1019 at Hastings waiting for its tow to Freckleton © C. Fenner  

Notes:

These coaches were the odd ones out in the fleet, although Ribble had Bristol RE service buses these were the only coaches and they also had ECW bodies where Plaxton had been the norm.  They were also the first batch of vehicles to be delivered in NBC Central Activities Group all over white livery.

1019 spent time at Preston, Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackpool and Blackburn depots . In January 1980 it was downgraded to a dual purpose vehicle and painted in Poppy Red and White livery. In November 1982 it was transferred to Crosville Motor Services Ltd as their ERL529 and painted in Leaf Green and White. In Feb 1989 it was sold to Northern Bus at Anston, By Dec ember 1989 it had moved to Hastings and District to keep company with former Ribble 366. It then passed in April 1991 to Shanklin Coaches on the Isle of Wight before being acquired by the Hastings & District RE Group in March 1992.

In late 2004 the Hastings Group kindly donated the vehicle to the Trust  for Restoration and it was brought back from Hastings on suspended tow in March 2005. Initial removal of some of the exterior panels reveal the framework is in good condition and it is hoped to start restoration later this year. A similar former Crosville RE has been acquired to provide a set of the correct seats for 1019 which will be retrimmed in the original gold moquette. It will be restored to the original NBC White livery complete with underlined tiny fleetname.