XDV 608S | Bristol VR | Fleet No. 1128

XDV608S was new to Western National as 1128 in July 1978. Allocated initially to Plymouth (with occasional outstationing at Launceston, Tavistock and Totnes), 1128 was repainted from standard green into an all over advertisement livery for National Travelworld. Transferred to Cornwall in the late 1980s, 1128 would receive a comprehensive refurbishment into the flags livery which uniquely (in addition to AFJ751T) included the placement of flags either side of the destination display.

Initially withdrawn in April 2003 as part of the widespread service reductions, 1128 was 'put out to grass' at Bude before being reinstated to service by July. Renumbered 38608 the vehicle remained in service primarily in West Cornwall until final withdrawal in August 2006. At this point 1128 was the oldest closed top VR left in the fleet and would remain in reserve at Newquay until disposal to Colin Billington in December 2006. While at Newquay the bus was vandalised but repaired in 2007. Passing through several owners, the bus was sold to Dave Stanton in Gloucester and has received extensive structural work after being found to be in poor material condition.

In 2024 the vehicle was sold to its current owners with a pending return to Cornwall. It is surmised following an interior refurbishment the last of the body work will be refurbished and the bus will be repainted into flags livery of the 1990s at a later date.

This bus is owned by Trev Jacket and David Jory.

If you have any stories or photos of XDV608S you'd like to share, please email David Jory at davidjjory@gmail.com

For photographic history visit http://bcv.robsly.com/xdv608s.html