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.......preserving our commercial road transport history for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations..........
     
  VEHICLE COLLECTION  
     
  AFJ 727T - Bristol LH6L - Ex First Southern National 3307  
     
 

Accession 338 03/02/02

1979 Bristol LH6L with Plaxton Supreme 7910BXMS C41F 7' 6" body.

No 3307 was one of 24 originally supplied to Western National and Devon General which were built to this special width for the narrow roads frequently encountered in the West Country. This vehicle was one of four that had been a familiar sight in the Taunton/Minehead area for many years. More recently, the main role had been driver training with First Southern National. The photo depicts 3307 on its final run - a Taunton to Minehead return on Sunday 3 February 2002 - near Bicknoller, Somerset. Immediately after completion of this run 3307 was donated by First Southern National to WHOTT. Following a repaint and other restoration it was returned to the road in 2009.

 
  © Gerry Tormey  
     
  Restoration of First Southern National 3307  
     
  With some current restoration projects coming to fruition, we are turning our attention to 7’6” wide Plaxton bodied LH No. 3307 which was donated to WHOTT by First Southern National on completion of its last round trip from Taunton to Minehead on 3 February 2002 - a trip enjoyed by around 30 members. It is believed that 3307 was the last LH in service with its original former NBC owner, so it is another important vehicle within WHOTT’s growing collection. Much work has already been done on the interior and the front end which had been damaged at some point.  
     
  Below are the livery proposed for 3307.  
     
 
Proposed livery for 3307
1 NBC green and white dual purpose livery with NBC logo and Western National fleetnames.
2a NBC green and white dual purpose livery with NBC logo and Southern National fleetnames.
2b As 2a, except ‘removal’ of NBC logo.
3 Brown, yellow and white venetian blind livery and Southern National fleetnames.
4 Cawlett green and cream with Southern National logo.
5a Green and cream with First Southern National names and logo.
5b As 5a but with Southern National names ‘removed’.
 
     
 
Option 1: NBC green and white dual purpose livery was 3307’s original guise, shown here carried by sister vehicles 3304 and 3313 at Totnes Plains in June 1984. Note NBC logo and Western National fleetnames. Option 2a: NBC dual purpose livery but with Southern National names and NBC logo carried by 3310 seen at Bridport depot on 23 May 1986. NBC logos were removed shortly after this (Option 2b).
   
Option 3: 3307 seen on 6 October 1990 in the brown and yellow ‘Venetian blind’ livery which was applied in April 1984. Initially NBC  ‘patch’ logos were carried on both sides over the front wheel arches but were removed after Southern National was privatised. Option 4: 3307 was repainted in Southern National green and cream in March 1991 but retained its brown and yellow rear illuminated fleetname as seen at Minehead on 24 July 1993.
   
Option 5: The final variation was the removal of the ‘Cawlett’ style Southern National logos in favour of the First ‘F’. Initially the Southern National fleetname was also carried over the front wheel arch (Option 5a) but this was removed for 3307’s final months (Option 5b). The rear illuminated panel was painted over. 3307 is seen in livery Option 5a on driver training duties arriving at Taunton bus station on a dull September day in 1999.
 
 
 
 

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