Bristol Lodekka FLF/ECW (1968): KDL143-145F [619-621]

Detailed History

Three Bristol Lodekka FLF6G's, with ECW bodywork, were bought new by Southern Vectis during December 1967, which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery during January 1968. Otherwise identical to the batch previously delivered during early 1967, this batch differed internally to the previous Lodekka's in that the seating was covered in a smooth pattern green vinyl, the interior panelling below the windows and the seat backs were covered in cream & gold formica while the panelling around the staircase and the cab interior were painted cream which also featured in subsequent ECW bus vehicles delivered new. They were the last Bristol Lodekka's purchased new by the company.

During the summer season of 1968 KDL145F [621] carried the Ryde Borough Crest to commemorate the town's centenary.

They were withdrawn in:
February 1973: KDL143F [619] & KDL144F [620]
March 1973: KDL145F [621]

Subsequent History

KDL143F [619]:

In February 1973 it was transferred to Central SMT operating as their number [BE368] in exchange for a 1969 Bristol VRT NGM168G.
In June 1977 it was withdrawn after accident damage.
In September 1978 it was scrapped by Tiger of Salsburgh (dealer).

KDL144F [620]:

In March 1973 it was transferred to Eastern Scottish operating as their number [AA990] in exchange for a 1969 Bristol VRT OSF305G.
In January 1982 it was sold to Muir of Kirkcaldy (dealer) and was scrapped by March 1982.

KDL145F [621]:

In March 1973 it was transferred to Eastern Scottish operating as their number [AA991] in exchange for a 1969 Bristol VRT OSF307G.
In August 1982 it was sold to Muir of Kirkcaldy (dealer).
By December 1982 it had been bought and was operated by Kinross Investments of Kinross.
In February 1986 it was sold to Stagecoach of Perth operating as their number [086].
In April 1988 it operated with Magicbus of Glasgow as their number [086].
By August 1990 it was back with Stagecoach of Perth operating as their number [086].
During late 1991 it was converted to offside entrance (H38/28C), for export to Canada, by East Midland Motor Services.
In April 1992 it was exported to Canada and was acquired and operated by Stagecoach Grayline of Toronto, Canada, as their number [2005]. During this time it carried Ontario licence plate BF5 349.
In March 1993 it passed to McKeil Marine of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. By September 1997 it had been repainted red (ex-Stagecoach livery) and was parked on a barge. It was subsequently noted on dry land on 1 October 2000 and was still noted with them on 3 February 2002 but had disappeared to Toronto by August 2002.
By June 2003 it had been converted to permanent open-top and was noted operating with The Bus & Boat Company of Toronto, Canada for sightseeing services. By 23 August 2004 it carried Licence Plate index "BL7 064" (previously BH8052).
By 25 June 2006 the Licence Plate had been removed and transferred to their open-top Routemaster [3] - it is beleived that KDL145F was withdrawn at the same time. [per Paul Bateson]
In November 2006 it was sold to Jumper Productions Inc. of Toronto, Canada. It was used for filming (the film) "Jumper" in December 2006.
During early March 2007 it was scrapped (view photo taken 26-Feb-2007). [per Paul Bateson]

Photo Selection

A nearside-front view of KDL143F after being transferred to Central SMT sometime during the 1970's. KDL143F had a short life, not quite surviving 10 years.
[photo copyright of A.J. Douglas (via. Stuart Macrae collection)]

A partial nearside-front view of KDL144F shortly after having been delivered to Eastern Scottish. In this view the original "T" type destination indicator had not been altered, dating the picture around 1973.
[photo copyright of BusSpotter!]

Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs

An offside-front view of KDL145F shortly after having been delivered to Eastern Scottish. In this view the original "T" type destination indicator had not been altered, dating the picture around 1973.
[photo copyright of Stuart Macrae collection]

A front-profile view of KDL145F (on the left) seen together with ex-Southdown FLF KPM92E during 1981 at St. Andrew's Bus Station, Edinburgh. Shortly after acquiring KDL145F, Eastern Scottish replaced the "T" type indicator with a three-track Scottish Bus Group type indicator.
[photo copyright of BusSpotter!]

Visit BusSpotter! for UK Bus Operator's Fleetlists and South East England Bus & Coach photographs

KDL145F later passed to Kinross Investments of Kinross, and was used for transport to and from the large Kinross Sunday Market. An offside-front view at Kinross Market on 3 July 1983.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

Colour prints may be available to buy - please e-mail Peter J. Relf for details

A nearside-front view of KDL145F (as Stagecoach [86]) at Spitalfield during August 1987. Note the Cream entrance door interior (which was a feature of this final batch of Lodekka's) and that (by this stage) the front licence plate had been moved to above the footplate.
[photo copyright of Malcolm Audsley]

An offside-front view of KDL145F with McKeil Marine Limited in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on 28 July 2000. For some time it had been located on a barge but was back on dry land by 9 January 2001.
[photo copyright of Roger Hardy]

Roger Hardy & Paul Bateson have a site dedicated to British Buses Abroad in North America

After conversion to permanent open-top for sightseeing services a nearside-front view of KDL145F with The Bus & Boat Company in Toronto, Canada, on 27 June 2003.
[photo copyright of Roger Hardy]

Roger Hardy & Paul Bateson have a site dedicated to British Buses Abroad in North America

Information on all surviving Bristol Lodekka's is available from The Bristol VR Enthusiasts' Society

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Technical & History Briefing
Chassis: Bristol Lodekka FLF6G				Body: ECW Series 2
Registration Mark	Fleet No.	Type	Chassis Number	Body Number	Date New	Date Withdrawn
	Other Owners
KDL143F Scrapped	[619]	H38/32F	236253	17004	12/1967	02/1973
	02/1973: Central SMT [BE368] 09/1978: Tiger, Salsburgh (dealer)
KDL144F Scrapped	[620]	H38/32F	236254	17005	12/1967	02/1973
	03/1973: Scottish Omnibuses [AA990] 01/1982: Muir, Kirkcaldy (dealer)
KDL145F Scrapped	[621]	H38/32F	236255	17006	12/1967	03/1973
	03/1973: Scottish Omnibuses [AA991] 08/1982: Muir, Kirkcaldy (dealer) by 12/1982: Kinross Investments, Kinross 02/1986: Stagecoach [086], Perth 04/1988: Magicbus [086], Glasgow by 08/1990: Stagecoach [086], Perth 04/1992: Stagecoach Grayline [2005], Toronto, Canada 03/1993: McKeil Marine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (gone by 08/2002) by 06/2003: Bus & Boat Company, Toronto, Canada - probably withdrawn 06/2006 11/2006: Jumper Productions Inc., Toronto, Canada - scrapped 03/2007