Photo © Hadfieldpt@aol.com. Please do not re-post without permission.
This Duple bodied Bedford OB registered KYE905 has been operating with Padfields Tours of Tonypandy since early 2009 and has an interesting past and as yet, an unknown future.
It was new to Grey Green of Stamford Hill in 3/50 in grey/green livery (who'd have guessed!) with cream side flashes and passed to Combs Coaches of Stowmarket in 6/59. Combs was a keen operator of OBs and became a subsidiary of Mulley's Motorways, which also took over the operations of Corona, but maintained the individual identities of these operators.
KYE905 was withdrawn in 5/64 and stored at Ixworth, along with a few other withdrawn vehicles and it eventually passed to a preservationist in Maidstone and then to another preservationist in East Cheam. By 6/90 it had passed to LBPT and was by 1997, fully restored wearing Royal blue/cream and in service with Nostalgiabus of Mitcham, which was established in 7/91. KYE905 featured in a tv episode of 'Just William', on heritage route 408 between Cheam and Guildford, Surrey Hills Leisure services and private hire contracts until 12/97.
It was then damaged by fire in a vandal attack at the premises of Nostalgiabus on 30/12/97, which also affected RM1183 and it was withdrawn pending repairs. Nostalgiabus was dissolved in 12/03 and this coach became owned by Mediabus of Croydon in 2/04.
In early 2009 Neville Padfield bought this coach for use in his Padfield Tours business. Padfields is a long-established operator, which has its origins in removal and storage, before commencing passenger services. It has since been used mostly on private hire duties and for attending rallies wearing cream/brown as in the photo.
Padfields put the coach for sale in late 2017, but it has not sold, so the price has now been reduced by £10K. What next for this lovely 68 year old classic?
Photo taken by Peter Hadfield, Sunday 8 June 2014, Barry Transport Rally
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