THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Maidstone & District Coaches Pre NBC
 |
 |
|||
Page 3 |
| |||
 East Kent and Maidstone & District were neighbours and rivals for many years but ended up under common BET ownership. They went their own ways, East Kent loving its AEC buses whereas Maidstone & District was loyal to Leyland. That all changed when NBC was formed and both companies were put under common management and vehicles and routes were swapped between the fleets, East Kent gaining its first Leyland Atlanteans - there was even talk of the companies merging with one identity. However privatisation and deregulation forced their separation again and now East Kent is part of Stagecoach and Maidstone & District part of Arriva, so when Maidstone & District enthusiasts celebrated the company's cenetnary at the Kent Showground in 2011 it was not surprising to see many East Kent vehicles on display too. Amongst the most interesting was this pair of Beadle-Leyland integrals, East Kent's sixty year old FFN446 and Maidstone & District's CO260 (OKP988), a year its junior. |
 The M&D Beadle is now part of Thorne's Independent heritage fleet and has been to SHOWBUS many times. It retains the cream and green livery, whereas others in that heritage fleet are normally in Thorne's pale blue and grey colours. Note the Maltese Bedford in the background, giving trips around the showground. |
 In this final view of the duo they are joined by the famous Hastings Corporation Guy BTX "Diddler" trolleybus "Ole Harold", DY4965, which used to attend Hillingon Showbuses quite regularly, but the journey is a bit of a stretch for the old girl these days. |
 A view of CO260 on its own at the Centenary event. |
 Here the Beadle-Leyland is taking part in the Centenary Parade around the showground. |
|
|
|||
Page 3 |
| |||