THE SHOWBUS UK ANGLIAN GALLERY
Eastern Counties | Sold buses & coaches
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 A line up of Bristol VR buses at SHOWBUS international 2005 adjacent to Concorde headed by former Eastern National 3219 (VTH941T), formerly South Wales 941, former Eastern Counties VR190 (VPW85S) ordered by Waveney District Council for its then Lowestoft fleet and displayed in Konect blue, two NBC red VR buses for Trent and the associated Midland General fleet and finally former Alder Valley 981 (CJH121V) now with Flagfinders of Braintree. |
 A long way from home is VR183 (OPW183P). In April 2005 the bus was way down south in the original capital of New Zealand, Dunedin, on the City Tour. It joined the fleet of Dunedin City Corporation in 1994 and was painted in a red and white livery. The Corporation fleet has been disbanded and 183 was operating for Newtons when seen in their depot, a former tram shed, in April 2005. It is one of a pair, the other being a former Crosville bus. Both had been recently repainted in a dramatic two tone blue "First City Tours" graphics scheme, they also had received a thorough overhaul, though 183 was off the road in the depot. Newtons, who operated the majority of the city routes were lamenting the cost of refurbishment as surplus high capacity Hong Kong Olympians became available shortly afterwards. VR183 is bearing local registration TQ7480. Before reaching NZ it had a chequered past in the UK, passing to Cambus, when Eastern Counties was split, in 1984, becoming 709. In 1989 it went to the associated Viscount fleet in Peterborough as B63, but went back to Cambus in 1991, but as 713 not 709. In 1994 it had a month or so as Buckinghamshire Road Car 3183 in Milton Keynes before returning to Cambus for sale to dealer Ted Brakell and export to New Zealand at the year end. |
 A strange site in the centre of Bristol in August 2014 was former Eastern Counties ECW bodied Bristol VRTSL3 ECW VR233 (DNG233T) painted in a livery akin to that of Tilling Green and cream with Bristol scroll fleetnames. The bus proclaims itself as a Community Bus, but is clearly fenced off from its communty. The location is The Bearpit roundabout adjacent to Marlborough Street Bus Station. Quite how the bus got into the centre of the sunken "pit" is not at all clear. Picture ref A4057 |
The VR seen head on.
Picture ref A4056 |
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