Small operator that ran this much owned and rebuilt LH

Many former I.O.W. vehicles find work on the mainland. Obviuosly, there is Solent Blue Line but also others such as Taylors of Sutton Scotney and Oakley Coaches. Here is a selection of vehicles with different opperators.

Ganges are based in West Cowes and have vehicles in their fleet from other I.O.W. operators.

One of the newer operators catering for the hotel trade.

The I.O.W.C.C. have run their own buses for many years. Mainly schoolwork but some local services are operated.

The museum has been established on the quay side at Newport and has become very popular. This selection of pics show some museum exhibits, reserve collection and the odd visitor.

Coaches of this fleet first appeared in Baylis livery. Isle of Wight Tours soon became the fleetname however.

John Woodhams operated initially with his well known Bedford OB. His fleet subsequently included the superb ex-Shotters AEC Reliance Duple Brittania, the remarkable Bedford WTB, a brief encounter with a Bedford CF MIni Supreme (known as the Bubble!) and an Ex Moss Bedford Supreme. Other vehicles would follow.

Kardan Travel was a small operator that took on a franchise to operate Southern vectis coach work

M.Travel operated Newport local services on a franchise from Southern Vectis. Transits were the mainstay of the fleet, many ex-Vectis.

Deregulation lead to many mainland operators running tours to the Ilse of Wight. The following are the start of a selection showing many well known names and liveries.

Another selection of mainlanders representing fleets from all over the U.K.

Neil's caused a stir with a Van Hool Astromega.

More and more overseas operators visit the island these days. Here is a very small selection of some I found in my travels.

These shots show privately owned buses restored, preserved and used on the island.

Seaview Services for a short while ran Redlynx services between Ryde, seaview and Sandown. Coaches and ex-vectis RE's were used. the service eventually ceased but the coach work continued.

The previous colection is getting a bit full so lets have a new one.

Sothern Vectis always ran to Alum Bay but extended to the needles after a private operation with Transits failed. Vectis operated LH's originaly and then converted to open top operation and thus "The best open top bus ride in the world!" was born.

A Southern Vectis franchise operator of the Sandown/ Shanklin open top service.

This was the picture that started my interest in I.O.W. buses and coaches.

Short time franchise operator of Sandown/Shanklin opent top service and a Newport/Fishbourne /Ryde ferry link.

Westbrook Travel was set up initially to cater for school group holidays but is now better known for open top tours. The company is currently up for sale.

Wightline was initially a coach operator but took on Southern Vectis with a rival open top bus service from Yarmouth to Alum Bay. Former Brighton Leyland PD's were used for this service still in Brighton colours but fleet livery wa applied to some. The service did not survive as Vectis fought back with more buses, and of course, they were the only operator able to run to the Needles.