Two Bristol K5G's DDL985 [710] & DDL986 [711], with ECW five-bay bodywork with square-cornered sliding vents mounted seperately above the window and three-aperture type "C" destination screens at the front and rear (and also over the entrance platform) and Gardner 5LW 5-cylinder diesel engines were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1946 which entered service in (the then new) Tilling Green & Cream livery. They were the first double-deckers to feature PV2 low radiators.

Eleven Bristol K5G's , with ECW five-bay bodywork and Gardner 5LW 5-cylinder diesel engines were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1947 which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery. They differed from the batch supplied in 1946 in that they featured rounded-type sliding vents combined with the rest of the window (which featured on subsequent ECW bodied bus & coach deliveries). EDL17 [713] / EDL18 [714] / EDL19 [715] / EDL20 [716] / EDL21 [717] / EDL22 [718] & EDL23 [719] featured three-aperture type "C" destination screens at the front and rear (and also over the entrance platform) whilst EDL656 [720] / EDL657 [721] / EDL658 [722] & EDL659 [723] featured two-aperture type "D" destination screens at the front and rear (and also over the entrance platform).

Five Bristol K5G's FDL292 [724] / FDL293 [725] / FDL294 [726] / FDL295 [727] & FDL296 [728], with ECW five-bay bodywork and Gardner 5LW 5-cylinder diesel engines were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1948 which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery. They differed from the final batch supplied in 1947 in that the main pillars were of aluminium alloy instead of timber (which featured on subsequent ECW bus deliveries) resulting in slimmer bodies and increased interior space.

Three Bristol K5G's , with ECW five-bay bodywork and Gardner 5LW 5-cylinder diesel engines were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1949 which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery. FDL297 [729] & FDL298 [730] were identical to the batch delivered in 1948. FDL983 [731] differed in that it did not feature the destination screen over the entrance platform and was fitted with a flexibly mounted engine (both of which featured on subsequent Bristol/ECW bus deliveries). FDL297 [729] & FDL298 [730] were delivered direct to London Transport Executive of London SW1 being on loan to them from January 1949 FDL297 [729] - or March 1949 FDL298 [730] - until November 1949 before entering service with Southern Vectis.

Eight Bristol K5G's , with ECW five-bay bodywork and Gardner 5LW 5-cylinder diesel engines were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1950 which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery. FDL984 [732] / FDL985 [733] / FDL986 [734] / FDL987 [735] / GDL434 [736] / GDL435 [737] / GDL711 [738] & GDL712 [739] were identical to FDL983 [731] delivered in 1949. GDL434 [736] & GDL435 [737] were diverted from Caledonian Omnibus Company Ltd of Dumfries.

During 1950 DDL986 [711] was involved in an overturning accident at Wroxall, it was subsequently repaired and returned to service.

At an unknown date those that featured the destination screens over the entrance platform had these either:

• panelled over: DDL985 [710] & DDL986 [711]
• painted out and removed: EDL17 [713] / EDL18 [714] / EDL19 [715] / EDL20 [716] / EDL21 [717] / EDL22 [718] / EDL23 [719] / EDL656 [720] / EDL657 [721] / EDL658 [722] & EDL659 [723]
• painted out: FDL292 [724] / FDL293 [725] / FDL294 [726] / FDL295 [727] / FDL296 [728] / FDL297 [729] & FDL298 [730]

At an unknown date some of them were fitted with "T" type destination screens front & rear with single-track route number beneath the destination screen by:

• fitting new panels: EDL656 [720] / EDL657 [721] / EDL658 [722] / EDL659 [723] / FDL293 [725] / FDL295 [727] & FDL296 [728]
• blanking off the lower screen with hardboard: FDL297 [729] / FDL298 [730] / FDL983 [731] / FDL984 [732] / FDL985 [733] / FDL986 [734] / FDL987 [735] / GDL434 [736] / GDL435 [737] / GDL711 [738] & GDL712 [739]

From 10 June 1963 until 30 September 1963 EDL17 [713] / EDL18 [714] & EDL20 [716] went on loan to Eastern National Omnibus Company Ltd. of Chelmsford being allocated temporary fleet numbers [1090] / [1091] & [1092] respectively and operated at Clacton.

They were withdrawn from service in:
December 1960: EDL22 [718] & EDL23 [719]
1961: DDL985 [710] & DDL986 [711]
December 1963: EDL17 [713] / EDL18 [714] / EDL19 [715] / EDL20 [716] & EDL21 [717]
1964: FDL292 [724] / FDL293 [725] / FDL294 [726] / FDL295 [727] & FDL296 [728]
September 1964: FDL297 [729] / FDL298 [730] & FDL983 [731]
November 1964: FDL984 [732] / FDL985 [733] & FDL986 [734]
December 1964: EDL656 [720] / EDL657 [721] / EDL658 [722] & EDL659 [723]
July 1966: GDL711 [738] & GDL712 [739]
October 1966: FDL987 [735] / GDL434 [736] & GDL435 [737]

Subsequent History

DDL985 [710]:

• In December 1961 it was sold to Faulkner of Fareham (dealer).
• Also in December 1961 it was sold to Lansdowne Luxury Coaches Ltd. of London E11 but was not operated by them.

DDL986 [711]:

• In December 1961 it was sold to Faulkner of Fareham (dealer).
• Also in December 1961 it was sold to Lansdowne Luxury Coaches Ltd. of London E11.

