Can anyone help with any of the questions below. If you can please contact me through either the form on the ‘Contact Page’ or by email at .
If you have a question you would like an answer to please get in touch and I will put it on this page, please leave an email address so you can be informed if there is an answer.
Answers required for the following questions please.
Roberts bodied buses
I am interested in Glasgow Corporation buses which were bodied by Charles Roberts (1948/9 till about 1950/1). In addition to any Factory pictures of the buses being built, I am looking for interior pictures of the buses. Anything on Charles Roberts bodied buses is of interest to me as I think that they were distinctive looking well built buses. Hoping you can help or suggest some books etc.
Les Forbes
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Charles Roberts was a Wakefield company who built railway rolling stock Like many firms they saw a niche for bus bodywork and built for a number of municipal operators including Colchester and Darlington. Their bodywork was quite heavy and most operators only bought one batch. One interesting group of vehicles built by them was Sheffields last trams which were among the last new double deck cars produced in quantity in the UK Roberts eventually became part of Bombardier
Chris Hough
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Duple Club Bond St Blackpool
Does anyone know when this club was built. It had some connection with Duple coach builders, which I believe was on Cherry Tree Rd Blackpool at the time.
Stuart Brierley
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Ribblesdale JCB 926F
I’m just wondering if anyone has got any photos of JCB 926F because that was a Ribblesdale when new.
Thomas Penlinton
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Birmingham Bus Photos
I wonder if you can help, I am looking for some pictures of Birmingham buses in or around 1952. My parents met as my dad was the driver and my mum the conductress. Sadly my mother passed away on Friday, I am trying to put something together showing where they met. So any help would be most appreciated.
Neil Carter
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Blythe and Berwick, buses Bradford
Has anyone got any photographs of Blythe and Berwick buses in and around Bradford before 1928. I am currently restoring KW 1961 and would like to produce a display.
Photos of vehicles in preservation are not required.
David Hudson
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London Transport garage codes
Does anyone know if there is a full list of London transport garage codes anywhere on the web.
Brian
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Check out this link
http://freespace.virgin.net/ian.smith/buses/garage.htm
Spencer
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The following link will take you to such a list up-to-date on 31/12/09.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_garages_in_London
Chris Hebbron
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Pennine"Leyland Royal Tiger"
I have been looking at the Pennine"Leyland Royal Tiger"on your website (unfortunately in black & white) I model railways but include buses Pennine in particular I have castings but cannot find a colour picture from the time I model 1940/1950. I don’t suppose you have one in your collection??? Also when did the Leyland Royal Tiger come into service??? The Pennine obviously has a black roof & mudguards but what colour is the stripe under the windows do you know???
Thank You
John Bell
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The Royal Tigers saw service 1952-70 approx. The middle colour was duck egg blue
David Hudson
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Duck egg blue? It looked medium grey to me and to almost everybody else who listed the colour scheme in reference books. Sorry to be contradictory, but colour blindness seems to be endemic among bus enthusiasts, particularly when it comes to shades of cherry red/crimson/maroon/brown and white/cream/ivory/primrose. Also among industry professionals. Whoever decided that Wallasey’s main livery colour was called "sea green"? It simply wasn’t!
Neville Mercer
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With ref to Neville Mercer’s remarks about Wallasey’s "sea green" I heard a story (possibly apocryphal) that it went back to the days of tram replacement. A salesman, from Leyland I think, clinched the deal. Just as he was leaving the purchasing manager’s office he asked what livery they were to apply to the new buses. He received the reply, "Oh, see Green." Mr Green being the General Manager of the transport undertaking.
Stephen Ford
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J Fishwick & Sons bus station
I am looking for old photos of J Fishwick & Sons bus station at Corporation Street, Preston Lancashire. I do hope someone can help.
Thank you.
Allan Jones
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Wasn’t the Preston depot in Fox Street and not Corporation Street?
Steve
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Samuel Ledgard exact colour code
I am trying to match the blue and cream colours of the Ledgard busses for somebody. Does anybody know the exact colour code? I’ve crossed checked RAl and British standard colours of the day but unfortunately cannot get it exactly right.
