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R460 VOP started its life with R. Wright & Son as the coach builder’s demonstrator vehicle for the Renown bodywork. In its time as a demonstrator, it spent time with Blackburn Transport, Stagecoach, and White’s Coaches (Shetland).
It later passed to Badgerline’s Bath depot for evaluation. Whilst at Bath, R460 VOP was mainly allocated to Service 5, working with similar Wright Pathfinder vehicles. After an incident that resulted in a Pathfinder being written-off within Badgerline, Wrightbus donated R460 VOP to Badgerline as a “gesture of good will”. The demonstration of the Renown body proved successful, and led to an order for 18 vehicles of the type, to be split between the Bath and Wells depots, for use on routes X39 and 338/339.
She was issued Fleet No. 1911, as the corresponding Reg. for the batch, R911 BOU, could not be obtained after being registered on a sports car!
She was later re-numbered 66100 under the corporate numbering scheme, and spent her time working at both Bath, and Wells depot, before being withdrawn in 2015 for preservation.
1911 is owned by group members Tom Husband and Aled Rees.
Technical Information:
Chassis: Volvo B10BLE
Body: Wright Renown
Reg: R460 VOP
New: 1997
Body type: B44F
Original Operator: Robert Wright & Son Coachworks Ltd
Words by J. Hughes