First Western National: The Bristol VR Era
Seiten
2020
Amberley Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-4456-7682-1 (ISBN)
Amberley Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-4456-7682-1 (ISBN)
Vernon Smith looks at the famous Western National brand in the era of the popular, iconic VRT Bristol bus.
Western National is a company with a long history, and upon privatisation in 1987 introduced a striking new livery to replace the all-conquering NBC green. The company was initially part-owned by Plympton Coachlines and Badgerline, but upon Badgerline’s merger with GRT Holdings, it became a FirstBus Company. Starting initially as First Western National, later changing to plain First on the buses, the company became First Devon & Cornwall. Changes took place around the company, with some depots closing or being relocated, and competition was encountered from various independents, Western Greyhound and Plymouth Citybus.
The company has always had a very varied fleet, even including, for a short time, ex-London Metrobuses, a heritage Bristol FLF and even a couple of Routemasters for special events. But one of the company’s greatest claims to fame was being the last big fleet to operate Bristol VRTs in normal service in large numbers.
Using the author’s photographic collection, we look at First Western National’s varied fleet, covering some of the many different vehicles and liveries to be found, finishing our journey in 2006, when the last VRTs ran in normal service.
Western National is a company with a long history, and upon privatisation in 1987 introduced a striking new livery to replace the all-conquering NBC green. The company was initially part-owned by Plympton Coachlines and Badgerline, but upon Badgerline’s merger with GRT Holdings, it became a FirstBus Company. Starting initially as First Western National, later changing to plain First on the buses, the company became First Devon & Cornwall. Changes took place around the company, with some depots closing or being relocated, and competition was encountered from various independents, Western Greyhound and Plymouth Citybus.
The company has always had a very varied fleet, even including, for a short time, ex-London Metrobuses, a heritage Bristol FLF and even a couple of Routemasters for special events. But one of the company’s greatest claims to fame was being the last big fleet to operate Bristol VRTs in normal service in large numbers.
Using the author’s photographic collection, we look at First Western National’s varied fleet, covering some of the many different vehicles and liveries to be found, finishing our journey in 2006, when the last VRTs ran in normal service.
Vernon Smith, hailing from Plymouth, has always been fascinated with transport, and a move to London and a career in the Model & Hobby industry gave him the opportunity to follow and photograph the constantly changing bus scene and to record some of the most colourful times in the British bus industry's history.
| Erscheinungsdatum | 17.02.2020 |
|---|---|
| Zusatzinfo | 180 Illustrations |
| Verlagsort | Chalford |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 165 x 234 mm |
| Gewicht | 344 g |
| Themenwelt | Natur / Technik ► Fahrzeuge / Flugzeuge / Schiffe ► Nutzfahrzeuge |
| ISBN-10 | 1-4456-7682-6 / 1445676826 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-4456-7682-1 / 9781445676821 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
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