(De Lijn contractor) Van Damme 264102 (269 P 4) in Sint-Margriete - 4 Mar 1993

Thursday 4 March 1993 (approx. 1230) - De Lijn (Vlaamse Vervoersmaatschappij De Lijn) was created in 1991 from the northern part of NMVB (Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen). The company operates its own large bus and tram fleet which carry four digit fleet numbers but there are many buses operated by contractors which carry six digit fleet numbers – the first four digits relate to the De Lijn contract number with the final two digits are the operators own fleet number.

A & R Van Damme based in Sint-Laureins was the contracted operator of service 260 from Eeklo via Sint-Laureins to Sint-Margriete. Their 264102 (269 P 4), a MAN powered Van Hool A120 integral new in January 1983, was seen parked in the sleepy village of Sint-Margriete just 750 metres (less than half a mile) from the border between Belgium and Holland.

From the latter part of the 1980s NMVB introduced a mainly white livery with a broad orange skirt and blue diagonal lines but the livery seen here preceeds that. The faded NMVB garter is just visible midships although a De Lijn logo had been added near the front.

Van Damme may have only operated just one bus at a time on the contract. The Zone 01 website shows 264101 being operated between February 1971 and January 1983; 264102 between January 1983 and February 2000; and 264103 from January 2000 until it passed to another operator in July 2006. All three carried the same number plate 264 P 4.