Celebrating 85 years of Victoria Coach Station. Friday 10 Sunday 12 March 2017

Transcription

1 Celebrating 85 years of Victoria Coach Station Friday 10 Sunday 12 March 2017

2 What s on this weekend? 11 historic coaches on display each day Free tasters from Starbucks at Gate 11 Stands including National Express Megabus, Metropolitan Police, The Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust and Brigit s Bakery Two of the station s newest coaches on show each day Fundraising for the Transport Benevolent Fund Bachmann die-cast model vehicles on display Welcome to our 85th Anniversary celebration Victoria Coach Station has seen literally hundreds of millions of passengers travelling to thousands of destinations in the UK and Europe. A true workhorse of the industry, come rain or shine, Victoria Coach Station has been providing 85 years of service to customers and coach operators alike. Annually, the station sees as many passengers as Luton Airport all on the three-acre site in the heart of Belgravia. As part of Transport for London, the station remains independent with more than 40 operating companies using the station for around 220,000 departures each year. It is certainly the busiest dedicated coach station in the UK, and one of the busiest in Europe for departure and passenger numbers. During its 85 year history, Victoria Coach Station has met changing demands and we hope that during your visit you can see how the beautiful vehicles from across the decades have evolved into the luxurious 70+ seat vehicles now in use. It is a testimony to the original designers (Wallis Gilbert and Partners) that the station can still operate so successfully with these new vehicles, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Everyone associated with Victoria Coach Station is proud of our rich heritage and I invite you to speak with vehicle owners, enthusiasts and staff about their remarkable stories and connections to the building. James McKinnon Operations Manager Victoria Coach Station 3

3 Historic vehicles on display this weekend FV DBL AEC Regal Ribble (Standerwick) Used pre-war on express coach services between Blackpool, Birmingham and London (Victoria) until being commandeered by the War Department and used as an ambulance. It was reacquired by Ribble after cessation of hostilities and rebodied in 1950 with a second hand Leyland body from a 1934 Leyland Tiger, receiving an AEC 7.7 diesel engine at the same time. It was then used as a driver trainer and mobile classroom until its withdrawal in Acquired for preservation in the 1960s, it passed through several owners before being bought for the Grand Edwardian Touring Company in It was recently acquired and restored to Standerwick livery. Displayed by Steve Morris, Wiveliscombe, Somerset. Bristol K6A Thames Valley Vehicles from this batch operated the Thames Valley Reading to London (Victoria Coach Station) express service during the 1940s and 1950s. Fleet number 446 was new to High Wycombe depot, was transferred to Reading in 1955 and, after an extensive body rebuild, transferred to Newbury in It was withdrawn in 1965 following an accident with a mobile crane and was sold to the Rossmore Bus Co. and rebuilt for further service. In 1972, 446 was bought for preservation by Ward Jones who restored it and owned it until its acquisition by TV&GWOT in October Entered by Colin Billington on behalf of the Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust, Maidenhead. JG Dennis Lancet 2 East Kent Delivered to Rye depot in 1937, it was used on summer duplicates between the south east coast and Victoria up to its withdrawal in It spent most of its life at Herne Bay depot. After being sold to a showman in Snodland, Kent, it spent 18 years in a Sissinghurst scrap yard before being saved for preservation. Displayed by Glynn Thomas, Bexley, Kent. GUF Leyland Tiger PS1/1 Southdown New to Southdown on 22 April 1947, it was numbered For eight years it ran regularly to Victoria Coach Station on the Worthing to London express service. There were two routes: the journey time via Dorking was three hours and via Redhill it took 10 minutes less was renumbered 677 on conversion for local bus services in 1955 and allocated to Horsham where it stayed until its withdrawal in It passed then to a local charity and was bought for preservation by its present owners in Displayed by Paul and Joyce Jefford, Market Rasen, Lincs. 4 5

