2120

FPT 590C

3104

Now preserved in the Tynemouth livery which it carried in the middle years of its life in the North East.

Delivered new as 2120 to Chester-le-Street depot in December 1964, the bus entered service on Jan uary 1st, 1965 and remained at that depot until withdrawal. When new, the seats were trimmed with a specially designed moquette in shades of green.

Repainted into standard NGT livery in 1967

Repainted into Tynemouth livery in 1969.

Recertified in July 1971.

Repainted into NBC poppy red livery in July 1974.

Renumbered to 3104 in January 1975

Recertified on December 22nd 1977, it was the last of the class to be done.

In July 1978 the bus suffered extreme damage to the roof following an accident in Sacriston. Despite the fact that many Routemasters had already been withdrawn, the vehicle was repaired and was back in service in September.

Another surprise was that it was repainted again into poppy red during November 1979, when very few Routemasters were left in the fleet.

The bus was eventually withdrawn in December 1980 and, despite the general expectation that it would be the last one to operate for Northern General, it was not and this honour fell to 3105.

The bus was sold to Booth's of Rotherham in December1980, who passed it via Allmey's of Eastcote to Brakell's of Cheam during the same month.

The vehicle was a non runner with a serious engine defect and spent five years as a seat store in Richmond yard before being transferred to Twickenham yard, re-engined with an AEC AV590 and sold to Stagecoach for their Magicbus operation in Glasgow during September 1986.

Finally withdawn from passenger service in August 1991.

2120 has been in preserved by Glyn Matthews for the past 19 years but has not been seen on the rally circuit for about eight years.

During May 2010 the bus was transferred to the Ensignbus Heritage Fleet so may be making a comeback during 2011.