Sussex Bus

[387star]

Was there once a company called Sussex Bus later a Stagecoach brand running around Chichester or am I imagining it ?

Also didn't Stagecoach in the South Downs used to be branded coastline?

 

[Nammer]

You are correct, there was an independent ‘Sussex Bus’ in and around Chichester, which was later purchased by Stagecoach. The livery was 3 red stripes ‘Stagecoach’ style. Also correct that Stagecoach depots at Portsmouth, Chichester and Worthing were Stagecoach - Coastline branded.

 

[387star]

You are correct, there was an independent ‘Sussex Bus’ in and around Chichester, which was later purchased by Stagecoach. The livery was 3 red stripes ‘Stagecoach’ style. Also correct that Stagecoach depots at Portsmouth, Chichester and Worthing were Stagecoach - Coastline branded.

Great thanks !! I remember the city legs brand as a kid

Do you know what bus model was used on the route 47 possibly also 48 during the 90s ? I remember a very noisy minibus that resulted in complaints and was then withdrawn

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Was there once a company called Sussex Bus later a Stagecoach brand running around Chichester or am I imagining it ?

Also didn't Stagecoach in the South Downs used to be branded coastline?

As @Nammer says, Sussex Bus was an independent that Stagecoach bought out - some photos here on this blog http://sebusscene.blogspot.com/2013/01/welcome-back-sussex-bus.html

Stagecoach bought Southdown in 1989 and after a purchase and then forced divestment of the Portsmouth Citybus operations, they then elected to re-order the Southdown business. I think it was probably about 1992 when they split Southdown so Havant, Worthing and Chichester became Coastline whereas Lewes and Eastbourne became South Coast Buses; I think Hastings was also part of SCB but retained Hasting Buses as a fleetname.

Not certain why they did it; a number of firms did that sort of thing to reduce union power, and it made sense as the old Southdown business had essentially pulled out of Horsham and Haywards Heath and with Brighton being B&H/BBT territory, they were effectively two separate empires linked by just a few services that met in Brighton.

 

[Beemax]

Seem to recall they ran a couple of Willowbrook re-bodied Bristol REs. Rare beasts..

 

[Nammer]

If I recall correctly they operated a couple of CVE Omni minibuses with huge mounted destination screens on the roof at the front, could it have been one of those?

 

[387star]

If I recall correctly they operated a couple of CVE Omni minibuses with huge mounted destination screens on the roof at the front, could it have been one of those?

Yes!! That's what I remember
They seemed modern enough and low down

 

[387star]

Also I notice for a short time not many years back stagecoach introduced some older looking double decker buses with very strange backs which had a recess ?
Also some shorter single drivers where the rubber window surrounds were often broken in the middle as if someone had bitten them allowing water in?
What's the best website for bus pictures and model types ?

 

[GusB]

Also I notice for a short time not many years back stagecoach introduced some older looking double decker buses with very strange backs which had a recess ?
Also some shorter single drivers where the rubber window surrounds were often broken in the middle as if someone had bitten them allowing water in?
What's the best website for bus pictures and model types ?

I'm not sure quite what you mean by "recess", but I'm guessing it may have been either a Leyland Atlantean or Fleetline, both of which had the engine in a separate "bustle". Could it have been a former Portsmouth Atlantean, perchance?

Google Image Result for http://thebuscollectionatalford.co.uk/assets/Bus-Collection-Images/f5f9ffac26/1973-NRG-154M-19760500-ss1256-ae-edited-002.jpg

images.app.goo.gl

The link above takes you to an image of a Grampian Transport Atlantean, but they had the same bodies and this one shows the "recess" better.

 

[387star]

I'm not sure quite what you mean by "recess", but I'm guessing it may have been either a Leyland Atlantean or Fleetline, both of which had the engine in a separate "bustle". Could it have been a former Portsmouth Atlantean, perchance?