4 CFN Leyland Tiger East Kent Delivered in 1947, it was used daily from Thanet to Victoria for several years then it moved to local bus routes. It was sold to a dealer in May 1960 and then onto Buckmaster, Leighton Buzzard where it was used on school contract work until It was sold and used as an animal feed store until late It was bought for preservation in Displayed by Ward Jones, High Wycombe, Bucks. HCD Leyland Tiger PS1 Southdown It was one of 25 built for Southdown in 1947 for the south coast express service to Victoria Coach Station from Gosport/Portsmouth/ Worthing/Brighton/Eastbourne. It was converted to a bus in 1956 then became a left luggage office at Bognor in It was restored by its present owner over 15 years. Displayed by Bob Gray, Fareham, Hants. EMW Bristol L6B Wilts and Dorset Although a 1947 chassis, it was not bodied and licenced until The body was rebuilt to its present form by the company in It was withdrawn from service in 1962 and used by two disabled organisations in the Andover area. It was acquired by its present owner in These vehicles were regular visitors to Victoria Coach Station as duplicates on Royal Blue services. They were also used on weekend Forces leave services to and from the various military establishments on Salisbury Plain. Displayed by Lionel Tancock, Temple Cloud, Somerset. BMS Daimler CVD6 Alexander Bluebird Based out of Alexander s Depot at Kirkaldy, it was used for express and long distance touring services from Thurso to many southern destinations as far as Ilfracombe. It was later used on a bus service between Aberdeen and Stonehaven. Displayed by Nick Sargent, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. 6 7

5 PPF AEC Regal Surrey Motors First licenced in May 1951, the final Harrington half-cab body on an AEC was built to 30ft x 8ft dimensions with a 19ft 3ins wheelbase. It was mainly used for a network of coastal services, together with private hire and excursions. It was quickly realised that the original 7.7 engine was underpowered for a 7.5 ton vehicle (unladen) and was taken back to AEC for the installation of a 9.6 unit before the next season!! This engine has covered over 250,000 miles. It was withdrawn in December 1962 (by which time, although in good order, it was very dated) and passed to Redland Bricks to use as daily transport for their clerical staff to and from Horsham and the brickworks at Rusper. It was purchased by its present owners in Displayed by David Hurley, Worthing, West Sussex. NAE Bristol L6B Bristol Greyhound One of the first batch of coaches delivered to Bristol tramways after the second world war. It features full fronted bodywork rather than the traditional half cab arrangement. After 12 years it became a local school bus, then entered preservation. It was acquired by the present owner some years ago and has since been fully restored. It regularly worked the Bristol to London Greyhound express route. Displayed by Mike Walker, Wells, Somerset on behalf of the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection. FFN Leyland Beadle East Kent FFN 446 is the second of a batch of three 35-seat coaches delivered to East Kent in June 1951 to help meet the needs of the boom in post-war coach travel. The coach was constructed by J C Beadle of Dartford, utilising the chassis and running units of a Leyland TD5 double-deck bus dating from November The overhauled chassis was used to provide the basis for a modern looking coach at a time when demand was high and delivery periods for completely new vehicles were long. The entire TD5 chassis is incorporated, but with the front and rear halves moved apart by about 3ft 6ins and a third section of propeller shaft added. The gap is bridged simply by massive aluminium extrusions that integrate the body and the sub frames. During its early years with East Kent it would have worked express services to London and along the coast to Bournemouth, but in later life it was used mostly on private hires and excursion duties. In June 1972 it was acquired for preservation by Richard Perry. It subsequently changed ownership several times, but it was later reacquired by Richard Perry in November Displayed by Richard Perry, Southampton, Hampshire. LTA Bristol LL6B Royal Blue (Western National) Fleet no. 1250, this was the first 30 foot long vehicle delivered to Royal Blue when the allowable length was increased. With the luxurious Duple coachwork and distinctive Royal Blue features of roof luggage container and side destination blinds, this was the ultimate development of the front engine traditional half-cab design. Royal Blue was the largest express coach operator in the south of England and 1250 was used on its express coach network from Bournemouth, Plymouth and finally Penzance depots until then saw further service with two Somerset bus operators on schools services and was sold for scrap and saved for preservation by Colin Shears, founder of the West of England Transport Collection. It was bought by its present owner in underwent a full restoration between 1985 and 2004, returning to the road for the 125th anniversary of Royal Blue in 2005 when once again it returned to Victoria Coach Station for a celebration run to Bournemouth, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance. This year we are celebrating 45 years of ownership, astonishingly more than half the life of Victoria Coach Station! Displayed by Colin Billington, Maidenhead, Berkshire. 8 9

