MAIDSTONE
JUBILEE BUS DAY |
NORTH
KENT VEHICLE PRESERVATION GROUP |
VEHICLE DISPLAY @ Maidstone West Station |  l-r: MFN946F, NKT875, HKE867 |
What was positively the last Jubilee bus event of the year took place at Maidstone West Station on Friday 27th December 2002.
A display of both preserved and interesting vehicles was held in the West Station car park, along with a selection of vehicles from the Nu-Venture fleet. A total of thirty-one vehicles attended the event throughout the day.
If you have any photos that you would like included in this feature then please e-mail them to... mj50bd2002@yahoo.co.uk
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| Vehicles on display from the Nu-Venture fleet included the two Greenways acquired earlier in the year. One freshly from repaint and conversion to single door, the other acted as the Jubilee day control bus still in its London 'Red Arrow' layout and livery. Both pictured above in the station car park |
Click here for complete list of vehicles that attended
Click
here for details about the vehicles used on the bus services
| Preserved vehicles on display included the Maidstone & District Knightrider coach. This 16 seat luxury coach is known as the 'Knightrider'. It was new in 1950 to Maidstone and District Motor Services. It has very deep leather upholstered seats, tables and a drinks cabinet. It was used only on very special occasions and by the directors. The coach remained owned by the company and its succesors until very recently. |
AEC Reliance Harrington Wayfarer (390 DKK) was also on display. It was new to M & D as a coach bodied by Harringtons of Hove in their Wayfarer style. After a few years 21 of this type were returned to the bodybuilder for conversion to dual purpose specification. The front end was replaced with a style used on service buses and fitted with power doors. It could now be used for both bus and coach work as the need arose. |  |
| Now owned by Carrs of Pluckley Leyland Titan PD2 (26 YKO) was displayed. It was new in 1963 and was once in the Maidstone Corporation fleet, it operated many routes in the Maidstone area. |
From the old to the more modern vehicles...
Local operator Farleigh Coaches were also represented at the event. Farleigh Coaches and Nu-Venture used to operated service 58 in the late 80's jointly. This service was then marketed as Farleigh-Venture. Farleigh Coaches Leyland National (SAE 758S) was one of the vehicles used by Farleigh Coaches during the 90's whe they oeprated route 58. Here it is pictured on display. |
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(Y2 NVC) is seen early in the morning at the West Station. |
...and of course the display would not have been complete without a Jubilee year vehicle. New in 2002, the newest vehicle on display was Sullivan Buses brand new East Lancs Lolyne bodied Dennis Trident (PJ52 BYP) seen here on the right at the West Station with destination displays for '4 Rickmansworth'. |
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| Many Nu-Venture vehicles were in attendance for various parts of the day in between workings. These included: IUI 2138/9, Y2 NVC, R720 BNF, N901 HWY, N2/3 FPK, J698 CGK, XFG 29Y, EWX 212Y. N2 FPK is pictured here at the West Station having worked a journey on route 82. |
