Maidstone & District and ARRIVA Southern Counties Fleet Number 3238

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Dennis Dart SFD322BR1VGW10915, Plaxton Pointer 9710.6HLZ6809, 10.6m, B40F

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With the chassis which includes it Cummins B145 20 engine assembled at the Dennis Factory on the outskirts of Guildford and the body at the Plaxton Factory in Scarborough, during the early part of 1997, 3238 was one of a batch of sixty three low floor buses ordered by Maidstone & District to replace older step entry vehicles in use around Medway and Maidstone. 3238 received its initial test of fitness by the Department of Transport on 25 April 1997 and was initially stored for a short period until it was registered on 26 June of the same year, entering traffic at Gillingham shortly after.

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It was delivered in Maidstone & District's late 1990's 'retro' livery of green and cream offset by a light green stripe and during it's first few months in traffic it made appearances at a publicity event in Chatham Dockyard and also at Showbus 1997 held at Duxford. When Maidstone & District, already owned by British Bus part of the Cowie group was bought by ARRIVA in 1998 a start was made to repaint the vehicles into their corporate colours and 3238 was no exception.

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3238 wearing Arriva colours, 9 April 2015

 

In 2002 ARRIVA implemented 'Operation Overdrive' in which 3238 along with the majority of the other Dennis Dart SLFs received a 'mid-life' refresh, however it was one of a small batch that did not receive Hannover LED destination blinds and would retain the manual roller blinds until withdrawal. 

 

3238 led  pretty much uneventful life working in and around the Medway Towns out of Gillingham Garage along with the occasional loan to Sheerness. It's last day in use out of Gillingham was 15 July 2014 and it was stood down following delivery of a number of brand new Wrightbus StreetLites. However 3238 was to have a stay of execution, as it had a relatively long MOT, it was transferred to ARRIVA Kent Thameside at Northfleet on 4 August and entered service immediately. During the early part of 2015, Northfleet received five refurbished ex London Enviro 200s along with two ALX200s transferred from Tunbridge Wells and this would ultimately spell the end for 3238.

 

On 12 May 2015, 3238 was due it's intermediate examination and with it's MOT due date looming the decision was taken to stand the vehicle down and it was delicenced and parked up awaiting disposal.  Dialogue was already in place between us and ARRIVA about the purchase of 3238 and a bid was submitted and accepted. 3238 entered preservation on 1 June 2015 and finally the safety of one of the final vehicles delivered to Maidstone & District was guaranteed. It was restored externally to it's original 1997 Maidstone & District livery during September 2015.

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3238 at Otford Pond, shortly after passing into preservation, 9 June 2015

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