Crosville Motor Services Ltd. of Chester bought 112 Bristol KSW double-deckers. All of the KSWs had Bristol’s own AVW engine except one, 428 which was fitted with a Gardner engine. Fifteen of the KSWs (428-442) had ECW highbridge H60R bodies, the rest of them like DKB476 were fitted with lowbridge L55R bodies. Originally classed as MW until in 1958 they were reclassified as DKB except 428 that became DKG. Delivery began in 1951 with the first 14, 44 came in 1952 and the final 54 arrived in 1953 including DKB476 (OFM 634) in February of that year. All the KSWs had a full working life and were withdrawn from service between 1965 and 1968. DKB476 left Crosville in 1967 and went to General Industrial Cleaners, a contract cleaning company for staff transport, at Borrowash near Derby. It was painted in an overall white livery. When withdrawn it made its way to the West of England Transport Collection at Winkleigh, Devon where it was rescued by Graham Thorogood. A major restoration has taken place with the help of Nigel Massey and Glyn Plevin to bring DKB476 back to its superb condition we see it in today, 2024.
This DVD programme is a record of a day out to North Wales (Wrexham and Llangollen) and England (Oswestry) by the Crosville Enthusiasts’ Club (1967) on Saturday 13th April 2024. The independent transport videos cameras were on board DKB476 for the tour with a camera in the cab and another in the lower saloon. We began our filming outside Chester railway station and film some of the contemporary Arriva and Stagecoach vehicles operating former Crosville routes before joining DKB476 for the day. We begin our tour on the D1 route to Wrexham, a route operated by the KSWs in the 1950s and 1960s that also saw the Bristol Lodekkas in operation. We take a short break at Wrexham bus station before continuing on the D1 route to Llangollen. After another short break at the Market Street coach park we depart via route D88 to Chirk and then as a D2 to Oswestry. On the way we stop for a photo-opportunity at the sylvan Cwmalis Road and then a further stop at the former Oswestry-Ifton Colliery where service 331, later the G45 would turn around. We take an opportunity to photograph DKB476 outside the Miners Welfare Hall before continuing to Oswestry. Here DKB476 takes a break adjacent to the Railway Station, which is being restored by the Cambrian Railway Society on Oswald Road. It is also near to the site of the former Crosville bus depot on which an Aldi supermarket now stands. We leave Oswestry and head back to Wrexham where we take a break and observe the contemporary Arriva buses that use the bus station. We then depart from Wrexham as a D34 via Llay and Gresford to Chester. Our journey ends back at Chester railway station and DKB476 leaves for its home and a well-earned rest.
Our thanks to all concerned for this excellent day out. We hope that you have enjoyed our journey. To complete this programme we are proud to present a short 8mm cine film that Graham took of DKB476, as it was about to enter preservation.
Produced by - Independent Transport Videos
Duration - 118 minutes
Region - 0 (worldwide) PAL
Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Widescreen
DVD only
Released - May 2024
