Another Twin arrives - meet Dart 143

A few postings ago, we highlighted the number of twins in the CBNW operating fleet. Well today we added another one! Former Metroline Dart DA143 joins its sister DA145, which itself joined our fleet back in November last year and will enter service after 1st February following its respray into CBNW all-red livery.
DA143 followed an identical career to 145. It was new to Armchair in May 1999 and operated in Brentford, initially in their orange & white livery until the company was acquired by Metroline in 2004. These Alexander bodied Darts had a relatively short operating life, being withdrawn for refurbishment for the 209 service but then placed in store and later returned off-lease in December 2010. DA143 passed to dealer Southdown PSV, was resprayed all-white and then sold onto Gardbus based at Ringwood near Bournemouth. It was put up for sale in December 2012 and CBNW agreed to purchase the vehicle, being collected today and driven up from Bournemouth.

143 in service with Gardbus and pictured at Ringwood in summer 2012

However, 143 is not the only addition to the fleet today - but the more exciting arrival can wait for another day....

Olympian 269 - part of the Royale family

269 in Edinburgh during its final summer of operation in its native city

CBNW has several examples of the successful Olympian chassis in our operating fleet, including former Lothian 269, a 33ft long Alexander bodied 'Royale' example. This vehicle was acquired through dealer Ensignbus but was selected and collected direct from Lothian Buses garage in Edinburgh. 269, along with other Royales, was withdrawn from Edinburgh service in June 2009 and passed to CBNW in December of the same year. Initially used solely on College contracts, our expansion of activities with "SeaFront 12" and "Catch22" has seen 269 back in active service and is popular with the drivers - mainly because of its excellent cab heater!

Summer 2012 and 269 is captured operating on SeaFront 12

The bus is earmarked for a new all-over advert or, failing that, CBNW fleet livery for the summer of 2013 which will refresh its appearance.

Goodbye RMLs 2290/2734

After six summer seasons operating with Classic Bus North West, RMLs 2290 & 2734 have been returned to their owner Graham Oliver who has sold them onto Ensignbus. Both buses have been used on wedding hires since 2007 and saw use on Sea Front 12 during 2012 as part of the Routemaster allocation. Now, both buses are destined for pastures new...
We would like to place on record our thanks to Graham for the use of these buses but now it is time to move on and their departure will make way for some even more exciting vehicles for 2013 that will be landing in Blackpool over the next few weeks....