NK54BFE – 22061 – MAN18.220 Alexander ALX300 – New in 2004 to Stagecoach on Teesside as fleet number 22061 it served at Stockton depot continuously from 2004 to 2019 – a full 15 years!

Delivered as the first of a batch of 6 identical vehicles to operate the then newly extended Service 37, designed to provide an accessible link between James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough and North Tees Hospital in Stockton. 

This vehicle is of a much-improved Mk2 design which featured many mechanical upgrades from the older Mk1 MAN 18.220’s and also a significantly improved interior specification. She served the people of Teesside very effectively for over 15 years before being retired in September 2019. 22061 was successfully acquired by the 500 Group in 2020 with thanks to our friends at Stagecoach North East. 

She had very useful attention from an outside contractor which saw her street-legal again with a Class 5 MOT test but further mechanical problems and the need to prioritise our “runners” have seen her MoT expire whilst we wait for the opportunity to restart detailed restoration. There is much work obviously to do to bring her up to the standard of our other buses.

Specification
Chassis: MAN 18.220
Body: Alexander ALX300
Fleet Number: 22061
Year New: 2004
Withdrawn: 2019
Acquired by Group: 2020

Technical Details
Engine: MAN D0836 (220hp)
Transmission: VOITH 854.4 (4 Speed Automatic)
Top Speed: 60mph

Actual Status
Runner but SORN’d pending further bodywork and mechanical restoration