Lots of Bus Books, Models and DVDs for sale here;with many other road, rail and air transport items.
Last updated 19 June 2010
This page is a profile of the extensive fleet of Dennis Lancet
single-decker buses and coaches that East Kent operated both before and after
the war.
A typical example of the post-war Park Royal-bodied Dennis Lancet bus
as used by East Kent. Basic and functional, the design remained essentially
unchanged from its pre-war ancestors, and buses like this could be seen all
over Kent for nearly 25 years. CFN 121 has been beautifully preserved, and
is seen here attending the Aldershot & District Running Day on 1 May
2000. My thanks to Martin Smith for the photograph.
INTRODUCTION AND CREDITS
East Kent Road Car Company Ltd. purchased more than 160 Dennis
Lancets over two decades. Although they appeared as buses and coaches, the
largest number - and the most instantly recogniseable - were the single deck
buses with bodies built by Park Royal. What follows is an attempt to create
a brief history of the type, in the form of records and images designed to
give even the casual reader some impression of the development and styling
of this extensive fleet.
The East Kent Road Car Company was born in 1916, as a merger
between five smaller companies who were struggling to recover from the
difficulties of operating in the wake of the first world war. As well as
regular bus services, coach excursions were being operated by the end of
the decade.
The struggle against many small operators in the area was resolved
in the 1930s, during which a large number of local firms were absorbed into
the company. By the late 1930s a substantial fleet of Leyland Tiger and Dennis
Lancet buses and coaches had been acquired, and an extensive network of
operations took these distinctive bright red vehicles all over Kent, and
on express services outside the area and to London.
During World War II coach operations came to an abrupt halt,
with some vehicles being required for military service, and twenty four Leyland
Tiger coaches being converted to ambulances. However, express coach services
to London were reintroduced in 1946, and newer post-war examples of the Lancet
and the Tiger were acquired to operate these (and other) services, and to
substitute for vehicles from the 1930s that needed replacement, or for those
that had not survived the hostilities.
The 1950s were a busy time for these machines, but by 1960 the
halfcab PSV was considered a thing of the past. Few pre-war vehicles were
still operating and the post-war acquisitions were sold off to other operators
around the country, although some coaches were 'demoted' to bus work and
continued in service for a few years, sometimes involving considerable
modification.
The rear-entrance Lancet with its separate cab was not suitable
for One-Man-Operated services, and twenty four of them from the 'CFN' batch
were modified in 1959. The cabin floor was lowered by nearly 12 inches to
enable the driver to enter the saloon, the radiator block was shortened by
6 inches to permit the lower edge of the windscreen to be deepened, and the
drivers' pedals and steering column were all moved to accommodate the new
arrangement. Chassis strengthening was also required at the front to support
the new structure, and a complete new front end was built on to the body.
The result would have given a decidedly 'modern' appearance at the time,
not least because it got away from the traditional halfcab design that had
hardly changed for more than twenty five years.
By the end of the 1960s all the classic Lancets had gone (the
last one being CFN 117, withdrawn in the summer of 1969), and bus and coach
services were being severely hit by the popularity of the family car. New
equipment had been placed into service to replace the halfcab fleet, mostly
based on the popular AEC Reliance chassis. We are fortunate to have a few
Lancet survivors today. The stunning scarlet East Kent coaches are now only
seen in preservation, and the company name has been inexplicably discontinued
by Stagecoach.
All batches are arranged in order of delivery, but I have not
included the later Dennis Lancet UF underfloor-engined models.
Owners of pictures, when known, are credited, and their use
is much appreciated. However the photographers of some pictures are not shown
on the original, and therefore are not known to me. Whoever they were I thank
them, and if they contact me with their names they will of course be credited.
If a rightful owner wishes me to remove any image, it will be done forthwith.
However I hope that photographers (or copyright holders) will permit the
use of these fine pictures in their proper context.