6 LTA MOD Bristol LL6B Southern National Southern National No was used primarily for West Country tours and as a duplicate on Royal Blue express coach services on peak summer holiday weekends. Based in North Devon, 1324 was a regular visitor to Victoria Coach Station. It was withdrawn after the 1964 summer season and worked for two Devon independents on school services before being acquired for preservation by Colin Shears for the West of England Transport Collection in December It was acquired by its present owner in 1994 and loaned to Carmel Coaches of Northlew for a Sunday heritage service between Okehampton, Chagford and Moretonhampstead for two summers. Now it is used for private hires including weddings and other special occasions. Displayed by David Hoare, Chepstow Classic Buses Bristol LS6G Royal Blue (Southern National) Fleet no was the first 8ft wide vehicle delivered new to Southern National s Royal Blue express coach fleet when the maximum width was increased by six inches to give greater passenger comfort as people grew larger with improving living standards in the post-war period. Based at Royal Blue s principal depot in Bournemouth, 1286 was used over a period of 16 years on frontline express services before being sold via a dealer for further service on school transport in Yorkshire. In 1972 it was bought for preservation, passing through several owners before being bought by Colin Billington and finally restored. Displayed by the Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust. PPH Bedford SBG Epsom Coaches One of the first SB chassis built, it was new to H R Richmond Ltd (Epsom Coaches) and used for touring work. By May 1956 it was with Heard s Coaches, Hartland, North Devon where it stayed until 1979 and was regularly used on Saturday service as a duplicate on Royal Blue services to Exmouth, Seaton and other towns. It was purchased from service and restored by its present owner to its original livery. It was then seriously damaged by fire and, following a four year fight for compensation, work on a rebuild began in The off-side was repanelled, timber framework replaced, windows cut, the vehicle rewired and much of the headlining and trim replaced. In 1999 it was converted back to petrol after running with a diesel engine for 30 years. Displayed by Geoff Heels, Ashtead, Surrey. OKP Beadle Integral Maidstone and District Operating express services between Medway towns and Victoria Coach Station, this vehicle is the only survivor of its batch. It was purchased by its current owners in 1960 and was completely restored to its original condition between 2000 and Displayed by Thornes Independent Ltd, Selby, North Yorkshire

7 OTT Bristol LS6G Royal Blue (Southern National) New to Royal Blue in Bournemouth in September 1953, fleet no was one of the regulars to work Bournemouth to Victoria Coach Station routes for more than 12 years. It also worked over the entire Royal Blue/Associated Motorways network. It was withdrawn from frontline service in was with the Dorset Transport Circle from 1972 to 2006 when it passed to the West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust (WHOTT). Displayed by John Grigg, Portishead, North Somerset on behalf of WHOTT. 390DKK 1958 AEC Reliance Maidstone and District Originally delivered as a touring coach, it returned to Harrington in the early 60s to have the frontend completely replaced. The new front is to bus style, with its full destination blinds and power doors for one man operation. It was used on Maidstone and District express services from Faversham, Maidstone and Medway towns to Victoria. Later it was used on bus work in the Faversham and Maidstone areas. It retains full coach seating and has recently been subject to a full body overhaul and paint. Displayed by Brian Catchpole, Rochester, Kent. 780GHA 1959 BMMO C5 Midland Red The BMMO C5 was designed for high speed motorway express services and was introduced in 1959 when the M1 was opened. No worked Birmingham/Coventry to London on both motorway express and major stopping points services. It was withdrawn in 1971 and subsequently used as a mobile caravan. It was restored in Displayed by Roger Burdett, Coventry, West Midlands. 617DDV 1960 Bristol MW Royal Blue (Southern National) No was delivered new to Royal Blue s Bournemouth depot from where it worked on express services for most of its operational life. It did however have two seasons at Ilfracombe in It was on hire to Hants and Dorset and then Thames Valley from June 1974 until its withdrawal in June It was acquired for preservation by Michael Dean of Leatherhead in 1976 and used on vintage tours and excursions. It was sold in 1995 for continued preservation and service with five owners before being bought by its present owner in June Entered by Richard Avery, Bristol

