Old Bus Photos » Abbreviations

This page is for any abbreviations used on site for specification, manufacturer codes and operators who incorporated code letters in their fleet numbers. It is constantly being updated, if you know of any codes that may be of interest to others or if you spot any errors please let me know it will be much appreciated.
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Specification Codes

Body Layout

H	High-bridge double-deck (with centre gangways)
L	Low-bridge double-deck (with sunken side gangway upstairs)
B	Single-deck bus
C	Coach
DP	Duel-purpose single-deck
F	Full front, where not usually fitted
O	Open top
U	Utilility (wartime) type body
BB	Beverley Bar roof as supplied to East Yorkshire Motor Services

Entrance (shown after seating capacity if split upper deck shown first)

R	Rear entrance
RD	Rear entrance fitted with doors
F	Front entrance
C	Centre entrance
D	Dual entrance

Manufacturer Vehicle Codes

AEC Bridgemaster 1956-1963

*Prefix code*
B	rear entrance
2B	front entrance
*Centre code number*
3	Clutch four speed synchromesh gearbox
*Suffix code*
R	Right hand drive
A	Air pressure brakes

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AEC Regent III 1947-1956

O681	1947-48, 26ft long, AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
6811A	1948-50, 26ft long, AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum brakes
6812A	1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A173 77 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
6813S	1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A173 7.7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed synchromesh gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes

O961/2	1947-48, 26ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes
9612E	1948-50, 26ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes
9613E	1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes

SV179	1947-48, 26ft long, AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
9612A	1948-50, 26ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
9613A	1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
9613S	1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed synchromesh gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes

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AEC Regent V 1954-1969

*Prefix code*
D	27 foot long with AEC A218 or AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
2D	(series 2) 27 or 30 foot long with AEC AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
MD	(medium weight) 27 foot long with AEC AV470 7·68 litre six cylinder diesel
LD	30 foot long with AEC A218 or AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
*Centre code numbers*
2	Monocontrol four speed direct selection epicyclic gearbox
3	Clutch four speed synchromesh gearbox
*Suffix code*
R	Right hand drive
A	Air pressure brakes
V	Vacuum assisted brakes
*One offs*
D2RV6G / D2RA6G 27 foot long with Gardner 6LW 8·4 litre six cylinder diesel

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AEC Renown 1962-1967

*Prefix code*
3B	30 foot long with AEC AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
*Centre code numbers*
2	Monocontrol four speed direct selection epicyclic gearbox
3	Clutch four speed synchromesh gearbox
*Suffix code*
R	Right hand drive
A	Air pressure brakes

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Bristol
*Prefix code*
*Single Deckers*
L series 1938-1954
L	‘L series’ 26’ x 7’6” front vertical engined bus, coach or duel purpose
LW	‘L series wide’ 26’ x 8’0” front vertical engined bus, coach or duel purpose
LL	‘L series long’ 30’ x 7’6” front vertical engined bus, coach or duel purpose
LWL	‘L series wide long’ 30’ x 8’0” front vertical engined bus, coach or duel purpose
LS	1951-1958 ‘light saloon’ 30’ x 8’0” underfloor engined bus, coach or duel purpose
SC	1954-1961 ‘small capacity’ bus 27’6” x 7’6”, coach 26’6” x 7’6” underfloor engine bus or coach
MW	1957-1967 ‘medium weight’ 30’ x 8’0” underfloor engined bus, coach or duel purpose
SU series 1960-1966
SUS	‘small underfloor short’ 24’2” x 7’6” underfloor engined bus
SUL	‘small underfloor long’ bus 27’10” x 7’6”, coach 28’2” x 7’6” underfloor engine bus or coach
RELL		‘rear engined long length’ 36’ x 8’0” rear engined bus
REMH		‘rear engined motorway high floor’ 39’ x 8’0” rear engined coach
RESH		‘rear engined short length high floor’ 32’6” x 8’0” rear engined coach
RESL		‘rear engined short length low floor’ 32’6” x 8’0” rear engined bus
*Double Deckers*
K series 1937-1950
K	‘K series’ 26’ x 7’6”
KW	‘K series wide’ 26’ x 8’0”
KS series 1950-1957
KS	‘KS series’ 27’ x 7’6”
KSW	‘KS series wide’ 27’ x 8’0”
Lodekka LD series 1953-1959
LD	Lodekka sunken gangway on the lower deck 27’ x 8’0”
LDL	Lodekka ‘long’ sunken gangway on the lower deck 30’ x 8’0”
Lodekka FS series 1959-1968
FS	Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – short length – rear entrance’ 27’ x 8’0”
FL	Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – long length – rear entrance’ 30’ x 8’0”
FSF	Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – short length – front entrance’ 27’ x 8’0”
FLF	Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – long length – front entrance’ 30’ x 8’0”
VR series 1968-1981
VRL/LH			‘vertical rear longitudinal engined long length high floor’ 36’ x 8’0”
VRT/LL			‘vertical rear transverse engined long length low floor’ 33’ x 8’0”
VRT/SL			‘vertical rear transverse engined short length low floor’ 30’ x 8’0”
VRT/LH			‘vertical rear transverse engined long length high floor’ 33’ x 8’0”
*Suffix code*
4A	Albion EN250H – 4·1 litre, four cylinder diesel
4G	Gardner 4LW, 5·6 litres, four cylinder diesel
5G	Gardner 5LW, 7·0 litres, five cylinder diesel
6G	Gardner 6LW, 8·4 litres, six cylinder diesel
6LX	Gardner 10·45 litres, six cylinder diesel
6A	AEC A202, 7·7 litres, six cylinder diesel
6B	Bristol AW, 8·14 litres, six cylinder diesel
6L	Leyland O.600 9·8 litres, six cylinder diesel

