Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith, This page created 21st January 2016. Best on 800*600.

Amber Coaches Dennis Dart SLFs

These histories are incomplete. They are being assembled as I garner information from a variety of sources. Particularly useful have been:

  

061    KM51 BFY   2/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2B2CR31GW16207, Caetano Nimbus 4238/02, B31D
                  2/02    new to Mitcham Belle: red, red/white/blue front
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC11             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington) 
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals 
                  5/09    Scarlet Band, County Durham
                  7/10    acquired by Go North-East #9156 for Quaylink
                  8/10    presumed returned to Dawson Rentals
                  9/10    short-term hire by Halton Borough Transport #94
 1                7/13    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh, #1
                  8/13    in service on 261 to Blackmore: white $
                  2/17    taken over by NIBS, Wickford
                  5/17    in service on 12 to Wickford, NIBS $

063    KU02 YBA   3/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2B2CR31GW16234, Caetano Nimbus 4240/02, B31D
                  3/02    new to Mitcham Belle
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC13             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington) 
                  4/06 MC in service on 152: red, blue skirt
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals 
                  6/09    Scarlet Band, County Durham
                  8/09    in service, Scarlet Band, Darlington
                  6/10    at Thames Travel, Wallingford
                  7/10    acquired by Go North-East #9159 for Quaylink
                  8/10    presumed returned to Dawson Rentals
                 12/10    Speedwell Value, Ashton
2                 7/13    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh, #2
                 11/14    in service on 261 to Blackmore: white $
                 12/14    in service on 261 to Brentwood: white $
                  3/15    in service on 374 $
                  3/17    withdrawn

054    KM51 BFU   2/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2B2CR31GW16204, Caetano Nimbus, B31D
                  2/02    new to Mitcham Belle: red, red/white/blue layer front
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC 5             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington)
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store 
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals  
 3                8/13    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh
                  8/13    in service on 261 to Brentwood $
                 11/15    withdrawn  

067    KU02 YBE   4/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2B2CR31GW16261, Caetano Nimbus 4244/02, B31D
                  4/02    new to Mitcham Belle
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC17             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington)
                  9/05 MC used on 493 
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals 
 HDC18            3/07    hired by CT Plus for temporary use on W13
                 c7/07    presumed returned to Dawson Rentals
                  1/09    at Far East Travel, Ipswich
                  7/10    Far East Travel
 4                9/13    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh, Essex
                  2/17    taken over by NIBS, Wickford


080    HV52 WTA  12/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2BACR32GW16838, Caetano Nimbus, B31D
                 12/02    new to Mitcham Belle for 493
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC30             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington)
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store 
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals 
                  7/10    acquired by Go North-East #9160 for Quaylink 
                  8/10    presumed returned to Dawson Rentals
                  9/10    short-hire to Halton Borough Transport #95 
5                 3/14    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh
                  5/14    in service on 374 to Grays: white $
                  */15    used on 374 to Basildon: white $
                  2/17    taken over by NIBS, Wickford


083    HV52 WTK  12/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2BACR32GW16841, Caetano Nimbus, B31D
                 12/02    new to Mitcham Belle for 493
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC33             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington)
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store 
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals
               by 5/07    acquired by Cavalier, Huntingdon
                  4/08    Huntingdon & District #5338
                  4/09    Stagecoach East #33309
                 10/09    Stagecoach East #33309
                  2/10    Stagecoach East #33309, Wisbech 
                  6/10    at Thames Travel, Wallingford
                  7/10    acquired by Go North-East #9161 for Quaylink
                  8/10    presumed returned to Dawson Rentals
                          acquired by Thurmaston Bus, Leicester, #S14
                  4/11    Thurmaston Bus
 6                3/14    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh,  
                  4/14    in service on 374 to Grays: white $
                  6/14    in service on 374: white $
                  2/17    taken over by NIBS, Wickford

        N210 NNJ   5/96    10.6m Dennis Dart SLF SFD322BR1TGW10154, Plaxton Pointer 9610.6HLZ5283
                   5/96    new to Brighton Hove & District, #210
                  12/10    in service, BH&D
                   2/12    in service, BH&D 
                   2/14    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet) 
                   3/14    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh

        X595 FBB   1/01    8.8m Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1YGW15374, Plaxton 008.8GKB3381, B25F
                   1/01    new to Go Wear Buses #505
                   8/05    in service, Newcastle: red/yellow/blue 
                   1/08    in service, North Shields ferry shuttle: red/yellow/blue
                   9/10    in service, Wallsend: Pink Panther
                   3/11    in service, Wallsend: North Tyne Links lime green
                   6/13    in service, Wallsend: North Tyne Links lime green
                   3/14    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet) 
                   3/14    bought by Amber Coaches for 11,374
                   7/14    in service, lime green
                  10/14    in service, lime green
                   3/15    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet) 

        X506 WRG   1/01    8.8m Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1YGW15388, Plaxton 008.8GKB3382, B25F
                   1/01    new to Go Wear Buses #506 
                   9/10    in service, Wallsend: Pink Panther
                   3/11    in service, Wallsend: lime green
                  10/11    in service, Wallsend: North Tyne Links lime green
                   4/12    transfer to Washington
                  10/12    transfer to Peterlee
                   4/13    in service, Sunderland: lime green
                   6/13    staff shuttle, Sunderland: lime green
                   9/13    withdrawn into store (Deptford)
                   3/14    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet) 
                   3/14    bought by Amber Coaches for 11,374
                   4/14    in service on 374 (Grays - Basildon): lime green
                  10/14    Amber: white front, lime body
                   5/15    sold to Ensign Bus
 
        X512 WRG   1/01    8.8m Dennis Dart SLF SFD612BR1YGW15423, Plaxton 008.8GKB3388, B25F
                   1/01    new to Go Wear Buses #512 
                   5/09    in service, Wallsend: North Tyne Links lime green
                   9/10    in service, Wallsend: North Tyne Links lime green
                   6/12    in service, Jarrow: lime green
                   7/13    in service, Consett: lime green
                   9/13    withdrawn into store (Consett)
                   3/14    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet)
                   3/14    bought by Amber Coaches for 11,374
                   4/14    in service on 11 (Basildon): lime green
                   5/15    sold to Ensign Bus

DP 1029 KP02 PVN  6/02    10.1m Transbus Dart SFD2BACR32GW16513, Transbus Pointer 2002/12, B30D
                  6/02 AH new to Armchair for E2, E8 (Brentwood) 
                 11/04 AH taken over by Metroline
                 11/06 AH reseated: B27D
                  3/07 AH repainted red, blue skirt
                 12/09    return off-lease to Dawson Rentals
                  2/10    hired by Abellio London for temporary 545
                  1/14    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet) 
                  3/14    hired to Buses ETC during depot lock-out
                  6/14    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh 


081    HV52 WTG  12/02    10.5m Dennis Dart SLF SFD2BACR32GW16839, Caetano Nimbus 4344/02, B31D
                 12/02    new to Mitcham Belle for 493
                  8/04    taken over by Centra London
DC31             10/04    renumbered
                  8/05 MC retained by Centra London (Beddington)
                  3/06    in service on 493 $
                  5/06    Centra London ceases trading: into store 
                  6/06    to Caetano, (Waterlooville) for Dawson Rentals 
                          acquired by Huntingdon & District #5339 
                  4/08    in service, Huntingdon, blue/cream 5339 $
                 10/09    in service, Huntingdon $
                  5/10    off service, Stagecoach East, Peterborough #33310
                  7/10    in service, Go North-East Newcastle- Gateshead Quaylink #9152: white $
                  5/11    in service KJB: white $ 
                  8/14    acquired by Amber Coaches, Rayleigh
                 10/14    in service on 374 to Basildon $
                 12/14    in service on 269 to Grays $
                  3/17    withdrawn

