MOD 978

MOD978 (1291) is a Bristol LS6G with ECW bodywork.  The coach is owned by member John Grigg.

1291 was delivered to Southern National in Royal Blue livery and entered service from Bournemouth depot on 22 August 1952.

The bodywork renovated at ECW in Lowestoft in March 1960, with ECW rebuild No R749.

The coach was withdrawn from Royal Blue service in spring of 1968 following delivery of the first batch of semi-automatic Bristol RELH coaches, and sold to North (dealer) along with 7 other identical coaches in July 1968. 1291 was then sold to Emmerson of Immingham who operated her until April 1969, when she was sold on to Rennison of Stockton on Tees, remaining in service until January 1972.

1291 was then sold to Beeline of West Hartlepool in a part exchange deal where she languished until acquired by the North East Preservation Group in April 1976.  By December of that year 1291 had again been sold,  this time to Eastern National Preservation Group at Chelmsford.  She was sold on again in 1983 and in the last quarter of a century has passed through the hands of several “enthusiasts” during which time

little restoration work appears to have been undertaken and little has been seen of the coach on the rally circuit.

Any information which you may have concerning 1291’s depot allocations during her Royal Blue service years or any other details will be gratefully received at webmaster@bvbg.org.uk

John bought 1291 in October 2007, and it was moved to Maidenhead by low loader on 11 November 2007, so that work on the Gardner 6HLW engine, the cooling system, and rewiring the electrical system could commence.

Sufficient progress was made that in May 2009, 1291 was moved closer to Bristol and the extensive work necessary on both the body and the interior could begin.

Technical stuff:

Manufacturer:  Bristol Commercial Vehicles

Type:  LS6G

Chassis No: 89.103

Registration No: MOD978

Date of first registration: 20th August 1952

Fleet No: 1291

Engine: Gardner 6 HLW

Body manufacturer: Eastern Coachworks

Body type: C41F

Body Number: 6292 series 2

Rebuild: Interior renovation and reseating by ECW to C39F, March 1960.  Rebuild number R749

Original operator: Southern National (Royal Blue)

Withdrawn: 1968

Subsequent owners:

• North, Sherbun in Elmet (dealer) July 1968
• Emmerson, Immingham
• Rennison, Stockton on Tees, April 1969
• Beeline, West Hartlepool, January 1972
• North East Preservation Group, April 1976
• Eastern National Preservation Group, December 1976
• Various owners from 1983 onward

Livery:  Royal Blue