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Daimler
*First code letter*
C	Commercial
*Second Code letter*
F	Series Version
H	Series Version
P	Petrol
O	Oil 1934-1940
W	War 1943-1947
V	Victory 1946-1967 UK/1972 OS
S	Synchromesh gearbox
C	Constant mesh gearbox
L	Lightweight
R	Rear engine
RE	Rear engine (early code for Fleetline)
Third code letter (engine code)
D	Daimler 8·6 litres, six cylinder diesel
G	Gardner 5LW, 7·0 litres, five cylinder diesel or 6LW, 8·4 litres, six cylinder diesel
A	AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel
L	Leyland
*Fourth code number*
5	5 cylinder engine
6	6 cylinder engine
6LW		8·4 litre Gardner engine (suffix for the Fleetline only)
6LX		10·5 litre Gardner engine (suffix for the Fleetline only)
Fifth code number (length in Feet and not always used)
27	feet
30	feet
33	feet
36	feet
Sixth code letters (for CV only that I can see and not always used)
DD	Double Decker
*Special Codes*
There was a one off CD-650 chassis but the code was really for the 10·6 litre six cylinder engine COG5/40 single deck chassis which seated 39 passengers COG5/60 double deck chassis for Coventry Corporation which seated 60 passengers

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Leyland Titan

All PD1s had the Leyland E181 7·4 litre six cylinder diesel engine
PD1	26’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – constant-mesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1946/50
PD1/A	26’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – constant-mesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1946/50 - slight suspension alteration
PD1/3	26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – constant-mesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1946/50

All PD2s had the Leyland O.600 9·8 litre six cylinder diesel engine
PD2/1	26’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1947/50
PD2/3	26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1947/50
PD2/4	26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1947/50
PD2/10	27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1950/55
PD2/11	27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1950/55
PD2/12	27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1950/55
PD2/13	27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1950/55
PD2/14	27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – preselective gearbox – air brakes – 1950/55
PD2/20	27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1953/55
PD2/21	27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1953/55
PD2/22	27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1953/55
PD2/23	27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1953/55
PD2/24	27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1954/68
PD2/25	27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1954/62
PD2/26	27’ x 8’0” (lightweight) – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1954/68
PD2/27	27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/68
PD2/28	27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/62
PD2/30	27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/68
PD2/31	27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/62
PD2/34	27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/68
PD2/35	27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/62
PD2/37	27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/68
PD2/38	27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/62
PD2/40	27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1950/68
PD2/41	27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/62

All PD3s had the Leyland O.600 9·8 litre six cylinder diesel engine
PD3/1	30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/69
PD3/2	30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/67
PD3/3	30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/62
PD3/4	30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/69
PD3/5	30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/67
PD3/6	30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/67
PD3/11	30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
PD3/12	30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
PD3/14	30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
PD3/15	30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
*Concealed radiators* In 1960 the style of the concealed radiator changed from the vertically slatted grilled ‘Tin Front’ version based on the BMMO D7 design, an example of which can be seen here. The new ‘Scalloped’ version with horizontally slatted grill was mainly made of glass fibre, an example can be seen here. The new front resulted in a suffix code of a letter ‘A’ being added to the basic model number eg PD3A/1.

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Operator Fleet List Codes

United Automobile Services

B Single deck Bristol L or LL type bus with Bristol 6 cylinder engine

G Single deck Bristol L or LL type bus with Gardner 5 cylinder engine

U Single deck Bristol LS or MW type bus with 5 or 6 cylinder Gardner engines

R Single deck Bristol RELL type with Gardner 6 cylinder engine

GS Single deck Bristol LL type bus with Gardner 5 cylinder engine (Scarborough seafront service)

S Single deck Bristol SUL type bus with a 4 cylinder Albion engine

BBL Double deck Bristol K or KSW type with a lowbridge body and Bristol 6 cylinder engine

GL Double deck Bristol K type with a lowbridge body and Gardner 5 cylinder engine

BH Double deck Bristol K, KS and KSW type with a highbridge body and Bristol 6 cylinder engine

L Double deck Bristol Loddeka Gardner or Bristol engine

UE Single deck Bristol LS & MW type duel purpose body with Bristol or Gardner engine

UT Single deck Bristol LS type coach body with Bristol engine

UC Single deck Bristol LS & MW type coach body with Bristol or Gardner engine

RE Single deck Bristol RELL type coach body with Gardner engine

LUT Single deck Leyland Royal Tiger type coach body with Leyland engine

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West Yorkshire

SG Single deck Bristol L type bus with Gardner engine

SGL Single deck Bristol LL type bus 30ft long with Gardner engine

SGW Single deck Bristol LL & LWL type bus 30ft long with Gardner engine & 8ft wide body

SB Single deck Bristol L type bus with Bristol engine

SBW Single deck Bristol LL & LWL type bus 30ft long with Bristol engine & 8ft wide body

EBW Single deck Bristol LWL type duel purpose body with Bristol engine

EUG Single deck Bristol LS & MW type duel purpose body with Gardner engine

SUG Single deck Bristol LS type bus converted from a duel purpose body with Gardner engine

CUG Bristol LS & MW type coach with Gardner engine

CP Bedford coach with Petrol engine

SP Bedford bus with Petrol engine

DG Double deck Bristol K type with Gardner engine

DB Double deck Bristol K & KS type with Bristol engine

DBW Double deck Bristol KSW type 8ft wide with Bristol engine

DGW Double deck Bristol KSW type 8ft wide with Gardner engine

DX Double deck Bristol Loddeka Gardner or Bristol engine

K Preceding above code denotes Keighley West Yorkshire

Y Preceding above code denotes York West Yorkshire

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