As with my other lists, there are bound to be mistakes, and
some relevant information may be missing so, in order to make it as accurate
a reference as possible, I would of course welcome any additions or
corrections.
FLEET LIST
============
DENNIS LANCET BUSES - JG 6800-6824 (Total 25)
Delivered 1936
Chassis: Dennis Lancet (JG 6823 and 6824 were Lancet II). Petrol
engine, changed to oil engine in 1938.
Body: Dennis B35R. Ten were rebodied with older (1933-34) Park
Royal B33R half-canopy bodies in 1947-49.
Notes: Glynn Thomas kindly advised me as follows;
"Orders and correspondence in the Dennis Specialist Vehicle archives,
held by the Surrey History Centre, show that JG 7808 was fitted with the
very first of the newly-designed Dennis O4 diesel engines (engine number
100 001 001) so never had a petrol engine. It is also apparent from the
correspondence in these archives that the orders for JG 6823 and JG 6824
were amended by East Kent to have Gardner 5LW engines fitted (so having to
be Lancet IIs) in order to trial these engines against the new Dennis diesel
engine in JG 7808. The 25 vehicle order for what became JG 8702 to JG 8725
(initially ordered in 1935) was put on hold while these engines were evaluated,
hence JG 8702 to JG 8725 were not built until 1937, and JG 7808 was effectively
the first of that 1935 order of 25."
It looks as though someone has tried to scrub the "East Kent" titles
off JG 6816, so maybe this photo was taken after its retirement from service.
This looks to be a Park Royal body, so I suspect it was one of the examples
rebodied post-war. Photo: M.& D. and East Kent Bus Club.
JG 6800
JG 6801. Retained its Dennis body. With Scott-Hale (contractor),
Hornchurch in 1958.
JG 6802
JG 6803
JG 6804
JG 6805
JG 6806
JG 6807
JG 6808. Rebodied Park Royal B33R in 1949. Loaned to Aldershot
& District 1940-43. Withdrawn 1954, sold to G.H.Groves (dealer,
London.
JG 6809. Built 4/36, c/n 171114. Replacement Park Royal body
(dating from 1934) No.B3466 fitted 9/49. Withdrawn in 1954, later adapted
to accommodate wheelchairs. In preservation by East & Mid-Kent Preservation
Society in 1967, restored and rallying by 1968. Owned by D.Weaver, Hull from
1974 but scrapped around 1987.
JG 6816. Probably rebodied by Park Royal as B33R
post-war.
JG 6822
JG 6823 (Lancet II with Gardner 5LW engines - see notes
above)
JG 6824 (Lancet II with Gardner 5LW engines
- see notes above)
DENNIS LANCET II BUS - JG 7808 (Total 1)
Delivered 1936
Chassis: Dennis Lancet II.
Body: Dennis B35R.
Notes: Glynn Thomas kindly advised me as follows;
"Orders and correspondence in the Dennis Specialist Vehicle archives,
held by the Surrey History Centre, show that JG 7808 was fitted with the
very first of the newly-designed Dennis O4 diesel engines (engine number
100 001 001) so never had a petrol engine. It is also apparent from the
correspondence in these archives that the orders for JG 6823 and JG 6824
were amended by East Kent to have Gardner 5LW engines fitted (so having to
be Lancet IIs) in order to trial these engines against the new Dennis diesel
engine in JG 7808. The 25 vehicle order for what became JG 8702 to JG 8725
(initially ordered in 1935) was put on hold while these engines were evaluated,
hence JG 8702 to JG 8725 were not built until 1937, and JG 7808 was effectively
the first of that 1935 order of 25."
JG 7808. Destroyed in air raid at Canterbury depot 31 May
1942.
DENNIS LANCET II BUSES - JG 8702-8725 (Total 24)
Delivered 1937
Chassis: Dennis Lancet II, 4-cylinder engines.
