THE WESTERN NATIONAL IMAGE GALLERY

		First website	WN buses	SW England buses
Page 3

Western National Bristol RELL Great Western

There was always something fitting that the ownership of what was once Western National should again be in common ownership with what was once Great Western Railways. The link between the two companies is emphasised by preserved Western National RELL 2730 (POD829H) preserved in Great Western centennial commemorative colours.

Former Bristol Omnibus 1216 (YHY596J) passed to Western National and gained their early post deregulation blue, cream and red colours. The bus was sold to Smiths for their Weymouth - Portland service in competition with Southern National. The bus is seen here climbing up from the Chesil Beach causeway on route to the Bill. Southern National acquired the Smiths operation and ex WN RELLs with it.

Southdown Eastbourne Top Line Leyland National

Leyland National 2822 (MOD822P) is seen as part of the Top Line fleet, a joint operation between Southdown and Eastbourne Buses in Hastings, though the bus is seen here in Eastbourne on route to Hastings. The company competed with former NBC subsidiary Hastings & District, formed as an offshoot of Maidstone & District. In the end the Top Line operations were merged with Hastings & District once both companies were owned by Stagecoach.

Once Western National 2863 (VOD603S) is seen in the now defunct Abbey Coaches fleet. It is seen at the High Wycombe ASDA bus stop at the end of 2004, freshly repainted in Abbey's slowly adopted dark green livery. The 602 service is no longer operated and was believed to be Abbey's only bus route, the company specialising in school contract work.