Trivia: Rare and unusual bus and coach types

[GusB]

I was going to suggest the Plaxton 4000 coach until I realised how many were used in the UK . [Any survivors??].

I thought you might be onto something there until I actually looked it up and saw how many were actually built!

6 mk1 on Neoplan chassis:

Bus Lists on the Web

www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk

70 mk2 on Neoplan, DAF and Scania chassis:

Bus Lists on the Web

www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk

23 4000RS on Volvo B10MT chassis:

Bus Lists on the Web

www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk

I've only ever seen one of these "in the flesh" and that was B924BGA, a Volvo B10MT. At the time it was owned by Bruce's Coaches, Airdrie and had at one point been the sole coach owned by Scottish Citylink. I travelled on it once from Aberdeen to Edinburgh (via Fife) and it would eventually end up in London. It would have been around 8 years old at the time, but it had clearly seen better days.

***************

A few more oddballs:

Volvo B10MT with Finnish-built Ajokki bodywork:

YSU 914: Anderson, Horsforth (originally B692 RAD)

Anderson's YSU 914 is a tri-axle Volvo B10M-53 with rare (in the UK) Delta Plan coachwork. It was new to Castleways, Winchcombe in 1985 registered B692 RAD and has had a number of subsequent owners including Just Travel, Acaster Malbis and Fields (Terry's), Doncaster where it was registered DJI...

www.flickr.com

Volvo B10M with van Rooijen bodywork:

24233 B270 NPM Safford

Dover 17-08-1985. Safford B270 NPM is a Volvo B10M-61 with body number 1004.

www.flickr.com

Striking, but... well, make up your own minds!

Volvo B10M with Padane ZX bodywork:

Dodds (Coahes) Ltd, Troon, Citylink liveried WSV 532 (ex A… | Flickr

www.flickr.com

ADV142-6/157/159Y - new to Trathens. Of the 7 listed on Buslistsontheweb, 6 ended up with Dodd's, Troon (1989 Scottish Bus Handbook) - where did the other one go? I'd be interested to know if any of these survived.

Wright Contour:
This isn't as rare as I first though (37 built), with the majority being built on Bedford chassis, but there were a few rarities - 7 on Leyland Tiger chassis, a single Ford R1115, one ACE Puma and one Volvo B10M.

Oops! | Flickr

www.flickr.com

 

[A0wen]

I don't think anyone's mentioned the East Lancs coach body where fewer than 10 were built, 2 for Halton snd 2 for Hyndburn. The styling was, interesting.... (not my picture)

Halton JFR294N Leyland Leopard East Lancs coach

This is scanned from an old 110 picture which were never very good but I have included it as East Lancs only built about four coach bodies, two on Leyland Leopards for Halton and a couple on Sedden RU chassis for Hyndburn. The Halton pair were later rebodied with standard bus bodies. All...

www.flickr.com

 

[Whisky Papa]

Although I recall Southern Vectis also had a few, another small batch from the Devon General / Western National stable - the 'Mousehole-spec' Marshall B33F Bristol LHS6L. They had two batches of six, 88-93 (VOD 88-93K) were nominally red Devon General vehicles and 1250-5 (VOD 120-5 K) were green WNOC vehicles. The latter batch were mostly used on Penzance - Mousehole routes 508/9, shared with Blue Bus who had a similar (but later) vehicle, PCV 178 R (pictured at Penzance in 1979 below).

The only Devon General route I discovered that required such a short vehicle was the Paignton - Greenway service (119?) which backed into this hole in the retaining wall at Greenway:https://maps.app.goo.gl/3XbHjqx2YB8n7a4V6

By 1980, 92 had escaped to north Devon, and was based at Bideford in WNOC leaf green. It is in Kingscott near Torrington on a Tuesday and Saturday only extension of the 317. Again, apologies for photo quality.

 

[01d-and]

There is a photo on Flickr of ADV145Y showing that it got rebodied as a bus by MCCI in Macedonia . . . . . .

 

[jammy36]

As @Whisky Papa has taken us to Cornwall how about a real rarity the Rowe Hillmaster, built in East Cornwall in the 1950s by M.G Rowe (Motors) Ltd of Dobwalls. Five PSVs (plus an unregistered prototype) were produced. The first a Whitson bodied 38-seat coach was operated by Rowe's own coaching operation. The next four were buses: one with a 44-seat body by Reading of Portsmouth (a lesser known coachbuilder in its own right) for the delightfully named Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company; and then three for Morlais Motor Services of Merthyr Tydfil which had rather austere 44-seat bodies by Metal Sections (even these weren't standard as the two delivered in 1957 had very differed bodies to the 1958 delivery). The Rowe Hillmaster was notably more successful in goods format with a further 115 chassis produced.

