Trivia - Models of buses which have only ever been ordered by one operator

[GusB]

I had a check on this as I had a vague recollection - Eastbourne Buses bought quite a few WS bodied Dennis vehicles incl. Darts, Lances and Javelins. The same search on Flickr also shows A1 Ardrossan (Mckinnon) had a pair of Tigers bought new, which did surprise me; I thought they were MoD only.

A1 had such a great variety of vehicles. I'm guessing that it may have been the case that they were tagging an order for couple of vehicles onto a bigger order, as many independents tended to do.

 

[MotCO]

What about the Designline buses used on the Quaylink service in Newcastle?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22455491@N02/7125821749/in/photolist-GPfR8R-bRFGxF (not my photo - shows a picture of a lime green bus in Newcastle, with an asymetric front design.)

 

[Roilshead]

Fishwick bodied some of their own buses, nearly all unique

Yes, but "all" rather than "nearly all", and strictly-speaking the bodywork was by Fowler (an engineering company acquired by Fishwick in the 1960s, whom for many years had done bodywork repairs for Fishwick).

The REMHs were all for SBG.

United took some Plaxton Panorama REMHs for London work - but as the SBG REMHs were bodied by Alexander that makes two unique types.

Were there any Seddon RUs bodied other than by Seddon/Pennine? Maybe for Lancashire United, could be wrong here.

Yes - Hyndburn's East Lancs-bodied RU coach, and LUT did have unique Plaxton Derwent-bodied RUs (which were also unique themselves in having a front-mounted radiator). They also had a Tiger Cub with a unique Northern Counties body, and some LHs with unique Alexander bodies.

. . . And Northern Counties bodied a batch of Leyland Leopard for Southdown with some almost-BET-look-a-like bodies that were built higher than normal to accommodate additional luggage.

The single low-height Ailsa-Volvo with Alexander body built for Derby City Transport . . .

. . . and East Lancs put the same body as Hyndburn's RU onto a Leyland Leopard for Halton.

 

[WY Bus Spotter]

Arriva's low height VDL DB300 Wright Gemini 2s have got to be an obvious example of this, unless I am mistaken.

 

[MotCO]

Arriva's low height VDL DB300 Wright Gemini 2s have got to be an obvious example of this, unless I am mistaken.

Similarly the long wheel base Olympians, bodied by Northern Counties and Alexander, for Stagecoach? I certainly recall examples in London, but don't know if they operated for anyone else.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Were the Northern Counties bodied MCW Metrobuses delivered to GMPTE/GM Buses were unique?

 

[Merthyr Imp]

Barton, including the only low-height DD chassis (Dennis Loline) that was then given a lowbridge body, resulting in a height of less than twelve feet!)

Barton 861 was 12ft 6in high.

This shows it in later years when it was fitted with an AEC grille.

 

[jp4712]

Were the Northern Counties bodied MCW Metrobuses delivered to GMPTE/GM Buses were unique?

I believe so, yes.

 

[Redmike]

CIE had many types and combinations that were unique to Ireland such as the Metal sections Atlanteans of the 1960s, the Van Hool McArdle Atlanteans and M class leopards of the 1970s and the Bombardier buses of the 1980s.

Ulsterbus/Citybus were the only operator to order several types of Alexander Belfast buses including Bristol REs and Leyland Leopards.

 

[DunsBus]

The 30 Atlanteans bodied by Willowbrook for Tyne & Wear PTE in 1978, bodied to what I've heard described as "Nottingham-style".

And Lothian's full-height, long-wheelbase, dual-door Olympians were mostly unique to that operator. The ECW ones definitely were, whilst the only other operator to take them with Alexander bodies was Grampian.

CIE had many types and combinations that were unique to Ireland such as the Metal sections Atlanteans of the 1960s, the Van Hool McArdle Atlanteans and M class leopards of the 1970s and the Bombardier buses of the 1980s.

Ulsterbus/Citybus were the only operator to order several types of Alexander Belfast buses including Bristol REs and Leyland Leopards.

Also Volvo-engined Leyland Tigers. Lowland bought four of these from the Ulsterbus order for 250, much to Leyland's chagrin. Ulsterbus agreed to release these four chassis to Lowland provided it also took the bodies that had been booked for them, which Lowland was happy to do.

And while I'm here - I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned Lothian's 12 dual-door Leyland Lynx IIs.

 

[Man of Kent]

were East Kent's full-front AEC Regent Vs unique?

No, Liverpool Corporation received a single similar example, E1 (371 BKA). I believe it is now in the hands of the Merseyside Transport Trust.

