Buses Festival
Type of Vehicle - Bus
Registered Vehicle Make - Bristol
Registered Vehicle Model - LS6G/ECW
Year built/registered - 1957
Reg No. VDV 749 Fleet No. 2206
Livery/Operator - Royal Blue
Vehicle Description:
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One of the last Bristol /ECW integrally built coaches, dating from the 1950s, VDV749 is powered by a Gardner 6HLW ‘horizontal’ engine, i.e. it lies flat on its side underneath the middle of the coach.Of rugged construction, it offers drivers few grills, with no power assistance to the steering, and a ‘crash’ type, unsynchronised 5-speed gearbox, the combination of which makes for a rewarding driving experience…when one gets things right.After service with its original owner, Western National / Royal Blue on routes emanating from the West Country, VDV749 went on to work for Swagman Tours on their route between London and Kathmandu, in the Himalayas, throughout the 1970s.As a result of these epic journeys it is perhaps one of the most far travelled (in service) coaches in British coaching history.
