London Buses bought two batches of these smart Delta's for East London work. DA10 was a demonstrator, with dual doorway but dual-purpose seating, and went on loan to Seven Kings garage early in 1991. It was taken into London Buses' stock in July. DA11-29 arrived the following spring, also for use at Seven Kings, primarily on routes 129 and 148. They initially wore this startling new livery of silver grey with red skirts and stripes, which suited their lines, if not the transport officials and politicians. DA30-35 arrived in 1993, after the earlier batch, including DA24, seen here in Ilford, on 01/11/1995, had been moved en-masse to Barking for use on the 169, and new supplemental 369, in 03/1993. All passed to Stagecoach East London, on privatisation in 09/1994, and donned the company's London livery of unadorned red, however, this one still carried the silver livery as can be seen here. New in 05/1992, and after use at Barking, it moved to Plumstead in 07/2001, for use as a driver trainer. It was re-numbered 26024, in the Stagecoach national re-numbering scheme and transferred to Bow, in 11/2006, again for training duties. In 06/2007, it moved to Waterden Road, as a driver trainer and then to Rainham, for the same duties, in 12/2007, after Waterden road closed. Staying in the London area, it moved onto Leyton, in 04/2009, also as a trainer. Two months later, it was repainted red, only to be sold in 09/2009, to Ripley(dlr), Carlton, for scrap, via Ensign Bus, Purfleet. These details and more can be found at
countrybus.org/DA/DA_a.htm#fleet.
The camera being a Praktica MTL3 with the film being a Boots Colourslide.
I would request, as with all my photos, that they are not copied or downloaded in any way, shape or form. © Peter Steel 1995.