Millbrook Steamboat WRL16

Standing at the Cremyll Ferry terminus, Cornwall, April 1966 is Reading bodied Rowe Hillmaster.

flic.kr

 

[SSmith2009]

First Northampton WSU481 was originally a Volvo Citybus but a severe accident meant it was rebodied to a East Lancs Pyoneer.

First Northampton WSU 481 122 (WSU 481, ex K122 URP) Volvo B10M Citybus/East Lancs Pyoneer H47/31F rebody First Northampton Northampton, September 1998 122 was badly damaged by a serious accident in 1997, but the decision was made to have it rebodied. The remains of the original Alexander body were stripped off and the... www.flickr.com

 

[A0wen]

In the 1970s there were 9 UTIC vehicles imported from Portugal - these vehocles used AEC running gear

Picture here> https://showbus.com/picture/8320.htm

 

[DunsBus]

First Northampton WSU481 was originally a Volvo Citybus but a severe accident meant it was rebodied to a East Lancs Pyoneer.

First Northampton WSU 481 122 (WSU 481, ex K122 URP) Volvo B10M Citybus/East Lancs Pyoneer H47/31F rebody First Northampton Northampton, September 1998 122 was badly damaged by a serious accident in 1997, but the decision was made to have it rebodied. The remains of the original Alexander body were stripped off and the... www.flickr.com

It was still a Volvo Citybus after the accident. The original body was an Alexander R-type.

 

[GusB]

First Northampton WSU481 was originally a Volvo Citybus but a severe accident meant it was rebodied to a East Lancs Pyoneer.

First Northampton WSU 481 122 (WSU 481, ex K122 URP) Volvo B10M Citybus/East Lancs Pyoneer H47/31F rebody First Northampton Northampton, September 1998 122 was badly damaged by a serious accident in 1997, but the decision was made to have it rebodied. The remains of the original Alexander body were stripped off and the... www.flickr.com

We're only counting body/chassis combinations that were rare as built, so re-bodied examples don't count, I'm afraid.

 

[MotCO]

One example I don't think has been mentioned so far are the short wheelbase Citaro K's operated by Epsom Buses, and one demonstrated with Metrobus alongside their normal length Citaros on route 358. I think only 10 were sold - BU13 ZVE, and BV66GXY-Z, and BV66GYA-G.

358 Ciaro K 6 August 2018

Citaro K BU13ZVE on loan to Metrobus on route 358 at Green Street Green on 6 August 2018

www.flickr.com

 

[A0wen]

Whilst the notorious Willowbrook 003 wasn't uncommon as a body, most of the chassis underneath were Leopards, but there were some exceptions. There were 4 Bedford YMTs - 3 for Southern Vectis, 1 for Excelsior of Dinnington and 1 Seddon Pennine 7 for Johnson of Oldham. Given the weaknesses of the body it is highly unlikely any survive....

 

[DunsBus]

Whilst the notorious Willowbrook 003 wasn't uncommon as a body, most of the chassis underneath were Leopards, but there were some exceptions. There were 4 Bedford YMTs - 3 for Southern Vectis, 1 for Excelsior of Dinnington and 1 Seddon Pennine 7 for Johnson of Oldham. Given the weaknesses of the body it is highly unlikely any survive....

I believe the Seddon still survives, in undercover storage somewhere in Wales. A notable vehicle, being one of only two Pennine 7s which didn't have either Alexander or Plaxton bodies, as mentioned up thread. It also had/has the last Seddon Pennine 7 chassis built and the last Willowbrook 003 body built.

 

[Kilmarnocklad]

Hi. Has anybody mentioned CBU636J which was an AEC Sabre with and ECW coach body. After being a demonstrator, it went on to see use with Kemps of Thanet. As far as I know only four examples were sold.

 

[MotCO]

One example I don't think has been mentioned so far are the short wheelbase Citaro K's operated by Epsom Buses, and one demonstrated with Metrobus alongside their normal length Citaros on route 358. I think only 10 were sold - BU13 ZVE, and BV66GXY-Z, and BV66GYA-G.

358 Ciaro K 6 August 2018

Citaro K BU13ZVE on loan to Metrobus on route 358 at Green Street Green on 6 August 2018

www.flickr.com

The other long buses made short were the 10.9m short wheelbase Omnicities for Metrobus at Crawley YN08DFJ etc nos. 624 - 633.

Metrobus 6624 YN08DFJ Court Lodge Horley 29th August 2015 E1597

Explore Dave Heath. London & Provincial Bus Photos' 23510 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Alex 2901]

An 11th also exists - BV14 TZY, which is with Yarrantons Brothers of Eardiston, in Worcestershire. Formerly a demonstrator, until it was acquired by them in 2020 for the 291 that they took on at the time.

