ONO 59 - 1949 Bristol K5G

Eastern Coach Works L - R body

Eastern National No. 4038 / 1327 / 2255

Built in 1949, this bus has a 'Lowbridge' version of the Tilling Group's standard Eastern Coach Works body, originally to 55 seat, L27/28R form.

New to Eastern National as fleet number 4038, later renumbered 1327 and further re-numbered 2255, this bus covered approximately 550,000 miles in service in Essex and the Eastern fringes of London. The original livery was 'Tillings green' and cream, the same livery as Lincolnshire Road Car. Depot allocations with Eastern National included Chelmsford (CF) in its early years, and later Basildon (BN) and Clacton (CN). The Clacton allocation may have been (in common with many EN vehicles in their later years) for the Summer season service enhancements.

On reaching 'retirement' age, this bus was selected in winter 1966 / 67 from a batch of buses that had recently been withdrawn from service, by a group of students from South Essex. They converted the bus to a mobile caravan, complete with bunk beds, cooker and kitchen sink, and a driver / top deck communication device (made from a hoover tube). Platform doors were also fitted - ONO 59 had been an open platform bus in service.

From January to August 1967, the bus covered 120,000 miles through 20 countries around the world, setting off via France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan to India, narrowly avoiding armed conflict in the middle east at the time. From India, the bus travelled to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, by this time each side of the bus was adorned with a large 'Union Jack'. The next stage of the journey was to the USA via Central America. Finally, the bus returned to the UK via Belgium.

Having completed this adventure without any serious mechanical difficulty, the students were reluctant to see the bus go for scrap and wanted it to go to a good home. The bus was presented to the LVVS by Mr S Twell of Ingham, a dealer, who was then the Vice-President of the Society.

"Ono" was then used for many years as the Society's Tender Vehicle and mobile accommodation, but has now been off the road for some years.

CAN YOU HELP? - We believe that ONO 59 had the first body built by ECW not to have a side destination blind fitted, if anybody could clarify this we would like to know.

We are also seeking Eastern National destination blinds for this bus and any information about what ENOC garages it was allocated to in service.

November 2007 - In the post Open-Day re-arrangement, 'ONO' has moved into the Museum, and we hope to add a display about its travels soon.

A picture of ONO 59 as No. 1327 in its service days, believed to be at Basildon Bus Station, can be seen here on 'Jaspers Transport Photographs', along with photogtarphs of ONO in its LVVS days in its earlier pale blue and later dark blue liveries.

Click here for a photograph of ONO 59 ready to depart on its tour

Click here for an article in the 'Southend Echo' marking 40 years since the journey

ONO 59 at the LVVS shortly after arrival	ONO 59 in the early 70's. crossing London's Chelsea Bridge - probably on the way home from the London - Brighton Rally.	ONO 59 in 1986 - opposite the (now demolished) Lincolnshire Road Car garage at St Marks, about to set off to the London - Brighton Rally