EFN 178L

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EFN 178L was new to the East Kent Road Car Company Ltd, a subsidiary of the National Bus Company (NBC), in May 1973. When East Kent started to allocate fleet numbers to its vehicles the bus received the fleet number 1178. The bus was allocated to Herne Bay depot, where it was to remain for all its service career with East Kent. It entered service on the 25th May 1973, painted in East Kent NBC poppy red livery. Following deregulation of the bus industry in 1986 and in preparation for the privatisation of the company, East Kent developed a new livery based on the traditional East Kent burgundy and cream (rhubarb and custard) colours. EFN was the first single deck bus to receive the new livery on the 23rd May 1986. After 16 years of service with East Kent the bus was withdrawn from service on the 20th May 1989 and transferred to Westward depot in Thanet to await disposal. The bus was delicensed on the 24th June 1989 and remained at Westward depot until it was sold to dealer Ripley of Carlton.

The bus was acquired by G K Kinch of Barrow-on-Soar, Leicestershire, trading as Kinchbus on the 9th October 1989. It was adapted to carry wheelchairs and mobility scooters for the Access Bus network under contract to Leicestershire County Council. Modifications included the fitting of a hinged centre door, a powered ramp and anchoring points for wheelchairs, with the bus becoming B44FL in the process. It was painted in an attractive two tone blue and yellow livery. On the 31st January 1998 the company was acquired by the Wellglade Group, owners of Trent Buses and Barton. The Kinchbus fleet, including EFN, were moved to a new depot in nearby Loughborough and the Kinchbus head office moved to the Wellglade Group offices in Heanor, Derbyshire. The Access Bus routes were by now operated by Leyland National 2 RSG 820V, which was acquired in 1996 and fitted with a wheelchair lift, and EFN was relegated to back-up bus for the newer Mark 2.

On the 27th September 2002 EFN was acquired by the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust, Freckleton who planned to strip the bus to provide spares for the former Ribble PTF 7xxL Leyland Nationals that the Trust were restoring. Fortunately they soon realised that EFN was too good to scrap and instead offered it for sale to any interested preservationists.

The bus was acquired by Carl Underwood of Maidstone on the 24th January 2004 for partial preservation and continued service with East Kent Heritage Buses of Ewell Minnis, Dover. The bus has now been repainted back into post deregulation East Kent burgundy and cream (rhubarb and custard) livery and made its debut in this livery at the Cobham Bus Rally at Wisley Airfield on the 2nd April 2006. Carl plans to remove the hinged centre door and replace it with conventional body panels and a window, like the bus carried when built.

The Webmaster would like to thank Carl Underwood for providing the vehicle history.

EFN 178L preserved by Carl Underwood. It is pictured at the Cobham Bus Rally at Wisley Airfield on the 2nd April 2006. It carries post deregulation East Kent livery.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.

A front nearside view of Carl Underwood's preserved EFN 178L at the Cobham Bus Rally at Wisley Airfield on the 2nd April 2006. The bus was making its debut following a repaint into post deregulation East Kent burgundy and cream (rhubarb and custard) livery.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.

A nearside view showing the hinged centre door on EFN 178L, preserved by Carl Underwood. Carl plans to remove this door and replace it with conventional body panels and a window. It is pictured at the Cobham Bus Rally at Wisley Airfield on the 2nd April 2006.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.