NBC companies with own livery before deregulation

[nw1]

The "resurrected bus company names" thread prompted this question, in particular the mention of South Midland.

It seems that a number of NBC companies rebranded with their own livery and font one to two years before deregulation, but wondering how many did this?

I remember the following:

South Midland. I saw one VR late in December 1984 at Woodstock operated by South Midland, and with a maroon (?) livery and non-NBC font, also no double arrow. At the time I was puzzled because in my area all the companies (Alder Valley, Southdown and London Country) all used standard NBC livery right up to deregulation. Maybe I thought they were an independent, but maybe not as VRs usually meant NBC, at least at this time.

Badgerline. Bristol Omnibus radically rebranded as Badgerline in mid-1985 I believe, with the well-known yellow and green livery, some 18 months before deregulation. I first noticed Badgerline buses on a trip to Bristol in September 1985 (the GWR 150 event, which was also my first trip on an HST) and I could tell they were an NBC company despite the livery because they seemed to completely dominate the out-of-city services.

Go-Ahead Northern. Only found this one out yesterday but the Go-Ahead brand, and slightly different lettering to NBC, was present by late 1984. (Incidentally what are Go-Ahead services in Tyne and Wear called nowadays? "Go-Ahead Northern" still? Plain "Go-Ahead"? Or, in a reverse of the 1984 situation, "Northern" as the brand and Go-Ahead as the holding company?)

Chaserider. A brand name for the Midland Red services in the Stafford area, was established by August 1984. The buses were still standard NBC red but featured "CHASERIDER" branding in a different font to NBC. Midland Red still existed at this time but the name was not present on most buses, though I do remember seeing an older VR around the evening peak in Stafford showing only "MIDLAND RED" and no "CHASERIDER" so I guess they didn't bother rebranding that one.

Any more? Particularly interested to hear what the earliest rebrandings were, and particularly interested in pre-1986 rebrandings as I understand quite a few happened in the months immediately before deregulation. (I'm not talking about local sub-brands like Alder Valley Downsman, but complete rebrandings with the original NBC name and/or livery not present on the vehicle at all).

 

[WibbleWobble]

Chaserider was introduced by Midland Red as a local name for services around Cannock, as part of a wider scheme called the "Viable Network Project" (later called the "Market Analysis Project").

Other parts of Midland Red were given local brand names like Hotspur in Shrewsbury and Reddibus in Redditch, whilst others just saw the town or city name used instead.

As MAP was rolled out more widely, local names were introduced within other NBC companies. I'm not sure if these survived the break-ups of the NBC companies into smaller units, I have a suspicion they generally weren't, but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. It was the break-ups that spawned Badgerline, Wilts & Dorset mark II and North Western mk II.

As for what Go Ahead Northern is called nowadays, that's Go North East.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Most NBC subsidiaries had moved away from standard liveries by d-day/privatisation. Ones that hadn't included:

• Ribble - however, poppy red was then embellished with the grey and yellow to create a new scheme
• Wilts and Dorset
• Southern National/North Devon - most of the fleet was being replaced by minibuses that had new bespoke schemes though
• Midland Red South - the poppy red was (similar to Ribble) embellished
• Cheltenham and Gloucester - however, Gloucester had blue livery from formation in 1983
• Maidstone and District
• London Country - the green livery had white band replaced by light green
• Yorkshire Traction - retained poppy red (I think) as the basis of their "traditional" image

Of course, some NBC firms were only formed about 7/8 weeks before d-day so only a few vehicles were repainted into Crosville Wales, North Western etc. And some firms were very slow to repaint vehicles, like National Welsh, so NBC livery lingered for many years.

As for Midland Red, the local MAP IDs mentioned by @WibbleWobble, they quickly disappeared with Midland Fox replacing the Midland Red (East) ones (like Lancer). Only Midland Red (North) persevered with Chaserider, Tellus, Hotspur and Mercian - in fact, they had a shortlived spell where Midland Red was dropped altogether and just the local name used post dereg. However, under Drawlane ownership, they used both that and Midland Red jointly, even expanding it with Oswestry becoming Cambrian-Midland Red.