Yarrantons - BV14 TZY

Kidderminster Bus Station - the short "10.5m Citaro K, originally an Evobus demonstrator - acquired in winter 2019/20. Fifty years ago Kiddy & Tenbury were linked 6 times a day by Midland Red X19 & 291. Today Yarrantons provide 5 journeys e/way.

flic.kr

In terms of unusual combinations of body and chassis, the MCV Evolution 2 had its fair share of oddballs in the 2010s:

VDL SB200

As far as I can tell, only a single SB200 was built with Evolution 2 bodywork; YJ14 CCV, which appears to have been intended as a demonstrator for Arriva Bus & Coach in 2012, but was sold to Richards Bros. in 2014 for their TrawsCymru services.

On display at Euro Bus Expo 2012:

VDL SB200 MCV Evolution Euro Bus Expo 2012.2

Explore routemaster2217's 48868 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

At Richards Bros:

Richard Bros VDL SB200 YJ14CCV

A trip to West Wales recently enabled me to photograph three of the Traws Cymru long distance routes which connect Wales. Here we see a Richard Bros MCV Evolution bodied VDL SB200 working route T5 which stretches from Haverfordwest in the south west to Aberystwyth in mid Wales. Like many...

flic.kr

Mercedes Benz OC 500LE

Only ten OC 500LEs were built for the UK around 2010-2011, all of which had MCV Evolution 2 bodywork.

The largest operators of the type were Perrymans on the Scottish border (3 acquired) and Carousel Buses in High Wycombe (also with 3 acquired), whilst the other operators of the type were initially Travel deCourcey in Coventry (2 acquired in 2012), Somerbus in Paulton (1 acquired) and Sargeants in Kington (1 acquired.)

Of the ten built, nine remain in service (AE11 BDF, the ex-Somerbus example was destroyed in a fire at Abus's depot in 2018)

AE11 BDF when operating for Abus, Bristol in 2017:

AE11BDF ABus , Bristol

Mercedes Benz OC500LE / MCV Evolution B44F , new to Somerbus, Paulton in June 2011. It was initially the only OC500LE / MCV in the UK , having been an unregistered demonstrator / show vehicle in a dark blue livery in 2010. Only 10 more production models were imported. It was purchased for...

flic.kr

AE12 AZF when operating for Travel deCourcey as their 573 back in 2015:

573 (AE12 AZF)

flic.kr

 

[MotCO]

Not sure if the Neoplan low floor bus has been mentioned before. The N4016 was one of the first low floor buses in the country.

Tanat Valley L408 TKB (258)

This Neoplan N4016 is seen in Shrewsbury Bus Park. The Neoplan N4016 was the first low floor bus type sold in the UK. L408TKB was one of a few operated by Tanat Valley.

www.flickr.com

There was also a N4009 short wheelbase version

M303YBG Merseytravel 7303

Auwerter Neoplan N4009 in Liverpool city centre Merseyside June 1997.

www.flickr.com

There was also the CVE Omni, I think powered by a Land Rover engine

1990_TW_unreg_C07904

TW Care Services (YTW) Unreg. CVE Omni / CVE M?? -/90 National Garden Festival, Gateshead 15/08/1990

www.flickr.com

The Optare Alero also only sold in penny numbers. It desered to do better, but was let down by reliability issues.

Alero

This Optare Alero was donated to the Papplewick trust in 2006 by Optare and is used to transport visitors between the main site and the Victorian reservoir ½ mile away. The bus, chassis number 210205 was one of a small number of prototypes built during 1999 and was used to launch the Alero...

www.flickr.com

 

[Grahamk748]

According to BusListsOn TheWeb there were 454 CVE/OBC/OCC Omnis built by the 3 incarnations of the company, most seemed to be non PSV/welfare buses and the Alero had 329 examples again probably mostly non PSV

 

[stadler]

One example I don't think has been mentioned so far are the short wheelbase Citaro K's operated by Epsom Buses, and one demonstrated with Metrobus alongside their normal length Citaros on route 358. I think only 10 were sold - BU13 ZVE, and BV66GXY-Z, and BV66GYA-G.

358 Ciaro K 6 August 2018

Citaro K BU13ZVE on loan to Metrobus on route 358 at Green Street Green on 6 August 2018

www.flickr.com

There has actually been 20 of the Citaro K buses built for the UK. 3 demonstrators. 8 for Bus Vannin. 9 for RATP London. But still very little compared to other models.

 

[MotCO]

According to BusListsOn TheWeb there were 454 CVE/OBC/OCC Omnis built by the 3 incarnations of the company, most seemed to be non PSV/welfare buses and the Alero had 329 examples again probably mostly non PSV

There were more of these than I thought! I think I've only seen one Alero 'in the flesh' and no CVEs.

