A Viking in Rugeley.
One of our many Saturday afternoons out in the latter half of the 1980s took us to the Staffordshire town of Rugeley. The locality was principally served by Midland Red North at the time, they having acquired the original (Wheildon's) 'Green Bus Service' based in the town during the 1970s. By the time of our visit however, a 'new' independent by the name of 'Key Coachways' had commenced operations there.
The small fleet contained some interesting tackle, principal of which on this particular day was this ex SBG Alexander 'Y Type' bodied Albion Viking MWG 486F which would have been approaching its 20th birthday.
The Viking VK43L was a rear engined chassis featuring Leyland's upright 400 diesel. After a quick photo (on some crumby 400 ASA grainy film here), we found ouselves 'compelled' to go for a ride on it, and I recall that to accomodate the offside rear emergency door of the 'Y Type', the adjoining seating arrangement was a little odd at the back end.
I can never get to grips with the various Rugeley area operators of this era as they seemed to come and go and to morph into other things. Did Key Coachways later become Blue Bus Services?
A Viking in Rugeley.
One of our many Saturday afternoons out in the latter half of the 1980s took us to the Staffordshire town of Rugeley. The locality was principally served by Midland Red North at the time, they having acquired the original (Wheildon's) 'Green Bus Service' based in the town during the 1970s. By the time of our visit however, a 'new' independent by the name of 'Key Coachways' had commenced operations there.
The small fleet contained some interesting tackle, principal of which on this particular day was this ex SBG Alexander 'Y Type' bodied Albion Viking MWG 486F which would have been approaching its 20th birthday.
The Viking VK43L was a rear engined chassis featuring Leyland's upright 400 diesel. After a quick photo (on some crumby 400 ASA grainy film here), we found ouselves 'compelled' to go for a ride on it, and I recall that to accomodate the offside rear emergency door of the 'Y Type', the adjoining seating arrangement was a little odd at the back end.
I can never get to grips with the various Rugeley area operators of this era as they seemed to come and go and to morph into other things. Did Key Coachways later become Blue Bus Services?