THE GALLERY
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This former Bedford OB/Duple in the WN fleet is seen here in the livery of Cedar Coaches. |
New in 1950: ten years later WN sold this OB/Duple to fellow Tilling company, Lincolnshire Road Car. It was converted into "toastrack" format at the company's Bracebridge Heath facility, later known as the NBC Engineering Centre. It was the last toastrack to join the fleet for service on Skegness seafront and joined several other OBs from both Eastern and Western National, themselves replacements for Vulcans, originally operated by Tom Carey of Lumley Square since 1926. LTA752 is happily preserved and is seen enjoying less embracing air on Southsea seafront in 2003. |
There was always something fitting that the ownership of what was once Western National should again be in common ownership with what was once Great Western Railways. The link between the two companies is emphasised by preserved Western National RELL 2730 (POD829H) preserved in Great Western centennial commemorative colours. |
 Former Bristol Omnibus 1216 (YHY596J) passed to Western National and gained their early post deregulation blue, cream and red colours. The bus was sold to Smiths for their Weymouth - Portland service in competition with Southern National. The bus is seen here climbing up from the Chesil Beach causeway on route to the Bill. Southern National acquired the Smiths operation and ex WN RELLs with it. |
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Leyland National 2822 (MOD822P) is seen as part of the Top Line fleet, a joint operation between Southdown and Eastbourne Buses in Hastings, though the bus is seen here in Eastbourne on route to Hastings. The company competed with former NBC subsidiary Hastings & District, formed as an offshoot of Maidstone & District. In the end the Top Line operations were merged with Hastings & District once both companies were owned by Stagecoach. |
West England |
vehicles |
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WN index |
South West index |