 

[01d-and]

Whilst the notorious Willowbrook 003 wasn't uncommon as a body, most of the chassis underneath were Leopards, but there were some exceptions. . . . . . and 1 Seddon Pennine 7 for Johnson of Oldham. Given the weaknesses of the body it is highly unlikely any survive....

How is it I can not remember the four items I have gone to the supermarket for but on reading about the Seddon with Johnson my brain immediately said BNY344Y . . . . !?! It was reported with Brown of Builth so it MAY still be part of their 'collection'.

 

[MotCO]

How is it I can not remember the four items I have gone to the supermarket for but on reading about the Seddon with Johnson my brain immediately said BNY344Y . . . . !?! It was reported with Brown of Builth so it MAY still be part of their 'collection'.

You only remember the important things!

 

[01d-and]

You only remember the important things!

Don't you owe me a pint ?? BNC344Y was seen by myself a number of times at Digbeth doing National Express 'dupes' . It prompted many [sometimes somewhat heated] discussions - "Its a Plaxton no it's a Duple and so forth.

 

[Eyersey468]

How many Wright bodied Dennis Javelins were built? H840DDL was one of my school buses on the Isle of Wight in the early 2000s, I've never come across another one

 

[GusB]

How many Wright bodied Dennis Javelins were built? H840DDL was one of my school buses on the Isle of Wight in the early 2000s, I've never come across another one

Buslistsontheweb.co.uk lists only five. Of the other four, two went to Havering Borough and there was one each for SELB and WELB in Northern Ireland.

 

[Eyersey468]

Buslistsontheweb.co.uk lists only five. Of the other four, two went to Havering Borough and there was one each for SELB and WELB in Northern Ireland.

Thanks. H840DDL shows as SORN so looks like it's still about somewhere

 

[Leedsbusman]

Quite surprised that isn’t in the hands of one of the big London bus preservation groups!

Probably because it’s not the London one. That was G276VML.

 

[Towers]

Probably because it’s not the London one. That was G276VML.

Ah, that might explain it then yes!

 

[37114]

Thanks. H840DDL shows as SORN so looks like it's still about somewhere

This is a photo from 2020 so fair chance it is still there

H840 DDL

5 February 2020 Dennis Javelin Wrightbus C65F Noted at the depot at Three Cocks, Powys keeping a Brexit voting bus company!

www.flickr.com

 

[Eyersey468]

This is a photo from 2020 so fair chance it is still there

H840 DDL

5 February 2020 Dennis Javelin Wrightbus C65F Noted at the depot at Three Cocks, Powys keeping a Brexit voting bus company!

www.flickr.com

Thanks

 

[Roilshead]

How about the six Gloster-Gardners built by the Gloucester Railway & Carriage Works between 1932-34 - six for Red & White, two for Neath & Cardiff?

I was going to suggest the GNR Gardners built by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) at its Dundalk works between 1937-52, but there were 95 of those (albeit each batch had different bodywork - GNR, Metsec/Harkness/GNR, and Park Royal/GNR).

However, Midland Red 3977 the sole BMMO LA (Light Alloy) single decker built 1951 must count.

H523 CTR comes to mind, ACE Cougar with Wadham Stringer body.

Didn't People's Provincial have both ACE Cougars that were built? There was also the ACE Puma - a midi-coach - of which 12 were built, and the ACE Cheetah - a full-size coach - of which I've no idea of build quantity. ACE Ltd's predecessor, W B Products Ltd, (W B Products was associated with coach operator Ward Brothers of Lepton, ACE [Advanced Chassis Engineering] was a joint venture between Ward Brothers and the Steven Ives owned Abbeyways coach operation of Halifax) built 13 Ward Dalesman C11-640 coach chassis (the prototype having a Leyland Leopard chassis, the production 12 having newly-fabricated chassis based on the Leyland product) and 6 ward Dalesman GRXI bus chassis (for Darlington Transport). In the case of both People's provincial and Darlington Transport, ACE/"Ward" had hopes of repeat business for fleet replacement, but the shareholders' fear of committing significant funds to a cottage-industry manufacturer meant they weren't to be realised.

If I'm correct, out of the ruins of ACE came Kirn, which produced one Mogul chassis - encouraged I think by British Bus, which is how the chassis ended up sitting outside East Lancs works for two years (East Lancs at that time being owned by British Bus), the project - for some reason - having run out of steam". Anyway, Frank Carter - MD of Yorkshire Traction/Lincolnshire - saw the chassis on a visit and had it bodied with a Flyte(?) body for the "Tracky" fleet.