Hello all,

new to this but was wondering if anyone has any information or can point me in the right direction to get some history on the above. We've recently saved it from the scrap yard or at least that's where we think it was heading and are in the process of lovingly restoring it and converting it into a fully functional mobile bar & hospitality area upstairs. we know it was operated by stagecoach as a sight seeing tour bus but that's about it.

it was pretty much complete when we bought it with the exception of the destination blind which we'd love to find an original?? any help or pointers would be great.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Simon & Faye

Welcome to the site and congratulations on purchasing.

I believe this batch was new to Sunderland Busways, but continued with Stagecoach following the takeover. There's a couple photos on Flickr of H670BNL working in service for Stagecoach in Teesside:

Stagecoach - 14670 - H670BNL - StagecoachNE20040264 by Gary Mitchelhill, on Flickr

Here's H671BNL (671) with Busways:

671 H671 BNL Sunderland Busways by North East Malarkey, on Flickr

I think it was 14669/70/71/73/74 that were converted to sightseeing buses, remaining in the North East. H669BNL was then preserved by the North East Bus Preservation Trust (NEBPT):

JPT906T and H669BNL by C522LJR, on Flickr

(14 Feb 2022, 3:21 pm)H670BNL wrote Hello all,

new to this but was wondering if anyone has any information or can point me in the right direction to get some history on the above. We've recently saved it from the scrap yard or at least that's where we think it was heading and are in the process of lovingly restoring it and converting it into a fully functional mobile bar & hospitality area upstairs. we know it was operated by stagecoach as a sight seeing tour bus but that's about it.

it was pretty much complete when we bought it with the exception of the destination blind which we'd love to find an original?? any help or pointers would be great.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Simon & Faye

Congratulations on the purchase

New to Sunderland Busways, it's original destination blind set up were Bright Tech Dot Matrix which was rather fancy at the time with a full dot matix blind at the front, and number repeater on the side and rear. However as the years went on the dot matrix became unreliable and they were replaced with roller blinds. H670BNL spent most of its life in Sunderland before being transferred to Teesside for a further few years for use on School Contracts, then it was one of a number of this batch of 10 Olympians that were converted to open top for City Sightseeing work.

If you are seeking to have a dot matrix blind, I suggest the Hanover Flip Dot display, there is a few about and I'm sure there will be enthusiasts with the software to help you program the blinds.

This is a vehicle that had its roller blinds replaced by Hanover Flip Dot displays. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...8794262511

(14 Feb 2022, 3:41 pm)Adrian wrote Welcome to the site and congratulations on purchasing.

I believe this batch was new to Sunderland Busways, but continued with Stagecoach following the takeover. There's a couple photos on Flickr of H670BNL working in service for Stagecoach in Teesside:

Stagecoach - 14670 - H670BNL - StagecoachNE20040264 by Gary Mitchelhill, on Flickr

Here's H671BNL (671) with Busways:

671 H671 BNL Sunderland Busways by North East Malarkey, on Flickr

I think it was 14669/70/71/73/74 that were converted to sightseeing buses, remaining in the North East. H669BNL was then preserved by the North East Bus Preservation Trust (NEBPT):

JPT906T and H669BNL by C522LJR, on Flickr

Many thanks for your replay and help.

regards,

Simon & Faye

(14 Feb 2022, 5:34 pm)Rapidsnap wrote New to Sunderland Busways, it's original destination blind set up were Bright Tech Dot Matrix which was rather fancy at the time with a full dot matix blind at the front, and number repeater on the side and rear. However as the years went on the dot matrix became unreliable and they were replaced with roller blinds. H670BNL spent most of its life in Sunderland before being transferred to Teesside for a further few years for use on School Contracts, then it was one of a number of this batch of 10 Olympians that were converted to open top for City Sightseeing work.

If you are seeking to have a dot matrix blind, I suggest the Hanover Flip Dot display, there is a few about and I'm sure there will be enthusiasts with the software to help you program the blinds.

This is a vehicle that had its roller blinds replaced by Hanover Flip Dot displays. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...8794262511

Hi,

Thanks very much for the information.

Regards,
simon & Faye

(15 Feb 2022, 11:50 am)H670BNL wrote Many thanks for your replay and help.

regards,

Simon & Faye


Hi,

Thanks very much for the information.

Regards,
simon & Faye

Further to the info provided 667 - 674 were all delivered in Sunderland Busways livery and allocated to Sunderland 675/676 were both delivered in Economic livery and allocated to South Shields.

14667 (H667BNL) also became an open top bus as a result of an altercation with the railway bridge at Middlesbrough, it was converted by Gardiners and transferred to Stagecoach Grimsby.

It returned to the North East for a visit for the Sunderland Wheatsheaf depot open day. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9886773397