|
| |
| July 2004 |
 |
 |
 |
| Stagecoach is almost ready to
retire its last Bristol VRs, so they held an open day in May 2004 at
Hampshire Bus depot in Basingstoke, where the last three operate, to pay
tribute. A fine selection of operational and preserved VRs
were present including those from Wilts and Dorset and Southern National (above
left). Two of the Stagecoach VRs were operating special
local services, while the third performed bus wash duties (above right) |
 |
 |
 |
| Stagecoach
Hampshire made everyone most welcome (lower left) with a good mix
of enthusiasts and locals in attendance. Local services were
provided by a mixture of old and new vehicles including two of the
remaining VRs (upper left and right). |
 |
 |
| Two interesting vehicles used
in service included a recently preserved Leyland National from Hants and
Surrey (above left) and one of the Cambridge based Bristol Lodekkas,
still used by Stagecoach today (above right). |
 |
 |
| Hampshire Bus in
Basingstoke has operated VRs for many years, including these examples from
1974 (left). Latterly after Stagecoach bought the
company other VRs found their way into Basingstoke such as the one above
from Devon General. The bus station has now been rebuilt and a
new depot opened. |
| Stagecoach
VR Farewell |
| |
| Click to enlarge photos. |
| |
| Photo
Facts (from top to bottom) |
 | VRs at Basingstoke depot including LFS296F
(Alder Valley, ex Eastern Scottish), JWV976W (Southdown) and BFJ175L
(Southern National) |
| Stagecoach Hampshire Bristol VR 15763
(EWS751W) in the bus wash |
| Stagecoach Hampshire Bristol VR 15762
(EWS748W) preparing to leave for Winklebury |
| Stagecoach Hampshire Bristol VR 15760
(JOU160P) |
| Stagecoach Hants and Surrey Leyland
National 1180 (UMO180N) |
| Stagecoach East 19952 (JAH552D),
an open-top Bristol Lodekka |
| Hampshire Bus Bristol VRs 3303
(CRU303L) and 3301 (CRU301L) at Basingstoke depot in July
1984 |
| Hampshire Bus Bristol VR 450
(LFJ880W) with a phantom driver at Basingstoke bus station in July
1994. |
|
| |
| Links |
|
|
|