Marshall bodied LHS for Mousehole

Not sure if this refers to Western National's VOD-K ones or Harvey's single example, but they were also delivered to Southern Vectis and Gash of Newark.

 

[Bristol LHS]

Was going to say the Wright CityRanger bodied Merc 0405s had only been ordered by GRT Group fleets (Grampian and Bluebird), but seems Stevensons of Uttoxeter had one: https://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/...ntheweb.co.uk/list.asp?listname=334&Type=Body

Similarly, the awful Temsa Avenues at Arriva North East - turns out First took one in West Yorkshire : https://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/...ntheweb.co.uk/list.asp?listname=334&Type=Body

Finally, Lincolnshire RoadCar had three unique Optare StarRiders (the ‘E’ variety) that had the Mercedes cowl rather than the fancy sloping front: https://www.flickriver.com/photos/tcd481j/15575226611/ (not my photo)

 

[DunsBus]

Two of the Fishwick's fleet, both Atlanteans, merit a mention. These are GRN895W, the ECW-bodied AN69 with the London B20 bonnet and A462LFV, also an AN69 but with an Olympian-style body - the only example to be fitted on an Atlantean chassis and also the only ECW double-deck body to have engine shrouds.

 

[gka472l]

I think the 30 1981/2ish Willowbrook bodied Atlanteans for Merseyside PTE (1843-1872) were unique.....unless anyone knows of any more. Also South Yorkshire PTE had some Marshall bodied Atlanteans too which are the only ones I'm aware of....

 

[GusB]

And while I'm here - I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned Lothian's 12 dual-door Leyland Lynx IIs.

Good example - I'd forgotten those. I regret not getting the chance to try one out when they were around.

Another unique Lynx was D401MHS, which was the sole Lynx purchased by Kelvin Scottish, and the whole of the Scottish Bus Group.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Marshall bodied LHS for Mousehole
Single decker Atlanteans and Fleetlines were usually all slightly different, eg the early Birmingham batch.
ECW bodied very small numbers of Swifts, eg for Waveney but I think there were others too

Marshall bodied a few LHS's with examples for Gash of Newark (passing to RoadCar) and Southern Vectis - a pair later made it to United and one was/is preserved

As for single deck Atlanteans and Fleetlines, the latter were more common that is realised. Northern had quite a few with different bodies, and even rarities like Roe bodied Fleetlines appeared with both Leeds and Darlington. Single deck Atlanteans were much rarer and were confined to (excluding wacky bridge strike conversions etc):

• Portsmouth - Seddon bodywork
• Great Yarmouth - Marshall
• Birkenhead/MPTE - NCME

Both Great Yarmouth and Waveney (Lowestoft to the uninitiated) had ECW bodied Swifts IIRC.

Can't recall if Bournemouth's Marshall bodied Olympians were unique too?

 

[Shimbleshanks]

The LGOC B-Type of 1910?

 

[DunsBus]

Good example - I'd forgotten those. I regret not getting the chance to try one out when they were around.

Another unique Lynx was D401MHS, which was the sole Lynx purchased by Kelvin Scottish, and the whole of the Scottish Bus Group.

Well remembered. 1401, D401MHS didn't last all that long with Kelvin. It was sold on when the Kelvin and Central fleets were merged in 1989 and a lot of non-standard types, including 1401, cleared out. If I'm correct, it went to Stevenson's and was last heard of as a mobile hairdresser. I'm assuming that it will have long gone by now.

You'll be pleased to know that one of the Lothian Lynxes survives in preservation at the SVBM at Lathalmond in Fife - 188, the final one of the batch. It was one of the pair which went to Brylaine after leaving Lothian in 2000, and was bought from Brylaine by its owners in 2008. One of the first tasks which they did was to reinstate the centre exit, using the front doors from scrapped sister 179. Restoration is currently ongoing and it hopefully will return to the road at some point in the future.

 

[Strathclyder]

Good example - I'd forgotten those. I regret not getting the chance to try one out when they were around.

You may already be aware of this, but H188 OSG (188) from that small batch survives in preservation at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond. Restoration is still ongoing, but as you can see, it's externally resplendent. All credit to her owners!

E: Darn, @DunsBus beat me to it lol

Another unique Lynx was D401MHS, which was the sole Lynx purchased by Kelvin Scottish, and the whole of the Scottish Bus Group.

In a similar vein, MDS 862V was the only National Greenway conversion ordered by a Scottish operator, specifically Kelvin Central as their 4138.

A few others that I don't think have been mentioned...

SWG 311S (South Yorkshire PTE's 511): the sole East Lancs-bodied Foden NC, the other 6 complete examples all being bodied by Northern Counties (hence the NC in the model name).

