THE M & D AND EAST KENT BUS CLUB

The Wight Link Explorer - 16th July 2005

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Tour report by Richard Thompson. (first published in Invicta 639 October '05)

A fine morning saw club members set off in a Green Line coach with Richard Lewis at the helm headed for the Isle of Wight .

Arrivial in Portsmouth in plenty of time before the booked crossing to the Island allowed members to take in the local scene including the harbourside activity and the busy bus station adjacent with First Bus operations prominent.

Landfall at Ryde, the Bus Station presented a colourful bus scene with Southern Vectis vehicles noted in five livery colours including the new Darts in light green.

Our transport, a VRT open topper, operated by Seaview Services, duly arrived and the Club Founder, a local resident, was waiting to accompany us for the day.

The first call was to Seaview Services depot where vehicles present included two coaches, a further sightseeing vehicle and possibly long term renovation projects comprising two ex London Routemasters

Here our VRT was seen to be in trouble by the alarming jet of coolant issuing through the front grille and the first of several top-ups was made here to compensate.

Undeterred we proceeded to Sandown to photograph a VRT on the open top service Also seen here was a road train vehicle serving the holiday visitors to the Island.  Next stop Shanklin promenade allowing a further opportunity to photograph an open top VRT before pressing onto Newport

The Town Bus Station was closing the next week for demolition and major redevelopment so a last opportunity was afforded to capture the scene.  The temporary arrangements to replace the bus station in a road adjacent were the subject of speculation and discussion.

During the Newport visit our driver had swapped the ailing VRT for the unique Commander- bodied Bristol RESH coach in Southern Vectis livery for our final call of the day to the Isle of Wight Bus Museum .  The many interesting vehicles and exhibits on display included a Bedford OB coach which returned recently to the Island from exile in the north.

An unexpected bonus provided by the enthusiastic museum staff was a short run in an open single deck Bristol to round off the day’s activities.

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