This page created 5th January 2009, updated 27th July 2017 by Ian Smith

Optare Spectras SP1-25

Vehicle Histories

These histories are not complete: they are being compiled from a variety of sources.

SP 1   K301 FYG  9/92    DAF DB250WB505#002503 Optare Spectra #8005, H44/27F
                 9/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 9/92 Q  trainer 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                 1/99 Q 
                 8/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3834
                 1/04    transfer to Go Northern #3834
                 5/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 6/07    bought by MASS, Sheffield
                 2008    MASS
              by 4/14    sold to Ripley (Carlton)
                  
SP 2   K302 FYG  9/92    DAF DB250WB505#002505  Optare Spectra #8006, H44/23D
                 9/92 EW new to London Buses (Metroline: Edgware)
                 9/92 EW trainer
                10/92 W  transfer (Cricklewood)
                11/92 W  into service on 16, 16A
                11/92 W  rear-ended: repaired 
                 3/93    to Optare (Leeds)
                 4/93 Q  return to London (London Central: Camberwell); tried on 35, 45, 45A
                 7/93 PB transfer into store (London Northern: Potters Bar)
                 8/93 UX transfer (Centrewest: Uxbridge); tried on 607
                10/93 AL transfer (London General: Merton); tried on 280
                11/93 FW transfer (Fulwell); tried on 267, 281..
                11/93 NS ..transfer for private hire, 449 and 723X (East London: North Street) 
                         privatised to Stagecoach East London
                         painted all-red with East London Coaches fleetname
                 1/96    in service on Central Line rail replacement
                 */97    sold 
                         Bennett & Lane, Gloucester
                 1/01    bought by MK Metro, Milton Keynes #202
                 9/01    MK Metro, at Showbus, Duxford
                 8/05    MK Metro
                 5/06    MK Metro
                 9/06    MK Metro, at Showbus, Duxford
                 2008    MK Metro #6038 
                 6/09    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet)  
                10/09    bought by Jans Coaches, Soham, Cambridgeshire 
                11/15    sold


SP 3   K303 FYG  9/92    DAF DB250WB505#002506 Optare Spectra #8008, H44/27F
                 9/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 9/92 Q  trainer
             by 12/92    full rear end advert for Trocadero in Piccadilly 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                12/92 Q  used on 40 to Aldgate 
                 */97 Q  used on 40 to Dulwich 
                 1/99 Q 
                 6/00    transfer to Go-Ahead Northern #3835 
                 5/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham)  
                 5/07    bought by Fairbrothers Coaches, Warrington
                 2008    Fairbrothers Coaches
                 9/12    bought by Wheeler, North Baddesley 
                12/12    sold for spares
                 3/14    at Brenhauls Commercial Services, Barton Park, as spares source 
                 6/14    scrapped

SP 4   K304 FYG 10/92    DAF DB250WB505#002504 Optare Spectra #8009, H44/27F
                10/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                10/92 Q  trainer 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40 
                93-98 Q
                 1/99 Q 
                 7/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3836
                01-02    Go-Wear 
                10/03    transfer to Go Northern #3836
                04-06    Go Northern  
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 2008    Johnsons 
                 7/09    bought by M Travel, Normanton
                10-12    M Travel 
              by 8/13    sold: playbus, Micklefield 

SP 5   K305 FYG 10/92    DAF DB250WB505#002507 Optare Spectra #8010, H44/27F
                10/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                10/92 Q  trainer 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                 3/93    crashed in Brixton: front end damaged: return to Optare (Leeds)
                 4/93 Q  return
                 1/99 Q 
                10/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3837
                10/03    transfer to Go Northern #3837
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 2008    Johnsons 
              by 9/09    bought by Beaverbus, Wigston, Leicestershire 
                10/13    sold to Wigley (Carlton)

SP 6   K306 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002508 Optare Spectra #8011, H44/27F
                11/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell) 
                 1/99 Q 
                 8/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3838
                         transfer to Go Northern #3838
                 9/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3838 
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 2008    Johnson Bros 
              by 5/09    bought by M Travel, Normanton
              by 1/13    bought by Squarepeg, Garforth

