H106 The 500 Group's Ex Cleveland Transit Bristol VR . :: Fotopic.Net

H106 The 500 Group's Ex Cleveland Transit Bristol VR .

4th March 2008

Due to internal problems at Leyland throughout the 70's, Fleetlines were hard to get. In order to meet it's vehicle requirements for 1977, Cleveland Transit were offered a batch of fifteen Bristol VR's (from a Leyland Dealer!).
These were unusual (to ECW fans) in that they were Northern Counties bodied, but that was Transits specified bodybuilder, and the Buses would have been Northern Counties bodied anyway, regardless of the chassis type.
H100 - H114 arrived at Stockton Depot in 1977, and lasted till 1989, when they and several P reg Fleetlines, and the re-bodied Atlanteans (H38-H52) were displaced by Leyland Lynxes introduced from that year to combat the severe competion experienced by Transit from Trimdon Motor Service. This Company had established a network of predatory services on Teesside at the start of the De-regulation farce, becoming a thorn in Transit's side for several years. The new Leyland Lynxes being better equipped to meet this threat.
In order to show the type on the Rally scene before it was too late, I arranged for the 500 Group to take the last example of the class, H114, to the last Bradford Transport Museum Rally in October 1989, before that Museum closed to become the ill fated transperiance. H114's appearence at Bradford created a lot of interest, and caused some interesting comments amongst the many enthusiasts who had been brought up on ECW Bristols.
An attempt by the 500 Group to purchase H114 along with Fleetline JDC544L, came to nothing as H114 had already been earmarked for sale.
The Bristols were withdrawn during the de-regulation period, when you sold your assets for what you could get for them, and thus several of these Bristols found new homes with operators nationwide.
H106 together with H113 & H114, found themselves on the isle of Anglesy in Wales, working for Jones of Llanthethlu.
By 2005, H106 was the last survivor of this trio, and the only survivor of the batch intact as a Bus, the other two survivors (H100/H108) were both exhibition units.
H106 was advertised in the Magazine Bus and Coach Preservation, and it was duly retrieved for preservation during 2005.
Work is still going on with this Bus, much of it needing major rebuilding, this collection of photos will show the restoration as it develops.
As a footnote, when the 500 Group took H114 to Bradford back in 1989, I made up a display board showing the two different liveries carried by these Bristols at that time, the picture illustrating the then new de-regulation livery (of which several of these Buses carried) was none other than H106! Spooky or what!

The first view, H106 up against the boundry fence at Jones in Llanthethlu on Anglesy. There was plenty of Ivy growing up the side, which harboured some impressive spiders!!	On the long way back to Teesside on the M5 (I think) the company doing the towing was Turners of Sedgefield, who did a marvellous job, I highly recommend them to anyone requiring a tow for a preserved Bus.	And here she is at a secure non accessable location on Teesside.	Here she is ready for its initial tow to the local Quik Fit!
Nearly done and some last minute checks.	H106 is seen here being prepared for the road, it was at this point that we were told that it needed at least two new rear tyres.	Eventually though, the lower nearside was repaired, the upstairs however, was still remarkably sound.	As you can see by this window, some of it was pretty horriffic.
Early examination involved taking off the lower deck panels to see what sort of condition the bus was in.	The funnels above the engine were a nightmare! all of this was rebuilt, it's a typically 70's thing-all rot!	Here you can see the rebuilt rear end, the next task is to work on the front.	In the early days of it's stripping out, the blue tarpaulin kept the rain out (alledgedley!)
H106 at Stockton Depot in October 1989, wearing it's deregulation livery, and sporting a very interesting advert indeed! The Bristol VR just partially visible on the right here, is H114, which the 500 Group had taken to the Bradford Rally the weekend before.	Interior view with many of the bits laid out ready for storage during the restoration.	This is how H106 will be like when it's finished - 1980's style Exact Fare livert with the yellow doors. It is seen here leaving Middlesbrough Bus Station on an 18 service to Overfields in Middlesbrough c1985. Many thanks to Mark Wilson for the use of this shot.