The pride of Delaine
The Delaine bus business of Bourne, Lincolnshire is one of Britain’s longest-established operators, still going strong today, and currently in the hands of the fifth and sixth generations of the founding Delaine-Smith family. Its daily service between Bourne and Peterborough, first introduced in 1923, remains at the heart of the business.
Delaine has managed to accommodate tradition within the demands of a modern business, and this has been reflected in the retention of its long-standing livery. The fleet size has been maintained at around 45 vehicles, all immaculately presented whether bought new or second-hand. The company caters to the enthusiast community, retaining a collection of preserved vehicles from the fleet that live active lives at events.
Delaine also hosts running days, when the owners of preserved buses have the opportunity to give public rides on the Peterborough-Bourne route. On Bank Holiday Saturday in 1996, I participated in such a running day. The event also included a display of vehicles at the Peterborough Show Ground. There Delaine showed off its newest vehicle, N3OCT, a Volvo Olympian with East Lancashire bodywork to Alexander design. This bus was new in 1995 and served Delaine for 17 years. Later re-registered N923MPV, it served with two school bus operators in Eastern England, eventually going for scrap in 2020.
August 1996
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.
The pride of Delaine
The Delaine bus business of Bourne, Lincolnshire is one of Britain’s longest-established operators, still going strong today, and currently in the hands of the fifth and sixth generations of the founding Delaine-Smith family. Its daily service between Bourne and Peterborough, first introduced in 1923, remains at the heart of the business.
Delaine has managed to accommodate tradition within the demands of a modern business, and this has been reflected in the retention of its long-standing livery. The fleet size has been maintained at around 45 vehicles, all immaculately presented whether bought new or second-hand. The company caters to the enthusiast community, retaining a collection of preserved vehicles from the fleet that live active lives at events.
Delaine also hosts running days, when the owners of preserved buses have the opportunity to give public rides on the Peterborough-Bourne route. On Bank Holiday Saturday in 1996, I participated in such a running day. The event also included a display of vehicles at the Peterborough Show Ground. There Delaine showed off its newest vehicle, N3OCT, a Volvo Olympian with East Lancashire bodywork to Alexander design. This bus was new in 1995 and served Delaine for 17 years. Later re-registered N923MPV, it served with two school bus operators in Eastern England, eventually going for scrap in 2020.
August 1996
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.