HPF 318N

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HPF 318N was new to London Country Bus Services Ltd (LCBS), a subsidiary of the National Bus Company (NBC), receiving fleet number SNC168 and painted in NBC dual purpose leaf green and white livery with Green Line fleetnames. She is fitted with a Leyland 510 engine and is a 10.3 metre Leyland National. SNC168 was built to full “Suburban Coach” specification, with high-backed seats and overhead luggage racks. She was used by London Country Bus Services on longer distance “Green Line” routes from Luton Garage from May 1975 until January 1977, when displaced onto normal “bus” routes. She moved to Garston Garage in January 1977 and then to Hemel Hempstead Garage in April 1978. A serious accident befell 168 in the Summer of 1978; while en route to Hatfield Garage on loan, she left the road and collided with five large trees; the driver, the only person on board, was uninjured. The nearside front of the National was seriously damaged, though, which led to a protracted repair at Willowbrook of Loughborough. Following repair she was allocated to Harlow Garage in June 1979, by now repainted in NBC leaf green. Subsequent transfers saw here move to the following Garages, Stevenage in December 1979, Garston in April 1981 and Hemel Hempstead in October 1981. She was sent for overhaul in January 1982 where she was reclassified as a bus and became SNB168. On return from overhaul in April 1982 she was allocated to Staines Garage. She was transferred to Harlow Garage in June 1983.

Upon the split of LCBS in September 1986 she passed to London Country North East (LCNE), retaining her fleet number of SNB168 and remaining at Harlow. During 1986, 168 was the first single decker to receive the new London Country North East livery and was present at the company launch. In September 1988 she was briefly transferred to Hatfield Garage before moving on to St Albans in October 1988 and then back to Hatfield in January 1989.

On 9th January 1989 LCNE was split into two parts. The eastern part became County Bus & Coach Co Ltd and the western part Sovereign Bus & Coach Co Ltd with SNB168 passing to Sovereign. She didn't have much time to settle at Hatfield before she was transferred to Stevenage in March 1989.

In June 1990 she was sold to Luton & District and then in August 1990 she was purchased for preservation by Messrs Trew and Douch. They repainted her into NBC leaf green livery with a white band. After only a short period in preservation she was sold back to Sovereign Bus for further service at St Albans garage in May 1992. In August 1992 they re-registrated her to HIL 9374, to hide the vehicle’s age and renumbered her to 374. In January 1993 she was transferred to Sovereign's Welwyn Hatfield Line operation which competed against Universitybus. In May 1993 she was re-registered again this time becoming AVS 238N. She was then sold to CMT Buses, Aintree in June 1993, however the NBC green livery, applied in preservation, remained for a while! Then in May 1995 she was sold to Hydes, Thurcroft (t/a Aston Express). However she didn't stay there long as she was acquired by dealer Martin, Middlewich in April 1996. By August 1996 "AVS 238N" had been acquired by Curtis, Brislington (t/a Silverwing).

By 1999, “AVS 238N” was surplus to requirements in the Silverwing fleet; the registration was incorrect, the “Coach” seats were gone and she looked terrible, but at least she still drove. In February 2000 she was bought for preservation by Eddie Knorn of Melbourn, Cambridgeshire. She was re-registered back to her original registration of HPF 318N in March 2001. A three year restoration was undertaken by Eddie with the help of Rob Knight; 168’s rally debut was in April 2003, by which time she had regained her correct registration, her full “Suburban Coach” interior and an exterior in full Green Line livery. She is a regular participant at Country Bus Rallies running days which are held at various locations in the former London Country operating area.

She is part of Eddie Knorn's collection of former London Country buses that were allocated to St. Albans garage. For more information on UPB 312S and the other former St. Albans buses in Eddie's collection visit his website at: www.stalbansbuses.org.uk

Preserved HPF 318N pictured in Eddie's garden whilst restoration was ongoing in October 2001.

© Photograph by Anthony Poulton.

Former London Country SNC168 - HPF 318N, preserved by LNG member Eddie Knorn, who can be seen through the windscreen in authentic driver's uniform. She carries London Country NBC dual purpose leaf green and white livery with Green Line fleet names and has dual purpose seating. She is pictured here laying over between services at the Amersham Running Day on the 5th October 2003.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.

A rear end view of preserved former London Country SNC168 - HPF 318N, showing the period advert for 'Portman Building Society'. She is pictured at Kingscote Station waiting time before returning to East Grinstead on the 708 during the East Grinstead Running Day on the 25th April 2004.

© Photograph by Anthony Poulton.