A little research shows that our bus has had quite the history so for those interested here it is in brief:
Built at the end of 2000, the DAF DB250LF with chassis number XMGDE02RS0H008690 measuring in at 10.2 metres in length was given its Alexander ALX400 body in Falkirk, Scotland and registered as X435FGP
In January of 2001 it was delivered as a new purchase to Arriva London and thus was in the traditional London Red colour and was operated from their Croydon depot and given the Arriva fleet designation of DLA235
Notice the middle door, these were standard at the time on London buses but was later removed to allow additional seating inside.
Our bus remained with Arriva for many years servicing London, it was refurbished in April of 2005 and repainted again in Red to continue its service in London and again was repainted in November of 2011 before being transfered in 2013 to Arriva Edmonton Depot
At some point after 2013 and prior to being sold In 2015 the bus was painted again, this time in the corporate blue colour of Arriva. it was withdrawn from service by Arriva in March 2015 and sold to someone in Bolton who immediately sold it on to Presidential Coaches in Bootle who in January of 2016 had the bus re-registered onto private plates MIG9501.
After ending its service with them at the close of the school term in July 2023 it was re-registered with its original plate of X435FGP and then purchased by us for conversion to the bar…..