Cornwall Bus Preservation Society

This Bristol LHBristol Commercial Vehicles Light Horizontal engined 6L with 45 seat ECWEastern Coach Works Ltd was a bus and railbus body building company based in Lowestoft, England. ECW closed in 1987 bodywork was one of 10 new medium sized buses delivered to Western National in the summer of 1968 with 5 going to Southern National. Built by Bristol Commercial VehiclesBristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd was a manufacturer of buses and trucks based in Bristol, England. Closed 1983. (BCV), the light weight LH was the replacement for the earlier MW and SU models which had similar mid-mounted, horizontal, underfloor engines. The engine was a LeylandLeyland Bus was a British bus manufacturer. It emerged from the Rover Group (formerly British Leyland) as a management buyout of the bus business. It was subsequently acquired by Volvo Buses in 1988 and the name finally disappeared in 1993 400 fitted to a manual 5 speed gearbox and the Girling air brake system was adopted.  

The records show that 716(MUO 328F) was delivered new to WN's WherrytownWherrytown depot, Penzance no longer exists (where LIDL is now) depot at Penzance painted in standard Tilling green livery and fitted with the non-standard 'T' shaped destination box arrangement. The main routes worked by 716 out of Penzance were to Porthcurno (504), Paul (505) and Madron (511). After formation of the National Bus Company in 1969, vehicles were re-painted in leaf green with white lettering and the double N logo was applied. By 1973, 716 had been repainted into the 'national' colour scheme and later in the decade, she received a complete front end modifcation. This involved the complete removal of the front end to be replaced by a kit produced by ECW following complaints from taller drivers that visibility was severely restricted through the shallow depth front windscreen. This modifcation was carried out on all the first batch of LH's and was later adopted as standard. With the increased windscreen size came the conventional side by side numeral and destination blind arrangement. Apart from 3 months towards the end of 1976 when 716 'was on tour' to other depots, she remained at Penzance until early in 1981 when she was withdrawn from service. After a brief spell stored at the St Austell depotSt Austell, 716 was sold to Continental Pioneeer of Richmond and painted into their blue livery. After several other homes, 716 eventually ended up at Winkleigh with Colin Shears to enter preservation and was acquired by Colin Billington of Maidenhead in June 2008. Working with Colin during 2009 and early 2010, our Cornish LH was prepared for her MOT which was successfully acquired in time to drive 716 back to Cornwall for our Running Day. We managed to keep 716 on the road during 2011 and she attended the Kingsbridge Running Day in September. However, after winter storage, water pump problems and some electrical issues were identified. We managed to sort these but on returning to her 'home', the clutch said 'enough'. This necessitated a drawbar tow by a local recovery firm which I must say was an experience I would not want repeat again soon! New clutch plates have been sourced so this is now the next job. This site will keep you updated.

In early September 2009, the CBPG acquired from First Devon & Cornwall, a Mercedes VarioMercedes-Benz Vario (model designation W670) is a heavy van manufactured by Mercedes-Benz mini bus registration number S529 RWP.

This vehicle with fleet number 52529 is in the pink and blue livery branded 'Tamar Link' and was formerly based at the Torpoint depot. She was new in 1998 and was one of a batch of 64 delivered to First Midland Red (FMR). She then carried fleet number 529 and was fitted with 22 seats. In 2004, FMR started to withdraw the Varios and after an initial transfer of 5 vehicles, a further 18 including 529 were moved to First Devon & Cornwall in 2005. 529 became 52529 in the national numbering system, fitted with 27 seats and soon received her current livery. Since being acquired by the CBPG (now CBPSCornwall Bus Preservation Society - formed by a group of bus and coach enthusiasts who are involved in maintaining, restoring and preserving a number of buses which saw operational service in Cornwall that have been bought, donated or even loaned to members of the group), she has proved to be very popular with the younger enthusiasts as they can relate to the type and 'the girls' just love the the pink colour. She has attended many events including the Running Days at Penzance and Kingsbridge with trips to The Hoe in Plymouth and Westpoint at Exeter. The final examples of the Vario in service with First Devon & Cornwall may well see 2012 as their last year. 

This Bristol VRBristol VR was Bristol's rear-engined bus chassis, designed as a competitor to the Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline. with fleet number 1003 (VDV 141S) is a 1978 convertible open topper, one of 11 delivered to Western National/Devon General between November 1977 and March 1978. All of this batch were named after famous warships including 1003 which was originally numbered 941 and was named 'Illustrious'. When new, they were all painted in NBC red and whiteNational Bus Company Red and White livery.

Only 943 (VDV 143S) 'Ark Royal' at Falmouth depot and 944 (VDV 144S) 'Vanguard' at Penzance depot were allocated to Western National in Cornwall. Initially, 941 worked in the Torbay area of Devon but when the demand for 'open topped' vehicles in Cornwall increased, she was transferred with sister vehicle, 937 (VDV 137S) 'Victory' to the Newquay depotEast Street, Newquay to operate Newquay - Pentire - Newquay. 

After several years in Newquay, she was transferred to Penzance depot which operated the only 'open topped' service left, Penzance - Lands End - St Ives - Penzance.  941 has carried most liveries adopted by the Company and was re-numbered as 1003 before she was chosen to be painted in brown and cream 'GWR' liveryGreat Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company that linked London ... two-tone "chocolate and cream" livery in 2003 to commemorate 100 years of the Helston to The Lizard service. The Centenary event was held in August on the very date that heralded the start of the service 100 years previously. A very large entry of former Western National buses from all over the south west gathered at Helston School before being led off by 1003 in a cavalcade of some 20 vehicles, the like of which will probably never be seen in Helston or The Lizard ever again. 1003 is now preserved in the GWR colour scheme and has been kept busy each year attending the annual Bus Running Day at Penzance in April and also the Kingsbridge Running Day in September to name but two events. This bus is still very popular with the enthusiasts wherever she goes.