Devon Liner
26 April 1987 and a day trip from Exeter to Brighton saw this beast turn up to transport us on the first leg up to London. If I ever knew why Devon General had the need to hire in coaches from London Buses, I’ve long since forgotten! The PSV Circle reported two vehicles being on hire on an alternating basis throughout most of April and May 1987, although London Buses ML1 (C101 DYE) then stayed with DG until the September. The others hired in were ML2 (C102 DYE), ML4 (C104 DYE) and DD7 (C27 MCX). All were MCW Metroliners except for DD7 which was a Duple Caribbean 2 bodied DAF and had become surplus to London Buses after they pulled out of the London Liner express service to Birmingham.
DG ran five Metroliners of their own: 1400-2 (A940-2 MDV) bought new, 1403 (B530 AYA) bought second-hand from Southern National in 1988 which were all to ‘Rapide’ spec with toilets, serveries and central doors/staircases plus the solitary 1407 (A762 VAF) ‘Express’ spec vehicle with front door and front staircase, which was acquired from Western National when just four months old. All would stay until the autumn of 1990 when DG’s National Express work would pass to Trathens. IIRC Trathens acquired the lot, buying four new Skyliners of their own and selling the five Metroliners to Happy Days in exchange for two further Skyliners.
For the record, 1400 (A940 MDV) performed the London to Exeter run that April evening.
Devon Liner
26 April 1987 and a day trip from Exeter to Brighton saw this beast turn up to transport us on the first leg up to London. If I ever knew why Devon General had the need to hire in coaches from London Buses, I’ve long since forgotten! The PSV Circle reported two vehicles being on hire on an alternating basis throughout most of April and May 1987, although London Buses ML1 (C101 DYE) then stayed with DG until the September. The others hired in were ML2 (C102 DYE), ML4 (C104 DYE) and DD7 (C27 MCX). All were MCW Metroliners except for DD7 which was a Duple Caribbean 2 bodied DAF and had become surplus to London Buses after they pulled out of the London Liner express service to Birmingham.
DG ran five Metroliners of their own: 1400-2 (A940-2 MDV) bought new, 1403 (B530 AYA) bought second-hand from Southern National in 1988 which were all to ‘Rapide’ spec with toilets, serveries and central doors/staircases plus the solitary 1407 (A762 VAF) ‘Express’ spec vehicle with front door and front staircase, which was acquired from Western National when just four months old. All would stay until the autumn of 1990 when DG’s National Express work would pass to Trathens. IIRC Trathens acquired the lot, buying four new Skyliners of their own and selling the five Metroliners to Happy Days in exchange for two further Skyliners.
For the record, 1400 (A940 MDV) performed the London to Exeter run that April evening.