Life After Plymouth - still going! M221EAF

©Maljoe.
First Wyvern 67301 7 April 2011 Worcester
I Came across this nice photo of First 67301 still in service in Worcester. I must admit I had thought it had long been withdrawn. It was of course Doing the standard Google thing I camer across a nice potted history of the bus:
In November 2002, First Midland Red acquired M221EAF, a Dennis Lance SLF with B40F Wright Pathfinder 320 body. This vehicle was originally new to Western National for use on their Service 82, however, she was found to be unsuitable and soon passed to Yorkshire Rider, Leeds for use on route 2B. She was later passed to First in London (First Centrewest London Buses Limited) for tendered work on Route 335 from Uxbridge depot, remaining there until passing to First Midland Red in November 2002, being sent direct to Southampton to be repainted into “Barbie2” livery before being delivered to First Midland Red at their Padmore Street depot, Worcester on Monday 9th December 2002. After arriving at Worcester depot M221EAF was kept in storage until February 2003, when she was finally allocated a fleet number, 261, and then loaned to TfL (Transport for London) for Central line rail replacement work between Epping and Central London. She was returned to Worcester depot on the afternoon of Tuesday 11th February with mechanical problems and went back into storage while the mechanical problems were sorted out. She finally entered service with First Midland Red at Worcester depot a month later, on Monday 10th March 2003. 261 was moved to Kidderminster depot in the autumn of 2003, and while there it was renumbered to fleet number 67301. In March 2005 it returned to Worcester depot.
Midlandred.net
This bus is featured as EFE 29802 in the wonderful flags livery it was new in.

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Related Links

• Unnoficial site for Midland Red Buses Midland Red.net
• M221EAF Leeds Citylink Kevsterwilson on Flickr
• M221EAF First London BristolRE2007 on Flickr
• M221EAF Western National Phil Holby Depot on Flickr

Elsewhere on the net

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• fbb's plan, whilst on a motoring holiday in North Wales, based at Caernarfon, was to have at least one day without the responsibility of aiming his little tin box at wiggly roads. A tour by public transport was scheduled for Saturday May 7th. Public Transport Experience
• Too candid? TGP Photos Unlimited
• In the curious and convoluted way that infects the world of blogging, this photograph appeared a week or so ago on the Plymothian Transit site. It shows a beautifully restored Plymouth Corporation Crossley. Public Transport Experience