South Notts Bus Company
Encyclopedia
The South Notts Bus Company Ltd was a British bus operator based in Gotham
, Nottinghamshire
. It commenced service in 1926 and became a limited company in 1929. Its major service operations were between Nottingham
and Loughborough
via East Leake
, and, since the 1950s, between Nottingham and the Clifton Estate.
The company was sold to Nottingham City Transport
in 1991.
BB to operate the first South Notts service, between Gotham and Nottingham, in March 1926. Barton
already provided a bus service on this route but Mr. Dabell gained enough local customers to make his service successful. In 1929, an agreement was made with Barton which involved Barton acquiring a 50% share of South Notts whilst withdrawing from the South Notts route. The South Notts service was extended to Loughborough, and this continued to be the company's main route until its takeover. (Indeed Nottingham City Transport continue to use the South Notts fleetname on this route.)
Single-deck buses, mainly Guys, joined the fleet until 1932, when Leylands started to arrive, followed by Gilfords, Bedfords
and Dennises
. The first double-decker
did not arrive until 1951, when an ex-Hants and Dorset Leyland was acquired. This proved useful on services to the new Clifton Estate, which were provided jointly with Nottingham City Transport and West Bridgford UDC. More followed, with the fleet size increasing rapidly to meet the new demand, and it was not long before the fleet became predominantly double-deck. However, a small coach fleet was also maintained, for which Bedfords were the preferred vehicles until the mid-1980s when the Bedfords were supplanted by secondhand Leyland Leopard
s.
The double-deck fleet was of lowbridge or lowheight types, due to the height of the bridge where the Great Central Railway
crossed Wilford Lane. These were either sunken gangway Leyland PD3s, with Metro-Cammell or Northern Counties bodies, later Albion Lowlanders again with Northern Counties bodies, which negated the sunken gangway requirement. after the Lowlander ceased production, Leyland Atlantean PDR1/3s with Northern Counties bodies were purchased. However, when this bridge was removed, South Notts continued to buy lowheight Leyland Atlantean PDR1/3s and Daimler Fleetlines with either Northern Counties or Eastern Coachworks bodies.
Amongst these were two last of build vehicles, the last Albion Lowlander, 89 and the last Daimler Fleetline, 117. Both were earmarked for preservation, but no work had been carried out prior to them being destroyed by fire in February 2007 in mysterious circumstances.
Following the takeover by Nottingham City Transport (which took place exactly 65 years to the day after the first service ran), Leyland and Volvo Olympian
s with East Lancs bodywork
were added to the fleet to oust the remaining Atlanteans and Fleetlines. Newer Olympians did operate the main service, now numbered 1. Since 21st September 2009 the route has been branded as South Notts "The One".
Scania OmniDekkas cascaded from Clifton service 48, have been re-liveried for service on 'The One', ousting out the last Volvo Olympians, making NCT's fleet fully low floor, eight years before the government deadline. Nottingham City Transport have also transferred the operation of other routes, not traditionally associated with South Notts, to Gotham garage. A number of Scania
single-deckers, articulated buses, and double-deckers are allocated to the depot to operate such services.
Following takeover, the blue and cream livery was retained, with the area of cream expanded, and variants were created for minibuses and single-deckers, the latter involving two shades of blue.
Current livery is NCT's two-tone green "Network" livery, with navy blue around the upper deck windscreen and front and rear sections of the roof. The "South Notts" fleetname is still used. One Olympian has been repainted into traditional blue, cream and maroon livery to celebrate the 80th anniversary of South Notts. This bus is now withdrawn.
Gotham, Nottinghamshire
Gotham is a village in Nottinghamshire, England, south of Nottingham and north-east of Kegworth. Gotham has a population of about 1,600. It is administered as part of the Rushcliffe district of Nottingham, and has a parish council....
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. It commenced service in 1926 and became a limited company in 1929. Its major service operations were between Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
via East Leake
East Leake
East Leake is a large village and civil parish in the Rushcliffe district of Nottinghamshire, England, although its closest town and postal address is Loughborough across the border in Leicestershire. It has a population of around 7,000. The original village was located on the Sheepwash Brook. ...
, and, since the 1950s, between Nottingham and the Clifton Estate.
The company was sold to Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Greater Nottingham area, with some services continuing to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport. There are over 80 routes across the City, giving...
in 1991.
History and fleet
Christopher Thomas Dabell used a 20-seat GuyGuy Motors
Guy Motors was a British company based in Fallings Park, Wolverhampton that made cars, lorries, buses, and trolleybuses.-History:Guy Motors Ltd was founded in 1914 by Sydney Guy who had been the Works Manager of nearby Sunbeam. A factory was built on the site at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton...
