BRISTOL LODEKKA 833 AFM

Bristol Lodekka manufactured in 1957 and was delivered new to Crossville Motor Services. It was used in its original condition until it was converted by its owners to an open top format in 1978. It was eventually withdrawn and sold into preservation in 1982. This bus the reappeared in service with MacTours of Edinburgh until being acquired by Dreadnought Coaches for use on the Alnwick Sightseeing Tour.

BRISTOL LODEKKA XSL 228A

This Bristol Lodekka was manufactured by Bristol Commercial Vehicles and Eastern Coach Works for service with the Bristol Omnibus Company on its seafront route at Weston-super-Mare, this vehicle is one of only 20 (of 5217 Bristol Lodekkas) to be built as convertibles, their roofs being removable to allow operation as open-top buses. Of the original 20 produced between 1956 and 1961, only two are believed to have survived within the British Isles, the others having been exported as vintage buses to the USA or Europe.The present vehicle was registered in December 1961 as NHT 866 and subsequently saw service with the Wilts and Dorset Company before being re-registered in 1990 as XSL 228A on entering the fleet of MacTours of Edinburgh. It was acquired in 2002 by Dreadnought Coaches for the Alnwick Sightseeing Tour and Private Hire duties. The vehicle is powered by a Gardner 6-cylinder engine and is capable of a top speed of 52 mph. A 1:76 scale model of Bristol Lodekka XSL 228A has been produced by Corgi Collectables as one of their Original Omnibus collection.

BRISTOL LODEKKA MVX 878C

Delivered new to Eastern National Omnibus Company in September 1965 this Lodekka saw service on the famous route 251 from London to Southend. It saw further service with Hedingham and District before withdrawal in 1989. It was used on driver training duties until 1995 and was then stored. Acquired in 2006 by Dreadnought Coaches it has been completely refurbished and returned to service. It has a 5 speed gearbox and Gardner 6LW engine which enables it to cruise at 50mph.

 AEC ROUTEMASTER JJD 528D

One of nearly 3000 famous AEC Routemaster buses designed and built for London Transport between 1954 and 1967 RML 2528 was delivered in July 1966. It spent much of its life at Clapham and Tottenham garages until finally being withdrawn from service in 2005 after nearly 40 years of service in the capital. It ended its time with London Transport on the famous route 38.Fitted with a Cummins engine and fully refurbished by us in 2009, having a seating capacity of 72 it joins the Dreadnought vintage fleet and is ready to make a memorable day even more special !

LEYLAND TITAN PRN 761

Originally delivered to Preston Corporation as ECK 509 in 1952 this Leyland Titan was withdrawn in 1959. It was heavily rebuilt at Preston and re-entered service in August 1961 with new registration PRN 761. Finally withdrawn in 1979 it passed into preservation. Again fully refurbished and owned by numerous coach operators it was acquired for service by Dreadnought Coaches in December 2005 and joined the established fleet of vintage double deck vehicles. Fitted with a Leyland 0600 engine and four speed gearbox PRN 761 can achieve speeds of up to 45 mph.

This Leyland Titan is one of only two survivors of the famous ‘Preston’ rebuilds; the other being a museum exhibit.

DENNIS DART K715 PCN

Delivered new in 1992 to Sunderland Busways this vehicle was transfered to Stagecoach ownership in 1996. The vehicle saw further service on schools contracts in Perth, whilst still in ownership of Stagecoach. It was acquired by Dreadnought Coaches in 2010.  Fitted with 40 seat Alexander Dash bodywork this modern bus is ideal for local stage carriage work and private hires. 

BRISTOL RE SWC 24K

Delivered new in 1972 to Colchester Borough Council as fleet number 24 this Bristol RE saw service for 15 years before being withdrawn. This vehicle then passed to a number of independent operators before being preserved in 1990. Extensively refurbished by Woottens of Chesham in 2008 it was acquired by Dreadnought Coaches in 2010. Now in the distinctive livery of red and cream this Leyland powered RE with a 5 speed gearbox is ideal for private hires and other local service work. 

AEC Routemaster SMK 732F

Another of the iconic London Routemasters which was withdrawn from service in 2005 after 38 years of duty based at the Putney garage. Like our other Routemaster it has seating for 72 passengers. RML 2732 is powered by an Iveco engine and retains its original London Transport livery.