 

[jammy36]

Western National made use of the Cornish Fairways fleetname on vehicles in Cornwall from (I think) 1981. As shown, this Flickr photo illustrates how the fleetnames were used on standard NBC livery:

Cornish Fairways

Western National 800 and 808 at Helston Garage, Cornwall on a beautiful late Summer's day on 13th September 1982. These buses were some of the many ex DMS Fleetlines that found further use after their days with London Transport. Some of these buses were later cascaded to Midland Red North in...

www.flickr.com

A little later came the Hoppa buses introduced in a bold white with blue, yellow and red stripes liver which came in 1984. The "Captain Birdseye" livery (so nicknamed as it resembled the colours used on fish finger boxes of said brand) used the double N logo in its design. You can see here in this Transport Library photo that "Cornwall Busways" (rather than Cornish Fairways) was now being used as the fleetname:

https://thetransportlibrary.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71768&search=pithiviers+&category_id=308&page=10

 

[Man of Kent]

Most NBC subsidiaries had moved away from standard liveries by d-day/privatisation. Ones that hadn't included:

• Ribble - however, poppy red was then embellished with the grey and yellow to create a new scheme
• Wilts and Dorset
• Southern National/North Devon - most of the fleet was being replaced by minibuses that had new bespoke schemes though
• Midland Red South - the poppy red was (similar to Ribble) embellished
• Cheltenham and Gloucester - however, Gloucester had blue livery from formation in 1983
• Maidstone and District
• London Country - the green livery had white band replaced by light green
• Yorkshire Traction - retained poppy red (I think) as the basis of their "traditional" image

Of course, some NBC firms were only formed about 7/8 weeks before d-day so only a few vehicles were repainted into Crosville Wales, North Western etc. And some firms were very slow to repaint vehicles, like National Welsh, so NBC livery lingered for many years.

As for Midland Red, the local MAP IDs mentioned by @WibbleWobble, they quickly disappeared with Midland Fox replacing the Midland Red (East) ones (like Lancer). Only Midland Red (North) persevered with Chaserider, Tellus, Hotspur and Mercian - in fact, they had a shortlived spell where Midland Red was dropped altogether and just the local name used post dereg. However, under Drawlane ownership, they used both that and Midland Red jointly, even expanding it with Oswestry becoming Cambrian-Midland Red.

And on the livery front, you can add United (how did you overlook that, TGW?) - more white.

I don't think Midland Red North was ever used as a fleetname - they went straight over to the local identities when the company was split, several years before dereg. Midland Red East had abandoned NBC red for a darker (unrelieved) shade (with no local names) for a couple of years or so before it went over to Midland Fox.

 

[TheSel]

Crosville had several variations of dual purpose liveries for five years or so prior to deregulation. It all started with a pair of new Duple bodied Leyland Leopards (ELL502/3 - OMA502/3V) in 'Town Lynx' livery - white and two shades of green with a big 'leaping cat' on the side. An internet search using the search engine of your choice will find pictures of these.

Then, over the years, there were a few variations (with a much smaller moggy!), until eventually the Town Lynx brand name was added to what was to all intents and purposes the NBC standard 'Venetian blind' dual purpose livery.

Here are a couple of examples from my own collection that I've previously scanned, so happen to have copies handily available.

ERL307 in early Town Lynx livery.


ERL298 in the later 'Venetian Blind' corporate style, with Town Lynx names applied.


They also had a Dodge minibus in non-corporate style dark green / white, and a Reeve Burgess bodied Bedford and a pair of Ford Transits in red and white (although not all simultaneously).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

And on the livery front, you can add United (how did you overlook that, TGW?) - more white.

I don't think Midland Red North was ever used as a fleetname - they went straight over to the local identities when the company was split, several years before dereg. Midland Red East had abandoned NBC red for a darker (unrelieved) shade (with no local names) for a couple of years or so before it went over to Midland Fox.