SP 7   K307 FYG 10/92    DAF DB250WB505#002509 Optare Spectra #8012, H44/27F
                10/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                10/92 Q  trainer 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                 1/99 Q 
                 7/00    transfer to Go Northern #3838
                 9/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3838
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 2008    Johnson Bros  
              by 6/09    bought by M Travel, Normanton
              by 1/13    bought by Squarepeg, Garforth

SP 8   K308 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002510 Optare Spectra #8013, H44/27F
                11/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                11/92 Q  into service on 40
                 1/99 Q 
                 9/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3840
                         transfer to Go Coastline, North Shields #3840
                 7/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3840
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 2008    Johnsons  
              by 9/09    bought by Beaverbus, Wigston, Leicestershire

SP 9   K309 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002513  Optare Spectra #8014, H44/27F
                11/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell) 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                 1/99 Q  
                 7/00    transfer to Go Coastline, North Shields #3841
                 7/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3841
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 2008    Johnsons  
              by 9/09    bought by Beaverbus, Wigston, Leicestershire
                12/13    sold to Wigley (Carlton)

SP10   K310 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002514  Optare Spectra #8013, H44/27F
                11/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell) 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                 1/99 Q 
                 6/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3842
                         transfer to Go Coastline, North Shields #3842
                 7/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3842
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Carters Coaches, Ipswich
                 4/07    repainted for Carters: red/yellow
                 7/07    at North Weald Rally
                 6/08    Carters: Rail Replacement, Witham 
                 6/09    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet)    
                 7/09    bought by M Travel, Normanton 
                 7/12    sold for scrap

SP11   K311 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002520  Optare Spectra #8016, H44/27F
                11/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
             by 12/92    full rear end advert for Trocadero in Piccadilly 
                12/92 Q  into service on 40
                10/93 Q  used on 3 to Crystal Palace, Oxford Circus
                 1/99 Q 
                 7/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3843
                         transfer to Go Coastline, North Shields #3843
                 7/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3843
                 9/07    in service, Go North-East (Percy Main)
                 6/08    in service on Private Hire, Durham Rally / Running Day
                 2/09    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet)  
                 2/09    bought by MASS, Sheffield 
              by 2/14    sold to Ripley (Carlton)

SP12   K312 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002518  Optare Spectra #8017, H44/27F
                12/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q  
                 7/00    transfer to Go Northern #3844
                 9/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3844 
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 5/07    bought by RH Transport, Witney, Oxfordshire
                 2008    RH Transport
                11/12    bought by Wheelers Travel, North Baddesley, Hampshire
       YIL 5883 11/12    reregistered
       K312 FYG  1/15    reregistered 

SP13   K313 FYG 11/92    DAF DB250WB505#002522  Optare Spectra #8018, H44/27F
                12/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q  
                 7/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3845
                         transfer to Go Coastline, North Shields #3845
                 7/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3845 
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 4/07    bought by Fairbrothers Coaches, Warrington
                 2008    Fairbrothers Coaches
                 9/12    bought by Wheeler, North Baddesley
       NIL 7251 10/12    reregistered
       K313 FYG  1/14    reregistered

SP14   K314 FYG 12/92    DAF DB250WB505#002512  Optare Spectra #8019, H44/27F
                12/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q  
                         fell off Crystal Palace Parade into High Level Station: withdrawn
                 7/00    transfer to Go North East #3846, for spares
                 1/04    remains in store at Saltmeadows
                10/05    remains in store at Saltmeadows

SP15   K315 FYG 12/92    DAF DB250WB505#002516  Optare Spectra #8020, H44/27F
                12/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                12/92    full rear end advert for "Buddy the Musical"
                 1/99 Q 
                 7/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3847
                         transfer to Go Coastline, North Shields #3847
                 7/04    transfer to Go Gateshead #3847
                 8/07    in service, Chester-le-Street
                 2/08    in service
                 6/08    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 6/08    bought by MASS Transit, Sheffield
              by 2/14    sold to Ripley (Carlton)

