Marchwood Motorways (Totton)
1966
Bedford VAM5
Plaxton C45F

DOT 248D is a Bedford VAM, bought new in 1966 by Marchwood Motorways of Totton, near Southampton (not TOTON, the great railway marshalling yard and depot in the Midlands!). The bodywork is by Plaxton. Like other members of the fleet bought new, she would have been on private hire and tours duties, before being relegated to staff bus duties at Fawley refinery. We see her in the depot yard on 9 April 1983. She isn’t a survivor.

Photograph and Copy contributed by Pete Davies

14/12/15 – 06:29

Marchwood also had a sizeable fleet in Pembrokeshire until about September 1981. These vehicles were mostly used in connection with the refineries at Milford Haven.When Marchwood decided to withdraw from the area some of the fleet stayed with Pembs operators. Five found a new home with Richards Brothers, Cardigan; they were all Bedford YRQs as follows FOU 217/8K (Viceroys) HPB 674N and TPX 332P "Dominant buses) and JDE 252L, a Dominant coach.

Les Dickinson

14/12/15 – 16:18

Thanks for that, Les. I have but a vague recollection that the Pembrokeshire operation was, legally at least, a separate company operated as a subsidiary, but I’m probably wrong.

Pete Davies

15/12/15 – 06:26

The FOU 217/7K Bedford YRQ’s were registered in Southampton.

Chris Hebbron

15/12/15 – 07:30

At the risk of being accused of nit-picking, Chris, OU was a Hampshire registration, not a Southampton one. Southampton used CR, OW and TR (until the reorganisation of local government in 1974, when DVLA was established and letters like AX, GM or JM moved from one end of the country to another).

Pete Davies

15/12/15 – 14:02

You’re right, of course, Pete; a senior moment, I’m afraid!

Chris Hebbron

E S Jacobs of Saltash
1963
AEC Reliance 4MU3RA
Plaxton C51F

AJH 163A had an interesting history. She was an AEC Reliance 4MU3RA, with Plaxton C51F body, and dates from 1963, The registration appears to be authentic, but all is not quite as it seems, for she was another victim of the fad for changing registrations. Whilst we see her here in the markings of E S Jacobs of Saltash Cornwall and carrying the name TAMAR PRINCE, she was new as XBW 242 for Chiltern Queens. She’s at Winkleigh on 6th October 1996.

Photograph and Copy contributed by Pete Davies

20/06/20 – 06:06

AJH 163A is about to be returned to Edward S.Jacobs for restoration and use in his new business start up, Lyme Bay Motor Coaches. In 3/20 the coach was rescued from being scrapped by Steve Lester following an uncompleted conversion to a motor home. It had earlier passed in 2008 from E S J Motor Coaches to preservationist Phil Platt after ESJ had ceased trading in 2007. It then went to Ron Greet Tractors, Broadhempston, Totnes, before sale for the uncompleted conversion. Let’s hope that Edward Jacobs is successful with his new start up and he can soon begin his operations!

Peter Hadfield

Dickson (Dundee)
1952
Austin K8CVC
Plaxton C14F

BYJ 904 is an Austin K8CVC with Plaxton C14F bodywork, dating from 1952. She was new to Dickson and is seen here on Southsea Common for the rally on 11 June 1995. According to the PSVC list for 2012, she has emigrated to the Netherlands as BE-67-57.

Photograph and Copy contributed by Pete Davies

15/11/21 – 07:06

Not sure that BYJ 904 became BE-67-57 in Netherlands, that number went onto a Bedford OB DJD 217.
From my records the Austin K8 was sold in Bonhams auction in 7/08 to the Louwman Museum, Den Haigh.

The Dutch reg for BYJ 904 is BE-62-33 NOT BE-67-57 its in the Louwman Museum, Leidsestraatweg, La Haye

John Wakefield