8 PROMOTIONAL FEATURE All aboard National Express 45 appeal National Express is celebrating its 45th birthday and it s on a drive to capture the memories of the Great British travelling public. The largest coach operator in the UK is getting into gear for the special anniversary next year by asking people to share their special or interesting experiences of coach travel. The memories which could include recollections, photos or even videos - will be added to the National Express archive, with the best forming part of its special birthday celebrations details of which are still under wraps. Since 1972 National Express has played a role in making memories from the everyday to the life-changing for millions of people across the UK. During that time coach travel has changed beyond all recognition, with modern vehicles benefitting from free WiFi, air-conditioning, toilets and leather seats. The business is now also a round-the-clock operation with drivers supported 24/7 with cutting-edge technology and a service team. Prices have also fallen. For example, a typical ticket from Birmingham to London, which could only be bought in person, cost back then 1.20 equivalent to around 15 in today s money. Today fares start at 5 and can be bought in person, online or over the phone. your recollections to: rosalyn.golds@nationalexpress.com or post to: National Express, Mill Lane, Birmingham B5 6DD clearly marking your envelope National Express 45. Some of the more memorable events in National Express 45 year history include: Staff assisting with the unexpected arrival of a baby girl at Victoria Coach Station she was subsequently named Victoria in tribute to their efforts Countless couples who married after meeting onboard including Geoff and Patricia Lambert who found love on the 250 from Stansted to Colchester A bride who chose to forgo a traditional horse and carriage to have a 40ft National Express coach to get her to the church on time Unusual passengers including a cat who used up one of her nine lives hitching a 100-mile lift from Westward Ho! to Bristol on board a fuel tank Being immortalised in song and silver screen in Divine Comedy s National Express and the Oscar-nominated Billy Elliot National Express is particularly keen to hear from people who may be able to share historical photographs. To help build the archive for the celebrations, a photographer is being enlisted to take pictures over the course of the year to showcase the diversity of people who choose to travel with National Express.

9 WFN AEC Reliance East Kent Delivered new to Dover depot, it was used on long journeys around the UK and Europe and was often in service on Skyways coach-air services to Paris between London Victoria and Lympne Airport- Skyways, and express routes to Dover, Folkstone and Ramsgate. Displayed by Brian and David Bailey, Sandygate, Kent. 253KTA 1962 Bristol MW6G Royal Blue (Western National) Initially Exeter based, fleet no was the first MW of the restyled body design in service. It moved to Bournemouth in 1966 before transferring to hire duties in 1975 with Thames Valley at Reading, and onto London Country Bus Service based at Dunton Green in It left service in 1977 and passed into preservation. Displayed by Philip and Robert White, Gaydon, Warwickshire. 275KTA 1962 Bristol SUL4A Western National 275 KTA was new to Western National in 1962 and was used on coach tours in the West Country and duplicating on Royal Blue routes from Plymouth to London Victoria. After its sale by Western National, it was operated by the Fowey Bus and Taxi Company and then by Channel Coachways in Southend. It is one of only 38 SUL coaches built, and 425 (275 KTA) is the only surviving example in original condition, escaping the conversion (along with 426 and 435) for dual purpose operation with the decline of short tours in the West Country in the late 1960s. Displayed by David Sheppard, Ruscombe, Berkshire. 900SAF 1963 AEC Reliance Hawkey, Newquay New to Hawkey of Newquay, it was built to a 33 foot length at the request of its owner. It was sold on the closure of the company and passed through several owners until it transferred to Camden Coaches Sevenoaks in It was retired from service in 1984 and stored until it was purchased for preservation in October The interior has been completely refurbished and has been kept in the Camden livery. Although there is no evidence of it running into Victoria Coach Station, it is very likely that it would have run on hire to Royal Blue during its operational life with Hawkey. Displayed by Roland Graves, Gravesend, Kent

