First in Chester recently commemorated the contribution of ECW Olympian ‘B200DTU’ with a running day.
The bus is a rare survivor – it is the last in the area of a once ubiquitous kind. ‘EOG 200’, to give it its ‘proper’ fleet number, is the very last closed-top ECW bodied Olympian in operation with First – as well as their final former Crosville vehicle.
Having started life in 1985 in and around Chester, the vehicle stayed there ever since. It was one of over 100 similar Olympians ordered and operated by the former Crosville Motor Services, the centenary of which was commemorated on Sunday – see separate story.
Working alongside EOG 200 on timetabled public services was ex-Yorkshire Rider Northern Counties-bodied Olympian ‘F160XYG’. Among the drivers was Jeff Clayton, operations manager at First Chester.
“The turnout for the event was brilliant with standing loads on one or two trips with B200 DTU,” photographer Tom Harrison told CBW. “As these buses were in public service many additional passengers boarded the vehicle en route. The first trip of the day was the busiest with a real good load of passengers and enthusiasts being whisked away to Huntington by Gardner power.”
A handful of converted open top ECW-bodied Olympians will remain in service in Chester, being dedicated to City Sightseeing work, but they are of course, ex London dual-door machines.
