Ready and Willing

This is the first in a short series on Cornish operations, following Omnibuses’ week-long visit to the Duchy, which ended on Saturday

First's Bristol VRs in Cornwall
Ready & Willing

If the nation equates its beloved Routemasters to something akin to a Morris Minor, then surely we should compare the ever-youthfull Bristol VR to a likeable (and rear-engined) VW Transporter Type 2 T1 Split Screen. After all, there are plenty of Type 2s around. And there’s nowhere better to see the affable VR still in active service with a UK major operator than in Cornwall – but you’d better be quick, as the remaining conventional (non-open top) examples are unlikely to survive much beyond this year’s high summer, given the number of changes at First Devon & Cornwall from 2 September 2006. And how long will the open top VRs last?

In fact, FDC has something of a reputation for older vehicles. During a week’s stay, Omnibuses went in search of some of these hand-me-downs. We found that, while there were certainly examples of so-called “fully depreciated” vehicles, observations would suggest FDC’s “reputation” is somewhat exaggerated – unless you know different. And in any case, some of these so-called “life-expired” buses seemed to have plenty of vitality left in them – given the duties they performed. We'd say they were ready & willing.

In particular, we mean the punishing 3hr 8min Penwith Explorer service 300, where drivers frequently have to stop or slow for, or give way to other traffic as they circle the narrow, car-saturated roads of Sennen Cove, Land’s End, Botallack, Geevor, St Ives, Carbis Bay and Marazion.

It’s a brave operator indeed that purchases new open top vehicles. The nation’s open top fleets (such as they now are) have almost consistently comprised of elderly converts. It’s not surprising, then, that FDC’s Penzance-based Penwith Circular open toppers are elderly. In fact, one of them, GBF 78N, must surely be one of the oldest buses operating in Britain. It’s one of five VRs at Penzance for the 300, four of which are out at any one time.

GBF 78N was new to Potteries as long ago as November 1974. It was converted to its open top status in 1990, passing to what was then First Western National in 2003. That it was observed performing the 300 is a testament to Bristol & ECW and First’s fitters.

A few remaining closed-top VRs also work on FDC routes. One VR paralleled a non-too-young Olympian on Newquay’s seasonal short 305. Another was seen working the Penzance to Falmouth service, where it appears to have been a summer regular. A hansome 1978 open top ex-Grampian Leyland Atlantean/Alexander was also observed on the 2 (Penzance – Helston). One of a pair at FDC, its sister vehicle is now withdrawn.

Leyland Olympians have cascaded out all but a handful of “proper” VRs. The newcomers aren’t young, either. With exceptions, it was our conclusion that both the VRs and Olympians tended to operate seasonal services or enhancements, or a shoppers' service to Morrison's, Penzance. Since such work is a requirement over-and-above the usual, it left the remainder of the FDC fleet – many low floor – to operate the rest.

How many will survive FDC's 2 September changes, though? Probably fewer than there are VW Dub Type 2s in Cornwall. News on VR workings in the south west is regularly posted to http://geocities.com/ndl642m/news.html