KCG 627L

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Current Owner:

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KCG 627L was new to the Thames Valley & Aldershot Omnibus Co. Ltd (Alder Valley), a subsidiary of the National Bus Company (NBC), in June 1973, receiving fleet number 127. It entered service painted in NBC poppy red livery with Alder Valley fleet names, spending most of the time at High Wycombe depot. It was one of 191 Mark 1 Leyland Nationals delivered new to Alder Valley between February 1973 and May 1978. However Alder Valley disposed of all its L-reg. Nationals fairly early on and 127 was no exception to this going to fellow NBC subsidiary Trent, along with sisters 124-6 - KCG 624-6L, in January 1985 in exchange for Trent Leyland Nationals 416-9 - XRB 416-9L. The bus joined a fleet of over 140 Leyland Nationals operated by Trent. It retained NBC poppy red livery as this was also Trent's livery, had Trent fleet names applied and was given the fleet number 419.

Trent's reason for the exchange was that at the time current Trent policy favoured single doorway buses and their Nationals were a mixture of single and dual door examples. Therefore exchanging four dual door Nationals for four single door Nationals helped to progress that policy. However Alder Valley's reason was rather more unusual, as they did not require any dual door Nationals for service and the acquired buses were not used by the company. Instead Alder Valley Engineering, the company's engineering side, required dual door Nationals to convert to airside standee 17 seat layout for airside use at Gatwick Airport for customer Gatwick Handling.

Trent was privatised on the 30th December 1986, being sold to a Trent management team known as Wellglade. Wellglade acquired Barton Transport of Chilwell in 1989 and the Trent and Barton fleets have been integrated, although both retain their separate fleetnames. Following privatisation the bus was repainted from NBC poppy red livery into the new Trent Buses red and silver livery. It was subsequently repainted into the new (and very attractive) Trent Buses red, cream and black livery. The bus saw use with both Trent Buses and Barton and carried this livery with Trent Buses fleetnames. Whilst with Trent it is known that it worked from Langley Mill, Mansfield and Matlock depots, and possibly others.

The bus was purchased from Trent Buses for preservation by Tim Stubbs of Burton-on-Trent in August 1997 and later the same month it went on long term loan to Crowther, Fifield trading as Classic Coaches, High Wycombe. It was repainted into Classic Coaches attractive blue and cream livery and used on their services. Whilst with Classic Coaches it suffered engine failure and was laid up until eventually a replacement Leyland 510 engine was fitted. When the company ceased trading it returned to Tim Stubbs. It was subsequently sold for preservation to the Alder Valley National Owners Collective, which consists of Simon Mathieson and James Freeman. During late 2001 it was repainted from Classic Coaches livery back into Alder Valley NBC poppy red livery.

Pictured is Trent Buses 419 - KCG 627L in Trent Buses post deregulation red and silver livery.

© Photograph Paul Barrett collection.

Pictured in Reading on the 28th September 1997 is Classic Coaches, High Wycombe KCG 627L. The bus carries the later Trent Buses red and cream livery that it was acquired in. Mr Terry Osborne is the driver and this was his regular bus at Classic Coaches.

© Photograph Paul Barrett collection.

Preserved KCG 627L is pictured in Anstey Park, Alton during the Alton Running Day & Bus Rally on the 15th July 2001. It still carries Classic Coaches livery in this view.

© Photograph by Anthony Poulton.

Preserved KCG 627L is pictured at The Green, Old Alresford during the King Alfred Bus Running Day on the 1st January 2005. It is painted in Alder Valley NBC poppy red livery.

© Photograph by Anthony Poulton.

A nearside view of preserved KCG 627L in Alder Valley NBC poppy red livery. It is seen here reversing off the stand at Winchester Bus Station with a departure on service 215 to Alresford during the King Alfred Bus Running Day on the 1st January 2005.

© Photograph by Anthony Poulton.