Scatmancraig1974
South West Coaches Leyland Leopard WSV323 at Milborne Wick 14/03/2011
A fairly significant vehicle in my driving career was this Leyland Leopard PSU5C/4R WSV323. This was new to Ebdons of Sidcup in February 1980 as LVS421V with a Duple Dominant body. Wakes Services of Sparkford acquired the coach in 1983, and operated it with the original body until 1992. It was then involved in a serious front end accident near Charlton Horethorne, and the body was written off. The chassis was found to be in good condition, so it was sent to Plaxtons for a new Paramount 3200 body to be fitted. It was then re-registered to WSV323, which it still carries. It was also fitted with a Leyland TL11 engine at some point, but whether this was before the rebody or not i'm not sure? The bus later passed into the South West Coaches fleet when they took over the Wakes business in 2000.
This bus is significant to me as to this day it's the only Leopard i've ever driven in service, a vehicle type which eluded me everywhere i worked and i was fairly shocked to discover this vehicles existence in the South West Coaches fleet!
This photo was taken at Milborne Wick on 14/03/2011, a village not to far from the scene of the accident described above. I was about to start the AM 956B school contract to King Arthur's School in Wincanton. I'm not sure if this fine coach is still in service, i know it was due for MOT in November, and there was talk of taking it out of service as apparently the 31 year old chassis is starting to get a little worse for wear!
South West Coaches Leyland Leopard WSV323 at Milborne Wick 14/03/2011
A fairly significant vehicle in my driving career was this Leyland Leopard PSU5C/4R WSV323. This was new to Ebdons of Sidcup in February 1980 as LVS421V with a Duple Dominant body. Wakes Services of Sparkford acquired the coach in 1983, and operated it with the original body until 1992. It was then involved in a serious front end accident near Charlton Horethorne, and the body was written off. The chassis was found to be in good condition, so it was sent to Plaxtons for a new Paramount 3200 body to be fitted. It was then re-registered to WSV323, which it still carries. It was also fitted with a Leyland TL11 engine at some point, but whether this was before the rebody or not i'm not sure? The bus later passed into the South West Coaches fleet when they took over the Wakes business in 2000.
This bus is significant to me as to this day it's the only Leopard i've ever driven in service, a vehicle type which eluded me everywhere i worked and i was fairly shocked to discover this vehicles existence in the South West Coaches fleet!
This photo was taken at Milborne Wick on 14/03/2011, a village not to far from the scene of the accident described above. I was about to start the AM 956B school contract to King Arthur's School in Wincanton. I'm not sure if this fine coach is still in service, i know it was due for MOT in November, and there was talk of taking it out of service as apparently the 31 year old chassis is starting to get a little worse for wear!