| 185, 186, 203 & 204 Bristol VRT Series II & III Double Deck Buses |
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THE REAL BUSES The Bristol Commercial Vehicle Company developed the VR rear engine design in the mid 1960's. The first VR's were however somewhat trouble some, the in-line vertical engine proving a major problem. Thankfully these VRL's were soon replaced by a more reliable transverse engine version which was classified the VRT. The VRT was produced in three versions, the mark I that had a flat windscreen, the mark II that featured a curved windscreen, and the most popular mark III version that featured a redesigned radiator grille and rear engine cover. Bristol VRT's were the standardized double deck type for most operators within the National Bus Company, however examples of the type also found favour with several municipal operators. Almost all the VRT's were bodied by Eastern Coach Works, although some operators specified small batches with body designs by other builders. The model continued in production until 1981 by which time over 4400 examples had been built. Its demise came as a result of the introduction of the Leyland Olympian, sadly this event also marked the end of the Bristol Commercial Vehicle business. Convertible open top versions of the ECW bodied VRT were popular with several National Bus Company operators who operated coastal services. Southdown had several batches of such vehicles that operated seasonal open top services during the summer period, and then had the roofs re-fitted during the winter months allowing operation of normal services. Many Bristol VRT's after withdrawal by their original owners found further service with independent operators across the UK. Today small numbers of this sturdy work horse continue to provide sterling service, while a growing number are passing into the hands of preservationists. THE EFE MODELS The EFE VRT can be produced as either a mark II or mark III version this is achieved by using different castings for the front grille and engine compartment. The closed top versions were the first to appear with the mark II making it's debut in December 1995 followed in March 1996 by the mark III. The Open top versions both share the same top deck casting with the first issue of mark III coming in April 1997 followed by the mark II in July 1998. With both open and enclosed top models the mark III issues have greatly out numbered the mark II versions.  |
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| Cat No. | Operator | Fleet No. | Registration | Route No. | Destination | |
| Open Top Bristol VRT Series 2 | ||||||
| 18501 | Southern National Ltd | 559 | ATA559L | 501 | Portland Bill | |
| 18502 | Eastern Counties Omnibus Co | OT 353 | JNG 50N | F4 | Felixstow Bawosey Ferry | |
| Open Top Bristol VRT Series 3 | ||||||
| 18601 | The South Wales Transport Co (De Cymru) (N.B.C.) |
931 | RTH931S | 75 | Langland Bay | |
| 18602 | Wilts & Dorset | 3351 | OEL232P | 152 | Sandbanks | |
| 18603 | East Yorkshire Motor Services | 639 | VDV139S | 109 | Sea Front Service | |
| 18604 | Crosville Wales (Crosville Cymru) | OVG467 | WTU467W | 101 | Prestatyn Pontin's | |
| 18605 | (First) Provincial Bus Company | 94 | MOD571P | 70 | Portsmouth Hard | |
| 18605A | (First) Provincial Bus Company | 594 | MOD571P | -- | Sutton | |
| 18606 | Cumberland Motor Services | 2038 | UWV620S | -- | Ambleside | |
| 18607 | Stagecoach Devon General | 935 | VDV135S | 120 | Paignton Zoo | |
| 18608 | Southdown Motor Services | 621 | UWV621S | 3B | Beachy Head Sea Front Service | |
| 18608A | Southdown Motor Services | 615 | UWV615S | X16 | Limited Stop Southsea | |
| 18609 | The Village Bus Co (Southern Vectis Omnibus Co) | 3 | VDL613S | 44 | Shanklin Esplanade & Town | |
| 18610 | Solent Blue Line (New Forest Tour) | 901 | UFX857S | 149 | New Forest Tour | |
| 18611 | York Pullman City Tour | 199 | VDV140S | -- | None | |
| Bristol VRT Series 2 | ||||||
| 20301 | East Yorkshire Motor Services (N.B.C.) | 928 | DKH928L | 79B | Cicular via Paul / Hebdon | |
| 20302 | Bristol Omnibus Co (N.B.C.) | 5501 | HTC727N | 108 | Bournville Est. | |
| 20303 | Southdown Motor Services (N.B.C.) | 564 | GNJ564N | X71 | Southsea Limited Stop | |
| 20304 | Greater Manchester Transport (Greater Manchester PTE) |
1420 ST | AJA420L | 310X | Gatley | |
| 20305 | West Yorkshire Road Car Co | 1960 | UWY 64L | 320 | Penny Pot Lane | |
| 20305DL | York City & District (West Yorkshire Road Car Co) | 1960 | UWY 64L | 12A | Ashley Park | |
