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New to Southdown as their No. 100 in April 1979, AYJ100T is a B52F Leyland National 11351A/1R.
Somerbus Limited of Paulton bought AYJ100T in May 1999 from Mike Nash (dealer) of Weybridge, at which time it had just come in from Stagecoach with a new MoT. It was driven back to Bristol and sold to Graham Clements of Nailsea T/A North Somerset Coaches in June 1999 (it was not operated by Somerbus).
North Somerset later re-registered it as VHY437 and used it on a 60 pence per single journey special service from Nailsea to Backwell High School. The route, which ran from 1993 to July 24 2002, was registered with North Somerset Council, but completely self-financing. A North Somerset Council spokesman said: The service is a commercial route. If the council decides it is able to subsidise this service, the route will have to go out to tender. A final decision has not been taken as to whether the authority has the funds available to subsidise the service. North Somerset Coaches owner Graham Clements said At the end of the day the service is no longer commercially viable. The bus we have is only suitable for this job and is only out twice a day for the school run - otherwise it's out on a limb..
When North Somerset ‘s use for the National ended Somerbus posted a message on an e-mail group offering it for sale, and Graham Clements sold it cheaply to someone from Wales who indicated that it was to be converted to a mobile workshop; however, it immediately ended up in service with 2-Travel.
When 2-Travel advertised it for sale, Gareth Crowther bought it.
Presented this weekend in as withdrawn condition Ex 2Travel of South Wales, the clean patches on the sides are where that operators vinyl logos came off during Saturday, while removing a School Bus sticker on the dash panel left a red patch from a former livery. A check of the engine compartment revealed worn and damaged belts and attempts to tighten the dual drive to the alternator left one belt broken and the second inside- out to get any tension.On Sunday morning the dark wet weather called for lights, wipers and de-misting blowers full on and the load proved too much for the electrical system which failed outside Keynsham mainline station after the climb from Willsbridge leaving the bus stranded with a box full of neutrals and no ideas. By luck the Bristol L was passing on a staff run up to Bitton, so while the old hands of the group set about rescuing the bus I found myself literally on a busman’s holiday packing families and buggies into every nook and cranny I could find among the Bristol’s 35 seats to get them back to Brislington. With the demise of the National any thoughts I had about reacquainting myself with the driving experience vanished.
