Distington Rally July 2008 (Pic: A Grey)
Distington Rally July 2008 (Pic: A Grey)
No 38 entered service in 1934 with a Massey bus body and lasted in service until the end of 1952. It found its way into showman's use after this but today only survives as a chassis.
A 1936 Leyland TD4 originally built with a Massey body but rebodied by ECW in 1950 , fleet number 291.
Withdrawn in 1959 it then passed via a dealer to Barton who used it until 1965.Upon retirement it was sold for preservation and having had several owners
it as recently passed to a new owner in the Huddersfield area.
New to Cumberland in April 1961 as one of the first batch of FS's. It spent a lot of its time on country routes out of Whitehaven remaining on passenger carrying duties until June 1977 when along with 554 it became a driver trainer.
In 1983 , by which time it was the oldest vehicle in the fleet, it was decided to use 550 for publicity purposes and it was repainted into 1930's style livery. Despite this driver training was always its primary purpose especially after the demise of TV1 (ex 554) due to a cracked chassis frame. In 1990 its registration was transferred to another Cumberland vehicle and it was finally replaced as a trainer in 1991. Purchased in September of that year by the 550 Group it has since then been a regular attendee at rallies in the North of England having been repainted back into Tilling red and cream. In 2001 550 was once again reunited with its registration.
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One of 5 FSF's to serve with Cumberland, 504 BRM entered service in 1960. It was withdrawn in 1973 and passed via a dealer to the Green Bus company of Rugeley before going on to Midland Red. Not used by them it passed to another dealer and was exported to Holland in 1974 where it was used on sightseeing tours and then became a mobile showroom. It then seemed to disappear for some time until been reported with P Verbeck of Veen where it is still in use as a hospitality unit. Whilst not technically preserved, as can be seen from the picture above it is in excellent condition.
photo: Kelvin Amos Collection , courtesy Rob Sly.
No 295 seen in 2004
Up until the end of 1989 295's career was vitually identical to 293, it being 1262 in the Bristol fleet. However they then went their separate ways with 295 only spending a month with Edmunds before passing to Evans of New Tredegar . Here it remained until August 1985 being sold to Jones of Prontypridd but stayed with them only a short time and was with Peakbus of Sheepbridge by November of that year. Its career only lasted a few weeks before it was withdrawn following a collision with a Leyland National. It was purchased for preservation and travelled to Southampton, to once again join 293, where it remained for a year before being sold to the 295 Group who returned it to West Cumbria where it is currently undergoing restoration . During 2004 295 moved to the Workington Transport Heritage Trust where work is progressing to return it to the road. Click here for more on this vehicle
353 lasted into the Stagecoach era during which time it spent a short time in Perth before passing to a dealer. From there it headed to Birmingham first with the Birmingham bus and coach co followed by the Birmingham Omnibus co. This vehicle is now part of the Workington Transport Heritage Trust.
Details of this vehicle can be found
here
No 431 entered service in October 1980 . It was renumbered 15731 in the Stagecoach national scheme in December 2002 and shortly afterwards was re registered PHH149W . In September 2005 it was repainted into the latest Stagecoach livery and was finally withdrawn in May 2006. It passed to John Burrow and Brian Pritchard in November 2006 and has since been repainted into the livery seen above. No 431 spent its entire life with Cumberland and was one of the last VR's in service with Stagecoach.
Delivered towards the end of 1980 378 remained with Cumberland until 1993 before passing to Ribble where it stayed until the beginning of 1997. From here it passed through a succession of companies and dealers before being bought for preservation in 2002
378 is used to publicize the Workington Transport Heritage Trust . For further details of this vehicle click here
This National passed to Ribble in 1993 and then onto Midland Red(South) as their 802 via Cheltenham and Gloucester in 1997. It passed via a dealer to Dublin and was reregistered 82-D-2899 in early 2000. It is now part of the Kells transport collection in Ireland.
Seen above awaiting restoration at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway ( Photo :Paul Jones)
New to Cumberland in 1982 No 397 was one of the first production Nationals fitted with a Gardner engine. Becoming part of the Stagecoach fleet it passed to Ribble as their 377 in 1993 and eventually ended up with Stagecoach Cheltenham and Gloucester where it was no 383, before been passed onto Circle Line in Gloucester where it became 1397. It entered preservation in 2000.
Details soon