| 20306 | SELNEC Cheshire | 409 | AJA409L | 90 | Marple | |
| 20306DL | SELNEC Cheshire | 402 | AJA402L | 381 | Denton | |
| Bristol VRT Series 3 | ||||||
| 20401 | Badgerline Bath | BH5531 | EWS739W | 332 | Bristol | |
| 20402 | United Automobiles Services | 824 | MEF824W | 49 | Durham - Brandon | |
| 20403 | Devon General | 940 | VDV140S | 127 | Kesketh Crescent (for Meadfoot Beach) | |
| 20404 | East Kent Road Car Co | 7678 | CLJ678W | 501 | Singleton | |
| 20405 | Northern General Transport Co (N.B.C.) | 3342 | UTO833S | 723 | Newcastle Worswick Street | |
| 20406 | Cambus | 738 | RAH260W | 103 | Duxford | |
| 20406SB | Cambus | 738 | RAH260W | 103 | Duxford | |
| 20407 | Crosville Wales (Crosville Cyrmu) | DVG477 | WTU477W | 51 | Denbigh | |
| 20408 | First Eastern Counties Omnibus Co | VR294 | VEX294X | X74 | Lowestoft Limited Stop | |
| 20409 | Southern Vectis Omnibus Co | 683 | DPX683W | 168 | Ventnor | |
| 20410GS | Southdown Motor Services | 276 | JWV976W | 230 | Brighton Old Stiene | |
| 20411 | Western National | 941 | VDV141S | 84 | Yelverton Tavistock | |
| 20412 | Eastern National (Essex Buses Ltd) | 3112 | XHK217X | 72B | Chelmsford | |
| 20413 | Great Yarmouth Transport Ltd | 39 | RVF 39R | 16 | Caisters Second Avenue Wellington Pier | |
| 20414 | Hedingham & District Omnibus Co | L255 | STW 30W | 88 | Halstead | |
| 20415 | First Blue Bus (Eastern Counties Omnibus Co) | 320 | CVF 31T | 604 | Great Yarmouth | |
| 20415SB | First Blue Bus (Eastern Counties Omnibus Co) | 320 | CVF 31T | 604 | Great Yarmouth | |
| 20416 | Maidstone & District Motor Services | 5828 | BRC834T | 341 | Sheerness | |
| 20417GS | Aldershot & District Traction Co (Alder Valley North) | 611 | GGM 81W | 44 | Aldershot | |
| 20417A-GS | Aldershot & District Traction Co (Alder Valley North) | 611 | GGM 81W | 443 | Old Dean Estate | |
| 20418 | Wallace Arnold (Viscount Bus & Coach Co) | -- | HAH237V | 7 | Welland Estate | |
| 20419 | Ensignbus (Ensign Bus Services) | 507 | SWW307R | 507 | Lakeside | |
| 20420 | United Automobiles Services (N.B.C. / Tyne & Wear Transport) |
799 | XPT799V | 34 | Whitley Bay | |
| 20421 | Wilts & Dorset | 4423 | ELJ215V | 132 | Wimborne | |
| 20422 | Southern National Ltd | 1097 | PTT 97R | 31 | Taunton | |
| 20423 | Stagecoach United Counties | 878 | XNV878S | 158 | Milton Keyness | |
| 20424 | Mayne of Manchester | 17 | VJA667S | 229 | Glossop (Royal Oak) via Motorway and Chatsworth | |
| 20425 | Wilts & Dorset | 4448 | KRU848W | 3 | Stonehenge | |
| 20426 | Eastern National Omnibus Co,N.B.C. | 3080 | STW 24W | 193 | Romford Market | |
| 20427 | West Riding Automobile Co | 762 | OWW906P | 185 | Beal | |
| 20428 | Southend Transport | 302 | YUM515S | 5 | Eastwood | |
| 20429 | Solent Blue Line | 123 | DBV 23W | 47 | Southampton City Centre | |
| 20430 | Northumbria Motors Services | 591 | PAJ829X | 308 | Newcastle | |
| 20431 | Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Co Ltd | 264 | JWV264W | 2 | Rottingdean | |
| 20432 | Devon General | 1126 | XDV606S | 120 | Torquay | |
| 20432A | Devon General | 1126 | XDV606S | X80 | Plymounth | |
| 20433 | Alder Valley South Ltd | VR 962 | WJM822T | 34 | Camberley | |
| 20433DL | Alder Valley South Ltd | VR972 | WJM832T | 292 | Guildford & Godalming | |
| (20434) 99646GRC |
G.W.R. (First Devon & Cornwall Ltd Western National) | 1003 | VDV141S | 527 | The Lizard | |
| 20435 | First Eastern National (Essex Buses Ltd) | 3078 | STW 22W | 103 | Harwich via Manningtree, Ardleigh | |
| 20436 | Yorkshire Rider Bradford | 748 | NUM339V | 681 | Bradford Interchange | |
| 20437 | Damory Coaches (Wilts & Dorset) | 5062 | VPR485S | 314 | Salisbury | |
| 20438 | Southdown Motor Services (N.B.C.) | 270 | JWV270W | 700 | Portsmouth Limited Stop | |
| 20439 | Yorkshire Rider (Leeds) | 736 | LUA719V | 82 | Holt Park | |
| 20440 | Crosville Motor Services (N.B.C.) | DVL 435 | RMA435V | B1X | Mold | |
| 20441 | East Kent (N.B.C.) | 7671 | BJG671V | 608 | Margate | |
| 20442 | Model Not Issued Yet | |||||
| 20443 | Trent Buses | 825 ? | URB825S | 16 | Mickleover | |
| 20444 | Mansfield & District (East Midland Motor Services) |
164 | URB164S | 1 | Huthwaite | |
| 20445 | Devon General | 1215 | LFJ862W | 377 | Crediton | |
| 20446 | Southdown (red livery) | 624 | UTO834S | 700 | Portsmouth Limited Stop | |
| 99646GRC (20434) |
G.W.R. (First Devon & Cornwall Ltd Western National) | 1003 | VDV141S | 527 | The Lizard | |
| Double Deck Model Index | 18501 | 18601 | 20301 | 20401 |