| Detailed History | ||
| Three
series 3 Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB's with ECW bodywork and
Gardner six-cylinder diesel engines were bought new by
Southern Vectis in 1981 and entered service in National
Bus Company Leaf Green & White livery. This batch
were identical to those delivered new in 1980. They were the last Bristol
VRT's to be purchased new by the company. In December 1984 DPX685W [685] was repainted into a blue Colorbus advertisement for "National Travelworld". Two
of them were repainted into deregulation Emerald Green
& Cream livery in: In June 1989 DPX683W [683] was repainted into a Colorbus advertisement for "Freinds of the Earth". In July 1992 DPX683W [683] was repainted into deregulation Emerald Green & Cream livery. They
were repainted into Mushroom & Dark Green livery in: On 31 December 2000 DPX684W [684] was withdrawn from service following accident damage in icy conditions at Whitecliff Bay. [per Don Vincent/Patrick Hall] During late March 2001 DPX683W [683] was reregistered to 934BDL. By July 2001 the engine and gearbox of DPX684W [684] had been transplanted to UFX856S. [per Gavin Rowney] In July 2001 DPX685W [685] was withdrawn from service. By 10 August 2001 934BDL [683] had been fitted with Day-glow destination blinds. [per Gavin Rowney] In
May 2002 934BDL [683] was converted to permanent Open-Top
as O43/31F and re-entered service in Apple Green &
Cream livery. [per Gavin Rowney] In May 2003 934BDL [683] was repainted into Orange & Yellow "Open Top Tours" livery. It was fitted with board holders side and rear having vinyls applied in this space for the "The Needles Tour". On the occasions that it is used as a substitute for the other open-top routes, a board is placed over the vinyls, one side of the board showing "The Sandown Bay Tour" whilst the other side displays "The Downs Tour" as appropriate to the route it is operating on. On 3 October 2003 the remains of DPX684W [684] were finally cut-up. [per Gavin Rowney] Subsequent History DPX684W [684]:
DPX685W [685]:
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| Photo Selection | ||
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An offside-front
view of DPX683W [683] in NBC Leaf Green & White
livery at Shanklin Bus Station during July 1982. Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs |
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Still in
NBC Leaf Green & White livery, but with the
deregulation symbol beside the fleetname, an offside-front
view of DPX683W [683] at Blackgang on 21 September 1988. Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs |
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| A nearside-front view of DPX683W [683]
in the Colorbus advertisement for "Freinds of the
Earth" at Freshwater Depot during April 1992. [photo copyright of Malcolm Audsley] |
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| A nearside-front view of DPX683W [683]
in Mushroom & Dark Green livery at Newport Bus
Station on 25 September 1998. [photo copyright of Mike Ginger] |
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| An offside-front view of DPX683W [683]
- reregistered to 934BDL - in Orange & Yellow "Open
Top Tours" livery at Shanklin Bus Station on 19
October 2003. It was operating as a substitute that day,
note "The Sandown Bay Tour" board below the
lower-deck windows. [photo copyright of Mike Ginger] |
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A nearside-front
view of DPX684W [684] on delivery to Southern Vectis from
ECW when new at Hindhead on 9 April 1981. Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details |
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A nearside-front
view of DPX684W [684] in original NBC Leaf Green &
White livery in Sandown High Street on 24 July 1982. Note
that DPX684W did not originally have foglights fitted. Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs |
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| A nearside-front view of DPX684W [684]
in deregulation Emerald Green & Cream livery at
Newport Bus Station on 11 June 1995. [photo copyrightof Ian Roberts] |
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| A line-up of the 1981 batch of
Bristol VRT's front views of DPX684W [684] / DPX683W [683]
& DPX685W [685] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery
at Newport Bus Station during July 1999. Note that of
this batch only DPX684W [684] was ever fitted with
foglights - these were fitted following an accident at
Blackwater at some stage. [photo copyright of Mark Pitman] |
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An offside-front
view of DPX685W [685] in NBC Leaf Green & White
livery passing Lake Green Road (at the bottom of Lake
Hill) on 30 July 1982. Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs |
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| A nearside-front view of DPX685W [685]
in Mushroom & Dark Green livery entering Newport Bus
Station during July 1999. [photo copyright of Mark Pitman] |
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| Information on all surviving Bristol VR's is available from The Bristol VR Enthusiasts' Society | ||
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