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Bristol VR - Topless South West

Open top buses and the south west of England seem to go hand in hand.  This video programme visits Cornwall and Dorset in pursuit of the ‘topless’ bus – in the form of the Bristol VR.

We start our journey at Penzance bus station where we board Bristol VR 39907 (JHW 107P), a former Bristol Omnibus vehicle, operating for First Devon & Cornwall, for a journey to Lands End.  Filmed from the lower deck you get the sights and sounds associated with the Bristol VR / ECW bus, passing through the delightful scenery of this part of Cornwall.  Our next journey, also starting from Penzance, is on board a former Potteries Motor Traction Series II Bristol VR, 30001 (GBF 78N).  We film from both decks during a return journey via Perranuthnoe and along the Cornish coast.

We then move a few miles along the coast to beautiful Dorset, home of the Jurassic Coast and of course more ‘topless’ Bristol VRs!  Weymouth is the location with some archive footage from the camera of Joe Ward.  Filmed in 1995/6 Joe captured both ‘topless’ and closed top VRs as well as Bristol REs in service with independent operator Smiths of Portland.

We stay in Weymouth, but move to 2006 for you to enjoy a ride from Weymouth Kings Statue to Portland Bill and back on First Hampshire and Dorset 39971 (MOD 571P), a former Devon General vehicle.  Our cameras were on board and along the route to film the action.  Spectacular scenery for you to enjoy as 39971 leaves Weymouth and runs through Brewers Quay and out towards Portland, climbing up past Chesil Beach, through Easton and onwards to the lighthouse at Portland Bill.  We also filmed the return journey for good measure!

We conclude our programme with a further visit to Weymouth on the 20th June 2010, the day of the Bus Rally, to join 39971, now in First corporate livery for a run up to Portland Bill.  Time is running out for this VR, as she is soon to be retired, ending an era of Topless Bristol VRs in the South West.  Enjoy your ride!
 

   
 Filmed :  1995/6/2006/10
   
 Duration :  90 minutes (approx).
   
 Price :  Within UK - £16
   Rest of world - £18
   
 Format :  DVD -R - Digital
   Picture Aspect 4:3
   
 Order Ref :  D120

 
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