | Former Southern Vectis/Solent Blue Line SDL636J has not been reported since 1993, but has a current license and so is likely still to be in active use as a mobile home. Any sightings or photos would be most welcome |
| 21st November 2007 | Martin Gould | Sadly a buyer came too late for GHB146N and it has been cut up for scrap this week |
| 14th November 2007 | Colin Shears | Rare Plaxton-bodied LHL coach GNM235N has been sold for further preservation to Tony Mayle of Holsworthy, Devon |
| 14th November 2007 | James Griffiths | BMA524W has been sold by Silver Fox to Carl Ireland, Hull (dealer) |
| 13th November 2007 | Tim Weatherup | Former Guide Friday VR FWT956J is still plying its trade as a tour bus on the island of St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. It is of note as having carried City Sightseeing livery in 2004/5 - the only flat front VR to have done so |
| 13th November 2007 | Phil Logie | GHB146N has been listed for a second time on eBay - it looks like last chance saloon for this.....saloon |
| 11th November 2007 | Alan Walker | Former Clynnog & Trefor XJJ660V has been sold by Bristol Bus & Coach to Charter Entertainment, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. |
| 9th November 2007 | Mark Stokes | LDV467F has been sold to Talisman Coach Lines of Great Bromley as part of their heritage fleet |
| 8th November 2007 | Chris Platt | Former Northampton LHS 21 (KBD21V) has been on Orkney since the summer, smartly converted to a mobile home |
| 8th November 2007 | Rev Patrick Coleman | Midland General/Trent RELH6G ORC417N has been sold to Paul Smith, Tredegar for further preservation |
| 4th November 2007 | Allan Macfarlane | Ryan (City Tour) of Bath have sold their last VRs, AHW199V and UWV619S, to Munden, Bristol (dealer) and they are due to go to Spain this week |
| 3rd November 2007 | Sam Wickham (and others) | GHB146N is for sale on eBay and is in danger of being sold for scrap next week if a buyer doesn't come forward |
| 2nd November 2007 | Alan Thompson | LHG439T has been sold by Embling, Guyhirn to an owner in Bordeaux, France and is due to leave on Monday 5th November |
| 2nd November 2007 | Tim Weatherup | Former Western National FLF 2061 (BOD21C) has turned up in Indiana 29 years after the last reported sighting |
| 31st October 2007 | Neil Wise | Former Abbey Coaches RESL6L GHB146N is for sale on eBay, starting at £500 and is to be scrapped if no buyer is found by next week |
| 31st October 2007 | Neil Wise and Mark Harrington | Former United Auto LH 1600 (WHN600M) and Ribble VR 1448 (LHG448T) have been scrapped on site in recent weeks after many years deteriorating with Abbey Coaches in Middlesbrough |
| 28th October 2007 | Tim Weatherup | LEU263P, latterly the only bus on Alderney with Riduna Buses has been ferried across to Guernsey for proposed 2008 tour and excursion work with Universal Limos |
| 27th October 2007 | Ross Newman | Ensign (dealer) have acquired former Eastern Counties VR278 (VAH278X) from Travel Master in Kent |
| 26th October 2007 | Paul Bateson | Former Southern Vectis 613 (GDL768E) is at Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada |
| 22nd October 2007 | Robert Price | Chepstow Classic Buses has acquired former National Welsh Leyland 501-engined VRs BUH238V and GTX751W |
| 20th October 2007 | Paul Bateson (BBANA) | Paul has discovered former Crosville DFB53 (266SFM) at Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada in semi-derelict condition |
| 19th October 2007 | Mark Golding | Former Western National Lodekka 2113 (EDV525D) has been with LeRoy Watland in Wisconsin since 1998 |
| 12th October 2007 | Gary Cousins | Former Thames Valley Lodekka D32 (GRX132D) is operating in East Germany as a mobile bar and cafe |
| 12th October 2007 | Richard Glaister | WTG367T is now in service with Woolley, Newborough having been sold by Clynnog & Trefor |
| 12th October 2007 | Theo Vereecken | WJM820T is used as a promotional vehicle in Holland by KRAS Tours |
| 11th October 2007 | Marlene Thomsen | Former Western SMT LD6G GCS254 is alive and well and living in Denmark |
| 10th October 2007 | Melvyl Williams | AFJ749T sold by First Devon & Cornwall for preservation |
| 8th October 2007 | Terry Partridge | AFJ742T and JFJ500N sold for scrap after use for spares |
| 4th October 2007 | Dave de Carteret | Celebrity VR VDV117S has now turned up on Guernsey with Universal Limos of St Martins - planned use is currently unknown |
| 3rd October 2007 | Jake Bamford | Rare Leyland-engined VR FTU392T for sale - see Bristols for Purchase |
| 3rd October 2007 | Bus & Coach Preservation magazine - November 2007 issue | Rare former Cleveland Transit Northern Counties-bodied playbus RDC108R for sale - phone 01643 707190 |
| 3rd October 2007 | Bus & Coach Preservation magazine - November 2007 issue | Ex-Trent RELH6G ORC417N for sale at £1750 - phone 07967 990629 |
| 1st October 2007 | Gareth Blair | RLJ341H sold for further preservation, but then readvertised |
| 29th September 2007 | Michael Wootten, Trevor Shore | JWV272W sold to Shoreline Coaches |
| 29th September 2007 | Robert Price |
WTU490W sold for scrap VTH942T sold for further preservation BUH238V for sale GTX751W for sale |