Kevin Harvey
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The colour used was NILE BLUE but I cannot find bs no for this. may have been special mix.
David Hudson
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Leyland ID plate
I do hope you can help, I have just purchased a Leyland bus I’m told 1940 something where would I find ID plate or other way to identify bus. I obviously know nothing about buses but fell in love with it.
Thanks for any help that you may come up with.
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The email address you gave is incorrect so I have replied here.
If you have any shots of the bus you have bought send them along and I will put them on the ‘Do You Know’ page. I feel sure someone will know.
Peter
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Hansons Ford coaches
As an employee at Hansons (apprentice mechanic) in the early sixties I really enjoyed working on the Ford coaches both at St Johns Road and at Bottomleys at Luck Lane.
Fleet Nos 353/354/355/356 357 etc. Does anyone know if any of these coaches still exist anywhere, either in Hansons livery or Bottomleys.
I would dearly love to know if one exists anywhere.
Peter Hirst.
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Everingham Brothers Pocklington
The other day I was remembering Everingham Brothers, the independent operator based in Pocklington, who were taken over by East Yorkshire in about 1953. I only travelled on one of their vehicles once, from Pocklington to the small village of Millington in the East Riding, on a Saturday when a school friend and I visited his grandfather. The vehicle was a Bedford OWB painted in uniform battleship grey. Surely that wasn’t their standard livery? One of your readers must recall EB’s livery; could you pleases post a request on your site?
Roy Burke
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Yes Roy, the overall grey you recall was indeed the standard livery of the firm. A matter of opinion I admit, but I always rather liked it and thought that it was dignified. EB was a quality firm of the highest order and when they sold out to EYMS the vehicles received that operator’s well loved and legendary indigo blue and rich cream colours. A good few of EB’s newer coaches then broadened their horizons considerably by being employed on long distance regular coach services. A pleasing feature was the retention by East Yorkshire of the small illuminated (I think) "EB" alongside the destination blinds. Its always sad when well liked and commendable operators are taken over, but there could be no better new owner than the splendid East Yorkshire Motor Services.
Chris Youhill
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Thanks, Chris for your helpful reply; I was just glad that my memory wasn’t showing signs of senility. East Yorkshire did retain the ‘EB’ box on the coach indicators, simply changing it to ‘EY’. I don’t know much about Everingham Brothers, but I did work with an ex-EB driver, (a really charming old chap called Sid Lovel – that’s spelt correctly; he quoted his dad as saying ‘One "L" at the end of anything is enough’), who simply couldn’t stomach working for East Yorkshire and so went to York-West Yorkshire. I leave it to others to decide whether that was an improvement!
Roy Burke
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Well Roy, in my personal opinion I think your pal Sid Lovel drew the short straw there, and would have been far better staying with EYMS. A further fascinating aspect has just occurred to me – the two EB AEC Regal Mk 4 coaches (C37C) were immediately upon acquisition up-seated to C41C. I think its a pretty safe bet that they were the only coaches with Barnaby centre entrance bodies (most handsome) to grace the long distance coach services of the Land, and would have raised an interested eyebrow or two in Victoria Coach Station. 661/2 remained in service with EYMS until 1965 before ending their careers with Miller of Wakefield, a contractor – most undignified for such fine machines.
Chris Youhill
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If you are interested, the EYMS website: here contains black and white photos of all buses taken over by EYMS. Just click on the ‘withdrawn’ at the top of the fleetlist.
Keith Easton
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W Gordans of Rotherham
My mothers Uncle drove for this company until the late sixties and I am looking for a photo from that period and I am to happy to pay the going rate can you help please.
Ian Croft
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Nottingham AEC Regent III
I bought an ex Nottingham AEC Regent III with a Park Royal body registration OTV 161 just under a year ago.
I am trying to to get any old photos or paperwork regarding its past.
It was sold to Hull transport for a short time before going to Sandtoft near Doncaster.
Could anyone give me any advice on where to start looking or who to contact.
David Morris.