United moved from poppy red to a slightly brighter shade and white lower deck window surrounds/waist rail - introduced mid 1985. The white window surrounds was trialled on one of the 1984 Olympians but with poppy red; the brighter red was a development from that.

You’re right about Midland Red (North) - wasn’t a fleetname but the shortlived white livery had MRN and the local name.

 

[GusB]

Not being overly familiar with National Bus Company subsidiaries, the only one that really springs to mind is Cumberland, and that's simply because a few of their vehicles were subject to the "overnight" flit to Inverness in order to do battle with Highland Scottish.

When did Cumberland introduce their red/cream livery with CMS (and Carlislebus) on some buses?

 

[nw1]

Most NBC subsidiaries had moved away from standard liveries by d-day/privatisation. Ones that hadn't included:

• Ribble - however, poppy red was then embellished with the grey and yellow to create a new scheme
• Wilts and Dorset
• Southern National/North Devon - most of the fleet was being replaced by minibuses that had new bespoke schemes though
• Midland Red South - the poppy red was (similar to Ribble) embellished
• Cheltenham and Gloucester - however, Gloucester had blue livery from formation in 1983
• Maidstone and District
• London Country - the green livery had white band replaced by light green
• Yorkshire Traction - retained poppy red (I think) as the basis of their "traditional" image

Alder Valley (ex A&D area) were using standard NBC right up to deregulation though they renamed to "Alder Valley South". Fairly sure Southdown were the same too, though not 100% sure.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Alder Valley (ex A&D area) were using standard NBC right up to deregulation though they renamed to "Alder Valley South". Fairly sure Southdown were the same too, though not 100% sure.

Southdown adopted the apple green and cream in advance of deregulation - this shot from Alan Snatt on Flickr shows https://www.flickr.com/photos/12808...jSeNH-2k2wCfV-2nhfLoH-2k8zFfb-2knRDmj-2nnJU3B

Bucks Berks (Beeline aka Alder Valley North) already had yellow by dereg but only on a handful of vehicles. Looks like AV South's very pleasant livery appeared on d-day - photo by Steve Guess

Slide 114-16

Woking Wednesday 29 October 1986 Copyright Steve Guess MMXVIII

www.flickr.com

However, given the lateness of the split, the need to come up with new identities meant few were done for d-day and NBC colours did linger.

Earlier comment about United also led me to this photo from May 1986, courtesy of the late Mark Harrington. The caption also relates that whilst United applied the new livery (from 1985), but that it was applied slightly differently in the Jesmond paintshop with no waistrail on single decks

United 1588 Darlington 12 May 1986

A surprise reallocation from Wooler to Bishop Auckland in 1986. This may well have been the only LH to run south of the Tyne with the waistrail painted red, a trademark of the Jesmond paintshop

www.flickr.com

 

[DaventryRabbit]

United Counties applied Orange, Yellow and Beige Stripes to the NBC Green for a time before purchase by Stagecoach. Also a slightly revised UC Fleet Name.
It hung around for a while after Privatisation

 

[A0]

United Counties applied Orange, Yellow and Beige Stripes to the NBC Green for a time before purchase by Stagecoach. Also a slightly revised UC Fleet Name.
It hung around for a while after Privatisation

Not sure whether UCOC had the 'stripes' before privatisation.

And to look at the OP's original post - United Counties was split in 1986 into Luton & District, MK City Bus and United Counties as part of the preparation for privatisation.

One which I think *does* meet the OP's question is Cambus. Formed by the split of Eastern Counties in 1984, its livery was always 'non standard' by NBC standards -

originally an all over pale blue with Cambus fleet names not in the NBC font as seen here (not my pics so copyright acknowledged)

Vintage day in Peterborough

Some pictures taken by the late Michael Cleary. Not a 'running day' as such - but it seems that the recently privatised Cambus had brought in a selection of PSV registered vintage buses to operate local routes. Summer 1988.

flickr.com

they then broke it up with dark blue like this

Cambus 121 HPW 518L

Explore Cheers Drive!'s 879 photos on Flickr!

flickr.com

The only vehicles which even vaguely met the NBC standard was the 'venetian blinds' livery used on some coaches e.g.

