Prepared in Notepad by
Ian Smith,
updated 23rd April 2002.
COBHAM OPEN DAY, 7th April 2002Part Five: New busesAfter the midibus interlude the London bus companies settled down to traditional buses again: the Volvo Olympian and the Dennis Dart, mainly. This generation, being neither old enough for nostalgia and preservation, nor new enough for companies to show off, was not well represented at the show, but there were a few examples:#AV39 is a one-off in the Metroline fleet, having an Alexander Royale on its Volvo Olympian chassis; VA157 of Arriva London North-East has been given the gold Jubilee treatment.
The new low-floor Darts are busy sweeping the first generation of Darts off from London Streets.
Brand new buses at the show included Connex' Optare Solo S251 for Central London midibus routes,
Giving visitors a taste of bendi-bus operation was Centrewest's AV1, seen illustrating the odd effects of nearside kneel plus heavy camber in Redhill Road. Many thanks to all the folk at Cobham who organised the day. I enjoyed it, and there seemed to be LOTS of people - and the sun shone!
Part1. Part2. Part3. Part4. Part5.
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