       NA52 AWO  12/02    8.8m Dennis Dart SLF SFD6BACR32GW86861, Plaxton MPD 2054/7, B25F
                 12/02    new to Go Wear Buses #529
                          in service, Go-Wear red/yellow/blue
                  3/13    in service: Washington Street Shuttle: silver/red/blue $ 
                          Western Greyhound
                 10/14    in service, Western Greyhound: green $
                  1/15    in service, Western Greyhound: green $
                  3/15    Western Greyhound ceases trading
                  3/15    off-lease to Ensign Bus
                  3/15    on loan to First Cornwall
                  3/15    in service, First Cornwall: green
                  4/15    in service, First Cornwall: green 
                          return to Ensign Bus 
                  5/15    on loan to Amber Coaches, Rayleigh
                  5/15    in service, Amber: green $
                  9/15    in service, Nu-Venture: green, dark green skirt $ 

LDP 8   P508 RYM 11/96    Dennis Dart SLF SFD112BR1TGW10441, Plaxton Pointer 9.2m 969.2HEZ6101, B32F
                 11/96    new to London General
                  7/00 A  (Sutton)
        188 CLT           reregistered
                  3/02 A  
                  8/03 A  repainted
        P508 RYM 11/04 A  reregistered
                  6/05 A
                  7/08 A  downseated: B31F
                  7/09 BX transfer into store, withdrawn (Bexleyheath)
                 11/09    sold to Ensign Bus
 DPS 1            1/10    leased by Hackney Community Transport as refurb cover
                  4/10    used on 394
                  3/12    in service on 394 
                  4/14    bought by Panther Travel, Essex
        SIL 6719  7/14    reregistered
                 10/14    on loan to Regal Busways: used on 380
                  5/16    Panther Travel, Stansted Airport: white/blue $ 
                          on loan to Amber Coaches, Rayleigh, Essex
                  6/16    in service on 269 to Brentwood $
                  7/16    bought by Amber Coaches
                  8/16    in service on 374 to Grays Bus Station $
                  3/17    withdrawn
        P508 RYM  5/17    reregistered

        NK55 KBU 10/05    10.8m AD Dart SLF SFD3CACR45GW18393, AD Pointer 4250/3, B37F
                 10/05    new to Redby, Hendon 
               by 9/07    leased by Reading Buses #607
                  9/11    withdrawn
                 11/11    returned to lessor 
                          to Ensign Bus (Purfleet)
                  1/12    bought by NIBS, Wickford
                  7/16    NIBS
                  3/17    NIBS: used on Amber 11, 269
                  6/17    NIBS
                  7/17    used on 269 to Blackmore $
                 12/17    used on 269 to Grays $

NCP 23  SN55 DVR 10/05    10.1m AD Dart SLF SFD2BACR45GW98439, AD Pointer 5211/23, B28D
                 11/05 NC new to National Car Parks for 33, 419, 419(Twickenham)
                  8/09 NC in service on 419 to Richmond $
                 11/09 NC taken over by Transdev (London Sovereign)
 DPS 723         10/10 NC renumbered
                 11/10 AV transfer (Hounslow)
                       AV in service on 222 to Cranford $
                  9/12 AV withdrawn
                  3/13    gone
               by 3/14    acquired by NIBS Buses, Wickford
                  8/14    in service, NIBS: deep yellow/red
                  4/16    in service on 257: Billericay - Ramsden Heath $
                  3/17    NIBS
                  6/17    NIBS

         CC05 BLU */05    8.8m AD Dart SLF, AD Pointer B37F
                          Bluebird, Manchester, #30
                 12/10    in service, Bluebird: blue/blue $
                  6/11    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet)
                  7/11    acquired by Tate's Travel, Darton, #1051
                 12/13    in service, Tate's: white $
                  9/15    in service, Tate's: white $
                 10/15    in service, Tate's: white $
                  3/16    sold to Ensign Bus (Purfleet) 
                          bought by Amber Coaches
                  8/16    in service on 374: East Tilbury - Linford Road $
                  1/17    in service on 374 to Grays Bus Station: white, orange skirt
                  3/17    NIBS
                  6/17    NIBS
                          NIBS: used on 501 to Harlow: yellow/red

A key to the references is in the bibliography.

Photographic references


      
5      HV52 WTA   TLB608 p37   */15    used on 374 to Basildon, Horndon-on-the-Hill: white

Bus Stop SLF index. Landmark text. histories. photo refs.