In May 1978 THX618M was acquired second-hand from National Travel (South East). It was new to A. Timpson & Sons of London in August 1973 passing to National Travel (South East) in January 1974.

In June 1978 THX618M was repainted into Dual-Purpose NBC Leaf Green & White livery (previously NBC White coach livery) with Green hand-painted fleetnames on the roof cant panels and entered service as [DP1].

In late 1978 THX618M [DP1] received a standard single-aperture destination screen box as fitted to the 1975 batch replacing the small single-aperture type.

In November 1980 THX618M [DP1] was renumbered to [201].

They were withdrawn in:
August 1982: HDL412N [836] & HDL413N [837]
September 1982: THX618M [201]
March 1984: HDL414N [838]
April 1984: HDL415N [839]

Subsequent History

THX618M [DP1] / [201]:

• In September 1982 it passed to Ensign of Purfleet (dealer).
• In January 1983 it was sold to British Caledonian Airways of Gatwick operating as their number [01] until October 1983.
• In November 1987 it passed to British Airways of Gatwick operating as their number [CC6000].
  In February 1988 it was cannibalised for spares following fire damage and subsequently scrapped.

HDL412N [836]:

• In January 1983 it was sold to Ensign of Purfleet (dealer).
• Also in January 1983 it passed to British Caledonian Airways at Gatwick Airport and operated as their number [02].
• In November 1987 it passed to British Airways of Gatwick Airport, as their number [CC6001].
• In June 1989 it was sold to Bogue of Castlecaulfield (dealer).
• In July 1989 it was sold to Huglin of Speke being used as a mobile carpet showroom.

HDL413N [837]:

• In January 1983 it was sold to Ensign of Purfleet (dealer).
• Also in January 1983 it passed to British Caledonian Airways at Gatwick Airport and operated as their number [03].
• In November 1987 it passed to British Airways of Gatwick Airport as their number [CC6002].
• In June 1989 it was sold to Bogue of Castlecaulfield (dealer).

HDL414N [838]:

• In April 1984 it was sold to United and entered service in June 1984 as their [1454].
• In December 1988 it was sold to Western National operating as their number [1568].
• Probably in 1993 it passed to Nightingale of Budleigh Salterton.

HDL415N [839]:

• In April 1984 it was sold to United and entered service in June 1984 as their [1455].
• In December 1988 it was sold to Western National operating as their number [1570].
• In January 1991 it was sold to Guernseybus and was reregistered to 12728 and entered service as their number [74].

An offside-front view of THX618M with Timpson's of London in NBC White coach livery outside St. Paul's Cathedral, London, on 4 December 1973.
[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 THX618M [DP1] in dual-purpose NBC Leaf Green & White livery in South Street, Newport, on 17 July 1978 with the coach-style destination screen box still fitted.
[photo copyright of Mike Penn]

A nearside-front view of HDL413N [837] in NBC Leaf Green & White livery at Newport Bus Station on 15 August 1978 sporting "Medinabus" branding, a Flat-Fare system which was available in the mid 1970's to early 1980's on the Newport Town services.
[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 HDL414N with United as their [1454]. It received a special livery "United Durham City" and was to operate a tourist attraction link service in the city of Durham but instead was transferred to Darlington where it operated on the rural "Newtonian" service. It was never repainted into the "Newtonian" livery. At Darlington Garage during April 1985.
[photo copyright of Malcolm Audsley]

A nearside-front view of HDL414N with Western National as their [1568] at Penzance (date unknown).
[photo copyright of Terry Partridge]