Info on my bus

[Deleted]

Not really sure where to post this so I've plumped for this board...

I have acquired a Dennis Dart with Wright Handybus bodywork which was new to County Bus and ran from Grays garage under the Thameside banner (and of course later with Arriva).

It's registration is J317XVX and it was mainly used on route 383 with sister J316XVX. It was new to County Bus in February 1992, has 35 seats and had the fleet number DW317 (3350 under Arriva). Sister DW316 carried an all over advert for Gasoline Alley until it caught fire in service, after which it received County Bus livery.

I know all of that cos once upon a time I worked for County Bus/Arriva at Grays garage and drove this very bus on many occasions!!!

So my question at the moment is can anybody shed any light on it's history from it's time at Grays until now? Obviously I'm getting it from a private owner so I'll know more about them when I collect it tomorrow, and I'm aware from his advert that it's last operator was probably in the Hastings area - it'd just be nice to fill in the missing time in between.....

Whilst I'm at it, I believe DW316 is now in Scotland - perhaps it might be nice to have her history too....

EDIT: in case anyone's interested here's what she looks like now:


And here she is at 7 months old (hopefully she'll look like it again in the distant future):

[john]

I have no idea about its history, other than I used to look out for her and her sister on the 256, which they made occasional appearances on when at GY.

[Deleted]

Hmm...of all the places I thought this one might come up trumps

I know she went to Southend after Grays, if I can at least get an idea of when that would be a start.

I'm not with the bus at the moment and haven't had the chance to make a proper list of what is what with it, so I can't remember off the top of my head but the remains of the legal lettering suggest the last operator was actually in Luton. I suspect the Hastings area blind in it is actually a red herring.

I forgot to clock who the owner was before the one I bought it off on the log book - probably too excited at the time - but he did say he'd email me the details. I'm still waiting but I suspect he won't bother.

I see on the DVLA's website that there's a form and a fee of £5 to obtain previous keeper information - dunno how useful that my be but it could be worth using....

[greeny253]

Oct 18, 2010 9:09:07 GMT colin said:

Hmm...of all the places I thought this one might come up trumps

I know she went to Southend after Grays, if I can at least get an idea of when that would be a start.

I'm not with the bus at the moment and haven't had the chance to make a proper list of what is what with it, so I can't remember off the top of my head but the remains of the legal lettering suggest the last operator was actually in Luton. I suspect the Hastings area blind in it is actually a red herring.

I forgot to clock who the owner was before the one I bought it off on the log book - probably too excited at the time - but he did say he'd email me the details. I'm still waiting but I suspect he won't bother.

I see on the DVLA's website that there's a form and a fee of £5 to obtain previous keeper information - dunno how useful that my be but it could be worth using....

If it helps you trace some of the history of your bus then that sounds like £5 well spent to me

[Deleted]

Oct 18, 2010 9:09:07 GMT colin said:

Hmm...of all the places I thought this one might come up trumps

I know she went to Southend after Grays, if I can at least get an idea of when that would be a start.

I'm not with the bus at the moment and haven't had the chance to make a proper list of what is what with it, so I can't remember off the top of my head but the remains of the legal lettering suggest the last operator was actually in Luton. I suspect the Hastings area blind in it is actually a red herring.

I forgot to clock who the owner was before the one I bought it off on the log book - probably too excited at the time - but he did say he'd email me the details. I'm still waiting but I suspect he won't bother.

I see on the DVLA's website that there's a form and a fee of £5 to obtain previous keeper information - dunno how useful that my be but it could be worth using....

If you belong to LOTS ... sure they would be happy to answer your query.

[Deleted]

I don't unfortunately

[vjaska]

I would suggest Ians Bus Stop which has histories on many types of vehicles that worked in London and the surrounding area, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working lately

[Deleted]

Oct 18, 2010 13:38:39 GMT vjaska said:

I would suggest Ians Bus Stop which has histories on many types of vehicles that worked in London and the surrounding area, unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working lately

Ians Bus Stop has the following information recorded:-

DW317 J317 XVX 2/92 GY new to County Bus, Dart 9.0 SDL3011, B35F (Grays)
10/94 taken over by West Midlands Travel
12/94 GY
2/96 taken over by Cowie Group
Arriva Herts & Essex
3350 1/98 with Arriva Herts & Essex, #3350
c4/00 transfer to Arriva Southend, #3350

Not very complete I am afraid, but a starting point!

[Deleted]

Well at least I have an idea of when it went to Southend....

Thanks for digging that up