BB to operate the first South Notts service, between Gotham and Nottingham, in March 1926. Barton
Barton Transport
Barton Transport plc was a British bus and coach operator based in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire. It commenced its first service in 1908. Its fleet and operations were sold to Wellglade in 1989, and the combined operations later became Trent Barton...
already provided a bus service on this route but Mr. Dabell gained enough local customers to make his service successful. In 1929, an agreement was made with Barton which involved Barton acquiring a 50% share of South Notts whilst withdrawing from the South Notts route. The South Notts service was extended to Loughborough, and this continued to be the company's main route until its takeover. (Indeed Nottingham City Transport continue to use the South Notts fleetname on this route.)
Single-deck buses, mainly Guys, joined the fleet until 1932, when Leylands started to arrive, followed by Gilfords, Bedfords
Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930; and constructing commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international truck manufacturer, with substantial export sales of...
and Dennises
Dennis Specialist Vehicles
Dennis Specialist Vehicles is a major British coachbuilder and manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles based in Guildford, England...
. The first double-decker
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
did not arrive until 1951, when an ex-Hants and Dorset Leyland was acquired. This proved useful on services to the new Clifton Estate, which were provided jointly with Nottingham City Transport and West Bridgford UDC. More followed, with the fleet size increasing rapidly to meet the new demand, and it was not long before the fleet became predominantly double-deck. However, a small coach fleet was also maintained, for which Bedfords were the preferred vehicles until the mid-1980s when the Bedfords were supplanted by secondhand Leyland Leopard
Leyland Leopard
The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-deck bus and coach chassis built by Leyland between 1959 and 1982. It was popular with bus and coach operators throughout the British Isles...
s.
The double-deck fleet was of lowbridge or lowheight types, due to the height of the bridge where the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
crossed Wilford Lane. These were either sunken gangway Leyland PD3s, with Metro-Cammell or Northern Counties bodies, later Albion Lowlanders again with Northern Counties bodies, which negated the sunken gangway requirement. after the Lowlander ceased production, Leyland Atlantean PDR1/3s with Northern Counties bodies were purchased. However, when this bridge was removed, South Notts continued to buy lowheight Leyland Atlantean PDR1/3s and Daimler Fleetlines with either Northern Counties or Eastern Coachworks bodies.
Amongst these were two last of build vehicles, the last Albion Lowlander, 89 and the last Daimler Fleetline, 117. Both were earmarked for preservation, but no work had been carried out prior to them being destroyed by fire in February 2007 in mysterious circumstances.
Following the takeover by Nottingham City Transport (which took place exactly 65 years to the day after the first service ran), Leyland and Volvo Olympian
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engine double decker bus built by Volvo at Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was first built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian....
s with East Lancs bodywork
East Lancs E Type
The East Lancs E Type is a type of double-deck bus body built on different chassis by East Lancashire Coachbuilders.-Chassis:Types bodied include the following:* Dennis Dominator* Dennis Arrow* Leyland Olympian* Scania N113DRB* Volvo B10M...
were added to the fleet to oust the remaining Atlanteans and Fleetlines. Newer Olympians did operate the main service, now numbered 1. Since 21st September 2009 the route has been branded as South Notts "The One".
Scania OmniDekkas cascaded from Clifton service 48, have been re-liveried for service on 'The One', ousting out the last Volvo Olympians, making NCT's fleet fully low floor, eight years before the government deadline. Nottingham City Transport have also transferred the operation of other routes, not traditionally associated with South Notts, to Gotham garage. A number of Scania
Scania AB
Scania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses...
single-deckers, articulated buses, and double-deckers are allocated to the depot to operate such services.
Liveries
The original livery was dark blue and cream; maroon was later added. For much of the company's existence, the livery for double-deckers was dark blue with a cream relief band and a maroon roof, whilst coaches had a slightly different livery of two-tone blue and cream. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the company in 1986, Leyland Fleetline 117 was repainted with a cream roof, as the original livery, as well as receiving special branding, and later the rest of the fleet also saw the maroon replaced with cream.Following takeover, the blue and cream livery was retained, with the area of cream expanded, and variants were created for minibuses and single-deckers, the latter involving two shades of blue.
Current livery is NCT's two-tone green "Network" livery, with navy blue around the upper deck windscreen and front and rear sections of the roof. The "South Notts" fleetname is still used. One Olympian has been repainted into traditional blue, cream and maroon livery to celebrate the 80th anniversary of South Notts. This bus is now withdrawn.