Body: Dennis B35R. Various modifications and repairs were made
as a result of war damage, and the twelve best vehicles were rebodied by
Park Royal as B35R in 1949.
A very welcome survivor of this pre-war batch of East Kent buses
is JG 8720 sporting its post-war Park Royal body, and seen here at the Cobham
Open Day in April 1997. (Photo: Dick Gilbert)
Notes: All withdrawn by 1961.
Glynn Thomas kindly advised me as follows; "Orders
and correspondence in the Dennis Specialist Vehicle archives, held by the
Surrey History Centre, show that JG 7808 was fitted with the very first of
the newly-designed Dennis O4 diesel engines (engine number 100 001 001) so
never had a petrol engine. It is also apparent from the correspondence in
these archives that the orders for JG 6823 and JG 6824 were amended by East
Kent to have Gardner 5LW engines fitted (so having to be Lancet IIs) in order
to trial these engines against the new Dennis diesel engine in JG 7808. The
25 vehicle order for what became JG 8702 to JG 8725 (initially ordered in
1935) was put on hold while these engines were evaluated, hence JG 8702 to
JG 8725 were not built until 1937, and JG 7808 was effectively the first
of that 1935 order of 25."
JG 8702 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8703 - c/n 175275. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34032 fitted
10/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8704 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8705 - c/n 175277. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34025 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8706 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8707 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8708 - c/n 175280. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34026 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8709 - c/n 175281. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34027 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8710 - c/n 175282. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34028 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8711 - c/n 175283. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34030 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8712 - c/n 175284. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34024 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8713 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8714 - Withdrawn by 1956. Became a lorry. Broken up c.1960
and lorry body transferred to utility Guy Arab BJG 421.
JG 8715 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8716 - Destroyed in air raid at Canterbury depot 31 May
1942.
JG 8717 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8718 - Destroyed in air raid at Canterbury depot 31 May
1942.
JG 8719 - c/n 175219. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34036 fitted
12/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8720 - Built 7/37, c/n 175292, P.R. body No. B34029 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
**SURVIVOR**
JG 8721 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8722 - c/n 175294. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34035 fitted
12/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8723 - c/n 175295. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34031 fitted
9/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
JG 8724 - Gone by 1956.
JG 8725 - c/n 175297. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34034 fitted
12/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
DENNIS LANCET II BUS - JG 9906 (Total 1)
Delivered 1937
Chassis: Dennis Lancet II, 4-cylinder engines.
Body: Park Royal B35R. Received new Park Royal B35R body in
1949.
Notes: Exhibited at Earl's Court Show when new.
JG 9906 - c/n 175388. New Park Royal B35R body No. B34033 fitted
12/49. In service 1956, gone by 1961.
DENNIS LANCET II BUSES - AJG 41-45 (Total 5)
Delivered 1939?
Chassis: Dennis Lancet II.
Body: Park Royal B35R. Had roof panniers to carry band
instruments.
Notes: Actually I suspect these were earlier than 1939 (maybe
1938), as there is no record of the bodies in the Park Royal production list
for that year.
This photo of AJG 44 shows the strange appearance of the Lancets
fitted with roof panniers. This bus eventually retired happily into the sunshine,
being sold to Cyprus in 1956. Photo: M.& D. and East Kent Bus Club.
AJG 41 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 42 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 43 - Destroyed in air raid at Canterbury depot 31 May
1942.
AJG 44 - c/n 175621, b/n B5350. Sold Jan 1956 to Lefkaritis,
Larnaca, Cyprus, re-registered TW 40.
AJG 45 - Withdrawn by 1956
DENNIS LANCET II BUSES - AJG 46-59 (Total 14)
Delivered 1939
Chassis: Dennis Lancet II.
Body: Dennis B35R half-canopy.
