Crosville Wirral 1980s routes tour. Crosville Bristol VR Recreates 1980s routes around the Wirral.

We take Crosville Bristol VR DVG266 around former 1980s deregulation bus routes operated by Crosville bus company. This whistle stop photography tour recreates various former Crosville bus routes on the Wirral.

[@marksinthehouse1968]

The VRT with ECW body work we even had them in west London on the alder valley route to Victoria NBC days never understood why LT didn’t give them a trial ,I know in Merseyside they had I think east lancs bodied ones ,Birmingham WMPTE had MCW examples and Reading had these long northern counties buses ,but the ECW was everywhere you knew you was near the south coast when you heard one pass you ,another bus I miss ,all the best and would love to drive one too 😊 Mark 😊😊

[@Merseywail]

They were a very popular bus, obviously mostly with the various national bus company operators but others had them too. The MPTE ones had the rear bustle bodywork, later bought by independent company Fairway during the early days of deregulation. The Merseyside Transport Trust has one of these, hopefully it will be restored in due course

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Would be nice did GMPTE have the ECW version I’m sure they did and don’t forget the standerwick ones massive coaches on the London run

[@Merseywail]

@@marksinthehouse1968 I think GMPTE did have a few. One of the Standerwick double deck coaches has been preserved, but I haven't had the chance to ride

[@robshorts]

As soon as I saw Crosville Bristol VR it brought back memories of a dodgy bus operator in the early 90s that used some ex Crosville Bristol VR buses that were in poor condition on a route between Liverpool and Thornton, route C93. I sometimes used them for College, some people avoided them altogether due to the poor condition. You could just make out the Crosville branding outline in the paintwork. The operator was 'City Fleet' and also had a fleet of Leyland Fleetline buses. They suddenly ceased operation around the end of 1992 with most of the Bristol VR buses being scrapped. The Fleetlines were sold on to another operator for use as school buses, they always seemed in better condition than the Bristol VR buses. The bus featured here looks to have been nicely restored!

[@Merseywail]

Yes I remember them, they didn't last long, not the best bus operator that ever came & went

[@DANEBLUEGNOME]

Wow, nice this bus tour trip to place it is... Great video, mate. ;)

[@Merseywail]

It was something different,got a few curious looks around the area

[@davidmills4292]

Spent many a journey travelling on that bus as a kid remember that livery well but preferred the all green with the white stripe i used to refer crosville buses as cucumber buses when i was little and still do!

[@Merseywail]

That White stripe livery was the national bus company green, the orange was added after deregulation

[@davidmills4292]

@Merseywail had a feeling the livery was to do with de regulation I was never a fan of the red and yellow livery when they sold their soul to first bus

[@Merseywail]

@@davidmills4292 there was a whole rainbow of liveries after deregulation . The Merseyside part of Ribble became North Western, with a red livery and odd blue corner at the front and back side.

[@davidmills4292]

@Merseywail I liked the northwestern livery I found it rather funky

[@Merseywail]

@@davidmills4292 it was different, I grew to like it & now have a few dotted about my railway layout

[@Andrewjg_89]

Some of those buses do have the best livery. Very nice 😊

[@Merseywail]

Its a a livery that certainly stands out

[@Andrewjg_89]

⁠Indeed