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The ex Nottingham AEC Regent III which was resident at Sandtoft for many years and was ex Hull was OTV 137.
OTV 161 operated for Grimsby Cleethorpes after Nottingham and has been based at Ruddington for a number of years.
Bob Gell
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Salford City Daimler and livery shot required
Hi. I make cakes and have been asked to make a cake for a 90 year old who used to drive the old green and cream Salford buses, I think it would be a Daimler and I wondered if you had a picture of this particular bus and livery I could use?
Julie Smith
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Here are two links to start 1st is a B&W Daimler and the 2nd is in colour
http://www.sct61.org.uk/sf410.htm
http://www.sct61.org.uk/sf511.htm
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Prestwells – Woodhouse Eaves (4 miles – 11 O’clock Leicester)
I just found your website, after I was putting together a story on my Father’s life. When we spoke a year ago, he talked about his days in the Navy and returning back to Thurcaston for his marriage. He came back with the son of the original owner of Prestwells. He said Prestwells was formed by Mr Preston and Mr Wells and they combined their names into one for the company name. They operated a taxi service too and provided transport for my father’s wedding back in 1940. Despite Mr Prestwell’s son actually taking the pictures at the wedding, we can’t find anything with their vehicles in it. If you do happen to get a photo of one of their buses I would be glad to see it as it would also be a good part of our memory board too.
Frank from London
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I travelled many times on Prestwells Coaches from the Triangle at Woodhouse Eaves. The coaches were Dennis Lancet, 35/40 seats half cabs. Many times they were overloaded with 40 plus passengers. Sorry can’t help concerning pictures but there are photos of Dennis Lancets on other web sites. Many coach operators in the Leicester area were bought at the time by Bartons of Nottingham or Trent of Nottingham. This is only a guess as to where photos may also be obtained. My father was a coach operator in Leicester between 1935 and 1953 trading as Swinfield Coaches, if anybody remembers this company I would be very interested to hear from them.
Derrick of Leicester
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T Burrows of Wombwell
Hi I wonder if anyone can help with information regarding certain vehicles in the T Burrows of Wombwell fleet. Details required for the following fleet nos 56/59/63/68/69/70/72/74/77/79/80/84/92/95/101/103 Thanks
Geoff Clayton
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Unfortunately I can only find info on certain vehicles and even that is by registration number rather than fleet number so your enquiry still has some homework to do, hopefully though this may help a bit:-
| Reg | Vehicle | Body | Seats | Date New (chassis) | Date Withdrawn |
| EWW 943 | Bristol K6A | Burlingham | H61RD | 1945 | 10/66 |
| GYE 74/76 | Daimler CWA6 | Burlingham | H61RD | 1945 | 10/66 |
| HGC 280 | Daimler CWA6 | Burlingham | H61RD | 1946 | 10/66 |
| EYG 25 | AEC Regent II 0661 | Roe | H61RD | 1946 | 10/66 |
| FWX 869 | AEC Regent II 0661 | Roe | H59RD | 1947 | 10/66 |
| HWW 766 | AEC Regent III 6811A | Roe | L53R | 1949 | 10/66 |
| NTT 664/9/72/3 | AEC Regent III 6813A | Weymann | H56R | 1952 | 10/66 |
| PWY 943 | AEC Regent V MD3RV | Roe | L53R | 1956 | 10/66 |
The above vehicles were the ones that transferred to Yorkshire Traction when they bought the business of T Burrows, none of the vehicles received YTC fleet numbers or were operated by their new owner. They were moved down the road to YTC’s Wombwell depot and I can just recall seeing them lined up on the scrap line there awaiting their fate.
Their Burrows fleet numbers had been (I believe) 50 / 52 / 55 / 60 / 81-83 / 89 / 104-107 but I don’t have a match between fleet and reg numbers
GYE 74 / 76 and HGC 280 were ex London Transport D84 / 86 / 153
NTT 664 / 669 / 672 / 673 were ex Devon General DR 664 / 669 / 672 / 673
Good luck with the remaining vehicles
Andrew
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Ever since I saw PWY 943 at Barnsley in 1965 I’ve always been fascinated by this fleet and have been trying to track down missing vehicles. In answer to Geoff’s query I’ll fill in as many gaps as I can.
