[Trivia] Buses in your screen avatar

[Kremlin Stooge]

Pretty much what it says in the topic title. Provide as much or as little detail as you wish.

My previous one was a Dennis Falcon V/East Lancs demonstrator vehicle, XPD659Y, pictured while it was being trialled in Eastbourne. I actually managed to get a ride on this; living in the Old Town area of Eastbourne at the time the 10A/C Outer Circle was one of the local routes and one Saturday morning this beast loomed up on a journey to the town centre.

The new avatar is one of the former Maidstone Bedford JJLs in use on the short-lived Shuttle between Brighton station and the Churchill Square shopping centre. Again, something I managed to sample; abiding memories are of a vehicle ahead of its time, would have made a great post-dereg bus, giving early iterations of the Dennis Dart a run for the money.

 

[jp4712]

North Western 299A, a 1968 Bristol RESL6G with Marshall body. The photo was taken when the bus was fairly new but it’s pleasing to say that it survives in preservation today owned by, er, me.

 

[iantherev]

Caerphilly Urban District Council Leyland Titan/Massey now preserved at the Bus Depot, Barry. One of the buses I grew up with

 

[scosutsut]

Kelvin Central 1100, a single deck conversion of a Leyland Fleetline that was a regular on my local route in the mid 90s.

At the time Kelvin's Old Kirkpatrick fleet was like Antiques Roadshow, A-reg Dorchester's were as modern it got.

1100 was nicknamed the pan loaf as it was shaped like the popular Scottish Bread of the same name. It was a complete oddball, bounced all over the place and did so with great haste.

I loved it and whilst I hold the B10M/Alexander PS types that swept in and modernised Kelvin's ragtag fleet in extremely high regard, I never did have a favourite one so 1100 gets the honours.

 

[Kremlin Stooge]

North Western 299A, a 1968 Bristol RESL6G with Marshall body. The photo was taken when the bus was fairly new but it’s pleasing to say that it survives in preservation today owned by, er, me.

Well, congratulations on your preservation efforts, I’m always in awe of the dedication and commitment put in by folks such as yourself and do try to chip into any donation buckets I see at rallies (sadly limited in the last couple of years).

 

[Paul Kelly]

Early 1970s Leyland Leopard ex-Ulsterbus working with Lough Swilly, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in Ireland in 1997. Both the bus and its (at the time) almost 150-year-old operator have since sadly met their demise!

 

[Strathclyder]

Just changed mine to the first production CIÉ Bombardier KD decker (2 JZL/KD2; new May 1981) working for Dublin Bus in March 1995, not long before it's withdrawal from service. Original image linked below (copyright of Flickr's Darren Hall). Exchanging one marmite machine (a North British Type 2 diesel) for another (the KD) in effect lol

KD2, March 1995 Just before its withdrawal from service

Scan from a negative, KD2 is seen in Sallynoggin on a 7A Rochestown Avenue just weeks before coming off service

www.flickr.com

 

[TechDan2002]

Taken on 11th October 2020 on my first outing with the Cornwall Bus Preservation Society (CBPS) From left to right:

Bedford YRQ Duple Willowbrook TUJ 921J, new to Salopia Whitchurch in November 1970, now restored to represent Cornish Independent operator Grenville Motors of Penryn and Troon who operated similar vehicles before being acquired by Western National in the 1980’s

Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB ECW 1121 VDV 121S new to Western National in March 1978, now in preservation with CBPS

Dennis Dart step entrance Plaxton Pointer 401/4401/46401 L401 VCV, new to Western National in April 1994, now in preservation with CBPS