Sadly this picture has not reproduced well, but the original shows
the route for this Lancet as No.37 to Herne Bay. The vehicles behind look
to be Maidstone & District, probably a Weymann-bodied Titan TD and a
pre-war Leyland Tiger / Harrington coach. The double decker appears to be
on M&D Route 3, which ran from Maidstone to Faversham. Garth Wyver says
"Lancet AJG51 is at Court Street, Faversham next to the East Kent office.
Nearby was a cafe where the bus crews had their tea breaks. M&D buses
waited as seen in the photo alongside the Fremlins brewery wall - Maidstone
No3 & Gravesend No26 also I think EK double decker No3 to Canterbury".
Photo: M.& D. and East Kent Bus Club.
AJG 46 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 47 - Withdrawn by 1956. At S.Blackwell & Sons yard,
Earls Colne in 1962 in derelict state.
AJG 48 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 49 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 50 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 51 - Withdrawn 1955.
AJG 52 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 53 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 54 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 55 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 56 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 57 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 58 - Withdrawn by 1956
AJG 59 - c/n 175644. Sold Jan 1956 to Lefkaritis, Larnaca, Cyprus,
re-registered TX 424.
DENNIS LANCET III BUSES - CFN 110-169 (Total 60)
Delivered 1947-49
Chassis: Dennis Lancet III J3, with Dennis 6-cylinder diesel
engine.
Body: Park Royal B35R half-canopy, 27' 6" long. Twenty four
were rebuilt in 1959 to a full-fronted design with front entrance to enable
one-man operation.
One of three survivors from this batch of post-war Dennis Lancets
is CFN 121, seen here at the Cobham Open Day in April 1998. Typical of East
Kent is the unpretentious Park Royal bodywork. This example still retains
its original body, not having been modified for One-Man-Operated bus work.
(Photo: Dick Gilbert)
CFN 115 was one of the 24 from this batch modified to a full-front
configuration in 1959. Here we see it at Herne Bay garage on 4 June 1968
after it became one of the last to be withdrawn from service, and awaiting
disposal, probably for scrap. Photo by kind permission of Peter Esposito,
via Chris Stanley.
Notes: The rear-entrance Lancet with its separate cab was not
suitable for One-Man-Operated services, and 24 of them from the 'CFN' batch
were modified in 1959. The cabin floor was lowered by nearly 12 inches to
enable the driver to enter the saloon, the radiator block was shortened by
6 inches to permit the lower edge of the windscreen to be deepened, and the
drivers' pedals and steering column were all moved to accommodate the new
arrangement. Chassis strengthening was also required at the front to support
the new structure, and a complete new front end was built on to the body.
The result would have given a decidedly 'modern' appearance at the time,
not least because it got away from the traditional halfcab design that had
hardly changed for more than twenty five years.
CFN 110 was a 'one-off', delivered as a coach, some two years
before the others.
CFN 110 - Built 6/47, c/n 128J3, with Park Royal (presumably
pre-war) body C32R No. B3465. Rebodied 7/49 with new P.R. B35R body No. B33966.
Sold c.1961. With Francis Bros., Tilehurst, Reading in 1962.
CFN 111 - Built 5/49, c/n 543J3, P.R.body No. B33959. Later
converted to C32R, but returned to B35R. Stored 1961. Sold in 1963 to Sandwich
Model Laundry.
CFN 112 - Built 5/49, c/n 544J3, P.R.body No. B33958. Still
active 1961, gone by 1964.
CFN 114 - Built 4/49, c/n 546J3, P.R.body No. B33956. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1968, sold for scrap.
CFN 115 - Built 4/49, c/n 547J3, P.R.body No. B33955. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Still active in Ashford 1968 - one of the last two in service
(with CFN 117), but withdrawn by the end of 1968.
CFN 116 - Built 5/49, c/n 548J3, P.R.body No. B33960. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966.
CFN 117 - Built 6/49, c/n 550J3, P.R.body No. B33962. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn at Ashford 1969 - the last one to remain in
service.
