Arriva-ing into Cornwall

A-Line Coaches' first ever double decker has this afternoon arrived at the depot gleaming in the spring sun. The bus with the honour of holding this title is East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian M698 HPF, wearing a brand new coat of red paint, and looking resplendent as she sat among her new stablemates. 

M698 started out life with London and Country, later becoming Arriva London in 1994 as a batch of 19 for whom she served for over 10 years. She was then passed into West Yorkshire with Arriva and latterly sold on to Tees Valley Coach Travel for whom she appears to have had quite a strong following of enthusiasts. I've already heard several comments from various people who have ridden on her over her previous 18 years, and all have been very complimentary! The Cummins L10 certainly sounds like it can pack a punch, so I'm very much looking forward to having a trip on her in the near future. She's a very tidy bus indeed with barely a scratch on her, certainly not appearing her age. All that lets her down unfortunately is a slightly tatty interior, but nothing that can't be fixed! 

Thanks must go to Jamie Limb at A-Line for moving the bus around to allow me to get some decent shots of the bus, the sun was playing havoc with any sort of decent photography today, so was much appreciated! The other new addition, an R reg Volvo B6 that was due today suffered with a broken radiator this morning, and therefore hasn't made it down to Cornwall quite yet, although it is hoped she will arrive tomorrow!