County Bus Leyland Olympians
This page created 11th September 2003 by Ian Smith
But Countybus was by then in one of the upheavals that beset the industry after privatisation.
In January 1991 a change in ownership resulted in the 103, with its new, leased,
buses not being a viable proposition for the new owners (Small companies, without big backing,
attract higher leasing premiums).
So the route, and buses, were passed over to Grey-Green, who operated them from their Barking depot.
At first the buses just received large Grey-Green company names on the front tween-decks,
but as repaints were required they received the company's grey with emerald green and orange livery.
Grey Green kept them on the 103, although they did appear on the 179 as well. Grey Green renumbered them into the 4** series, still minus 411.
But in autumn 2000 their association with the 103 came to an end. Arriva North-West, in Manchester and Merseyside,
needed buses like these, and away they went. Their place on the 103 was filled by their two-door sisters
that had originated with Kentish Bus.
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Countybus won the London Regional Transport tender for route 103 to start in September 1990.
The contract required decent double-decker buses,
so Countybus leased fourteen new Leyland Olympians (LR101-110,112-115)
and had them painted in their pale cream and dark green Thameside livery.
They went to work from Grays garage in September 1990.
Eventually Grey-Green lost its individuality, submerging into the Arriva empire as Arriva London North-East.
London livery of red with cream horns was now the order of the day, and the Olympians were so repainted.
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