Volvo B10 coach S797 KRM
Former Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancs Volvo B10M/Jonckheere Modulo coach 52627, S797 KRM, (formerly 797) was donated to the Trust in January 2020.
It had been maintained in good order, essentially just needing replacement wheels and tyres as Stagecoach tyres are all on contract.
New in October 1998, 797 was one of 4 coaches bought for the X4/X5 hourly services from Workington to Penrith via Cockermouth and Keswick. They were eventually superseded by 4 new coaches with wheelchair lifts which were not the best suited to these routes. Services are now provided by a fleet of low floor Gold buses.
Of the four B10s, two were sold on to Swift Coaches of Barrhead and one was destroyed by fire.
797 ended its days doing school runs and local services. It was often to be seen on the 302 Whitehaven – Lillyhall – Workington service until being forced to retire at the end of 2019 due to PSVAR regulations.
Some tidying up has been carried out in the cab area as well as the replacement of some electrical equipment, which had been previously removed. Other than that, the coach is fit to go. It is planned to repaint it in to Cumbrian Connexion livery that it carried for a number of years before gaining Stagecoach corporate colours.