The first Olympians (80-84) were to coach specification arrived in
1986. The second batch of ten was originally to be split into 5 coaches and 5 buses, but
it was later decided to have 7 buses and 3 coaches which arrived in 1988. The buses were
dual door and numbered 11 to 17 and the coaches were single door and numbered 85-7.
This is 13 in September 2000 finishing Theale Green School service 92:
The buses have always been used on town services, and seemed well
suited to the various ColourBus liveries that have been applied to them over the years.
During 1999 and 2000 all of the Olympians were re-seated using seats from withdrawn
Metrobuses, 11-17 also loosing their centre doors, and 82-7 loosing their coach features.
Below is 14 illustrating the rather basic job that was done to patch up the centre door,
it was pictured on 24th January 2006:
Below is 15 at Reading Station on 21st December 2001 newly repainted
into fleet livery from a ColourBus advertising livery. By the start of May 2003 it's rear
lamp units were replaced by new LED tail lights.
The coaches were initially used on London express services,
originally Goldline X1, and later The London Line, before being cascaded to town work as
Spectra and Bova coaches arrived for The London Line. In April 1994, coaches 80 and 81
were withdrawn, passing to Midland Fox via Stephensons of Uttoxeter (dealer). From there
80 went to Confidence of Leicester in 2003 where it was broken for spares. 81 passed to
Ensign (dealer) by April 1998, then to Aintree Coaches in May 1998 and then by auction to
Stephensons of Essex (dealer) on 27th July 2005. Stephensons loaned it to Excel,
Standstead Airport from September 2005 until November 2005 when it was purchased for
preservation.
This is 82 in January 1999:
83 travelling along Friar Street in August 1998.
11 and 13 have regularly been used on driving training duties throughout their years
with the company. By June 2003 both had even received special slots so that L plates could
easily be added and removed! In July 2003, the most frequent trainer of the two, 11
received all round adverts for driver recruitment. The adverts are in a similar style to
past and present recruitment MegaRears applied to various Reading based Optare Solos. 11
is seen below on ordinary services on 23rd July 2003 and 27th March 2006:
In early December 2004 11 and 13 were designated as a full time driver training
vehicles and renumbered 311 and 313, although they remain available for use during the
morning and evening peaks.
From time to time vehicles have been loaned from Reading to Newbury to help out when
vehicles are off the road:
- 86 went for a few days in November or December 2004
82-5 were put into virtual reserve at the end of July 2005 (i.e. not in reserve, but
intentionally kept out of service wherever possible), and then following an order for 16
Scania OmniDekkas for delivery in March 2006, the entire Olympian fleet (12, 14-17, 82-7,
311, 313) was put up for sale. 83-7 were subsequently sold to Shamrock Buses, Poole during
August 2005, departing on 31st. Meanwhile 82 returned to service by 7th September pending
the arrival of the OmniDekkas, but also to passed to Shamrock Buses on 19th or 20th May
2006.
11-17 (11 as 311 and 13 as 313) were withdrawn on approximately 23rd May 2006 following
the entry into service of Scania OmniDekkas 819-34 and Wright Solars 1021-30. As the new
vehicles came on stream over the preceding weeks the Olympians only saw use as emergency
standby vehicles. They were sold to Ensign (dealer) and departed on 26th May 2006.
From Ensign (3)11 and 12 passed to Wippet Coaches, Fenstanton on 13th June 2006. Upon
arrival 11 went straight into their paint shop, whilst 12 entered service in full Reading
Buses livery on 14th. 11 entered service on 30th, at which point 12 went in for painting.
Upon repaint each gained four seats in the area where the centre door was, although the
window area is still blanked off without a window. 11 is seen below with Whippet on 1st
July 2006. Thanks to Richard Haughey for this photo:
(3)13 passed from Ensign to Manns Travel, Gravesend during June 2006, but had returned
to Ensign by 5th September 2006. It then passed from Ensign to Eastonways, Ramsgate in
April 2007. 14, 15 and 17 passed to Peter Godward Coaches, Chelmsford in the second half
of September 2006. 15 is seen below passing New Barnet Station on rail replacement work on
20th May 2007. Thanks to Simon Oliver for this photo:
Olympian 16 went on loan from Ensignbus (dealer) to RH Transport, Witney
in November 2007 to cover for one of their ex-GoNorthEast Optare Spectras.
It is seen below on 7th November 2007. Thanks to Richard Sharman for this
photo:
It was eventually sold to Eastonways, Ramsgate in January 2008.
17 passed from Ensign to Moxtons Tours, Worksop in August 2008.