EDL17 [713]:

• In December 1963 it was sold to T.P.E. of Macclesfield (dealer).
• In February 1964 it was sold to J.J. Corrigan t/a J & B Corrigan of Nottingham.
• In August 1964 it was sold to Mitchell Construction Company Ltd. of Peterborough (contractor).

EDL18 [714]:

• In December 1963 it was sold to T.P.E. of Macclesfield (dealer).
• Around December 1964 it was sold to Wombwell Diesels of Wombwell (dealer).

EDL19 [715]:

• In December 1963 it was sold to T.P.E. of Macclesfield (dealer).
• In February 1964 it was sold to J.J. Corrigan t/a J & B Corrigan of Nottingham.
• In August 1964 it was sold to an unknown contractor of Doncaster.

EDL20 [716]:

• In December 1963 it was sold to T.P.E. of Macclesfield (dealer).
• In March 1964 it was sold to Marchwood Motorways Ltd. of Totton. It was withdrawn in July 1966.

EDL21 [717]:

• In December 1963 it was sold to T.P.E. of Macclesfield (dealer).
• In April 1964 it was sold to Marchwood Motorways Ltd. of Totton. It was withdrawn in July 1966.

EDL22 [718]:

• In January 1961 it was sold to Aston's Coaches (Marton) Ltd. of Marton. From February 1962 it was hired to Turriff Construction Corp. Ltd. of Warwick (contractor) until it was withdrawn in July 1962.

EDL23 [719]:

• In February 1962 it was sold to Aston's Coaches (Marton) Ltd. of Marton operating as part of their contract fleet. From February 1962 it was hired to Turriff Construction Corp. Ltd. of Warwick (contractor).
• In July 1962 it was sold to Turriff Construction Corp. Ltd. of Warwick (contractor) as a non-runner.

EDL656 [720]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

EDL657 [721]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).
• During 1965 it was sold to Osgood's Coaches Ltd. t/a Testwood Cab Company of Totton. From June 1967 it was hired to Royal Army Ordnance Depot of Bicester until being withdrawn in July 1975.
• In July 1976 it was sold to P.J. Relf of Cowes (later Haslemere) for preservation.
• In November 1987 it was sold to D. Priddle of Horsham for preservation.
• During 1992 it was sold to D. Hunt of Rookley, IW, for preservation.

EDL658 [722]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).
• In June 1965 it was sold to Hawkins Brothers (Gosport) Ltd. of Gosport.
• In September 1966 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

EDL659 [723]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).
• In September 1965 it was sold to Baker of Bordon (dealer).
• Also in September 1965 it was sold to H.J. Newman t/a South Bucks Coaches of Slough. It was withdrawn by April 1969.

FDL292 [724]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

FDL293 [725]:

• In July 1965 it was sold to North of Sherburn-in-Elmet (dealer) and scrapped.

FDL294 [726]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).
• In August 1965 it was sold to A.E. Campbell of Pitsea. It was withdrawn in August 1967.

FDL295 [727]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

FDL296 [728]:

• In July 1965 it was sold to North of Sherburn-in-Elmet (dealer).
• Also in July 1965 it was sold to Churchbridge Luxury Coaches Ltd. of Cannock operating as their number [1].
• In December 1968 it was sold to Gammell of Walsall (dealer) for scrap.

FDL297 [729]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).
• In April 1965 it was sold to B. & H.F. Cheek t/a Elms Coaches of Kenton. It was withdrawn by June 1970.

FDL298 [730]:

• In July 1965 it was sold to North of Sherburn-in-Elmet (dealer) and scrapped in November 1965.

FDL983 [731]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

FDL984 [732]:

• In October 1964 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

FDL985 [733]:

• In July 1965 it was sold to North of Sherburn-in-Elmet (dealer).
• In September 1965 it was sold to A. Ward t/a Wardline Coaches of Wakefield.
• In May 1968 it was sold to Georges Coaches Ltd. of Kirkburton. It was withdrawn in October 1968.

FDL986 [734]:

• In July 1965 it was sold to North of Sherburn-in-Elmet (dealer).

FDL987 [735]:

• In October 1966 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

GDL434 [736]:

• In April 1967 it was sold to H.E. Crudington of Pitsea being licensed in May 1967. It was withdrawn by May 1969.

GDL435 [737]:

• At an unknown date it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).
• By September 1967 it had been sold to H.E. Crudington of Pitsea.
• In June 1968 it was sold to A. Ward t/a Wardline Coaches of Wakefield.
• In September 1969 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer). It was scrapped by November 1970.

GDL711 [738]:

• In October 1966 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

GDL712 [739]:

• In October 1966 it was sold to Jefferis of Hedge End (dealer).

An offside-front view of EDL17 [713] in Tilling Green & Cream livery when it was on loan to Eastern National as their [1090] during July 1963 at Clacton.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

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

An offside-front view of EDL19 [715] in Tilling Green & Cream Livery at Shanklin Bus Station sometime during the 1960's.
[photo copyright of Ray Soper]

An offside-front view of preserved EDL657 [721] in Tilling Green & Cream livery on 1 May 1977 at Nottingham Road, South Croydon.
[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 preserved EDL657 [721] in Tilling Green & Cream livery on 28 August 1977 at Sandown Zoo.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

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

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