56 YJ 4822 Albion Victor Brush C31C 1935 ex McIntosh, Dundee
59 KR 1737 Leyland TS2 Harrington C31F 1932 ex Maidstone & Dist
63 EYE 596 Leyland TS2 Duple C31F 1932 ex ?
68 LJ 7098 Leyland TD2 Brush L52R 1933 ex Hants & Dorset 908 ? or 968
69 BEL 392 Leyland TD4 Brush L53R 1935 ex Hants & Dorset 996
70 ANW 695 AEC Regent 0661 Roe H30/26R 1934 ex Leeds City
72 ANW 686 AEC Regent 0661 Roe H30/26R 1934 ex Leeds City 1951
74 MAY be LWR ??? as 75
75 LWR 188 AEC Regal IV Burlingham C39C is given as being 1 of 2
76 is a Crossley.
77? 79 DGX 360 AEC Regent 0661 Chiswick H30/26R 1936 ex LTE STL1796 4/53
80 AWY 215 AEC Regal 4 1936 possibly a rebody as this is No 29 renumbered.
84 FV 7397 Leyland TS7 1935 also a possible rebody as originally No 43. Re-engined with AEC 7.7litre in 1956.
92 By deduction I think this is TWT 50 Bedford SB Burlingham C??F in pics no fleet no is visible but this is the only fleet no. unaccounted for in 1957.
95 5681 WU AEC Reliance 2MU3RA Duple C43F 1960.
101 550 DWT Bedford SB5 Plaxton C41F 1963103 ??
I hope this is of interest (and that you can understand it) I’m still looking for fleet numbers 57/64/74/77/102/103 and were there any more fleet numbers allocated after 107?
Apparently the first bus was no 21 but then I have no info for numbers 22 to 25.
In 2008 I went by Thorne’s to the Great Dorset Steam Fair and sat next to a chap from Wombwell who thought I wouldn’t know where it was………!
Andrew Critchlow
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Small Independent
I am trying to find information about several small independent operators far too many to list here so the list is on a separate page, to view them please Click Here.
Peter
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Guy FCX or CX
I am looking for any technical data on the Guy FCX or CX passenger chassis to assist restoration of a surviving FCX.
David Walmsley
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Ribble Leyland Titan & Tiger TD & TS
I wonder if anybody out there has a list of post war rebodied Ribble Leyland Titan & Tiger TD & TS thanks.
Geoff Clayton
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Martindales of Ferryhill
Does anyone have any info/photos on Martindales of Ferryhill Co Durham. Much appreciated if you do.
Don Rose
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North Western Leyland Titan PD2/21 fleet number 666
After withdrawal by North Western the Leyland PD2/21 Titan (with Weymann L30/28RD bodywork) fleet number 666 was sold in Canada, having lost its original registration number KDB 666 before being exported. According to some sources it was re-registered as KDB 499 although this seems doubtful. Its original registration mark is currently being advertised by a ‘cherished plate’ specialist. Does anybody know what became of this vehicle? I am hoping that it might survive as it would be the only remaining North Western double-decker from any of the 1950s batches and well worth repatriation. Help!
Neville Mercer
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Although sadly I do not have any information about the Leyland Titan PD2 in question, I do recall that the registration KDB 666 was carried for some years in the mid to late 1970s on a green Rover 3500. It still maintained a bus connection though, as the Rover was a staff car with the West Yorkshire Road Car Co Ltd at its headquarters in Harrogate.
Brendan Smith
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"Blue Bird Motors" or "Stretford Tours"
Can anyone please help with old photos or information of "Blue Bird Motors" or "Stretford Tours" from the 1940s to the 1950s. They had their offices in Oldham, Rhodes Bank and Hollinwood. They did a Service to a Sanatorium at Market Drayton during the war years and a daily service to Blackpool and Cleveleys as well as other northern seaside resorts. After the war 1945-6 they came to The Polvillion Hotel North Quay Newquay Cornwall my father was a tour driver, George White and my mother Beryl was the cook and manager of the Hotel. My father-in-law was the proprietor T. H. Parker and I would be pleased if someone has memories of myself and those happy times.
