Worthington Motor Tours Part Three

My final photos of Worthington Motor Tours.

Tony Morgan
10/2016

 

Not seen the beginning of this 'Gallery', click here

 

 

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06/11/16 - 09:57

What an amazing set of views! Thanks for posting.

Pete Davies

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06/11/16 - 11:47

The second picture of the grounded coach shows one of the very type which took us from RAF Cardington to RAF Hednesford in October 1954 - and just possibly could even have been the same one, although there were several that day. I remember, I'm sure we all do, as our bulging kitbags were stowed in the boot, and the sinking feeling retrieving them as the sinister cold hostile outline of the Camp really brought home to us what we we were in for!!
I don't know why, but I have a lasting impression that the livery was a light salmon or fawn - but I daresay it was perhaps cream - can anyone confirm please ??

Chris Youhill

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08/11/16 - 07:28

Great photos - thanks for posting them, Tony.
I'm amazed at the later level of standardisation they had - all seemingly Bedford/Duples. It must have been a fitter's delight. One wonders if it was their experience with their Bedford OWB's, possibly with Mulliner bodies, which influenced them post-war.
Seeing the Adreema files brought back memories of the GPO's telephone billing, which used these plates to produce the names and addresses on telephone bills for window envelopes. We moved to punched cards, then computers. And another archaic system was comptometers, which I saw used in the RAF, also succeeded by computers, now even found in vehicles in the form of engine management systems. Manual and auto gearboxes may make driving easier, but my limited RAF experience of driving garries (lorries) and coaches was much more fun!

Chris Hebbron

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08/11/16 - 14:22

Wow Chris H - what a lovely reminder from the past. I haven't heard or seen the term "garries" since I left the RAF in 1956. At Patrington inter site transport consisted of a lovely OWB, two brand new SB/Mulliners, and various garries, mainly the delightful characterful Bedford QL lorries with three rows of facing seats in the back, and oh those lovely high pitched screaming transmission sounds. Not forgetting too several petrol gobbling but luxurious Standard Vanguard cars, vans, and pick ups.

Chris Youhill

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08/11/16 - 14:22

Regarding the queries on livery of this operator, to the best of my knowledge it was based on various combinations of maroon and cream (except the wartime grey) until the 1960 Earls Court Coach Show when in celebration of 40 years in the business the following year, COB 40, an AEC Reliance with Duple Britannia body, appeared in a new livery of fuscia and oyster, that's pink and grey to us, which was then adopted for the delivery of the order for 12 Bedford SB3`s with petrol engines and Duple Super Vega bodies in 1961. Those colours were retained until the sale of the Company to National Travel (Midlands) in January 1974.

Tony Morgan

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09/11/16 - 09:21

Thanks a lot Tony for clarifying the livery colours of this operator. Obviously my memory was playing tricks in "recalling" salmon and pink, and I'm sure they will have been cream as you say. I suppose that, despite my enthusiasm, my mind was on other things as we headed for two years of the unknown !!

Chris Youhill

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10/11/16 - 07:41

Glad to give you a surprise, Chris Y. During my service, 1956-58, the coach I drove a couple of times was a Bedford SB and the garries were Bedford RL's. The only old lorries I recall were a couple of wartime Dennis Max's fitted with snowploughs, which never moved, as we never had any snow! They had radiator grills which were off-centre.

Christopher Hebbron

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10/11/16 - 10:42

Thanks Chris H - you were obviously, in 1956, on the cusp of the next generation of RAF lorries then. I shall never forget the inevitable RAF metal label, on one of the risers on the steps on the SBs :-
COACH SERVICE CONVERTIBLE TO AMBULANCE BEDFORD 4 x 2 MULLINERS LIMITED.
They had long rails and hooks in both sides of the ceilings which could accommodate sixteen stretchers rapidly if needed, and the seats I think were attached to the floor with "quick release" fixings. They were fabulous vehicles and inherited from their OB forefathers that lovely little quiet squeaking from the rear springs. At Patrington I think that the only likelihood of their ambulance capabilities being needed would have been in the wake of over indulgence in Hull Brewery or Moores and Robsons liquor in Withernsea!!

Chris Youhill

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10/11/16 - 14:35

KDA 202 possibly on Lynton Hill. This photo is a classic "what happened next?" Are the passengers just being persuaded off? What about the luggage, probably the cause of the problem? Did KDA set off then or back down and take a wider arc? Could they get back on or did it do the hill in shifts? Did it go on like this? The trouble is that nobody knows! Or do they?

Joe

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29/11/16 - 16:22

I have had this image (not my ©) tucked away on a memory stick, for sometime.
It shows Worthington Motor Tours, TOA 288, (new in March 1956), a Commer Avenger III with a Duple C37F body parked up outside 'The George Hotel' at Piercebridge, (my wife's home village) just outside Darlington in County Durham.
Piercebridge is situated on the banks of the River Tees, and The George has some lovely gardens and terraces on the banks. Those happy holiday makers, (dressed in their Sunday best, twin set and pearls, as all coach tour clients did in those days), are about to avail themselves of those facilities.
The George itself is famous for having the "Grandfather Clock" - never to go again, as featured in the well known song.

Stephen Howarth

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30/11/16 - 07:07

The photo of The George brings back memories of my driving touring days when I was booked in for Afternoon Tea every other Wednesday on Day 1 of a 9 day tour to Isle of Skye in 1968, first night at The Prospect Hotel in Harrogate. As Aft Teas and Morning Coffee were all included on Worthington Tours, I think that this coach was probably at coffee on the last day of its tour as it is facing south.

Tony Morgan

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20/12/16 - 07:26

Another set of fascinating photos, thank you Tony Morgan.
Although few of the coaches can be individually identified, some identities can be narrowed down by reference to the PSVC / OS Fleet History of Worthington.
Skye Ferry: One of the six Bedford SBG / Duple Vegas, ROE 234-9, new 1955. Seating capacities varied between these six coaches, one being C28F, two C29F, two C35F and one C36F.
KDA 202: This 1952 Bedford SB / Duple Vega was C28F. Worthington's had a total of 15 similar coaches, 3 in 1951 and 12 in 1952. Seating capacities varied, C28F, C33F or C35F. They also had six SBs with other bodies in those two years, two Gurney Nutting, one Metalcraft and one Brush in 1951, and two Gurney Nutting in 1952. All these were C33F.
At the Forth Bridge: One of eight Commer Avenger III / Duple C37F SOX 858-9, TOA 285-90, new in 1956.
At the Holyhead Ferry: Appears to be 793 LOX, one of four Ford 570E / Duple Trooper C40F, 793-6 LOX, new 1964.
Interior seating: I'm struggling to relate this interior shot to a vehicle type. Presumably pre-1955 because of the absence of rear quarter lights, but I can't match the cant rail glazing. Possibly one of the non-Duple SBs?
Interior luxury seating: The window profile suggests a Duple Vista. Worthington's had three such Bedford OBs with C18F bodies, GDA 967 (new 1949) and HJW 268-9 (new 1950).

David Williamson

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21/12/16 - 07:02

Follow up to David Williamson comments. Ford 570E Duple Troopers.

Here's another COA 447C new to Worthingtons 4/1965. Ford 570E chassis number L80E439289T Duple Trooper Coachwork 1186/84. National acquired Worthingtons Business however this coach remained in Worthingtons livery while with National never seen in National all over White livery

This coach was quickly sold on to Carneys Coaches of Sunderland it is seen here in the Carney livery.

Alan Coulson

 

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