10 ABO145B 1964 AEC Reliance Western Welsh New as a coach for extended tours radiating from South Wales to all areas of the UK, it was later downgraded to express duties and long distance limited stop services to London, Liverpool and the Welsh coastal towns. It was later sold to Greenslades and again used on tour work and express services. Displayed by Keith Severn, Tunbridge Wells, Kent on behalf of the North Kent Vehicle Preservation Group. BHA656C 1965 BMMO CM6T Midland Red The CM6 Class was purpose built by Midland Red for high speed motorway work between Birmingham s Digbeth coach station and London Victoria via the M1. High mileages meant short lives and the CM6s all retired by autumn Fortunately no was purchased by a preservation society who used it on outings until a transmission defect developed. It passed to the Transport Museum Wythall in February Much work has been carried out on the vehicle since then and the CM6 has performed well on members trips and free demonstration rides to visitors at event days. In 2009 it took part in a run from Digbeth to London Victoria and back as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the M1 motorway. Displayed by David Taylor for Wythall Transport Museum, Worcestershire. BHU92C 1965 Bristol MW Bristol Omnibus / Greyhound One of seven diverted from Eastern National, it entered service as a Greyhound coach. It was used for express services and rail replacement work following the Beeching cuts including the joint Greyhound/Royal Blue replacement service for the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway from Bristol, Bath and Highbridge to Bournemouth. After a full service life as a coach, then bus, it entered preservation. It has been owned by its current owner since Entered by Mike Walker, Wells, Somerset on behalf of the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection. CVL850D 1966 Bristol RELH6G Lincolnshire Road Car Co. No was allocated to Boston depot and was a regular performer on service D which ran into Victoria. It is an early example of Bristol Commercial Vehicle s last coach chassis and the RELH was designed for high speed express services. It provided exceptional ride quality and low noise levels with its rear mounted engine. Displayed by Andrew Colley, Lincoln on behalf of the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society

11 GRX140D 1966 KDL885F 1968 AVX975G 1968 Bristol FLF6G Thames Valley New to Thames Valley Traction in 1966 as its fleet no. D40, it transferred to Alder Valley as its fleet no. 672 in It was based at Maidenhead depot for the majority of its working life and is known to have worked on express route B from Reading to London via Maidenhead. It was sold out of service to Morris Bros of Swansea and subsequently acquired by the Bracknell D40 Group for preservation. It was purchased by the current owner in the late 1990s. Entered by Richard Rampton, Reading, on behalf of the Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust. Bristol RESH6G Southern Vectis New in 1968, it was used for extended tours. It was originally powered by a Gardner 112hp 6HLW engine but it was underpowered, particularly for long distances to Scotland, and was re-engined to the 150hp 6HLX. It was originally a C39F but was later reseated to C45F. While in National white livery, it was used daily on Isle of Wight to London workings from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. It was retained as a heritage vehicle until 1997 then transferred into the bus museum. Displayed by Ben Bartram, Shanklin, on behalf of the Isle of Wight Bus Museum. Bristol FLF6G Eastern National This double deck, no. 2614, was delivered in coach livery for the X10 service from Southend-on- Sea to London. In February 1971, 2614 was transferred to the Tillings Transport Group as no. 9614, being returned in late 1973 to Eastern National. It entered Central Works and was converted to bus status and renumbered It re-entered service in 1975 and was used until 1981 when it was acquired for preservation by the Eastern National Preservation Group. In 1988, 2946 was purchased by Paul Harrison for further preservation but due to work commitments it was stored pending restoration. In 2003 the decision was made to restore it back to original coach specification, which was completed by 2009 for the Showbus event at Duxford. Displayed by G Claydon and Paul Harrison on behalf of the Castle Point Transport Museum Society, Essex. OAX9F 1968 Bristol RELH6L Red and White Services One of ten Bristol RELH coaches with Leyland O.600 engines and Eastern Coach Works bodies, it was new to Chepstow-based Red and White Services Ltd in March While working as a frontline coach, it was mainly used on Associated Motorways express services from South Wales to Cheltenham and Cardiff to London (VCS). For most of its working life RC968 was based at Tredegar depot. It transferred to National Welsh in April 1978 and was downgraded to dual-purpose status and used on local South Wales limited-stop bus services until its withdrawal in July It was bought for preservation later that year and was restored to its original red and ivory-white livery. It has been in private ownership since then. In 2013 a considerable amount of body restoration work was undertaken to bring it to the current condition. Displayed by Jonathan Radley, Didcot, Oxfordshire

