RUF 40R

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RUF 40R was new to Southdown Motor Services Limited, a subsidiary of the National Bus Company (NBC), in March 1977, receiving fleet number 40. She passed to Brighton & Hove in January 1986 when Southdown was split in two by the NBC, retaining her fleet number of 40. She was acquired by Hartlepool Transport in 1990 and was given fleet number 40. Following the takeover of Hartlepool Transport by Stagecoach Holdings the Stagecoach Hartlepool fleet was combined with Stagecoach's Cleveland Transit subsidiary and RUF was renumbered to fleet number 540.

She was acquired by Devon County Council in April 1998 and converted to a 'bike bus'. This conversion involved fitting a new offside emergency exit door opposite the centre door and the removal of the seats in the raised rear section to create space for bicycle storage. From June 1998 she was operated by First Western National and subsequently First Red Bus on behalf of her owner Devon County Council as a 'bike bus' on the council's Dartmoor Sunday Rider Network. She was given fleet number 40 in the First Western National fleet, although she was subsequently renumbered 5030. After transfer to First Red Bus she received fleet number 9700.

She was acquired for preservation in 1999 by David Chambers of Exeter. David is a director of a recycling company and in 2003 he managed to persuade the company to pay to refurbish her for use as an educational vehicle to promote home composting. The refurbishment involved body repair work, a repaint and the removal of the remaining seats to make a display area. David has stipulated the Southdown background colours in order to make it easy to convert her back when they have finished with it. The white band ended up too deep and the bumper is green not white but otherwise it is pretty close. She has at sometime been re-engined with a Volvo engine. Whist this may upset the purists it suits David as she will be travelling all over the South West driven by people who are more interested in getting there fuss free than the fact that she has an original engine. She will be doing a lot of dual carriageway / motorway running where she seems quite happy travelling at 55 to 60 miles per hour.

Seen shortly after conversion is 'Bike Bus' RUF 40R at Okehampton Railway Station on the 6th September 1998 whilst working 'Bike Bus' service B2, part of the Dartmoor Sunday Rider Network. She is owned by Devon County Council (Devon Bus) and operated on their behalf by First Western National. Note the new offside emergency exit door ahead of the rear axle.

© Photograph by Paul Barrett.

'Bike Bus' RUF 40R has at some time received route branding for "Service B1 Barnstaple - Bideford - Great Torrington - Hatherleigh - Okehampton - Exeter" and "Devon Bike Bus for all passengers and cyclists" lettering. She is owned by Devon County Council (Devon Bus) and operated on their behalf by First Red Bus.

© Photograph by David Chambers.

Pictured is RUF 40R with bodywork rubbed down and ready for repaint.

© Photograph by David Chambers.

A near side view of RUF 40R after her repaint for her new role as an educational vehicle to promote home composting.

© Photograph by David Chambers.

An off side view of RUF 40R after her repaint. Note that the livery is NBC leaf green with a white stripe, the livery of her original operator Southdown! This livery was chosen in order to make it easier to restore her after she has finished in her current role.

© Photograph by David Chambers.