VOD 124K | Bristol LHS Marshall B33F | Fleet No. 1254

In 1972, this vehicle was one of six Bristol LHS's purchased by the Western National Omnibus Company Limited for use in Cornwall on the Penzance-Mousehole route. The new buses replacing the Bristol SUS's built in1960 which had given excellent service on this testing route. The six buses, including this one which has fleet number 1254, all received bodies manufactured by Marshall of Cambridge and fitted with the Leyland 401 engine.This LHS and her sisters could often be found on other routes in west Cornwall and were occasionally photographed at Lands End where one of them was regularly out stationed. ..

ln 1979, new Bristol LHS's were purchased for the Mousehole route which led to 1254 and the others being moved around the county and also crossing the Tamar into Plymouth. In 1983, 1254 passed to the Southern National fleet following reorganisation of the companies and remained there until November 1987 when she was to move away. Passing through a bus dealer, she moved to the Tyne and Wear Omnibus Company where she remained as a public service vehicle until March 1990 before a period in private ownership as a preserved vehicle in the north of England.

Unusually, she was returned as a public service vehicle in April 1995 having been sold to Peak Bus of Wolverhampton. This, however was to be a very short period with this company and in February 1996 she went back into private ownership and was stored in a barn in Cambridge.

In July 1998, Paul Derrick purchased 1254 and brought her back to the west country and into Western National territory. Paul was able to restore the bus over the years and put her back in National Bus livery with Western National fleet names which she wore for many years. Paul exhibited the bus at many rally events whilst in his ownership and it was very pleasing when in August 2017, Steve Cocks and myself (Paul Crate) were offered and accepted the chance to purchase the LHS. She was brought home to west Cornwall where she became part of the CBPS fleet. In 2018, 1254 was back in Mousehole on the CBPS Vintage Bus Running Day pleasing so many passengers, running full on each trip.

In 2019, 1254 had her Western National fleet names replaced by 'Cornish Fairways' which was used by the Company from 1981 for about two years..Can usually be seen at the Penzance and Kingsbridge events plus others throughout Cornwall.