Pounding on...

As we approach, amazingly, the 3 year mark since the final 'proper' Leyland Olympians were withdrawn from Plymouth and Torpoint, it is very comforting and pleasureable to know, that both C412 and C413 HJN are still pounding on up in their respective new homes of Crewe and Manchester. Looking at the VOSA website, anyone is able to track the status of their beloved vehicles, as to whether their road tax has been renewed, or if they have instead been SORNed, or taken off the road all together. There was certainly some doubt as we approached year 3 that C412 would survive, seeing as their have been no reported sightings of her whatsoever since she left Routemaster Buses, the company that acquired her from First for onward sale. C413 on the other hand has had one sighting since her withdrawal:
"M6 from Knutsford to Warrington, I passed C413HJN. This was in adapted First livery, with the pink bits over-painted black, and appeared to be in private ownership (possibly a dance troupe). "

C412's tax has been renewed now until March 2013, with C413's currently lasting until September 2012. I have had various contacts 'up north' keeping an eye out for 'our' Essex girls, but as yet, we haven't come up trumps. Thankfully though, C415 HJN, one of the batch that stayed within Essex its whole working life, has been receiving much attention recently, and is really looking stunning. The HJNs that remained in Essex certainly always appeared to be the prides of the fleet, with much care and attention taken over them to keep them looking pristine, and it certainly showed when you compared a Torpoint based HJN with one in Chelmsford! I shall leave you then with my tribute video released just after C413 HJN left the depot in August 2009.