CFN 121 - Built 7/49, c/n 552J3, P.R.body No. B33964. Withdrawn
1963, sold to The Grange Fellowship, Chiswick, London 1964, named "Blodwen"
(see
here for details of this period). Sold to Nigel Tilly, Canterbury 1972-77
for preservation. With Ken Thompson,
Priory Garage, Mattersey,
Doncaster 2009, fully restored and available for hire.
**SURVIVOR**.
CFN 122 - Built 2/47, c/n 157J3, P.R.body No. B32628. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Still active 1965.
CFN 123 - Built 3/47, c/n 158J3, P.R.body No. B32629. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1967 and used for non-PSV duties within Dover
Eastern Docks area carrying BR employees, until replaced in 1969 by Lancet
UF HJG 28. Then sold for scrap.
CFN 124 - Built 6/47, c/n 179J3, P.R.body No. B32630. Still
active 1961.
CFN 126 - Built 6/47, c/n 190J3, P.R.body No. B32631. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1965, but used again summer 1966. Staff bus with
Baxter, Sarre, Kent in 1967.
CFN 127 - Built 6/47, c/n 191J3, P.R.body No. B32632. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1967. In use as a temporary office in 1968 during
building work at Westwood garage, moved to Canterbury 1969. Refurbished and
prepared for sale in early 1972.
CFN 128 - Built 6/47, c/n 198J3, P.R.body No. B32635. Gone by
1961.
CFN 129 - Built 7/47, c/n 197J3, P.R.body No. B32637. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966. With a farmers' association in Mereworth,
Kent in 1969.
CFN 130 - Built 6/47, c/n 208J3, P.R.body No. B32633. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966.
CFN 131 - Built 6/47, c/n 216J3, P.R.body No. B32634. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966.
CFN 132 - Built 7/47, c/n 207J3, P.R.body No. B32636. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966.
CFN 133 - Built 7/47, c/n 217J3, P.R.body No. B32638. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966. With Parham (contractor), Gillingham, Kent
1967.
CFN 134 - Built 7/47, c/n 222J3, P.R.body No. B32639. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1966. Staff bus with Baxter, Sarre, Kent in
1967.
CFN 135 - Built 7/47, c/n 225J3, P.R.body No. B32640. Stored
early 1961. With Percy Bilton (contractor) in late 1961.
CFN 136 - Built 7/47, c/n 236J3, P.R.body No. B32641. Sold 1961
to Faversham Rotary Club for invalid transport. Fitted with toilet, tables,
cooker and rear gangway. T.Adams, Kent 2002. ** SURVIVOR
**.
CFN 137 - Built 7/47, c/n 237J3, P.R.body No. B32642. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 138 - Built 7/47, c/n 243J3, P.R.body No. B32643. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 139 - Built 7/47, c/n 244J3, P.R.body No. B32644. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 140 - Built 7/47, c/n 259J3, P.R.body No. B32645. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 141 - Built 7/47, c/n 266J3, P.R.body No. B32646. Converted
to OMO briefly in 1958, but not used. Rebuilt to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn
1966, but apparently not sold until late 1967 or early 1968.
CFN 142 - Built 7/47, c/n 267J3, P.R.body No. B32647. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn 1967. Sold 1968 to Brazil, Whitstable.
CFN 143 - Built 8/47, c/n 283J3, P.R.body No. B32649. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 144 - Built 10/47, c/n 286J3, P.R.body No. B32650. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 145 - Built 10/47, c/n 287J3, P.R.body No. B32651. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 146 - Built 7/47, c/n 131J3, P.R.body No. B32648. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 147 - Built 10/47, c/n 288J3, P.R.body No. B32652. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 148 - Built 10/47, c/n 304J3, P.R.body No. B32653. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Sold to Liss & District, Grayshott around 1966.
CFN 149 - Built 10/47, c/n 308J3, P.R.body No. B32654. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 150 - Built 2/48, c/n 312J3, P.R.body No. B32655. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn in 1965. With Liss &
District, Grayshott 1967.
