sk2000

ROAD CAR AT SKEGNESS

IN SUMMER 2000

Pictured at the Road Car depot in Grosvenor Road are two of Road Car's three Scanias 801 & 802 (S801/2 SJV) which were new in 1999. They have Wright Axcess Floline B43F low floor bodies and all are allocated to Skegness. An excellent model of 801 has been produced by Exclusive First Editions.

Scania 802 is seen prior to operating the Connect 6 (Skegness - Lincoln) service. Two of the type are employed on this run on weekdays whilst the third spare vehicle is employed on other routes. 801 is seen in the background before working the service 57 to Boston.

Skegness was the first depot to receive low floor Dennis Dart SLF / East Lancs. Spryte vehicles in 1997. 502 (R502 JFE) is seen departing on the SB1 route to Chapel St. Leonards which, along with the SB2 town service, is operated by low floor vehicles branded Super Buzz.

A more recent addition to the fleet is Dennis Dart SLF / East Lancs. Spryte 523 (W523 XEE) which, along with 522 (W522 XEE) were purchased new in 2000 and allocated in Skegness for the summer. As they are to be re-allocated to Scunthorpe at the end of the summer season, the lettering on the side excludes mention of "Skegness" as worn by permanently based 502 illustrated in the previous picture.

Only one Leyland National was allocated to Skegness, 298 (FAO 927V), acquired from Hylton Castle of East Boldon in 1997.

429 (429 SAR), a Leyland Tiger with Alexander TE DP49F body was originally registered EWY 27Y and was new to West Riding. It was one of five Road Car acquired from Tees & District in 1997.

452 (TWO 84) a Leyland Tiger / East Lancs., was at one time employed (along with sister 454) on the Lincoln to Skegness route. Since being displaced from these, it is used on a variety of services from Skegness.

There were no Alexander AY bodied Leyland Leopards allocated to Skegness during summer 2000, but driver trainer 3037 (GLS 277N) did put in a brief appearance at the bus station. It was new to Midland Scottish in 1974 and then passed to Vanguard of Bedworth being acquired from them by Road Car in 1989 and being allocated fleet number 1467 whilst in pass.

Towards the end of the season, the occasional AY bodied Leopard worked through from Louth. 1433 (YSF 73S) is seen on such an occasion before departing to Louth via Mablethorpe in the evening.

417 (MSV 927), a Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R with Van Hool C47F body was a cquired from Gash of Newark in 1989 and was used by Leyland as a Demonstration Coach before acquisition by Gash in 1985. It has spent its entire career with Road Car at Skegness depot and sees a variety of duties being used on day excursions during the summer, and charters, school contracts and stage-carriage work at other times.

189 (G889 WML), a Renault S75 with Reeve Burgess B31F body, was one of eight acquired from London Buses in 1994. Another three were acquired the following year.

Leyland Atlantean / Roe 1311 (ETO 911V) is a venerable beast being new to Gash of Newark in 1979, passing into the Road Car fleet in 1989, and has been allocated to Skegness depot ever since where it continues to give sterling service.

In the mid 1990's, Road Car acquired several Roe bodied Leyland Atlanteans from Ipswich buses. 1325 (RDX 15R) is one such example and was one of only two left in the fleet during summer 2000, the other being 1320 (HDX 906N). Both are allocated to Skegness and due for withdrawal at the end of the summer season although, at the time of writing, 1320 remained.

734 (YJK 934V) is yet another Leyland Atlantean, this time with an East Lancs. body. It was acquired from Eastbourne Buses in 1996 along with its sister 735 (YJK 935V), both being allocated to Skegness depot.

During summer 2000, Road Car had 17 ECW bodied Atlanteans which were acquired from a variety of operators including Trent, Ribble and Sheffield Omnibus. 1384 (TRN 484V), featured here, was acquired from Ribble in 1995.

Four of the ECW bodied Atlanteans were converted to open top in 2000 to replace older open top Atlanteans at Skegness. These are mainly employed on the 99 Skegness - Chapel St. Leonards route and, less frequently, have been noted on the B1 (Skegness - Ingoldmells). 1389 (TRN 469V) was another example acquired from Ribble in 1995.

646 (C46 KBE) is one of three Leyland Olympians with East Lancs. DPH47/29F bodies which were new to Lincoln City Transport in 1985 passing into the Road Car fleet in 1993. In terms passenger comfort, in the opinion of the writer, these are the best double-deckers in the current fleet !

During the summer, one service operates through from Louth via Mablethorpe and returns in the evening. During the day the Louth based vehicle and driver are employed on various coastal routes. Volvo Olympian / East Lans. 684 (P684 SVL) is seen at Skegness before working a 90 to Mablethorpe.

Following the purchase of three new ECW bodied Leyland Olympians in 1985, it was thirteen years later before Road Car purchased some new double deckers. Volvo Olympian / East Lancs. Pyoneer 687 (R687 MFE) pictured here, and sister 688 (R688 MFE), were new in 1998, the former being allocated to Skegness and the latter to Lincoln to work the Connect 6 (Skegness - Lincoln) route. When the service was enhanced, 687 and 688 were both allocated to Lincoln and continue to work the service along with the single deck Scanias allocated to Skegness.

A view at the depot sees (left to right) Leyland Olympian 646 (C46 KBE), Renault / Reeve Burgess 176 (G876 WML), and 1320 (HDX 906N) the other surviving ex Ipswich Buses Leyland Atlantean / Roe.