Reg No: B190 BLG
Year: February 1985
Operator: New to Crosville. Operated for Midland Fox
Chassis: Leyland Olympian
Engine: Gardner 6LXB 10.45 litre diesel
Gearbox: Leyland Hydrocyclic (Semi-automatic)
Body: ECW H45/32F
In service
The bus was new in February 1985 to Crosville, as fleet number DOG190. It was then sold to Midland Fox and given the fleet number 4528, which it retained when Midland Fox were taken over by Arriva. The vehicle later spent time with C&N Travel of Barrow Upon Soar, before being acquired by Confidence of Leicester, where it gained the fleet number 70.
In preservation –
B190 BLG entered the preservation scene on 6th September 2021 when Karl purchased the vehicle from Confidence Bus & Coach, Karl and Colin May collected No70 (Confidence Fleet Number) and took it to a temporary home at Gaddesby.
We were soon putting No70 to work on shuttle services for the GCR, operated by LTHT which it worked on several occasions.
After much agonising on what to do with 70 as far as livery was concerned, work commenced in 2023 with the laborious task of sanding and re-riveting the bus ready for paint. Mick Gamble, Colin May and myself spent a considerable amount of time preparing the exterior.
70 then passed to Shirleys Transport at Stoke on Trent for a full exterior repaint.
Fresh out of paint and carrying its new guise of Midland Red, 4528 ready to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Midland Red’s Coalville Garage opening.
Thanks to Lee Hobson for excellent work on the vinyl lettering and the side adverts.