CFN 151 - Built 2/48, c/n 337J3, P.R.body No. B32656. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn late 1967.
CFN 152 - Built 2/48, c/n 341J3, P.R.body No. B32657. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Withdrawn late 1967/early 1968.
CFN 153 - Built 4/48, c/n 342J3, P.R.body No. B32658. Stored
early 1961. Withdrawn 1962.
CFN 154 - Built 2/48, c/n 359J3, P.R.body No. B32659. Stored
early 1961. In preservation by J.Kyte, Market Lavington 1972. N.Hamshere,
Surrey 2006. **SURVIVOR**.
CFN 155 - Built 5/48, c/n 358J3, P.R.body No. B32660. Stored
early 1961.
CFN 168 - Built 6/48, c/n 449J3, P.R.body No. B32671. Rebuilt
to FB35F in 1959. Sold 1968 to Kent County Education Committee. Used as changing
room at Hereson County Primary School, Dumpton Park, Broadstairs, broken
up on site in early 1970s.
CFN 169 - Built 9/48, c/n 450J3, P.R.body No. B32674. In use
in Canterbury 3/60 as a snow plough.
DENNIS LANCET III BUSES - CJG 988-999 (Total 12)
Delivered 1948
Chassis: Dennis Lancet III J3, with Dennis 6-cylinder diesel
engine.
Body: Park Royal B35R half-canopy, 27' 6" long. Two were rebuilt
to a full-fronted design with front entrance to enable one-man
operation.
Popular around 1960 was the use of single deck buses and coaches
in their 'twilight years' to carry rowing teams to regattas. Boat racks were
mounted on the roof, and such vehicles could be seen at many coastal resorts
in the summer. Here 1948 Dennis Lancet CJG 998 is nearing the end of its
career and has turned up at Eastbourne (Greencroft car park near the sea
front - now a multi-story) on a sunny weekend in 1962, alongside one of the
variety of other vehicles on similar duties. The style of the Park
Royal bodywork might be considered somewhat 'basic', but was typically East
Kent. (Photo: Dick Gilbert)
Cliff Essex kindly sent this fine picture of CJG 989 after its
conversion to a full-fronted design, one of only two in the batch to be modified
in this way. Cliff thinks the picture was taken in Canterbury around 1968,
which would have been the very end of its working life.
CJG 988 - Built 9/48, c/n 478J3, P.R.body
No. B32675. Rebuilt to FB35F. Sold late 1967 to a dealer in Whitstable, then
to a private owner in London.
CJG 989 - Built 9/48, c/n 477J3, P.R.body No. B32676. Rebuilt
to FB35F. Withdrawn 1968 and sold for scrap.
CJG 990 - Built 9/48, c/n 480J3, P.R.body No. B32677. Withdrawn
1962. **SURVIVOR** but in poor condition. In Scotland
2001.
CJG 991 - Built 10/48, c/n 481J3, P.R.body No. B32678. Sold
1962 to R.K.Packers, Grove Ferry, Kent.
CJG 998 - Built 12/48, c/n 497J3, P.R.body No. B32685. Rebuilt
to FB35F (OMO) in 1959. Withdrawn 1962.
CJG 999 - Built 12/48, c/n 500J3, P.R.body No. B32686. Rebuilt
to FB35F (OMO) in 1959. Withdrawn 1963.
DENNIS LANCET III COACHES - EFN 571-595 (Total
25)
Delivered April-June 1950
Chassis: Dennis Lancet III J3, with Dennis 6-cylinder diesel
engine.
Body: Park Royal C32F halfcab, 27' 6" long. By 1961 EFN 583-595
were being used as buses / dual-purpose (DP32F).
First of the 1950 batch of coaches was EFN 571, photographed here
by Cliff Essex.
