I have attended a number of SHOWBUS events over the years but this was the first time I had attended one at the Hertfordshire County Showgound.
The 50th. show and, if we are to believe what we read, the last.
It would be a great pity if the reputation the SHOWBUS name has built up over the years were to be lost but we shall have to wait and see.
LKP 385P ‘Maidstone & District’ (M&D) No. 5385.
Volvo Ailsa B55 / Alexander AV7 /1
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
In the early 1970s. Leyland had mopped up UK based bus building competitors AEC and Daimler.
It was almost a Leyland monopoly.
Other manufactures associated with the bus industry decided to make a bid for a share of the business.
Volvo via the Ailsa, MCW’s Metropolitan with the Scania underframe and Bristol / Eastern Coach Works who were better known for the Lodekka all entered the competition with the VR.
If my memory is correct, this bus was one of five of its type that were purchased for assessment by the BET Federation group in 1975.
MCW’s Scania / MCW Metropolitan (5 ordered), and Bristol’s VR / ECW (7 ordered) made up the balance of the competition.
All went to ‘M&D’ with a view to bulk orders being placed for whichever proved the most successful.
The Bristol being the eventual winner with several thousands being produced.
LKP 385P ‘Maidstone & District’ No. 5385.
Ailsa B55 / Alexander AV7 /2
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
J257 NLU ‘Reading Buses’ No. 701.
DAF DB250 / Optare Spectra
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Originally registered MRD 1 by Optare for use as a demonstrator prior to being delivered to Reading.
Now 30 years old and still in my view one of the most attractive double deck bodies ever built
The design was ahead of its time being of integral construction which probably cost it in terms of sales.
LJ59 LYW ‘First Essex Bus’ No. 34462.
Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Trident / ‘ADL’ Enviro400
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
New to ‘ARRIVA’ London.
W425 XKX ‘ARRIVA MIDLANDS’ No. 5425. ‘SHOWBUS Control’.
Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400
on Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
New to ‘Arriva The Shires’.
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