Think I've seen photos of Midland Red VRs
Technically all VRs were Highbridge, some were built to a lower height but a lowbridge bus had a sunken gangway upstairs
Midland Red did not have any VRs delivered new.
There were a number of Willowbrook bodied VRs ordered and operated by Northern General and East Kent. They were rubbish but ordered a) because ECW had production delays in the 1970s and b) Willowbrook was based in Loughborough which was a key marginal for the 1979 election! I travelled on a number of the Northern ones.
Crosville also ended up with some secondhand East Lancs bodied VRs from South Yorkshire.
As did Maidstone & District.
Forgot about those... IIRC, one of the M&D ones was remarkably long lived, surviving to Stagecoach days with Hastings and District and now preserved.
I'm fairly certain that Percy Main had VRs at some point - I've got this one recorded on a trip on the 303 in 1990, and Stephen Day has it pictured here https://www.flickr.com/photos/tcd481j/41097373421/in/photolist-25BCMiP
Berwick had VRs. They sometimes ran on the 463 to Kelso where the bus station had insufficient clearance so had to terminate and depart from outside.
Ah yes of course. They replaced AEC Regent Vs I think?
Berwick typically had 4 VRs and they worked most things other than the main 5** routes south.
The fitting of 0680s arose as I recall from there being a shortage of 6LXBs when NBC went on its 1980-81 purchasing spree of late build VRs, at the same time as London was buying Metrobuses and Titans.
Ribble had some Leyland engined ones which were initially used on the 140 Lancaster-Preston service and were exceedingly quick. Notable for their screaming turbocharger. I can remember one night at Lancaster bus station a Lonsdale driver claiming/complaining he'd being doing 70 in his coach up the A6, and one of these VRs was accelerating away from him. (The background was that Lonsdale's 100 service from Burnley/Blackburn/Preston, Ribble's 140 from Preston and 142 from Blackpool were all scheduled to arrive at Lancaster around midnight and often used to indulge in unofficial "races" up the A6.)
I think the use of 0501s was because of production shortages - Gardner had a large amount of industrial unrest and disputes in the mid 1970s.
Royal Blue was just a brand under NBC control
Also a pair for AERE Harwell.
I concur... I was at uni in Aber from 91 to 95 and definitely went on one or both of these on a number of occasions. They had high back seats hence the E for express. Was a great time to be there... VRs, Leopards and Nationals.