Greater Glasgow PTE AV1-3 & AV4-18 (Alexander-bodied Volvo Ailsas): while Alexander-bodied Ailsas are far from unique, a few things made Glasgow's earilest 18 examples stand out from the rest. AV1-3, the pre-production trio, were the only Ailsas to have the panoramic windows in conjunction with the 'peaked dome' AV-Type bodywork. AV4-18 meanwhile, were perhaps the oddest Ailsas built aside from the single-deck Marshall example mentioned upthread and the low-height Derby example. As the A Type-bodied Atlantean was still Glasgow's bus type of choice at the time (mid-70s), these 15 Ailsas were specified and built with a 'LA'-style dome, no doubt for reasons of parts commonality. They were the only Ailsas built with this style of body and now-sole survivor (MGE 183P/AV8) is a gem among gems.

Heading to the Far East, specifically Hong Kong, there are numerous examples of this trope at work. Here are a few examples...

China Motor Bus TC1 (CD 1213), the only TN15 Titan built for export and henceforth the only one with full-depth 'tropical' opening windows. CMB had a second example on order (with a stretched wheelbase, like their MB-class Metrobuses), but with the well-documented issues surrounding the TN15's production at Park Royal, CMB eventually lost patience and cancelled the order. The parts from this order eventually ended up in another Titan apparently (LT's T275 as the story goes).

Kowloon Motor Bus have also had more than their fair share of oddites. For instance, they bought 40 Dennis Dominators with Duple Metsec bodywork and 3 Alexander R-Type bodied Dennis Dragons (a similarly bodied Dennis Condor ended up with CMB, the only Condor so bodied).

I could keep going, but that'll do for now lol

 

[DunsBus]

You may already be aware of this, but H188 OSG (188) from that small batch survives in preservation at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond. Not sure if it's able to carry passengers yet (not that it would've had much of a chance anyway within the last 13 or so months!), but as you can see, it's lookin' pretty bloomin' good now. All credit to her owners!

E: Darn, @DunsBus beat me to it! lol


In a similar vein, MDS 862V was the only National Greenway conversion ordered by a Scottish operator, specifically Kelvin Central as their

You may already be aware of this, but H188 OSG (188) from that small batch survives in preservation at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond. Not sure if it's able to carry passengers yet (not that it would've had much of a chance anyway within the last 13 or so months!), but as you can see, it's lookin' pretty bloomin' good now. All credit to her owners!

E: Darn, @DunsBus beat me to it! lol


In a similar vein, MDS 862V was the only National Greenway conversion ordered by a Scottish operator, specifically Kelvin Central as their 4138.

A few others that I don't think have been mentioned...

SWG 311S (South Yorkshire PTE's 511): the sole East Lancs-bodied Foden NC, the other 6 complete examples all being bodied by Northern Counties (hence the NC in the model name).

Greater Glasgow PTE AV1-3 & AV4-18 (Alexander-bodied Volvo Ailsas). While Alexander-bodied Ailsas are far from unique, a few things made Glasgow's earilest 18 examples stand out from the rest. AV1-3, the pre-production trio, were the only Ailsas to have the panoramic windows in conjunction with the 'peaked dome' AV-Type bodywork. AV4-18 meanwhile, were perhaps the oddest Ailsas built aside from the single-deck Marshall example mentioned upthread and the low-height Derby example. As the A Type-bodied Atlantean was still Glasgow's bus type of choice at the time (mid-70s), these 15 Ailsas were specified and built with a 'LA'-style dome, no doubt for reasons of parts commonality. They were the only Ailsas built with this style of body and now-sole survivor (MGE 183P/AV8) is a gem among gems.

188 isn't yet roadworthy. However, I know its owners and an eventual return to the road is planned for it. They've just completed a very thorough restoration of ex-Lothian Atlantean 659 so I know that 188, when its turn comes, will be done to the same high standards.

 

[Strathclyder]

188 isn't yet roadworthy. However, I know its owners and an eventual return to the road is planned for it. They've just completed a very thorough restoration of ex-Lothian Atlantean 659 so I know that 188, when its turn comes, will be done to the same high standards.

Aye, have been following 659's restoration on Flickr (along with the ex-Eastern Dodge S56 breadvan, D428 ASF) with great interest for some time now and I know that 188 will be done to the same high standards when her turn comes.

