Southern National - Bristol RELH Coach 1457
LDV 467F
Engine: Gardner 6LXB
Current Status: 1457 is fully operational.
The latest news with 1457
Grand REveal!
Sunday 3rd November 2019 was the grand reveal day for 1457 in her new guise.
Since April we have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare 1457 for a repaint which was completed by I M Services of Romsey in October 2019. In Early November 1457 was transferred from Romsey back to our main works for a brief servicing, adjustment to engine tappets and repairs to the exhaust by family friend Tom, in readiness for our RE Running Day in Winchester in November.
Daniel proudly operated a late afternoon service to Otterbourne which was the first time 1457 has been seen and operated in public since 2017. The fresh white and blue Royal Blue livery worn by sister vehicles sits well on the vehicle and creates, in our opinion, a striking appearance. See pictures below of her repaint and first trip out.
Since April we have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare 1457 for a repaint which was completed by I M Services of Romsey in October 2019. In Early November 1457 was transferred from Romsey back to our main works for a brief servicing, adjustment to engine tappets and repairs to the exhaust by family friend Tom, in readiness for our RE Running Day in Winchester in November.
Daniel proudly operated a late afternoon service to Otterbourne which was the first time 1457 has been seen and operated in public since 2017. The fresh white and blue Royal Blue livery worn by sister vehicles sits well on the vehicle and creates, in our opinion, a striking appearance. See pictures below of her repaint and first trip out.
Body Work and cleaning.....
07/04/19,
Much work has been taken place recently resulting in all chassis and mechanical work being completed.
Our attention is now focused on given 1457 a good interior clean and general tidy up ahead of going for repaint. One area we are concentrating on is the removal of cream paint on the ceiling which was applied a few years ago, The finish was poor and let the coach down so it was agreed we would try and remove it and expose the original patterned material. With a mix of bleach, white spirit and chemical spray Heather and Daniel managed to clean the majority of the paint off. Other work has included the removal of a broken seat, some electrical testing and other remedial work.
Below are some recent pictures on how work is progressing. 1457 is awaiting the fitting of it's proper wheels and tyres, a bit more interior work then it's off to the paint shop!!
Much work has been taken place recently resulting in all chassis and mechanical work being completed.
Our attention is now focused on given 1457 a good interior clean and general tidy up ahead of going for repaint. One area we are concentrating on is the removal of cream paint on the ceiling which was applied a few years ago, The finish was poor and let the coach down so it was agreed we would try and remove it and expose the original patterned material. With a mix of bleach, white spirit and chemical spray Heather and Daniel managed to clean the majority of the paint off. Other work has included the removal of a broken seat, some electrical testing and other remedial work.
Below are some recent pictures on how work is progressing. 1457 is awaiting the fitting of it's proper wheels and tyres, a bit more interior work then it's off to the paint shop!!
Chassis Preservation & Repair
Saturday 11 August 18
Work had stalled on 1457 due to a very busy few weeks with various other commitments. However, on Saturday 11 August, family friend Colin visited 1457 to iron out some electrical issues. Afterwards. it was time to start up the coach and she sounded superb.
We then fitted some slave wheels and moved the coach out in to the open for the first time in two years.
After a good wash, it was time to put her back in the shed ready for further work before repainting towards the end of the year.
Work had stalled on 1457 due to a very busy few weeks with various other commitments. However, on Saturday 11 August, family friend Colin visited 1457 to iron out some electrical issues. Afterwards. it was time to start up the coach and she sounded superb.
We then fitted some slave wheels and moved the coach out in to the open for the first time in two years.
After a good wash, it was time to put her back in the shed ready for further work before repainting towards the end of the year.
Saturday 26 May 18
Work continues on 1457, the middle and rear part of the chassis has been rubbed down and repainted. The new exhaust is now ready to be fitted, the engine has received an oil change and refilled with coolant. We're nearly ready to get her started and mechanically fit.
A good clean and tidy up of the interior will take place over the summer months then she will be ready to head off for a repaint.
Work continues on 1457, the middle and rear part of the chassis has been rubbed down and repainted. The new exhaust is now ready to be fitted, the engine has received an oil change and refilled with coolant. We're nearly ready to get her started and mechanically fit.
A good clean and tidy up of the interior will take place over the summer months then she will be ready to head off for a repaint.
Sunday 21 January 18
The chassis at the front of 1457 has suffered badly from corrosion over the years and in 2016, she went into storage whilst other buses received attention. In December, 1457 was started and moved out of the back corner of the shed and into an area where we could access all areas of the coach.
So, up onto large blocks she went and to work we went, stripping out pipework, air tanks, linkages and cutting out parts of the rotten chassis. Friend of the family and skilled in the art of bus maintenance and preservation, Richard Sinclair showed 1457 who's boss as he wielded his cutting torch on the areas that needed removing.
We have been very lucky to catch the chassis at this point as the rust had really taken hold and if left, probably would have become terminal and too far gone to be saved.
So where are we now? Over the Christmas period, we have stripped out, repaired, cleaned and repainted many parts and now it is a jigsaw to put it back together. Over the next couple of weekends, all pipework and electrics at the front of the coach will be refitted and then she can be lowered back onto the ground, Then, work commences on the rear end which includes a full engine service, brakes overhaul, chassis repaint and all round grease up.
Only after this do we turn our attention to the body work so keep watching !! Below are some photos of the work being carried out over the past few weeks.
The chassis at the front of 1457 has suffered badly from corrosion over the years and in 2016, she went into storage whilst other buses received attention. In December, 1457 was started and moved out of the back corner of the shed and into an area where we could access all areas of the coach.
So, up onto large blocks she went and to work we went, stripping out pipework, air tanks, linkages and cutting out parts of the rotten chassis. Friend of the family and skilled in the art of bus maintenance and preservation, Richard Sinclair showed 1457 who's boss as he wielded his cutting torch on the areas that needed removing.
We have been very lucky to catch the chassis at this point as the rust had really taken hold and if left, probably would have become terminal and too far gone to be saved.
So where are we now? Over the Christmas period, we have stripped out, repaired, cleaned and repainted many parts and now it is a jigsaw to put it back together. Over the next couple of weekends, all pipework and electrics at the front of the coach will be refitted and then she can be lowered back onto the ground, Then, work commences on the rear end which includes a full engine service, brakes overhaul, chassis repaint and all round grease up.
Only after this do we turn our attention to the body work so keep watching !! Below are some photos of the work being carried out over the past few weeks.
The history of LDV 467F
12/ 1967 New to Southern National Omnibus Company Ltd. 1457.
3/ 1968 Started service with SNOC.
1971 Moved to Western National Omnibus Company Ltd. 1457.
11/ 1981 Acquired by Norths, Sherburn-in-Elmet (Dealer).
2/ 1982 Acquired by Tehan & Seaman, St. Albans.
9/ 1983 Acquired by Thompson, Garston. Withdrawn by 6/ 89.
6/ 1990 Acquired by Wombwell Diesels, Wombwell (Dealer).
6/ 1990 Acquired by Nick Dew, Scunthorpe for preservation.
8/ 2005 Acquired by Mark Stokes, Harwich for preservation.
11/ 2007 Acquired by Talisman Coach Lines, Great Bromley.
11/2007 Acquired by the Stroud RE Group for preservation.
05/ 2010 restored into Royal Blue livery with Southern National fleetnames.
29/ 03/ 2013 Acquired by Hampshire Bus & Coach Preservation, Winchester for further preservation.
Known history courtesy of information from Rob Sly's website.
