| Nine
series 2 Bristol VRT/SL6G's with ECW bodywork and Gardner
10.45 litre six-cylinder diesel engines were bought new
by Southern Vectis in 1973 and entered service in
National Bus Company Leaf Green & White livery. This
batch differed from the previous batch delivered in 1972
in that they were fitted with grey window rubber
surrounds instead of cream. NDL634M [634] featured a
split-level entrance step, the rear half being slightly
lower to allow easier boarding for the elderly (this was
fitted from new and not following the accident in
February 1974). In February 1974 NDL634M [634]
overturned at Compton Bay during Gale-Force Winds and was
returned to Eastern Coach Works for rebuilding - in April
1974 it was returned rebuilt.
Between
1977 and 1981 NDL634M [634] / NDL635M [635] / NDL636M [636]
/ NDL637M [637] / NDL638M [638] / NDL639M [639] / NDL640M
[640] & NDL642M [642] had the rear destination blind
screens removed and panelled over, that of NDL641M [641]
being removed during 1982.
Between
4 January 1983 and 4 February 1983 NDL640M [640] went on
loan to City of Oxford.
They
were fitted with power steering:
During the winter of 1983/1984: NDL638M [638] / NDL639M [639]
& NDL642M [642]
Around July 1984: NDL640M [640]
In August 1984: NDL637M [637]
In October 1984: NDL636M [636]
In December 1984: NDL635M [635] & NDL641M [641]
In January 1985: NDL634M [634]
In
April 1987 NDL634M [634] was repainted into Solent Blue
Line livery by Alder Valley Engineering.
In
April 1987 NDL636M [636] was repainted into standard
Solent Blue Line livery at Hampshire Body & Paint,
Barton Park, Southampton.
Between
8 May 1987 and by 21 May 1987 NDL634M [634] & NDL636M
[636] returned to the Isle of Wight (after repaint) and
was used on a Special Olympics event charter (between 8
May & 15 May, re-entering service until 21 May).
All
but one of them were withdrawn from service in:
May 1987: NDL634M [634] / NDL635M [635] / NDL636M [636]
& NDL637M [637]
August 1987: NDL639M [639]
September 1987: NDL638M [638]
December 1988: NDL640M [640]
January 1989: NDL641M [641]
Between
October 1989 and December 1989 NDL642M [642] went on loan
to Solent Blue Line as their number [42] returning to the
island during February 1990.
In
April 1990 NDL642M [642] was withdrawn from service,
still in NBC Leaf Green & White livery.
Subsequent History
NDL634M
[634]:
- In
May 1987 it was transferred to Solent Blue Line
operating as their number [34].
In April 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
May 1989 it was to pass to Taylor's of Sutton
Scotney but the purchase was aborted and they
purchased NDL637M instead.
- In
September 1989 it was sold to Goodwin of Carlton
(dealer) for scrap. It may have subsequently
passed to Wigley of Carlton (dealer), again for
scrap.
NDL635M
[635]:
- In
May 1987 (after repaint into the first Solent
Blue Line livery version at Hampshire Body &
Paint, Barton Park, Southampton) it was
transferred to Solent Blue Line operating as
their number [35].
By January 1989 it had been named "Barnardos".
In May 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
September 1989 it was sold to Goodwin of Carlton
(dealer) for scrap. It may have subsequently
passed to Wigley of Carlton (dealer), again for
scrap.
NDL636M
[636]:
- In
May 1987 it was transferred to Solent Blue Line
operating as their number [36].
By December 1988 it had been named "Venture
Search & Rescue".
In June 1990 it was withdrawn.
- In
February 1991 it was sold to Solent Blue Line
Preservation Group.
It was subsequently scrapped.
NDL637M
[637]:
- In
May 1987 (after repaint into the first Solent
Blue Line livery version at Hampshire Body &
Paint, Barton Park, Southampton) it was
transferred to Solent Blue Line operating as
their number [37].
In April 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
May 1989 it was sold to Taylor's of Sutton
Scotney (in place of NDL634M). It was painted
into a Dark Green/Ornage/Cream livery and
operated on schools contracts.
- In
August 1995 it passed to Steele t/a Home James of
Southampton.
- In
February 1996 it was sold to Crowther t/a Classic
Coaches of Booker. It normally operated on
schools contracts and was withdrawn in July 1999.
- In
February 2000 it passed to R. Newman of Ryde for
preservation. By May 2001 it had been repainted
into Solent Blue Line livery.
NDL638M
[638]:
- In
September 1987 it was transferred to Solent Blue
Line (having been repainted into Solent Blue Line
livery) operating as their number [38].
By December 1988 it had been named "Royal
South Hants Hospital".
In November 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
March 1990 it was sold to PVS of of Carlton (dealer).
It was subsequently scrapped.
NDL639M
[639]:
- In
August 1987 it was transferred to Solent Blue
Line operating as their number [39].
In September 1987 it was repainted into Solent
Blue Line livery and named "Puddle Jumper".
By January 1989 it had received a rear-end
advertisement for "Simon's Wine Bar and
Bistro".
In June 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
September 1989 it was sold to Goodwin of Carlton
(dealer) for scrap. It may have subsequently
passed to Wigley of Carlton (dealer), again for
scrap.
NDL640M
[640]:
- In
December 1988 it was transferred to Solent Blue
Line operating (still in NBC Leaf Green &
White livery) as their number [40].
In May 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
August 1989 it was sold to Goodwin of Carlton (dealer)
for scrap. It may have subsequently passed to
Wigley of Carlton (dealer), again for scrap.
NDL641M
[641]:
- In
January 1989 it was transferred to Solent Blue
Line operating (still in NBC Leaf Green &
White livery) as their number [41].
In November 1989 it was withdrawn.
- In
February 1990 it returned to Southern Vectis to
be prepared for disposal.
- In
April 1990 it was sold to Seaview Services of
Sandown operating in their Red Lynx livery.
- In
September 1992 it was sold to Priory Coaches of
Gosport.
It was subsequently scrapped.
NDL642M
[642]:
- In
April 1990 it was sold to Seaview Services of
Sandown.
It was subsequently scrapped.
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