2002 Worthing Bus gathering & running day Page 2
A further selection of photo's
Ex Southdown Park Royal bodied Leyland Atlantean No 731 resplendent in it's NBC green livery. Used often on the 700 Brighton Portsmouth route this example has adverts dating back some 27 years advertising the "coastliner" 700 route. The "Coastliner" was re branded a few years later by Southdown as the 700 Stagecoach! Little did we know in those days that the word Stagecoach was to take on a whole new meaning for the once mighty Southdown in the future, wiping it off the map as a major bus operator for ever.
The typical ECW radiator and light surrounds adorn this ex Southern Vectis Bristol RE (LL). I say Ex- Southern Vectis because I understand this bus it is no longer part of their fleet but has been allowed to remain in their recent livery style.
A sound I haven't heard for a while is the "clacky" engine & "whiney" exhaust of an early Leyland National. This example dressed up in Aldershot & District 75th Anniversary livery reminded me of the many similar examples I used to travel on that used to be part of the Southdown NBC fleet. The paint was showing signs of age on this one a bit though.
A nice portrait of an ex Brighton Corporation Leyland PD2 (Not to be confused with Brighton Hove & District which used a slightly deeper red). Most of these had been painted horribly blue & white by the time I moved to the Brighton Area so this example is a good insight as to what they looked like in Red & Cream. it is also interesting to note that this bus is(was) fitted for one person operation. The owner of the Ford Fiesta poking out of the front of the bus must have had a shock to find this bus parked in front of it!!!
Where would any bus rally be without the numerous preserved "Queen Marys". This is ex Southdown fleet no 277 from the 1965 batch and is one of a growing number of non convertible PD3's entering the completed preserved arena. Lovely Bus!
Guy Arab passing an open top PD3 on Worthing Seafront...... now take away the buses lined up on the right hand side and the yellow cones on the left and you have a scene from the early sixtes.
Ho Hum..... Only another year to go 'til the next rally I suppose