Just seen the link below showing ex Ribble 900 in use with Tanat Valley, Oswestry. I had heard the bought it for spares, but it may live on. I recall that an RVPT member had been interested in preserving this - if anyone knows who could they pass the info on
http://depotosw.fotopic.net/p42848509.html
Cheers
Paul
Just seen the link below showing ex Ribble 900 in use with Tanat Valley, Oswestry. I had heard the bought it for spares, but it may live on. I recall that an RVPT member had been interested in preserving this - if anyone knows who could they pass the info on
http://depotosw.fotopic.net/p42848509.html
Cheers
Paul
B 900 WRN is with Tanet Valley, as it has a curent M.O.T. is being used in service until the end of August. The company have already been made aware of the historical importance of the vehicle and are willing to dispose of the vehicle to any interested preservationist after August 2007.
Just seen the link below showing ex Ribble 900 in use with Tanat Valley, Oswestry. I had heard the bought it for spares, but it may live on. I recall that an RVPT member had been interested in preserving this - if anyone knows who could they pass the info on
http://depotosw.fotopic.net/p42848509.html
Cheers
Paul
B 900 WRN is with Tanet Valley, as it has a curent M.O.T. is being used in service until the end of August. The company have already been made aware of the historical importance of the vehicle and are willing to dispose of the vehicle to any interested preservationist after August 2007.
As I recall this bus was an 'extra' to a batch supplied to Midland Red. It was always an odd ball with Ribble and is not representative of the fleet. Consequently it doesn't fit with the RVPT collection policy although an individual may well wish to preserve it.
It was always an odd ball with Ribble and is not representative of the fleet. Consequently it doesn't fit with the RVPT collection policy although an individual may well wish to preserve it.
Tiger / Duple 1150 resident at Freckleton (albeit privately preserved) was an 'oddball', Lynx 901 was an 'oddball' although a big fuss was made over this, Leopard / Alexander 701 was an oddball, Panther / Weymann 774 another. The Sentinels were hardly standard in the Ribble fleet either. The list goes on.....
Being a company of such a magnitude where acquired smaller operators vehicles could easily be deemed uncommon to the main fleet and the relationship with vehicle manufacturers, 'oddballs' invariably become part of the make up of the fleet and do represent the overall picture.
The Albion Lowlanders were oddballs through and through, yet Ribble purchased sixteen of them and acquired a further one from Bamber Bridge Motor Services.
Re B900 WRN I was always lead to believe that Midland Red North ordered several, then the order was cut back, and Ribble acquired one of the cancelled vehicles.
Although B900WRN was operated by Ribble, Midland Red North did serve Oswestry, therefore she has come home to roost with her sisters!
900 was acquired by two RVPG members Ian McCall and John Green on Friday 12th October. After a thorough clean on the Saturday it is seen in the attached photo Aire Valley Running Day at Bolton Abbey station on Sunday 14th . The owners are currently looking for under cover accomodation for this bus, which was the last under floor engined BUS purchased by Ribble.
The Midland Red Link has been mentioned before in context with 900. However looking at Bus Lists on the Web, the MRN buses have bodies 439/516-439/524 and were licensed in Feb/Mar 84 on 1983 chassis. 439/525 is a B-reg example new to Trefaldwyn,Montgomery but on a /3R chassis not a /2R chassis. 439/526 is another one off with Tillingbourne both on 82xxx chassis numbers.
900 has body 8412/0503 and 8400709. Neither body or chassis number has any link to the MRN batch. Though this doesn't necessarily mean there wasn't a link.
Whatever, I'm pleased its been saved a Blackpool bus for many years before moving to Fleetwood and Lancaster. Would be nice to have a run over the 193 route again one day - both Ribble 900 and Fylde's similar 43 B43UCK were regulars.
Paul
The Albion Lowlanders were oddballs through and through, yet Ribble purchased sixteen of them and acquired a further one from Bamber Bridge Motor Services.
Re B900 WRN I was always lead to believe that Midland Red North ordered several, then the order was cut back, and Ribble acquired one of the cancelled vehicles.
Although B900WRN was operated by Ribble, Midland Red North did serve Oswestry, therefore she has come home to roost with her sisters!
In Ribble Vol 2 T.B. Maund P.130 refers to B 900 WRN (900). Quote " The Tiger chassis with Duple Dominant bus body was added to the fleet, having "BEEN BUILT" with a batch supplied to Midland Red (North), but not required by that company. "
To look at it another way was it the first of an order for Ribble and that order was cancelled and as the vehicle had been "built" and was to the same specification as the Midland Red (North) batch, was offered to them and they refused it. So Ribble then was forced to take delivery of it and the rest of the order was cancelled.
So was it built as a one off for Ribble, or was it the first of an order that was cancelled at Duple, due to deregulation, or was the batch to be replaced by an order for the Lynx ?
Ribble's only Leyland Lynx C 544 RAO (901), which was a more modern style of bus followed a few months later.
Hello groupies.
The man at the toll bridge hated to see 900 on the 85s as he thought it was too heavy! If it wasnt Nat 2 830 he wasnt a happy camper.
Glad to hear its still going strong.