Page 17 - MBF Supplement Demo

The two Volvos were sent to Crossways to assist with Cheltenham Races services between 14th and 17th March.
The monthly 'Exclusive Running Day' themes for 2017 are: April - Bristol/ ECW (17 vehicles), May - AEC (30 vehicles), June - Leyland (38 vehicles), July - ex London Transport (26 vehicles), August, NBC 35th anniversary (31 vehicles) and September - vehicles new in years ending xxx2 and xxx7 (28 vehicles).
Volvo B9TL/ Wright Gemini Explorer CH83D 1246, reported as acquired in the last issue, entered service in February.
At the start of the spring season in March, any extra duties required to cover disruption to Southern Railways services were covered by coaches due to low floor buses being required for normal service operations. Likewise, the road sections of the Grand Tour are now operated by vintage coaches, the X71 (Maidstone - Hastings) is operated by modern coaches and the Folkestone and Canterbury tours were converted to full time open top operation (albeit with part open top buses) for the same reason. The acquisition of the ex City Transport and Barnet Bus low floor deckers will assist further with this issue during peak seasons.
Older step entrance vehicles now officially assigned to contract duties are, Leyland Olympians 1161-3, Volvo Olympians 1164/5, Leyland Lynx mk2 2261, Dennis Darts 2283/4 and DAF Optare Delta 2291.
A selection of vehicles representing the topics for the monthly 'Exclusive Running Day' themes for 2017.
Older step entrance vehicles now officially assigned to contract duties include the vehicles pictured here.
Gipping Valley Buses Ltd Norman Dickerson
Vehicles added to the fleet since the last report are 511-4, ex City Transport Dennis Trident/ ALX400 H69D (LV55PRS/T) and Dennis Trident/ Plaxton President H67D (LX54FKW, LY05MMZ). These are use on rail replacement and school contracts and are currently at George Street Garage for overhauls and repaint into Gipping Valley livery of dark blue skirt, light blue and red top.
Although initially purchased as a source of spares, FOU873D an Autobus C25F Mercedes Vario was found to be in a far better condition than expected and was used briefly on local school services.
Mainly as a result of the mini and midi bus/coach content of the fleet, Mercedes vehicles have always featured highly and several years ago, for a brief period, the fleet with the exception of the double decker was all Mercedes. A recent addition has been BF63ZTC, a Caetano C49FLt Mercedes bodied
Glenelg Motors
Dick Lindsay - Kyle of Lochalsh, Scottish West Highlands
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