New To: Roman City, Bath (as a coach)

Chassis: Bedford VAM5 6828127

Old Body: Duple 167/74 C41F

Current Body: Farrar B Type Replica O18/16RO

History

Delivered in May 1966 to Roman City Coaches of Bath, DFB704D was the first of two similar vehicles delivered new to the operator in May 1966. This vehicle has a Bedford VAM chassis and had a Duple body, seating a total of 41 passengers. Roman City Coaches begun in the Mendip Queen operation, owned by the James Family, based in High Littleton. It was later renamed as Roman City and operations moved to Bath. The business ceased trading in 1986, with the name and holiday company passing to Badgerline. DFB704D along with sister vehicle DFB705D were used regularly on excursions up until about a year before closure.

DFB704D passed to Farrar of Fraddon along with two other Bedford VAMs. DFB had its chassis shortened and a period body fixed upon it. This body work replicates the B-Type bodywork that was used by London General. All three vehicles are still in preservation and these are DET720D numbered B1349 and 946WAE numbered B1439 and the one here DFB704D numbered B1934. 

After being rebodied, B1934 was sold onto the owners of Babbacombe Model Village who used it to operate a Free Bus Service to and from the village. After this it was bought by Hearson Holidays of Nuthall, Nottinghamshire. They used it on tours around Nottinghamshire and they also used it for Weddings. When Hearson Holidays became Howie’s & Hearson, DFB704D transferred ownership to the owner of Hearson Holidays, Malcolm Hearson.

Malc approached us when we setup at Hucknall asking to store his bus here. B1934 has stayed here ever since and Malc has become a well valued member of the team. The vehicle was used by the charity for a number of years on opendays and other events such as the 1940s event at GCR Loughborough. It has since had a top end engine rebuild and is now having a brake strip down. It will then receive a partial body rebuild before returning to the road. 

Relevance To The Collection

B1934 is one of only three B-Type replicas built by Farrar and it operated with a local company