The Southern Vectis Unofficial Bus Enthusiasts' Website
Bristol Lodekka LD/ECW (1959)
 
Technical & History Briefing
Chassis: Bristol Lodekka LD6G Body: ECW Series 2
Registration
Mark		 Fleet
No.		 Type Chassis
Number		 Body
Number		 Date
New		 Date
Withdrawn
Other Owners
SDL265
Scrapped		 [560] H33/27R 150138 11016 1959 04/1978
09/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer)
03/1979: Hartwood Exports, Lundwood (dealer)
03/1980: Rollinson, Carlton (dealer)
SDL266
Scrapped		 [561] H33/27R 150139 11017 1959 04/1978
09/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer)
04/1979: Hartwood Exports, Lundwood (dealer)
WSJ325
previously
SDL267		 [562] H33/27R 150146 11018 06/1959 09/1979
01/1981: I. Thompson, Essex (for preservation)
by 12/1997: C. Sullivan, Borehamwood (for preservation)
by 06/1998: Ensign, Purfleet (dealer)
10/1998: Kadlec, Prague, Czech Republic
SDL268 [563] H33/27R 150147 11019 06/1959 09/1979
12/1980: R. Newman, Ryde, IW (for preservation)
SDL269
Scrapped		 [564] H33/27R 150154 11020 1959 04/1978
09/1978: North, Sherburn in Elmet (dealer)
04/1979: Hartwood Exports, Lundwood (dealer)
 
Detailed History
Five Bristol Lodekka LD6G's, with ECW bodywork and six-cylinder Gardner diesel engines, were bought new by Southern Vectis during 1959 which entered service in Tilling Green & Cream livery. These Lodekka deliveries differed from the previous batch supplied in 1958 in that they were fitted with hopper-type ventilators at the front of the upper-saloon. They were the first double-decker buses to be delivered with under-seat saloon heaters. Three of this batch, SDL267 [562] / SDL268 [563] & SDL269 [564], differed further in that they were fitted with hopper-type ventilators, two per side in the upper-saloon and three per side in the lower saloon, rather than being fitted with the usual sliding-vent types. These were all replaced with the more usual sliding-vent type around 1960.

In February 1977 SDL267 [562] & SDL268 [563] were transferred to the training fleet for a short time. Both were de-licensed throughout 1978 but returned to passenger service for the 1979 summer season.

They were withdrawn from service in:
April 1978: SDL265 [560] / SDL266 [561] & SDL269 [564]
September: 1979 SDL267 [562] & SDL268 [563]

Subsequent History

SDL265 [560]:

  • In September 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
  • In March 1979 it was sold to Hartwood Exports of Lundwood (dealer).
  • In March 1980 it was sold to Rollinson of Carlton (dealer).

SDL266 [561]:

  • In September 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
  • In April 1979 it was sold to Hartwood Exports of Lundwood (dealer).

SDL267 [562]:

  • In January 1981 it was sold to I. Thompson of Enfield for preservation.
  • By December 1997 it had passed to C. Sullivan of Borehamwood for further preservation.
  • By June 1998 it had passed to Ensign of Purfleet (dealer).
    At some stage, and before export, it was reregistered to WSJ325.
  • In October 1998 it was exported, being sold to Kadlec t/a Inter-Catering of Prague (Czech Republic) as a hospitality vehicle.
    By May 2005 it was noted being used as a mobile laboratory offering glaucoma checks.

SDL268 [563]:

  • In December 1980 it was sold to Richard Newman (Isle of Wight) for preservation.
    In August 1986, it returned to Southern Vectis on extended loan and re-entered service, as part of the Vintage Fleet, in May 1987. It was withdrawn in September 1995, when Vintage Fleet operations also ceased.
    Still owned by Richard Newman it can often be found at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum of Newport, IW.

SDL269 [564]:

  • In September 1978 it was sold to North of Sherburn in Elmet (dealer).
  • In April 1979 it was sold to Hartwood Exports of Lundwood (dealer).
 
Photo Selection

A nearside-front view of SDL267 [562] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery, with the earlier style of Double-N symbol beside the fleetname, at Newport Bus Station on 11 August 1977.
[photo copyright of Peter J. Relf]

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

A front view of SDL267 with Inter-Catering of Prague (Czech Republic) as a hospitality vehicle. This photograph was taken around late 2000/early 2001.
[photo supplied from the BVRES collection]
 
An offside-front view of SDL268 [563] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Shanklin Bus Station during September 1978.
[photo copyright of Chris Stewart]
 
An offside-front view of SDL268 [563] in Tilling Green & Cream livery at Coppins Bridge Car Park during the Southern Vectis open-day on 17 April 1988.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of SDL268 [563] at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum Running Day, Newport Harbour, on 15 October 2000. Note the application of fleet number plates, compared with the fablon vinyls affixed in the April 1988 photograph above.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of SDL268 [563] at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum Running Day, Newport Harbour, on 15 October 2000.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
Information on all surviving Bristol Lodekka's is available from The Bristol VR Enthusiasts' Society
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