Blast from the past: 503BTA on the 198

Jeff Lloyd posted this photo from his collection and I just had to repost it here as its such a great shot!

Jeff Lloyd Collection - original photographer unknown

Anyone out there have any idea where this was taken - or indeed where the 198 route went?

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Flickr Sunday Best: Western National Lodekka

©Perryolf via Flickr Blog This.

"This British double decker bus was seen at a scrapyard near Aarhus in Denmark in the early 1980's."
Helpfully Richie B has added some extra info: This bus is a Bristol "Lodekka". It was manufactured in Bristol, England in May 1956 by Bristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd. and fitted with that company's own power unit, as opposed to one of Leyland or Gardner origin. It's registration mark is UOD478 and it was one of 29 delivered to the Western National Omnibus Company in that year, receiving fleet number 1924. It has 60 seat rear-entrance bodywork by Eastern Coachworks of Lowestoft.
Perryolf has some fascinating photos on his Flickr account of older trucks in Denmark. Worth a visit!

New Blog on the Block

© budgie/ Rich B

TV3) VDV782 Plymouth garage 26-8-80

The "TV" numbering series was applied to most (though not all) of Western National's dedicated driver training vehicles. Here we see TV3, a Bristol LD6G / ECW at the company's Plymouth depot in August 1980. In its revenue earning life this bus had carried fleet number 1948. It has received a yellow waistband as opposed to the all-over yellow usually applied to trainers brought in from other operators

Posted here because its a great photo - and to point out that he has a new blog which some of you may be interested in: Buses in the South West

Its early days - but its already got plenty there to keep me coming back!