Prior to delivery, during June & July 1953 LRU67 - a Hants & Dorset Bristol LD6B with H33/25R bodywork (new to them in April 1953) - was on loan to Southern Vectis for demonstration purposes and was used in service from Newport Depot. It retained its Hants & Dorset fleet number [1337]. This pre-production LD differed from the early production LD's in that the radiator cowl featured a coarse slated grill and different driver's cab window arrangement.

During the summer of 1954 KDL411 [515] overturned in an accident caused by a steering fault at Alvington, Carisbrooke. It was subsequently repaired and returned to service.

Between September 1956 and 1960 the "VIA" destination screens were disused and phased-out, being set to display "SOUTHERN VECTIS".

Around 1956/1957 the original long front wings (which were like those to be found on the later FLF Lodekka's) were cut back to allow more air cooling of the front brakes.

In 1957 the batch was converted to H33/24R by removing the nearside two-tier luggage rack, over and behind the wheel arch in the lower saloon (which were originally fitted for operation on rail-replacement services), and replacing with a longitudinal seat for three passengers.

Around 1959/1960 underseat saloon heaters were fitted to the batch.

On 1 January 1962 JDL998 [502] overturned in icy conditions near Fishbourne Lane junction. It was subsequently repaired and returned to service.

During 1963/1964 the batch was further converted to H33/27R by removing the offside two-tier luggage rack and replacing with a longitudinal seat for three passengers in:
April 1963: JDL998 [502] / KDL403 [507] / KDL413 [517] & KDL416 [520]
May 1963: KDL407 [511] & KDL410 [514]
June 1963: KDL402 [506] & KDL408 [512]
July 1963: JDL997 [501] & KDL1 [504]
September 1963: JDL996 [500] / KDL409 [513] / KDL411 [515] & KDL415 [519]
October 1963: KDL401 [505]
November 1963: KDL412 [516] & KDL414 [518]
December 1963: JDL999 [503] / KDL405 [509] & KDL406 [510]
January 1964: KDL404 [508].

In July 1968 KDL416 [520] fell thirty feet onto its nearside after it had overturned in an accident at Alvington, Carisbrooke. It also fell onto its offside during righting operations. It was immediately withdrawn from service and cannibalised for spares.

In August 1970 KDL410 [514] was fitted with a replacement, later style, short-type radiator cowl following an accident.

Most of them were withdrawn from service in:
September 1970: JDL996 [500] / JDL997 [501] / JDL998 [502] / JDL999 [503] & KDL1 [504] (the engines from JDL996 [500] & JDL997 [501] were removed for spares).
August 1971: KDL402 [506] & KDL403 [507]
September 1971: KDL401 [505] / KDL404 [508] / KDL405 [509] / KDL406 [510] / KDL408 [512] & KDL409 [513]
September 1972: KDL407 [511] & KDL410 [514]

From October 1973 KDL413 [517] & KDL414 [518] - or November 1973 KDL411 [515] / KDL412 [516] & KDL415 [519] - went on loan to Hants & Dorset Motor Services Limited and entered service as their numbers [3490] / [3491] / [3492] / [3493] & [3489] respectively, returning back to the island in May 1974 KDL412 [516] & KDL413 [517] - or April 1975 KDL411 [515] / KDL414 [518] & KDL415 [519].

The remaining five were withdrawn from service in:
May 1974: KDL412 [516] & KDL413 [517]
September 1975: KDL411 [515] / KDL414 [518] & KDL415 [519]

Subsequent History

JDL996 [500]:

• In October 1971 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) and was scrapped.

JDL997 [501]:

• In October 1971 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In June 1975 it was sold and exported to Companhia de Autocarres of Macau. It was converted to permanent open-top, reregistered to M-87-61 and entered service as their number [206]. It is likely that it was withdrawn in 1988.
• Believed to have been scrapped during the late 1980's (unconfirmed).

JDL998 [502]:

• In October 1971 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In January 1972 it was sold to an unknown owner in Essex.
• In May 1972 it passed to Riverway Enterprises of Harlow.
• In November 1972 it passed back to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).

JDL999 [503]:

• In October 1971 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
• In September 1974 it was sold to Costain of Boston Spa (contractor).
• In October 1977 it was sold to Milne Commercials of Aberdeen (dealer).

KDL1 [504]:

• In October 1971 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer) and was scrapped - the registration was transferred to a private vehicle.

KDL401 [505]:

• In October 1971 it was sold to North of Sherburn (dealer).
• In May 1972 it passed to Jones Brothers of Malvern Link being used for schools transport.
  In October 1976 it was withdrawn and, after having the upper-deck completely removed, was used as a Towing Vehicle from 1978.

KDL402 [506]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [931].
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [92].
• In January 1977 it was sold to Rollinson of Carlton (dealer).

KDL403 [507]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [932].
• In April 1974 it was sold to Martin of Middlewich (dealer).

KDL404 [508]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [933].
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [93].
• In October 1978 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer).

KDL405 [509]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [934] in August 1973.
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [94].
• In April 1977 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer).

KDL406 [510]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [935] in August 1973.
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [95].
• In October 1978 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer).

KDL407 [511]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [936] in August 1973.
• In July 1975 it was sold to H. Cowley of Heywood (dealer).

KDL408 [512]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [937] in August 1973.
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [96].
• In October 1978 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer).

KDL409 [513]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [938] in August 1973.
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [97].
• In September 1978 it passed to Hartwood Finance of Lundwood (dealer).
• In October 1978 it was sold to Rollinson of Carlton (dealer).

KDL410 [514]:

• In July 1973 it was sold to United Counties and entered service as their number [939] in August 1973.
• In January 1976 it passed to United being used as their Driver Trainer number [98].
• In October 1978 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer).

KDL411 [515]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and was scrapped.

KDL412 [516]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In April 1976 it was sold and exported to Heineken of Zoutewoude, Holland.

KDL413 [517]:

• In October 1975 it was sold to Omnibus Promotions of London (dealer).
• In January 1976 it was exported to British Promotions of Norfolk, Virginia, USA. It was chartered to The Government of Virginia Bicentennial Committee during the summer of 1976 for Park & Ride service in Williamsburg, Virginia.
• By December 1987 it had passed to an unknown owner in Denver, Colorado, USA in use as a stationary information & ticket kiosk. It disappeared around 1998 to an unknown destination.

KDL414 [518]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and was scrapped.

KDL415 [519]:

• In October 1976 it was sold to Booth of Rotherham (dealer) and was scrapped.

KDL416 [520]:

• In January 1969 the remains were sold to Ball of Oakfield, Ryde, (dealer) for scrap.

After withdrawal KDL401 passed to Jones Brothers of Malvern Link. It was used for schools transport for a few years but, after complete removal of the upper-deck, ended up as a towing vehicle in 1978. A nearside-front view at Malvern Link on 26 January 1981.
[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 KDL407 [511] in Tilling Green & Cream Livery devoid of advertisements at Brading Bull Ring on 24 August 1972 one month before being withdrawn from service.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

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

Although actually a picture of Hants & Dorset Bristol FLF KRU235F [1258], to the left of the picture is a rear view of KDL413 when it was on loan to Hants & Dorset (as their [3492]), pictured here on 30 April 1974 at Southampton Bus Station. It is seen in NBC style Tilling Green & White livery. It returned to the Isle of Wight the next month and was immediately withdrawn.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

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