This could be EFN 587 or 588 at Herne Bay on 2 January 1969, in
use as a snowplough. Photo by Peter Esposito via Chris Stanley. (Garth Wyver
emailed to say that he thinks the location is actually the Central Works
at Kirby Lane / North Lane, Canterbury.)
Notes: The entire batch were withdrawn from service in
1964.
EFN 571 - Built 4/50, c/n 739J3, P.R.body No. B34303. Withdrawn
Nov 1964.
EFN 572 - Built 4/50, c/n 797J3, P.R.body No. B34304. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 573 - Built 5/50, c/n 795J3, P.R.body No. B34305. On hire
to Butlins, Cliftonville in blue livery 1963-64. Withdrawn end of 1964. With
Parham (Gillingham) contractor 1965.
EFN 574 - Built 5/50, c/n 796J3, P.R.body No. B34306. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 575 - Built 5/50, c/n 810J3, P.R.body No. B34307. Withdrawn
end of 1964. To T.H.Contractors, Aylesford, Kent 1965.
EFN 576 - Built 5/50, c/n 811J3, P.R.body No. B34308. Withdrawn
end of 1964. With Gillie, Aylesham, Canterbury 1965.
EFN 577 - Built 5/50, c/n 812J3, P.R.body No. B34310. Withdrawn
end of 1964 and sold to Hythe Albion Social Club, replacing CJG 994
(above).
EFN 578 - Built 5/50, c/n 817J3, P.R.body No. B34311. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 579 - Built 5/50, c/n 818J3, P.R.body No. B34309. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 580 - Built 5/50, c/n 819J3, P.R.body No. B34312. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 581 - Built 5/50, c/n 825J3, P.R.body No. B34313. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 582 - Built 5/50, c/n 824J3, P.R.body No. B34315. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 583 - Built 5/50, c/n 826J3, P.R.body No. B34314. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964.
EFN 584 - Built 5/50, c/n 832J3, P.R.body No. B34316. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964. With Parham (contractor), Gillingham
1965. **SURVIVOR**.
EFN 585 - Built 5/50, c/n 834J3, P.R.body No. B34317. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964.
**SURVIVOR**. Offered for sale in Shropshire 2007
and again in 2009.
EFN 586 - Built 5/50, c/n 833J3, P.R.body No. B34318. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964.
EFN 587 - Built 6/50, c/n 840J3, P.R.body No. B34319. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn, but in use as a snow plough 1963-65.
EFN 588 - Built 6/50, c/n 848J3, P.R.body No. B34320. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964. In use as a snow plough
1964-65.
EFN 589 - Built 6/50, c/n 849J3, P.R.body No. B34321. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964.
EFN 590 - Built 6/50, c/n 860J3, P.R.body No. B34322. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964. With Hawthorn Leslie Buildings (of
Jarrow) 1965, working in Maidstone, and later in Newcastle.
EFN 591 - Built 6/50, c/n 861J3, P.R.body No. B34323. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964. With Finn-Kelsey, Old Romney for
staff transport 1965. **SURVIVOR** in poor condition
and used as spares source for EFN 592.
EFN 592 - Built 6/50, c/n 864J3, P.R.body No. B34325. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964, sold to Thomsett, Deal.
**SURVIVOR**
EFN 593 - Built 6/50, c/n 865J3, P.R.body No. B34324. In use
as a bus by 1961. Had canoe racks fitted to roof around that time. Withdrawn
end of 1964.
EFN 594 - Built 6/50, c/n 871J3, P.R.body No. B34326. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964.
EFN 595 - Built 6/50, c/n 874J3, P.R.body No. B34327. In use
as a bus by 1961. Withdrawn end of 1964. With Sangwin (contractor), Hull
1965. Maybe later renamed Sangarius Plant Hire. Acquired 1974 for preservation
by Weaver and Peterson. **SURVIVOR** Nick Wilkinson,
Scarborough.
Classic Buses Profiles
with many other road, rail and air transport items.
