The Southern Vectis Unofficial Bus Enthusiasts' Website
Dennis Dart/UVG Urbanstar (1996)
 
Technical & History Briefing
Chassis: Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3052 Body: UVG Urbanstar
Registration
Mark		 Fleet
No.		 Type Chassis
Number		 Body
Number		 Date
New		 Current Livery or
Date Withdrawn
N810PDL [810] B31F
previously
DP33F		 3233 Duple 5216/96 04/1996 Oxford Blue & Stripes
N811PDL [811] B31F
previously
DP33F		 3234 Duple 5217/96 04/1996 Oxford Blue & Stripes
N812PDL [812] B31F
previously
DP33F		 3235 Duple 5218/96 04/1996 Oxford Blue & Stripes
N813PDL [813] B31F
previously
DP33F		 3260 Duple 5219/96 04/1996 Oxford Blue & Stripes
N814PDL [814] B31F
previously
DP33F		 3259 Duple 5220/96 04/1996 Oxford Blue & Stripes
N815PDL [815] B31F
previously
DP33F		 3261 Duple 5221/96 04/1996 Oxford Blue & Stripes
 
Detailed History
Six Dennis Dart's, with UVG Urbanstar bodywork, were bought new by Southern Vectis in 1996 which were delivered in Mushroom & Dark Green livery. They were the first single-decker buses, bought by Southern Vectis, to have automatic gearboxes fitted.

In May 1996 they entered service. They were allocated initially to the (then) new "JetLink" services 91 & 92 linking Cowes Pontoon (via. Newport) to Sandown & Ventnor respectively, and carried vinyls for this service until these services ceased in May 2000.

In December 1997 N810PDL [810] was stolen and subsequently had to be returned to UVG to have extensive bodywork repairs undertaken, which included replacing all of the glass which had been smashed. This bus did not have the Dennis Dart badges reinstated at the front after the repairs had been completed. [per Gavin Rowney]

Between March & October 1998 the roof trafficator units at the front were removed and painted over, [810] being the first and [812] being the last to be so treated. [per Gavin Rowney]

Around 1999/2000 N813PDL [813] no longer carried the Dennis Dart badges at the front following accident damage at Parkhurst. [per Gavin Rowney]

During 2001 this batch had the destination blind layout reversed (ie. Destination to the offside, route number to the nearside) and replaced with a Day-glow screen:
In January 2001: N811PDL [811] / N812PDL [812] / N813PDL [813] & N814PDL [814] [per Gavin Rowney]
In March: 2001 N815PDL [815] [per Gavin Rowney]
date unknown: N810PDL [810]

In June 2001 N812PDL [812] had the (interior) brown-trim seat-backs replaced with grey plastic coverings. [per Gavin Rowney]

They were repainted into Oxford Blue & (Yellow, Orange & Red) Stripes livery:
By 4 October 2001: N814PDL [814] [per Gavin Rowney]
By 12 November 2001: N812PDL [812] [per Gavin Rowney]
During January 2002: N810PDL [810] & N813PDL [813] [per Gavin Rowney]
During August 2002: N811PDL [811] / N815PDL [815] [per Gavin Rowney]

During 2003 this batch were reseated to B31F by removing one of the nearside seats towards the rear and replacing all other seats with bus type in:
August 2003: N812PDL [812]
September 2003: N811PDL [811] / N815PDL [815] / N813PDL [813]
October 2003: N814PDL [814]
November 2003: N810PDL [810]
[per Paul Budden / Ian Rivett & Gavin Rowney]

From 2005 several carried a rear-end full-size ContraVision advertisement:
By 7 April 2005 (removed by 11 January 2006): N810PDL [810] for "Isle of Wight Steam Railway". [per Gavin Rowney]
By 14 July 2005 (removed by 17 January 2006): N812PDL [812] for "Isle of Wight Lottery". [per Gavin Rowney]
By 14 July 2005 (removed by 24 August 2006): N811PDL [811] for "Islandwide Carpets". [per Dave Joliffe / Gavin Rowney]
By 17 January 2006 (removed by 24 August 2006): N810PDL [811] & N812PDL [812] for "Westbury Homes". [per Gavin Rowney]
By 6 October 2006 (removed by 25 February 2007): N810PDL [810] for "Original 106" radio. [per Gavin Rowney]

During 2006 rear-window graphics promoting the new services from 2 April 2006 were applied:
on 15 March 2006: N813PDL [813] [per Marc Morgan-Huws]
 
Photo Selection
A nearside-front view of N810PDL [810] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery entering Newport Bus Station on 25 September 1998. The nearside-front DENNIS and DART badges were not reinstated following extensive bodywork repairs in early 1998.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of N810PDL [810] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Cowes Pontoon on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-rear view of N810PDL [810] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery with ContraVision advertisement for the "Isle of Wight Steam Railway" at Ryde Bus Station on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of N811PDL [811] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery entering Newport Bus Station on 30 January 2001, soon after the destination blindbox was "reversed" and fitted with Day-glow blinds.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of N811PDL [811] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 12 June 2002.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of N811PDL [811] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Cowes Pontoon on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of N811PDL [811] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Church Litten, Newport, on 6 December 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-rear view of N811PDL [811] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery with ContraVision advertisement for "Islandwide Carpets" at Church Litten, Newport, on 6 December 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of N812PDL [812] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery entering Newport Bus Station on 17 August 2001.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of N812PDL [812] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Ryde Bus Station on 12 June 2002.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of N812PDL [812] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Cowes Pontoon on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-rear view of N812PDL [812] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery with ContraVision advertisement for "Isle of Wight Lottery" at Church Litten, Newport, on 6 December 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of N813PDL [813] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery (with roof trafficators removed) on the now defunct "JetLink" service 92 entering Newport Bus Station on 25 September 1998.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of N813PDL [813] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Ryde Bus Station on 12 June 2002.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of N814PDL [814] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery entering Ryde Bus Station on 18 July 1998. In this view the roof trafficators at the front were still fitted.
[photo copyright of Ken Lansdowne]
 
By 25 September 1998 the front roof trafficators had been removed, as can be seen in this nearside-front view of N814PDL [814] in Musroom & Dark Green livery entering Newport Bus Station on the same day.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of N814PDL [814] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at Church Litten, Newport, on 16 May 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of N815PDL [815] in Mushroom & Dark Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 12 June 2002.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
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