NPD 142L

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Original Operator and Fleet Number:

Current Owner:

Further Information:

NPD 142L was new to London Country Bus Services Ltd (LCBS), a subsidiary of the National Bus Company (NBC), in March 1973, receiving the fleet number LNC42. It entered service painted in NBC dual-purpose leaf green and white livery with Green Line fleet names. The bus was allocated to Romford (RE) in April 1973 and worked the short but intensive Green Line service 721 from Brentwood to London Aldgate. Although used on Green Line services the LNCs were definitely buses, not coaches, and were fitted with standard National vinyl bus seats. As deliveries of later, coach seated SNC Nationals proceeded, the LNCs were reclassified LNB and sent to work on bus routes. The bus was transferred to Hatfield (HF) garage circa 1975 and reclassified LNB42. In August 1975 it transferred to Reigate (RG) garage. It was then placed into store at Northfleet (NF) garage in February 1976. In April 1976 it was transferred to Dunton Green (DG) garage and then to Reigate (RG) garage in January 1977. In May 1977 it was sent to Central Works for overhaul. Following overhaul it was again allocated to Hatfield (HF) garage in June 1978. It went for another overhaul at Central Works in June 1980, returning to Hatfield (HF) garage in October 1980. It remained at Hadfield until September 1983, when it was withdrawn and moved to Grays (GY) garage where it was stored out of use.

The bus was acquired by sister NBC subsidiary East Kent in February 1984, where it was given the fleet number 1142. It was repainted into East Kent NBC poppy red livery before it entered service at Dover depot in October 1984. The bus was withdrawn during the late 1980s and passed to dealer Ripley, Carlton. It was subsequently purchased by Kinchbus, Barrow-on-Soar who used it on service in the Leicester area.

In 1989 the bus was acquired from Kinchbus by Midland Fox and received the fleet number 3142. During its time with Midland Fox it also operated for a while in Leicester for their subsidiary company Wreake Valley Travel, where it carried the fleet number 16. On return to the main Midland Fox fleet it regained its fleet number 3142. In May 1994 the bus was rebuilt as a National Greenway by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. The Greenway conversion involved completely stripping out the interior and stripping down the body until only a shell remained. The body was then re-panelled and a brand new interior fitted, together with a new engine. Following its Greenway conversion, the bus was reregistered JIL 2157 in July 1994 and the fleet number was changed to 2157. In April 1998 the company was renamed Arriva Fox County. The bus was allocated to Hinckley depot during 1999, but it is unfortunately not known where it spent the rest of its time with the company. Following withdrawal the bus was acquired by Tanat Valley, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, near Oswestry in January 2003 where it was repainted into their livery of white with orange and yellow stripes. During 2005 the bus passed to Dean Lefevre and J Spratley of Newhaven for preservation. It currently carries as acquired Tanat Valley livery of white with orange and yellow stripes.

The Webmaster would like to thank Dean Lefevre for providing some of the vehicle history.

5 Preserved JIL 2157 (NPD 142L)

Preserved JIL 2157 (NPD 142L) is pictured at the Showbus Rally at Duxford on the 18th September 2005. It carries as acquired Tanat Valley livery of white with orange and yellow stripes.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.

5 Preserved JIL 2157 (NPD 142L)

Preserved JIL 2157 (NPD 142L) is pictured at the Alton Bus Rally & Running Day at Anstey Park on the 16th July 2006.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.