Click here to return to Website Home page

On 1^st January 1970 the Swain Group sold Provincial to the NBC. The first result of this was that the Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Company's address was transferred to Hants and Dorset at The Square Bournemouth. It was decided to run the company as a separate entity from H&D however, and therefore Provincial retained some of its independence. The first vehicle activity was the arrival of a number of second hand vehicles from other NBC subsidiaries in June 1970, entering service between July 1970 and January 1971. These were: -

No 6 was found to have crack in its chassis and was scrapped before entering service. As a replacement for SNN 71, a substitute No 6 arrived in the shape of 318 EDV a Bristol SUL 4A from Western National. No 56 never operated with this number but was renumbered as 67 as part of the December 1970 renumbering scheme before entering service.

No 4 XNU 421 looks smart in it's Provincial livery at Hoeford

The replacement No 6 (318 EDV) stands at Hoeford, I am not sure what route 28 was!

An order was placed in 1971 for six Roe bodied Daimler Fleetlines, these would have been the first rear engined double deckers in the fleet. I think it was a great shame that in the event these were transferred to Hants and Dorset. I would have loved to see one of these in Provincial livery.

The Fleetline order for Provincial eventually went to Hants and Dorset and operated around Poole and Bournemouth. One such example is seen above VRU 126J.

What was delivered to Provincial were six Bristol RELL6G single-deckers. These were the first new vehicles delivered under NBC control and arrived in 1971. They were in a revised version of traditional Provincial livery and numbered 1-6 (BCG 101-106J).

The first Bristol RELL delivered was No 1 (BCG 101J). The Provincial livery suited them very well.

1970 also saw large numbers of withdrawals of old Provincial vehicles. Notable amongst these was 34 (BOR 766) the last of the 1936 AEC Regents. I believe this must have been by far the oldest NBC double decker operated anywhere in the country. The first two Deutz engined rebuilds (59,61 EHO 965/6) were also withdrawn, plus a number of the Guy's.

A partial fleet renumbering also took place in December 1970 clearing the way for new deliveries and closing some gaps. Route reorganisation and re-numbering also started to take place.

In 1971 two ex Wilts and Dorset Bedford SB13 coaches with Duple C41F bodies arrived. 57/58 (BMW 135/6C). This was followed by a further example 55 (BMW 139C) in 1972.

From Eastern Counties came 31-33 (URB 557-8/PNN 774). These were ECW coach bodied Bristol LS, which originated with Midland General and Mansfield District.

In 1972 a further six new Bristol RELL6G's were purchased numbered 7-12 (ECG 107-112K). These differed from the first batch by having red seats instead of green. One of these is now preserved 12 (ECG 112K).

The preserved No 12 (ECG 112K) is seen in its preservation days

No 10 (ECG 110K) waiting at Gosport Ferry before starting out on route 1 to Fareham Peak Lane, the extended terminus at Fareham West End. This bus was re-painted into traditional livery with garter and scroll for the Provincial Centenary in 1978. It was also renumbered 100 for the occasion.

Also in 1972 two ex Southdown 1963 Leyland Leopards with BET specification Marshall B45F bodies were acquired 29-30 (105-6 CUF).

1972 saw the start of real NBC standardisation when then the first of many Leyland Nationals arrived in NBC corporate leaf green livery. These were first unrelieved but later a white band was added which greatly improved their appearance. They were numbered 13-17 (HOR 413-17L). From this time onwards the other vehicles were gradually re-painted in the NBC green thus removing the last traces of traditional Emerald Green from the fleet. Further batches of Nationals were then delivered each year up to 1980 but that, as they say, is another story.

The first Leyland National delivered in 1972 No 13 (HOR 413L) is now preserved as seen here.

14 (HOR 414L) seen in the company of one of the ex Wilts and Dorset Bedford SB coaches at Hoeford.

December 1970 Partial Re-numbering Scheme

N/C indicates 'no change'.

Click here to return to Website Home page