SP16   K316 FYG 12/92    DAF DB250WB505#002515  Optare Spectra #8021
                12/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q 
                 7/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3848
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by Johnsons Coaches, Hodthorpe
                 9/07    on rail replacement, Chesterfield, branded Redfern Travel
                 2008    Johnsons 
             by 10/09    bought by M Travel, Normanton

SP17   K317 FYG 12/92    DAF DB250WB505#002523  Optare Spectra #8022
                12/92 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
        170 CLT  3/94    reregistered
       K317 FYG          reregistered
                 1/99 Q 
                         transfer to Go-Ahead Northern
                         Go-Gateshead
                11/01    transfer to Go Northern #3849
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham)  
                 6/07    bought by MASS, Sheffield
                 2008    MASS 
                 7/12    sold to Ripley (Carlton) for scrap

SP18   K318 FYG  1/93    DAF DB250WB505#002519 Optare Spectra #8023
                 1/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
         18 CLT  1/93 Q  reregistered
                 1/99 Q 
       K125 PGO 11/99 Q  reregistered
                         transfer to Go-Ahead Northern
                         Go-Gateshead
                11/01    transfer to Go Northern #3850
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 3/07    bought by W.Harris, Braintree
                 2008    Wick's Coaches, Braintree
                 3/14    bought by Squarepeg, Garforth

SP19   K319 FYG  1/93    DAF DB250WB505#002517 Optare Spectra #8024
                 1/93    full rear end advert for Trocadero in Piccadilly
                 1/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
         19 CLT  1/93 Q  reregistered
                 1/99 Q 
       K124 PGO 11/99 Q  reregistered
                         transfer to Go-Ahead Northern
                         Go-Gateshead
                11/01    transfer to Go Northern #3851
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 6/07    bought by MASS, Sheffield
                 2008    MASS 
              by 9/12    sold for scrap

SP20     20 CLT  1/93    DAF DB250WB505#002511 Optare Spectra #8025
                 1/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q
       K160 PGO 12/99 Q  reregistered 
                 8/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3852
                 1/04    transfer to Go Northern #3852
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 6/07    bought by MASS, Sheffield
                 2008    MASS
                11/14    scrapped by MASS, Sheffield

SP21   K321 FYG  2/93    DAF DB250WB505#002521 Optare Spectra #8026
                 2/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q  
                         transfer to Go-Ahead Northern
                         Go-Gateshead
                11/01    transfer to Go Northern #3853
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 4/07    bought by Fairbrothers Coaches, Warrington
                 2008    Fairbrothers Coaches

SP22   K322 FYG  2/93    DAF DB250WB505#002522 Optare Spectra #8027
                 2/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q   
                 4/00    transfer to Go Northern #3854
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 6/07    bought by MASS, Sheffield
                         repainted lime green
                 2008    MASS
              by 9/12    sold for scrap

SP23   K323 FYG  2/93    DAF DB250WB505#002525 Optare Spectra #8028
                 2/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q  
                 8/00    transfer to Go-Wear #3855
                 1/05    transfer to Go Northern #3855 
                 3/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 5/07    bought by RH Transport, Witney, Oxfordshire
                 2008    RH Transport
                11/13    sold to Wigley (Carlton)

SP24   K324 FYG  2/93    DAF DB250WB505#002526 Optare Spectra #8029
                 2/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
                 1/99 Q   
                 4/00    transfer to Go Northern #3856 
                 6/07    bought by MASS, Sheffield
                 2008    MASS 
              by 2/14    sold to Ripley (Carlton)

SP25   K325 FYG  2/93    DAF DB250WB505#002524 Optare Spectra #8030
                 2/93 Q  new to London Buses (London Central: Camberwell)
        WLT 825  1/94 Q  reregistered
                 1/99 Q   
       K159 PGO       Q  reregistered 
                 3/00    transfer to Go Northern #3857 
                 5/07    sold to Ensign Bus (Rainham) 
                 5/07    bought by Abus, Bristol: painted cream/white/orange
                 2008    Abus

Bus Stop DAF index SP bus histories photo refs DBS