XHK 228X | Bristol VR | Fleet No. 1242

Originally ordered for Southdown, XHK228X (3123) was diverted to Eastern National and was new to Silver End depot in October 1981 for Service 53, Chelmsford - Witham - Colchester. It is worth noting that although diverted, the rear number box as specified by Southdown remained but was never fitted. XHK228X was later transferred to Walthamstow depot in April 1986. However in practice the vehicle ran out of Enfield on school day only service 145A (Chingford-Goodmayes) until Walthamstow opened on 24/5/86 to take on service 275 (Walthamstow Central - Barkingside). At this point the vehicle was operated on the London City Bus network in a variation of the privatised Eastern National livery. 

In 1990 the vehicle was transferred to Thamesdown but was subsequently withdrawn in 1992 and sold to fellow Badgerline company Western National in the spring of 1992. Re-numbered 1242, the vehicle first received the blue/cream/blue livery but was later repainted into blue and white flags in 1997, one of the last vehicles to receive this livery. The vehicle was predominantly based in West Cornwall and rarely ventured East of Truro. 1242 was renumbered 38928 in 2004 and was one of the last closed top VRs to be withdrawn in Cornwall in August 2006. 1242 was quite noticeable from other VRs due to the front indicators being fitted vertically. Furthermore, during the vehicles time in Essex an attack alarm was fitted besides the destination box which was never fully removed.

XHK228X was initially sold to Colin Billington but was subsequently sold to Chris Brown in 2007 and stored at Bath Bus Companys’ depot until 2020. Chris has made the decision to move the bus on and the current owner was contacted in August 2020 about the sale of the vehicle and the vehicle was sold in October 2020. Removed from Bath, 1242 now resides in Devon with work underway to recommission the vehicle. The chassis was in surprisingly good condition with no structural welding required. The bus has been fitted with replacement tyres, new batteries and the engine and gearbox have had a thorough service. New injectors have been fitted, various fuel leaks fixed, new fuel tank straps, engine bay repairs (new frame and replacement panels), new wiper system, various electrical faults repaired, new door values/ram and all hoses and clips replaced, door ram replaced, alternator and regulator replaced alongside a host of other repair work to existing parts. The vehicle returned to the road for the first time on 31st March 2024 and passed its first MOT in 18 years on Friday 19th April 2024. This meant the vehicle was able to attend Penzance running day, and being a true VR revival, did a full duty consisting of two 16s to St Ives and a 4/4A to St Buryan. The vehicle is now housed in undercover storage for the first time and will attend a few more events in the West Country during 2024. Future works are dependent on progress made with AFJ747T and AFJ750T.

This bus is owned by David Jory.

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If you have any stories or photos of XHK228X you'd like to share, please email David Jory at davidjjory@gmail.com

For photographic history visit http://bcv.robsly.com/xhk228x.html