12 NUD105L 1973 MSF750P 1976 Bristol VRT/SL6G City of Oxford Motor Services No. 105 was one of nine VRT s put into service in March 1973 and painted in NBC DP livery for use on relief Oxford to London services. After privatisation 105 passed to the newly formed South Midland. It was sold in 1986 to Strafford s Coaches, Wrexham and later bought for preservation in was stored until 2008, when full mechanical and body restoration started. It made its preservation debut in May and its sister vehicles were the first VR s produced with coach-type seats and ultra-low height (13ft 5ins) bodywork. Entered by David Clements, Oxford. Seddon Pennine Eastern Scottish This vehicle operated on the Edinburgh to London services frontline from 1976 until 1981 when it was then replaced with newer vehicles. It would have been a frequent visitor to Victoria Coach Station. From 1981 to 1983 it would have been used as a duplicate vehicle, and was followed by service on internal Scottish Express services. It was withdrawn in 1986, purchased for preservation in 1996 and is now resident at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond. Displayed by Donald Booth, Glasgow. AFM103G 1969 Bristol RELH6G Crosville Originally built for the Merseyside to London express service, it operated the X1/X2/X61 services from Victoria Coach Station to Liverpool between 1969 and After use on other coach services, it retired in 1981 to the south coast where it operated for two different schools before being bought for preservation in It finally returned to the road in 2007 in Bristol Greyhound livery and was repainted back into Crosville livery. Displayed by Carl Berry, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos. GJW43N 1974 Leyland Leopard Midland Red No. 343 is one of a batch of 50 ordered by Midland Red. It entered service in October 1974, based in Leicestershire. It was employed on limited stop and duplicate National Express services. It worked on London routes 430 and 450 into Victoria Coach Station. It was restored in its mid-life livery. Displayed by Richard Reeckie, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

13 TMX405X 1982 Leyland Leopard Midland Scottish TMX405X has Alexander Y type coachwork and was registered on 1 January 1982, numbered MPE405, operating new in service with Midland Scottish from their Milngavie depot. It remained in service with various Scottish bus group subsidiaries and, after privatisation with Stagecoach until 2000, remained in active service in England until It is now in private ownership and has been restored back to the blue/ cream livery of her first owner W Alexander & Sons (Midland) Limited, finished off with the distinctive bluebird logo. Displayed by James Hershell, Swadlincote, Derbyshire. 24 E50TYG 1988 Leyland Royal Tiger West Riding Automobile Co. The Royal Tiger Doyen was Leyland s last attempt to build a vehicle to compete with the then new high class rear-engined touring coaches from European manufacturers. The vehicle did not survive the demise and takeover of Leyland. E50 TYG was one of a batch of eight purchased by West Riding of Wakefield for their Ridings travel coaching operation. Two of the batch were in National Express livery from new and used on Rapide 564 services between Halifax and London with the rest in Ridings Travel livery. E50 TYG was frequently to be found at Victoria Coach Station either as a substitute for one of the National Express vehicles on 564 services or as duplicates hired in to cover 564s or other National Express services. Displayed by Julie Aylward, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Helping to make a difference Financial, health and welfare benefits for those working in the public transport industry......people just like you Just 1 a week covers you, your partner and dependent children. TBF has been helping public transport workers for over 90 years. Our Patrons include leading figures in the major transport groups and trades unions. The majority of the Trustees work in the industry and decide on all benefits. Contact us today to see how we can help you & help@tbf.org.uk Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, , and Scotland, SC

14 Victoria Coach Station early building stages 21 August February 1932 Erection of the steelwork for the yard, and buildings beyond New coach station nearly complete, seen from opposite the main entrance Credit: Kithead Trust The Bus Archive Credit: Kithead Trust The Bus Archive 26 27

15 MSRV17_011 VCS_85_EventProgramme_RESUPPLY