Southern National Bristol VRT

Bristol Omnibus Company Running Day

Sunday 23rd May 2004

History of Southern National Bristol VRT 1122 (VDV122S)

Delivered to Western National in Plymouth in NBC leaf green livery entering service in March 1978 before being transferred to Taunton. When the Western National Omnibus Company was divided on the 1st January 1983, the Somerset Area became part of the new Southern National Company. VDV122S remained in NBC leaf green, but with Southern National fleet names.

As part of break-up of National Bus Company Southern National was sold in March 1988 to Cawlett Group. The NBC logos were removed, but it was not until April 1993 that the bus received the Somerset version of apple green and cream livery.

In April 1995 1122 moved to Yeovil depot and was repainted in March 1999 into the final livery carried through to preservation.

The FirstGroup bought Cawlett in April 1999. As FirstGroup reconfigured and reinvented itself Southern National was administered by various group head offices, and although cream First logos replaced the cream Southern National fleet names 1122 was spared Barbie’s paintbrush. First withdrew 1122 in July 2003 and it was placed in store at Bristol's Marlborough Street depot

Simon Munden (Bristol Bus & Coach Sales) brokered a sale to Kelvin Mann of Nailsea for preservation in September 2003. I met Kelvin at Bristol Harbourside and was surprised to learn that he had no previous connection with PVCs or preservation before buying 1122. It was rallied extensively in 2003/4 at first with First logos but later with the correct Southern National fleet names from when it was with the Cawlett Group. In December 2004 it passed into the ownership of Terry Partridge. The present owner’s mission statement is keep it, if possible as it was in its early life when allocated to Plymouth. When 1122 requires repainting it will revert to NBC leaf green. At present the bus is not available for public viewing, but hopefully Terry will bring it to a few rallies, however his main aim is to enjoy driving it around the Devon lanes.




	The three track number display makes the correct route number always available but destinations may have to be generic, in 1122’s case “Bristol”.

Bristol Omnibus Company Routes 28 & 99

Running from Cannon’s Marsh to Avonmouth the routes cover much of the same ground as First Cityline’s modern group of routes 41/42A/43/43A/X41. The Bus Garage at Avonmouth is now a gym so the buses have a stand at Avonmouth Church instead.