Worthing Bus Gathering and Running Day

A first for Worthing - all three of the only known surviving examples of the Dennis 30cwt bus were assembled on the Seafront at the 2000 event, left to right, FoKAB's OU9286, Amberley's Southdown example CD1517 and WX2658, new to Jackson of Westgate on Sea as KR66; owned by Gerald Emerton of Nantwich.

This former Exeter Corporation all Leyland PD1 was a popular entrant in 2000.

The modern vehicle is not neglected at Worthing and First Bristol sent one of their latest Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7L double deckers to the 2000 gathering.

The 277 between Goring and Brooklands provided the enthusiast the opportunity to travel on one of Brighton & Hove's brand new Dennis Tridents, the last two of which were delivered with convertible open top bodies and apart from service in Worthing could be seen in Brighton over the next couple of months operating in open top form on ordinary bus routes, there being no open top operation in Brighton and Hove last summer.

The ex-Southdown and Brighton & Hove VR, 603 (TPN103S) will, along with the Dennis Trident open topper be operating the Worthing to Roundstone serivce 102 this year. The bus is smartly turned out in National Bus Company green livery. Whoever thought National Bus would become nostalgic?
The VR and Trident were reallocated to service 102 in 2001.

A quiet moment, first thing in the morning, before the 1998 Gathering got under way - Queen Mary 426 (BUF426C), one of the 1965 batch of convertibles, is overtaken by Stagecoach owned Leyland TD1 0813 (UF4813) which has Brush bodywork, outside the Stagecoach Coastline Travel Office and garage. In April 2003 UF4813 passed into the care of Amberley Working Museum on long term loan.

A surprise, last minute entry for the 2000 Rally was ex-Southdown open top VR 617 (UWV617S) fresh from operating the St Andrews City tour. Here it is at North Lancing operating one of the very popular Mystery Tours.