Barton Transport PLC

Sunday 25 September 2016 – Former Barton Transport 467 (JNN 384), a Duple bodied Leyland Titan PD1 new in December 1947, seen at the Showbus Rally at Donington Park.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – Two former Barton Transport Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopards seen at the Showbus Rally at Donington Park. Left is 1286 (XRR 615M), an Elite Express new in August 1973. Right is 564 (KAU 564V), a Supreme Express new in July 1980.

Showbus, Donington - Sun 25 Sep 2016 An impressive line up of former Barton Transport vehicles at Showbus. During the morning most of them had been on display at the former Barton garage in Chilwell before travelling down the road to Donington. On top of the hil was part of the main Showbus display.

Saturday 29 September 2018 (1103) – The rear panel of former Barton Transport 966 (966 RVO) featuring the famous Robin Hood logo. The coach is an unusual two door Yeates Europa bodied Bedford VAL new in July 1963 and now privately preserved which was attending the Delaine Running Day at Bourne, Lincolnshire. The event was themed around vehicles bodied by Yeates of Loughborough.

Saturday 29 September 2018 (1102) - The Delaine Running Day at Bourne, Lincolnshire was themed around vehicles bodied by Yeates of Loughborough. Former Barton Transport 966 (966 RVO) was seen in the yard of the Bourne premises. It is an unusual two door Yeates Europa bodied Bedford VAL new in July 1963 and now privately preserved.

Saturday 29 September 2018 (1058) - The Delaine Running Day at Bourne, Lincolnshire was themed around vehicles bodied by Yeates of Loughborough. Former Barton Transport 966 (966 RVO) was seen entering the yard through the covered fuelling bay at the Bourne premises. It is an unusual two door Yeates Europa bodied Bedford VAL new in July 1963 and now privately preserved.

Saturday 29 September 2018 (1212) - The Delaine Running Day at Bourne, Lincolnshire was themed around vehicles bodied by Yeates of Loughborough. Former Barton Transport 966 (966 RVO) was seen in the yard of the Bourne premises. It is an unusual two door Yeates Europa bodied Bedford VAL new in July 1963 and now privately preserved.

Saturday 27 May 1995 – Coaches at RAF Mildenhall having brought visitors to the Air Fete. Boon’s Coaches of Boreham, Essex M313 VET, a Berkhof Excellence bodied Scania K93CRB new in April 1995. Barton Buses 1637 (D637 DNU), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied DAF MB230 new in May 1987

Sunday 21 September 1997 – Showbus, Duxford Barton Buses 900 (P508 NWU), a short wheelbase Optare Excel L1070 new as a demonstrator in February 1997. The bus business of Barton Transport was acquired by the Wellglade Group, the owner of Trent Buses, in 1989. The two companies remained separate until 2005 when they were merged to create Trentbarton (Trent Barton).

Wednesday 11 September 1991 – Barton Buses 1482 (RRC 482R), a Plaxton Supreme Express bodied Leyland Leopard new in November 1976, seen on Queens Road, Beeston near Read Avenue. The bus and coach interests of Barton Transport PLC were acquired by the Wellglade Group in 1989. Wellglade already owned the former NBC privatised Trent Motor Traction Company and the two companies were merged in 2005 to create Trentbarton (Trent Barton). Family run Barton Transport had been one of Britain’s largest ‘non-combine’ owned bus companies in the days before the privatisation of the National Bus Company and for many years was noted for its most varied fleet of secondhand vehicles. During the 1970s the Government ran the New Bus Grant Scheme which offered a 25% grant for the purchase of new vehicles built for stage carriage operation notably that such vehicles were built to be one person operated (the grant later being increased to 50%). A key feature of the specification was the fitting of powered doors controlled by the driver. Body builders like Plaxton and Duple adapted their coach designs so they qualified for the New Bus Grant and so stage carriage operators were able to add coaches to their fleets at a much reduced cost, coaches which could also be run on private hire and excursion work as long as the required percentage of mileage was operated on stage carriage services. Barton seized the opportunity to upgrade their fleet over the time that the New Bus Grant was available and the company modernised their fleet with many new mainly Plaxton bodied coaches like this one.

Wednesday 11 September 1991 – Barton Buses 1489 (RRC 489R), a Plaxton Supreme Express bodied Leyland Leopard new in December 1976, seen on Queens Road, Beeston near Read Avenue. The bus and coach interests of Barton Transport PLC were acquired by the Wellglade Group in 1989. Wellglade already owned the former NBC privatised Trent Motor Traction Company and the two companies were merged in 2005 to create Trentbarton (Trent Barton). Family run Barton Transport had been one of Britain’s largest ‘non-combine’ owned bus companies in the days before the privatisation of the National Bus Company and for many years was noted for its most varied fleet of secondhand vehicles. During the 1970s the Government ran the New Bus Grant Scheme which offered a 25% grant for the purchase of new vehicles built for stage carriage operation notably that such vehicles were built to be one person operated (the grant later being increased to 50%). A key feature of the specification was the fitting of powered doors controlled by the driver. Body builders like Plaxton and Duple adapted their coach designs so they qualified for the New Bus Grant and so stage carriage operators were able to add coaches to their fleets at a much reduced cost, coaches which could also be run on private hire and excursion work as long as the required percentage of mileage was operated on stage carriage services. Barton seized the opportunity to upgrade their fleet over the time that the New Bus Grant was available and the company modernised their fleet with many new mainly Plaxton bodied coaches like this one.

Sunday 10 September 1989 – Preserved former Barton Transport 507 (JVO 230), a Duple bodied Leyland PD1A new in July 1948, seen at the British Bus Day at the Norfolk Showground. Barton had been one of Britain’s largest independently owned bus companies in the days before the privatisation of the National Bus Company and for many years was noted for its most varied fleet of secondhand vehicles as well as some unusual types and styles. The company operated around forty forward entrance double deckers like this which featured lowbridge style bodywork. The seats on the upper deck were in rows of four.

Sunday 10 September 1989 – Preserved former Barton Transport 507 (JVO 230), a Duple bodied Leyland PD1A new in July 1948, seen at the British Bus Day at the Norfolk Showground. Barton had been one of Britain’s largest independently owned bus companies in the days before the privatisation of the National Bus Company and for many years was noted for its most varied fleet of secondhand vehicles as well as some unusual types and styles. The company operated around forty forward entrance double deckers like this which featured lowbridge style bodywork. The seats on the upper deck were in rows of four.

Saturday 25 May 1996 – RAF Mildenhall Left: Barton Buses 1635 (D635 WNU), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied DAF MB230 new in May 1987 as Barton Transport fleet number 635. Barton Transport was acquired by the Wellglade Group in 1989 becoming Barton Buses and later merged with Trent to become Trent Barton (trentbarton). Right: Coach Stop (G.E. Hopes), Leigh-on-Sea K55 TOP, a Plaxton Première 350 bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1993. Coach Stop didn’t appear to have a uniform livery choosing different abstract designs and colours for its coaches.