 

[Class465pacer]

East Lancs/Darwen/Optare Esteem:
Courtney Buses ordered the only 2 built on ADL Enviro300 chassis in 2006
Metrobus ordered the only 21 built on ADL Dart SLF chassis in 2006, and the only 5 built on MAN 12.240 chassis in 2007
Kent County Council (for now defunct operator Kent Top Travel) ordered the only 6 built on Volvo B7RLE chassis in 2008

Warrington Borough Transport were the only operator to order the rebadged MCV Capital, taking delivery of 4 in 2003 plus 2 rebodied buses

 

[Whisky Papa]

Did any other operator have NCME-bodied Dodge S46s to the same pattern as the original Bee Line Buzz Company examples (D401NNA etc)?

 

[6Gman]

No, Liverpool Corporation received a single similar example, E1 (371 BKA). I believe it is now in the hands of the Merseyside Transport Trust.


Not sure if this refers to Western National's VOD-K ones or Harvey's single example, but they were also delivered to Southern Vectis and Gash of Newark.

On the Cornish theme did anyone other than Western National have those weird SBs (with ECW bodywork?) ?

 

[MotCO]

Metrobus ordered the only 21 built on ADL Dart SLF chassis in 2006, and the only 5 built on MAN 12.240 chassis in 2007

Metrobus also operated 10 short wheelbase Scania Omnicities (10.8 mtrs long) - I don't know anyone else who operated them.

Epsom Buses (now RATP, but transferring to Go-Ahead) operated short wheelbase two door Citaros. There was a two door demonstrator (which has now passed to Kent Coach Tours).

Cyrstals of Dartford also operated Reeves Burgess bodied Leyland Cub - not sure if any one else bought them. https://www.flickr.com/photos/georg...photolist-2j4PcTf-8HTofH-9WriZ3-9CYCn9-7bdRmu (Not my photo - shows A691DMV operating out of service on route 146 in Orpington).

 

[6Gman]

Dennis Pelican.

East Lancs/Darwen/Optare Esteem:
Courtney Buses ordered the only 2 built on ADL Enviro300 chassis in 2006
Metrobus ordered the only 21 built on ADL Dart SLF chassis in 2006, and the only 5 built on MAN 12.240 chassis in 2007
Kent County Council (for now defunct operator Kent Top Travel) ordered the only 6 built on Volvo B7RLE chassis in 2008

Warrington Borough Transport were the only operator to order the rebadged MCV Capital, taking delivery of 4 in 2003 plus 2 rebodied buses

And Widnes/Halton had their two Northern Counties-bodied coaches (on Leopard chassis?). Weird things.

 

[delt1c]

The obvious one is the RML type Routemaster - only ever delivered to LT. The only other recipient (of the shorter, front entrance variant) were Northern General. The RML has, of course, been echoed by the Borismaster in only ever being in the capital. There is, also, the unique FRM.

From my native North East.....I give you the Leyland-DAB Tiger Cub - only two were built. One was a demonstrator and the other was ordered by United Automobile Services, arriving in late 1984. Both subsequently worked for Jim Stones of Glazebury and I think both still survive.

In addition, Darlington Corporation enjoyed some real oddities but unique were a batch of Ward Dalesmans with dual door Wadham Stringer bodywork.

Nothern Gereral's RMF's were based on the long chasis. Thje short chasis front entrance variant was the RMA's

 

[TR673]

As well as the well-known 'standards' (aka the funny looking things), Nottingham City Transport also had unique specifications for subsequent double deckers too, like the East Lancs Pyoneers on Volvo Olympian chassis which - by the looks of them - had BET-style windscreens. Even if not, definitely shallower than the normal windscreen, anyway.
Many of their East Lancs bodied Tridents also had altered windscreens, angled back more than the standard ELC product, although not easy to notice unless you directly compare one with and one without.
And come to think of it, the 7 East Lancs Scania Omnitowns they had are the only conventional ones to have the Scania front panels the same as the Omnicity. (the unconventional ones are some airport buses that have offside doors, but afaik those have never been in proper public service)
NCT has had countless unique stuff over the years, even some odd looking AEC Renowns, but I'm not so familiar with the older stuff so I'll leave it at that.

Aside from NCT, has anyone mentioned the Southdown 'Queen Marys' yet - surely those were unique to that operator?

 

[Man of Kent]

On the Cornish theme did anyone other than Western National have those weird SBs (with ECW bodywork?) ?

Bedford VAMs rather than SBs, and yes, also delivered to Eastern Counties and West Yorkshire Road Car.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

On the Cornish theme did anyone other than Western National have those weird SBs (with ECW bodywork?) ?

I think you mean Bedford VAMs? Eastern Counties and West Yorkshire also had them (I think)

EDIT: was typing as @Man of Kent was posting