Google Image Result for http://thebuscollectionatalford.co.uk/assets/Bus-Collection-Images/f5f9ffac26/1973-NRG-154M-19760500-ss1256-ae-edited-002.jpg

images.app.goo.gl

The link above takes you to an image of a Grampian Transport Atlantean, but they had the same bodies and this one shows the "recess" better.

Not sure they were this old.

I remember the Volvo stagecoach single deckers well. Some had bench seats some had two by two seating. They were used on the route 60 which I think used to go as far as Guildford from Bognor but now stops at Midhurst. They were very comfortable but we're replaced later on in the noughties for a time by a shorter version with a big step up towards the back if the bus and a further step to sit over the rear wheels. The rubber window surrounds were often damaged . Sorry I can't be more specific.

 

[387star]

Edit... re the double decker I think it was a Leyland Titan with the cut out 'box' on the back

 

[Nammer]

Probably the double decks you’re thinking of were the ex London Leyland Titans? As for the single deckers I can’t really think what they could be!

 

[carlberry]

What's the best website for bus pictures and model types ?

If you've got a registration number then Bus lists on the web will tell you what the model is. Wikipedia or Google will link to general information (Google something like bus manufacturers of the united kingdom for instance).

More generally Flickr is useful as you can search for something like 'sussex bus company' and find relevant photos (unfortunately because it's a fairly generic term you'll get loads of related stuff and the majority of pictures are recent (last 10 years) however you will find older ones such as : https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelwadman/50235436896/

 

[387star]

If you've got a registration number then Bus lists on the web will tell you what the model is. Wikipedia or Google will link to general information (Google something like bus manufacturers of the united kingdom for instance).

More generally Flickr is useful as you can search for something like 'sussex bus company' and find relevant photos (unfortunately because it's a fairly generic term you'll get loads of related stuff and the majority of pictures are recent (last 10 years) however you will find older ones such as : https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelwadman/50235436896/

Thanks I get confused because unlike trains there are often fi

Probably the double decks you’re thinking of were the ex London Leyland Titans? As for the single deckers I can’t really think what they could be!

Thanks I wonder what brought the Leyland double decker to Chichester even though it was a short time unless they were mostly training vehicles

It eems there is a clear distinction between body and chassis manufacturer for buses which confused me at first

The single deckers in Chichester had many steps up and more stepped areas at the back.

 

[Nammer]

The only ones I can think of are the Volvo B10Ms, some had Alexander PS bodies, and possibly the ones you’re thinking of could be the Northern Counties Paladin ones?

 

[33011]

I worked at Stagecoach at Chichester when Sussex Bus was taken over. I seem to recall three willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopards one or two Iveco minibuses two Omni's and two Leyland Nationals. I can't remember the exact amount of vehicles taken over but that's pretty close

The only ones I can think of are the Volvo B10Ms, some had Alexander PS bodies, and possibly the ones you’re thinking of could be the Northern Counties Paladin ones?

I seem to remember the Stagecoach 3 red stripes Sussex Bus livery on the Northern Counties B10Ms. I think Sussex Bus also had some Plaxton bodied Dennis Javelins in that livery

 

[387star]

The only ones I can think of are the Volvo B10Ms, some had Alexander PS bodies, and possibly the ones you’re thinking of could be the Northern Counties Paladin ones?

Yes the paladin looks spot on! Can you confirm these were in Chichester for a while ? They were pretty tatty although an upgrade on the disastrous minimises Stagecoach attempted to run on Sundays on the route 60 for a short time !!

 

[Nammer]

Yes Chichester did have an allocation of the Volvo- Paladins. I also recall some were in Sussex Bus version of Stagecoach stripes.

 

[387star]

These were my favourite single deckers
Always found them very comfortable
The Paladins seemed to replace these for a while

 

[GusB]

Could I remind everyone that any images posted should be accompanied by a caption describing the image. Please avoid posting screenshots such as the one above, but post the individual image. Finally, remember to ensure that you have permission to use someone else's work and credit the photographer. Thanks