TT03 TRU | Dennis Dart | Fleet Number: 42860

This Dart, TT03 TRU was new to Truronian, Truro in March 2003 to replace P454SCV that was lost due to fire damage. The vehicle was needed at short notice and was purchased from stock available at the time, hence the standard urban 90 seats and no other Truronian interior details unlike any other vehicles in the Truronian fleet. .

TT03 was mainly used on the T1 Truro - The Lizard service during her working life with Truronian In 2008 Firstgroup purchased Truronian including the fleet where she gained the fleet number 42860 and Barbie 3 livery.

She was mainly based at Helston Depot whilst working for Firstgroup in Cornwall and was picked in late 2012 to be repainted in GWR brown livery in commemoration of 110th anniversary Great Western Road Motors Service from Helston to The Lizard in 2013.  She remained mainly based in Helston for the next few years (occasionally found to be wandering around other parts of Cornwall) until Cornwall was split into two operational areas. 42860 was then mainly based in the East Cornwall area and would often be found at the Eden Project on 101’s and the college runs at the end of her days in Cornwall.

In July 2018 she was transferred to Buses of Somerset and received a fresh coat of paint (along with a couple of panels!) into the Buses of Somerset livery. Whilst at Buses of Somerset, 42860 was found to be on the usual Dart allocations with the occasional stray onto 28s to Minehead. In late 2019 she was withdrawn from service claiming to have a rotten chassis where she passed to a local dealer for spares.

After inquiries were made by our chairman Mel, she was fully inspected to find not a lot wrong with the chassis bar the usual dart ‘scabbyness’ and after small preparations, she was ready  for another MOT.

In 2022, a concerted effort was made to raise funds so that the damaged panels could be replaced with new ones and made ready for a full professional repaint into the original red and silver colours of Truronian of Truro. Thanks to the generosity of the Members, nearly all the required finances were raised and arrangements were made for repainting in Plymouth. Asides from repaint, a number of seat cushions have been replaced with the re-fitment of roller blinds.

TT03 made her first outing in Truronian livery on the CBPS's Vintage Bus Running Day at Penzance on Sunday 16 April 2023. TT03 has attended several local events throughout 2023. The vehicle has been particularly useful on services at events such as Trevithick day, being wheel chair accessible.

 Very few Truronian vehicles are known to be in preservation.