THE SHOWBUS SOUTHERN ENGLAND BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Southdown sold buses & coaches
 |
 |
|||
Page 2 |
| |||
 Two Scottish VRTLL6G buses arrived at Alder Valley after a stint with Southdown. After three years with Alder Valley, former Southdown 544, and before that Eastern Scottish AA296, was converted to open top in 1983 for riverside tours from Windsor, its extra length giving extra seats on the sort after top deck. Alder Valley 896 (LFS296F) has an identical history with partner 895 (LFS288F), even to the point that both passed into preservation, but 895 has been restored to Eastern Scottish colours, without a roof, as AA288 in the Manchester area. As can be seen 896 has kept its NBC stripey coach style livery from Alder Valley days, but is recalling its Southdown life at the Southsea Bus Rally in June 2002 on a day which turned out to be most unsuitable for open toppers. |
 |
 |
|
 Marshall bodid Bristol RESL6G 236 (KUF236F) is seen in the livery of Alder Valley at their Hindhead depot. Alder Valley itself had a fleet of similar buses inherited from Aldershot & District along with the Dennis Loline also seen here. The RE was numbered 399 by Alder Valley. |
|
 At least one of Alder Valley's five ex Southdown Duple Commander bodied Leyland Leopard touring coaches acquired the white/yellow livery for use on the Reading - Heathrow Railairlink service: 36 (RUF800H), which was Southdown 1800. The Southdown Leopards were acquired in 1975 to ease Alder Valley's chronic vehicle shortage. It is seen arriving amidst construction at Heathrow, a place that is permanently being rebuilt! |
 Railair Link  |
 Seen in Thorn Walk depot in Reading are two of Southdown's Leyland Leopards with Duple Commander IV bodywork touring coaches. The body style was familiar to the Alder Valley fleet having been featured on Bristol RELH and LH coaches in South Midland colours. Former Southdown 1803 & 1801 (RUF803/1H) are alongside a native Alder Valley (formerly Thames Valley) Plaxton Elite bodied Bristol RELH6G, 63 (CJB589J). |
|
 The family run Souls of Olney coach company has served north Bucks (now Milton Keynes) for many years. The picture, probably from the mid eighties, shows a former Southdown Leyland Leopard, doubtless acquired for school contract work, alongside a selection of the contemporary modern coach fleet.
|
|
|
|||
Page 2 |
| |||