Gnosallcoachman
Happy Days school buses variety 1982
This was the regular line up on Chell Road commercial vehicle park during school days in the 80's. Interesting variety of body styles and livery! Nearest the camera is 109 Ford R226 Duple Viceroy 36 DRE 623E hiding a 45 seater Ford Willowbrook RRE 47*L. Third coach is XRW 512S a Ford Dominant 2 which came from Smith's of Tysoe when delivery of the two Volvo Caetano Alphas was held up. It was one of few coaches Happy Days owned without a power door. Next is YRF 988M Ford Dominant 1 grant coach, then one of the S reg Ford R1114 Van Hools - WNX 48S/VFK 956S or THB 884S. The Volvo Goldliner VRF 200X was the first one of the three and just a few months old at the time. Then its Volvo Caetano GRF 446V, and finally one of the CEH 20*T Ford Dominant 2's in yellow and red livery (like SEA 553R) before repainting into red and black on white. See my pic of CEH 202T for the newer livery it carried. This was clearly being used on a stage carriage turn with the driver either Dave Banks (201T) or Sid Hull (202T) having his break,as it was unusual for vehicles to be parked all the way across upto the white building (Props Wine bar as it was known in those days). Some of the other vehicles eg the Caetano may also have been on just a brief stop between journeys.
It was standard practise at the time for vehicles only used on schools to be left here all day between the morning and afternoon runs. One coach would take all the drivers back to the garage between these runs. I got left behind one day and ended up meeting the great Cyril Austin in town as he was returning to the yard with E357 LJF an Iveco Ford 21 seater that I myself drove on a few occasions.
Happy Days school buses variety 1982
This was the regular line up on Chell Road commercial vehicle park during school days in the 80's. Interesting variety of body styles and livery! Nearest the camera is 109 Ford R226 Duple Viceroy 36 DRE 623E hiding a 45 seater Ford Willowbrook RRE 47*L. Third coach is XRW 512S a Ford Dominant 2 which came from Smith's of Tysoe when delivery of the two Volvo Caetano Alphas was held up. It was one of few coaches Happy Days owned without a power door. Next is YRF 988M Ford Dominant 1 grant coach, then one of the S reg Ford R1114 Van Hools - WNX 48S/VFK 956S or THB 884S. The Volvo Goldliner VRF 200X was the first one of the three and just a few months old at the time. Then its Volvo Caetano GRF 446V, and finally one of the CEH 20*T Ford Dominant 2's in yellow and red livery (like SEA 553R) before repainting into red and black on white. See my pic of CEH 202T for the newer livery it carried. This was clearly being used on a stage carriage turn with the driver either Dave Banks (201T) or Sid Hull (202T) having his break,as it was unusual for vehicles to be parked all the way across upto the white building (Props Wine bar as it was known in those days). Some of the other vehicles eg the Caetano may also have been on just a brief stop between journeys.
It was standard practise at the time for vehicles only used on schools to be left here all day between the morning and afternoon runs. One coach would take all the drivers back to the garage between these runs. I got left behind one day and ended up meeting the great Cyril Austin in town as he was returning to the yard with E357 LJF an Iveco Ford 21 seater that I myself drove on a few occasions.