Thanks
Mrs Marian B. Parker
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Leyland Bodies
Just thought I’d ask if anyone can clear up a mystery.
The final version of the Leyland body on PD2s was one of the best and most handsome around. It was derived from the earlier, more stark, version without radiused corners to windows.
The 1951 batch for Sheffield Corporation had rain guttering over the bays and half-drop windows making them different from any before or after. Most buses had gone to sliders rather than half-drop other than London Transport with the RT and RM family.
This Northern General Titan of similar vintage has similar detailing, as have all the other 1950/51 examples I have seen (or their photographs) recently.
Was it deliberate Leyland policy or just a coincidence?
David Oldfield
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This is just a suggestion that the vehicles involved were part of the cancelled order for Cape Town which never made it to South Africa and were resold in the UK to various operators. Not an expert on PD2s I’m afraid, so its just a thought.
Neville Mercer
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Daimler Engine
At the St Helens road transport museum there was a Daimler similar to the West Bridgeford Daimler CWA6 on this site, the engine did not have a cylinder head on so I could see it was a 6 cylinder engine. But number 2 pot was only 2" in diameter while the rest were about 4"-5" any clues? was it a start help cylinder or balance help issue. What engine was it, the fuel injector pump had 6 outlets but no 2 was slightly different. The Vacuum pump was in front of the injector pump.
Ken Johnson
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Silver Service
I am trying to find photos of Silver Services ex Hebble TCP 900. I drove this bus regularly with Silver Service but never took any pictures. I am particularly interested in any in its latter days with later style lower dash and grill fitted after I nearly wrote it off on August Bank Holiday 1975 or 76
omnibologist
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There is a colour photograph of TCP 900 in Silver Service livery available from the PSV Circle. Visit their website and follow the menus to photo service/archive, and its in set 0007FPR.
Neville Mercer
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United Automobile
I am looking for old photographs of United’s fleet of Bristol Lodekkas. I am particularly interested in tracking down images of the rare 1961 batch of five open-platform Bristol FS6Bs fleet numbers L107 – L111 which spent their entire lives on Scarborough town services before being taken out of service around 1976.
Dorsetcol
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Halifax Titans at Oldham
From recently read information it appears Oldham Corporation acquired 4 Leyland Titan PD2 highbridge buses from Halifax. A photo of a Halifax bus on this site shows that it had a nearside destination blind over the rear lower deck window. The licence plate for this vehicle is ACP390. A photo of a sister vehicle now in Oldham livery and with licence plate ACP392 fleet no 467 [seen in the 10&180 Greenfield site] does not appear to have this side blind -however due to the livery and angle of photo it could be obscured. EFE have just released a model with licence plate ACP388 fleet no 469. Originally it was scheduled to have a side blind albeit in the wrong location. EFE subsequently eliminated it prior to production. Does anyone know if these buses while in Oldham service did in fact have a side destination blind. Also did these vehicles have both a number and destination blind on the rear. [The model has both but I can't find any photos showing a rear view]. Thanks for any info you may come up with.
Roy Oldham
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ACP 392 was a later bus than the other 3 sold to Oldham and had detail differences, both 107 and 108 were new 4 months after the others, the main difference being the under canopy heaters but this have included indicators?Once delivered one of them at least went into service without blinds and ran on the 98 Manchester-Waterhead service with 98 chalked on the nearside wing!
Christopher
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The Halifax PD2s bought by Oldham didn’t have side destination displays. On two of them it was panelled over and on the other two it was just painted over so you could see there had been one. I have photos of 467 and 470 showing the rear display as on the model and have no reason to believe that 468/9 were any different. Although 467 is recorded as being different when delivered to Halifax with respect to the heater there was no difference between them when at Oldham and I suspect the earlier members of the batch were retro-fitted with heaters at some stage in their Halifax careers.
David Beilby
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