Worthing Bus Gathering and Running Day

Support from Stagecoach in London came with this Mercedes Citaro bendi-bus, which carries the registration plate originally allocated to RM240. 23077 is normally to be found on route 25.

First Group sent RM1650 (650 DYE) which carries silver livery which is a copy of the livery used in 1977 during the Queen's silver jubilee - and is numbered SM3 - the number it carried at that time.

This Bristol FLF was one of the last delivered to Brighton Hove & District in 1967 and was one of those involved in the NBC/SBG exchange when FLFs with English operators were swapped for Scottish Bus Group VRTs.

The Cobham Bus Museum sent RML3 (SLT58) one of the Routemaster prototypes - the L in this case standing for "Leyland". The bus, Weymann bodied, has been rebuilt with its original bonnet design which many consider to be a neater job than the eventual production models.

The little LT Bristol LHS was employed all day on the shuttle service between the Rally and West Worthing Station.

Blue Triangle obliged with another open-topper this year with the former London Buses/Stagecoach T512 (KYV512X). Wasn't this one of the Carlisle flood victims?

At Ferring, Southdown 410 approaches the level crossing, one of several in the area which often play havoc with local bus services, at Ferring.

Bristol VRT JWV976W was the last VR delivered to Southdown, and is preserved in traditional Southdown livery. Here it pauses at Ferring on the way to Littlehampton being passed by QM 410.

276 lays over at South terrace, Littlehampton. Time for an ice cream before the journey back to Worthing.

Solent Blue Line VR NDL637M provided a splash of colour on what had become a bit of a grey afternoon, weather-wise, that is.

And finally, the Craven bodied RT1431 now preserved by Ensign's. Note the 5-bay construction of the body - the non-standard design of these buses was the reason for their short period of service in London.

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