Worthing 29th July 2001

IUI 2138 combines a lowheight 74 seat Eastern Coach Works body with a Bristol VRT SL2 underframe.

This Bristol VRT was new to Southdown as their #573 [GNJ 573N] in December 1974. It remained here until passing to Brighton & Hove in 1986.

It was sold in August 1989 to Eagle and Hughes, Mold as their #8. Whilst here its front destination gear was boarded over with a school bus sign.

In August 1994 it was acquired by Nu-Venture Coaches. Now confined mainly to schoolwork and the occasional local bus work. The destination gear was restored and the Bristol is now a back up vehicle for the companies growing fleet of Leyland Titans and rarely sees use now on local bus work. Indeed it is the only non-Leyland Double Deck vehicle in the fleet. Most of its life with Nu-Venture has been spent operating from the main Aylesford depot operating on routes in the Maidstone area. However it has spent brief periods of time at the Hoo depot operating on services in the Medway area.

In August and September 1995 it was completely overhauled inside and out, receiving reupholstered seats at the same time. It gained its Irish registration number in April 1997, and has had two repaints whilst with Nu-Venture.