Cambus Willowbrook Leopard.

Leopard OEX 798W is first away from the junction, maybe aided by the lighter construction of it's bodywork over and above that of the Wilby's Duple Dominant example on the right. Willowbrook's 003 was a classic example of something built to a budget, being flimsy and badly finished then becoming...

flickr.com

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not sure whether UCOC had the 'stripes' before privatisation.

And to look at the OP's original post - United Counties was split in 1986 into Luton & District, MK City Bus and United Counties as part of the preparation for privatisation.

One which I think *does* meet the OP's question is Cambus. Formed by the split of Eastern Counties in 1984, its livery was always 'non standard' by NBC standards -

originally an all over pale blue with Cambus fleet names not in the NBC font as seen here (not my pics so copyright acknowledged)

Vintage day in Peterborough

Some pictures taken by the late Michael Cleary. Not a 'running day' as such - but it seems that the recently privatised Cambus had brought in a selection of PSV registered vintage buses to operate local routes. Summer 1988.

flickr.com

they then broke it up with dark blue like this

Cambus 121 HPW 518L

Explore Cheers Drive!'s 879 photos on Flickr!

flickr.com

The only vehicles which even vaguely met the NBC standard was the 'venetian blinds' livery used on some coaches e.g.

Cambus Willowbrook Leopard.

Leopard OEX 798W is first away from the junction, maybe aided by the lighter construction of it's bodywork over and above that of the Wilby's Duple Dominant example on the right. Willowbrook's 003 was a classic example of something built to a budget, being flimsy and badly finished then becoming...

flickr.com

United Counties did have the stripes before deregulation - Ben Wesley provides this

United Counties Bristol VR (846) ONH 846P

United Counties Bristol VR (846) ONH 846P is seen leaving Kettering Newland Street turning onto what now is the bus stops in the Eskdaill Street terminus on service 53 to Rushden (August 1986)

www.flickr.com

However, this other August 1986 is perhaps more typical

United Counties 911

United Counties 911 FRP911T Bristol VR; ECW New to United Counties, April 1979 Wellingborough, Church Street 47: Northampton (Greyfriars) - Rushden (Short Stocks) 12 August 1986

www.flickr.com

Note how the white waistrail was painted green (and the NBC era fleetname on the site was obliterated)

Mega Anorak also shows the awful Milton Keynes scheme. As was said at the time, best suited to 1950s fridges

Milton Keynes Citybus: URP942W in Milton Keynes Central

1981 Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB ECW H43/31F Original United Counties No. 942 The new official livery, presumably not designed by Ray Stenning.

www.flickr.com

 

[Typhoon]

As for Midland Red, the local MAP IDs mentioned by @WibbleWobble, they quickly disappeared with Midland Fox replacing the Midland Red (East) ones (like Lancer).

I thought the Midland Fox livery particularly effective, bright yellow at the front and red with the stylised fox in motion on the side. Worked well because of the significant number of double deckers in the fleet.

 

[A0]

Mega Anorak also shows the awful Milton Keynes scheme. As was said at the time, best suited to 1950s fridges

Milton Keynes Citybus: URP942W in Milton Keynes Central

1981 Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB ECW H43/31F Original United Counties No. 942 The new official livery, presumably not designed by Ray Stenning.

www.flickr.com

I thought Citybus initially just did white relief to UC green like this

3798. JRP 798L: Milton Keynes Citybus

Explore chucklebuster's 19966 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Before settling on the horrid, insipid grey livery which blended in rather well to most buildings in MK. Example

Milton Keynes Citybus KNV505P

Leyland National KNV 505P of Milton Keynes Citybus is seen here passing through the City Centre en-route to Newton Longville in the mid-1980's. The picture displays well the insipid grey and beige livery adopted by the new company after it split from United Counties. The vehicle seen here later...

www.flickr.com

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I believe Hampshire Bus, spun out of the giant Hants & Dorset, had their own red, white and blue scheme on the road pre-dereg. While not terribly innovative it was a definite change from the traditional look of their former parent.