The Southern Vectis Unofficial Bus Enthusiasts' Website
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President (2002)
 
Technical & History Briefing

Chassis: Volvo B7TL

Body: Plaxton President YV3S2G

Registration
Mark

Fleet
No.

Type

Chassis
Number

Body
Number

Date
New

Current Livery (and Name) or
Date Withdrawn

HW52EPK

[100]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5123A002295

7934

10/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Chale Bay)

HW52EPL

[101]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5143A002296

7935

09/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Sandown Bay)

HW52EPN

[102]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5183A002298

7936

10/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Woody Bay)

HW52EPO

[103]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5163A002297

7937

10/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Brighstone Bay)

HW52EPP

[104]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5113A002319

7938

10/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Brook Bay)

HW52EPU

[105]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5183A002320

7939

10/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Binnel Bay)

HW52EPV

[106]

H51/28F
previously
H45/28F

5113A002286

7940

10/2002

2006 Two-Tone Green
(Atherfield Bay)
 
Detailed History
Seven Volvo B7TL's, with Plaxton President bodywork, were bought new by Southern Vectis in 2002 which were delivered during late September / early October 2002 in a revised single-tone Island Explorer Underline Blue livery and entered service during late October 2002. The Volvo B7TL was the low-floor replacement double-decker bus for the Volvo Olympian. They featured a fully DDA compliant low floor, LED destination displays all round, six camera digital CCTV system, public address system, Kiel seating (the first UK operator to order this high quality German product) and bonded glazing.

By 7 May 2004 HW52EPV [106] was fitted with replacement glass in the Emergency Exit in a different style to the rest of the batch. [per Gavin Rowney]

During 2004 several went on hire to Solent Blue Line operating on rail replacement contract work:
On 7 February 2004: HW52EPK [100] to London Underground. [per Marc Morgan-Huws & Ian Rivett]
On 20 March 2004 HW52EPK [100] to TfL (Transport for London) for Piccadilly Line rail replacement. [per Marc Morgan-Huws]

They were repainted into Lime Green (base colour) with Dark Green and Graphics applied to complete the 2006 Two-Tone Green livery at a later date:
on 17 October 2005: HW52EPV [106] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 4 June 2006 [per Ian Rivett / Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 26 October 2005: HW52EPU [105] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 27 January 2006 [per Ian Rivett]
on 3 November 2005: HW52EPL [101] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 27 April 2006 [per Gavin Rowney / Dave Jolliffe]
on 10 November 2005: HW52EPN [102] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 27 January 2006 [per Gavin Rowney / Ian Rivett]
on 22 November 2005: HW52EPO [103] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 19 April 2006 [per Dave Jolliffe / Gavin Rowney]
on 30 November 2005: HW52EPP [104] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 4 April 2006 [per Dave Jolliffe / Gavin Rowney / Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 18 December 2005: HW52EPK [100] - Two-Tone Green livery applied by 14 February 2006 [per Marc Morgan-Huws]

They were reseated from H45/28F to H51/28F by re-arrangement of the upper-deck seating only, in that all seats face forward:
on 22 November 2005: HW52EPO [103] (with "Rowan Telmac" seats) [per Marc Morgan-Huws / Ian Rivett]
on 30 November 2005: HW52EPP [104] [per Dave Jolliffe]
around 29 November 2005: HW52EPV [106] [per Ian Rivett]
on 3 November 2005: HW52EPL [101] [per Dave Jolliffe / Ian Rivett]
on 18 December 2005: HW52EPK [100] [per Ian Rivett]
by 27 January 2006: HW52EPN [102] & HW52EPU [105] [per Ian Rivett / Dave Jolliffe]

They were named:
on 7 February 2006: HW52EPN [102] was named "Woody Bay".
on 7 February 2006: HW52EPU [105] was named "Binnel Bay".
on 10 April 2006: HW52EPK [100] was named "Chale Bay". [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 25 April 2006: HW52EPO [103] was named "Brighstone Bay". [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 28 April 2006: HW52EPL [101] was named "Sandown Bay". [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 28 April 2006: HW52EPP [104] was named "Brook Bay". [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
on 26 June 2006: HW52EPV [106] was named "Atherfield Bay". [per Marc Morgan-Huws]

On 16 June 2006 HW52EPL [101] collided with HW54BUF [308] at Church Litten, Newport, (which was being used as a temporary Bus Station) and returned to Plaxtons on 3 July 2006 to have extensive bodywork repairs undertaken. It returned back from repairs on 21 July 2006. [per Marc Morgan Huws / Gavin Rowney]

From September 2006 poems written by local people, in conjunction with the Island 2000 Trust Poetry Initiative, were (or will be) applied to the rear engine compartment door of the entire batch thus - these were reapplied in a different style from 20 October 2006:
On 8 September 2006: HW52EPP [104] "Land" poem (view photo) - reapplied by 23 October 2006. [per Marc Morgan Huws / Gavin Rowney]
On 8 September 2006: HW52EPU [105] "Happiness is..." poem - reapplied by 25 October 2006. [per Marc Morgan Huws / Gavin Rowney]
by 19 September 2006: HW52EPL [101] "The Garden of Rocklands" poem [per Mike Ginger]
by 24 September 2006: HW52EPN [102] "Tiger" poem [per Gavin Rowney]
by 24 September 2006: HW52EPV [106] "Seasons" poem [per Gavin Rowney]
by ?? September 2006: HW52EPO [103] "??" poem - reapplied by 25 October 2006. [per Gavin Rowney]

During 2006 several went on hire to Solent Blue Line operating on rail replacement contract work:
On 25 March 2006: HW52EPK [100] between Portsmouth and Petersfield/Chichester. [per Dave Jolliffe]
 
Photo Selection
An offside-front view of HW52EPK [100] "Chale Bay" in 2006 Two-Tone Green livery at Shanklin Bus Station on 18 September 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPL [101] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at the IW Bus Museum running day, Newport Harbour, on 20 October 2002.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of HW52EPL [101] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at Newport Bus Station on 15 August 2003.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPL [101] in Lime Green base at Ryde Bus Station on 6 December 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPN [102] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at Yarmouth Bus Station on 15 August 2003.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of HW52EPN [102] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at Newport Bus Station on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of HW52EPN [102] "Woody Bay" in 2006 Two-Tone Green livery at Church Litten, Newport, on 16 May 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPN [102] "Woody Bay" in 2006 Two-Tone Green livery at Shanklin Bus Station on 18 September 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPO [103] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at Yarmouth Bus Station on 15 August 2003.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPO [103] "Brighstone Bay" in 2006 Two-Tone Green livery at Shanklin Bus Station on 18 September 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of HW52EPP [104] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery approaching Shanklin Bus Station on 18 October 2003.
[photo copyright of James May]
 
An offside-rear view of a rather filthy HW52EPU [105] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at Ryde Bus Station on 13 January 2003.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW52EPU [105] "Binnel Bay" in 2006 Two-Tone Green livery at Boots, Ventnor, on 11 February 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of HW52EPV [106] in Island Explorer Underline Blue livery at Ryde Bus Station on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
To report any updates, errors or omissions in this section please Click Here
Back to Home Page