History
S114 TDW was new to municipal Newport Transport in 1998 as a batch of nine, being fitted with bench seats, gasket glazing, no climate control or forced air ventilation, front Vultron flipdot display, a 4 speed ZF, as well as numerous other cost saving measures. They don't appear to have had any set allocation, and appeared on routes across the city, alongside various other types in the Newport Transport fleet.
In 2004, fleet number 14 was given an all over wrap for the airline BMI Baby, part of British Midland International, which it carried for a number of years. It was during this time that the centre headlights were removed, creating the slightly cross-eyed look that became quite familiar across numerous companies. It later regained green and cream colours, this time with Newport Bus 'Serving the City' fleetnames, which it then carried for a further three years, before gaining the then-new two-tone green and white livery in 2011, and the new Newport Bus logos.
The remaining eight Flolines in the Newport fleet, after 16 prematurely caught fire, were withdrawn in 2015, ahead of DDA regulations for full size single decker buses. However, 10, 13, and 14 were all refurbished, and modified to comply with the regulations, which involved fitting ramps, additional poles, wheelchair backrest, and the removal and repositioning of a number of seats, bringing the seated capacity down to 42, from 46. The trio were also painted all white, with small Newport Bus logos being the only identifiers, and were primarily used on school contracts, although from time to time they also strayed onto service work.
14 was the last Floline in use with Newport Transport, being sold along with 13 to Ebley Coaches, Nailsworth in August 2020, and then going via a dealer in Bristol to SW Audio in Dumfries. This is where the rather striking current livery comes from, which somewhat fits its former use as a mobile DJ stage.
In Preservation
After acquiring 14, we've had some areas of welding on the chassis, as well as two replacement slack adjusters, before bringing it back to join the rest of the fleet. The washer pump and wipers have also been replaced, and the nearside windows that were removed have now been refitted. We've also experimented with fitting a battery cutoff switch inside the cab, which has proven to be extremely effective at keeping the batteries from being drained, given it is tacho fitted. We're going to use the same method on our other fleet members in due course.
The dashboard has also been stripped back, switches cleaned, ferry lift and kneel functions reconnected, and the hole cut for a Hanover Deric+ controller filled by fitting one. All of the wiring appears to be present, should we want to use it. The tail lights have been replaced for original style units, to refit reverse and fog lights, and the central headlights have also been refitted, along with the correct bezels to suit.
Future Plans
After a botched tow job by another company, 14 was low loadered down from St Helens by our trusted recovery agent, Applegates. This was unfortunately necessary due to the damage caused previously, namely the rear brakes being severely heat damaged, so the next job on the agenda is a complete set of rear drums and shoes, before being presented for a class 5 MOT. The seat frames that were previously removed will be refitted, and the threadbare and mismatched seat covers replaced with new moquette where possible, along with new foam and ply backs as necessary. Unsurprisingly, a repaint is also on the cards, restoring any missing original features on the exterior, along with removal of the extensive overspray on rubber trims, glass, and lights.