CVL 850D - 1966 Bristol RELH6G

Eastern Coach Works DP47F body

Lincolnshire Road Car No. 1431

New to Lincolnshire Roadcar with 47 seat ‘dual purpose’ bodywork, this coach was one of a batch of ten, classified as an 'express' vehicle in the fleet, and used mainly on the express services to London and 'Associated Motorways' services - the forerunners of today's 'National Express' network. Livery for these coaches was cream, with a dark green waist band and radiator surround.

The 1970s saw no. 1431 allocated to Skegness depot, by now in the 'National Coach White' livery which was introduced in 1973 - and use on a combination of National Express services, tours and excursions.

After withdrawal from service, the coach was bought for preservation, and was a resident at the LVVS premises during the late 1980s. It was later sold and moved to Cambridgeshire. A further sale meant the coach stayed in Cambridgeshire, but unfortunately no work was carried out on the vehicle during this time.

The vehicle then came up for sale again in March 2004 and was bought by three members of the Society who are now working towards restoring it to original condition.

More about Lincolnshire's express services, including a photograph of no. 1431 in original livery, can be seen here, and a picture of 1431 in its later National white livery can be seen here.

July 2004 - After a good exterior scrub, the interior has been stripped out and some of the roof panels stripped of paint.

April 2005 - Work is progressing stripping paint from its roof and the fuel pump has been removed for overhaul.

October 2005 - This former LRCC vehicle has had its chassis sandblasted and primed. Follow up work has included painting the wheels green and chassis silver. The fuel injection pump has been overhauled by an enthusiast in Bristol and is now ready to be reinstalled.

January 2006 - Some new woodwork has been fitted to the front step area and locker door frames.

This vehicle is currently in the Museum Yard and is not on regular public display.