PROVINCIAL SOCIETY

The Provincial Society

A301 KJT - Leyland National NL116TL11/1R DP47F

Last Updated : 16 December 2007

May 84	In service with Provincial Bus Company Limited, Hoeford (1)
Jul 96	Fleet number changed to 401
Apr 99	Out of service with Provincial Bus Company Limited, Hoeford (401)
Apr 99	In service with First Hampshire Limited, Southampton (401)
May 03	Out of service with First Hampshire Limited, Southampton (401)
May 03	In service with First Hampshire & Dorset Limited, Southampton (401)
Aug 03	Out of service with First Hampshire & Dorset Limited, Southampton (401)
Sep 03	John Sherwin, Locks Heath & Darren Marshall, Portsmouth
	Repainted in original People's Provincial livery

Preserved as People's Provincial 1


Southampton Bus Station	Hoeford March 1988	Bargate, Southampton October 1988
(C) Malcolm Audsley	(Malcolm Audsley)	(C) Malcolm Audsley


Bargate, Southampton February 1997	Gosport Bus Station 16 May 2004	Stokes Bay, Gosport 30 August 2004
(C) Malcolm Audsley	(C) Gerry Tormey	(C) Gerry Tormey


Stokes Bay 28 August 2006
(C) Gerry Tormey

THE HISTORY

A301 KJT was one of a pair of Dual Purpose MK II Leyland Nationals placed into service at Hoeford Depot, Fareham by Provincial Bus Company in May 1984.

Delivered as fleet number 1, the vehicle was painted in NBC 'DP' livery of white upper and leaf green lower and was used on stage carriage, express and private hire workings in the Gosport, Fareham and Southampton area.

In 1987 the livery was modified with a Brunswick green skirt and red wheel rims when the National Bus Company was succeeded by People's Provincial Buses.

Further repaints were undertaken over the next seven years which included versions of the early 'DP' livery, standard bus livery and the revised livery in February 1995.

On 8 October1995, People's Provincial was sold to FirstBus PLC with all vehicles gaining large Provincial logos. In November 1996 the bus was renumbered as 401 and repainted red and cream.

In 2000 the last of the MK I Nationals were withdrawn with younger MK II vehicles being transferred from other fleets. During 2003 the remaining Nationals were withdrawn from service. 401 survived until August 2003 when it was the last Provincial Leyland National to be withdrawn.

401 was purchased for preservation in September 2003 by Darren Marshall and John Sherwin.

IN PRESERVATION

So far essential bodywork repairs have been carried out which has included a front end rebuild above the windscreen. A full rebuild has also been undertaken on the rear end of the vehicle using fibreglass parts.

In July 2006, 401 was repainted at Hoeford into the People's Provincial livery as carried from 1995. 401 has also been renumbered back to 1.

Over the next few years it is planned to retrim the interior into correct NBC moquette.