DOCSLIB.ORG

Wilkinsons Motor Services 1919-1967

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Wilkinsons Motor Services 1919-1967 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 Contents Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd. - Fleet History 1919-1967 Page 3 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd. - Bus Fleet List 1919-1967 Page 8 Cover Illustration: No. 53 (453AUP) is a preserved 1958 AEC Reliance with Plaxton 45-seat bodywork. (John Law). © The Local Transport History Library 2017. (www.lthlibrary.org.uk) For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved. First published 2017. PDF-086-1 Page 2 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 In 1919, Thomas Wilkinson commenced operations on two routes between Fishburn and Stockton-on-Tees, and Trimdon Grange and Darlington, both via Sedgefield. The services were operated initially by a trio of second-hand vehicles on Ford T chassis, with various seating capacities, garaged in an open yard in Sedgefield. As was common with independent operators of the time, the services had neither fixed timetables nor fixed fares. The early fleet was a mixture of makes, including Vulcan, Talbot, Reo and Gilford, but in 1930 the first Leyland vehicle (No.15), a Leyland Lion LT1, made such an impression that the company subsequently purchased only Leylands, and it was not until 1958 that another non-Leyland vehicle was added to the fleet. In 1926 the depot was transferred to another yard in the main street of Sedgefield and in 1928 the final move was made when the company built the North End Garage in Sedgefield, which remained in use until the take-over in 1967. In 1930, a service station, primarily for the repair and maintenance of cars was built in the centre of Sedgefield. This was also used for bus repairs when necessary. By this time there had been changes to the routes operated by Wilkinsons. The Trimdon Grange to Darlington service had been sold to Darlington Triumph Services, whilst the Fishburn section of the route from Stockton-on-Tees had been extended to Spennymoor. A new express service Page 3 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 to Blackpool was inaugurated serving the local mineworking areas of Durham, for whom Blackpool was a traditional holiday destination. In order to extend the lives of the more elderly vehicles, three were re-bodied in the latter part of the 1930's, including the original Leyland LT1, which received a new Plaxton B30F body in 1937. The onset of hostilities in 1939 brought severe restrictions on the use of fuel, the War Department commandeered some of the vehicles for use, and, in addition, special wartime services to Durham and the Royal Ordnance Factory at Aycliffe were operated. As a result Wilkinsons had to curtail its normal stage carriage services. Following the end of the war and due to the shortage of new vehicles, two more buses were sent for re-bodying, including No.22, a 1934 Leyland LT5, which was one of the vehicles re-bodied before the war. Wilkinsons made no effort to expand its services throughout the 1940's, and, apart from a change in the composition of the bus fleet, with a steady influx of Burlingham-bodied Leyland PS1's (Nos. 32-37) to wear the company's cream and red livery, there was little to report. As an interesting aside, it has been mentioned that company policy was to allow the longest serving coach driver to drive the newest vehicle; as a new coach arrived each driver moved up to a newer vehicle, an early sort of loyalty scheme. Page 4 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 In 1951 one of the first Leyland Royal Tiger production models (No.39: MPT39) was delivered, sporting a Burlingham Seagull C39C body. It lasted only some 9 years before being sold to Darwen Corporation, where it spent another 6 years as No.21. Another Leyland Royal Tiger (No.45: OUP45) arrived in 1953, this bore the final Leyland-built coach body before the cessation of bodybuilding activities. The same year saw the arrival of a second-hand 1948 Leyland PS1 (HOV107), purchased from Medding of Birmingham, it was numbered 31, the only time the number of a withdrawn vehicle was re-used throughout the history of the company, although No.13 was never used, presumably through superstition. The first non-Leyland vehicles to be purchased since 1930, were, a Bedford SB3 and an AEC Reliance, in 1958. In the event the Bedford suffered higher than expected fuel consumption and was sold after only two years in service. In February 1961, Wilkinsons Motor Services was formed into a limited company, with Mr. T. G. Thompson as Managing Director. At this stage the company also operated routes on contract to the National Coal Board for the transport of miners to Fishburn Colliery, on contract to Durham C.C. Education Department for school transport, as well as tours and excursion licences from several local towns. Wilkinsons also had a thriving private-hire business. Page 5 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 An application was made in 1963 to extend the Spennymoor end of the route from Stockton-on-Tees through to Willington, which duplicated a route already run by Jewitt and Son who promptly objected. Following prolonged hearings and a revision of the original application, it was finally granted, extending the company's stage services for the first time since 1929. During the same year, the share in the Middlesborough to Bishop Auckland service (which Wilkinsons ran jointly) of Scurrs of Stillington, together with two AEC Reliances, was acquired, although the section between Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesborough was subsequently dropped in 1964. In 1965, the company's two stage services received route numbers, W1 and W2, although the express service still remained un-numbered, and at this stage the services operated by Wilkinsons Motor Services were as follows; Stage Carriage Services: W1: Stockton-on-Tees - Thorpe Thewles - Sedgefield - Fishburn - Ferryhill - Spennymoor - Willington. W2: Stockton-on-Tees - Thorpe Thewles - Sedgefield - Fishburn - Ferryhill - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland. Page 6 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 Express Service: Stockton-on-Tees - West Hartlepool - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland - Barnard Castle - Kirkby Stephen - Morecambe - Lancaster - Blackpool. The death of the Managing Director, Mr. T. G. Thompson, in 1966 was probably one of the contributory factors, along with a fatal accident the same year, that led to the sale of the company on 26 February 1967 to United Automobile Services, the final chapter in the history of Wilkinsons Motor Services. At the time of the sale the fleet strength stood at 14 vehicles, with another 3 on order from Leyland, all of which were absorbed into the United fleet. Page 7 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 Bus Fleet List 1919-1967 This listing is in the format - Year into service; Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating. 1919 1 J4859 Ford T ? ? B7? 2 J4323 Ford T ? ? B12? 3 J8712 Ford T ? ? B20? These vehicles are reported to have been re-registered in 1921 but details are unknown. Withdrawn unknown (1-3). 1923 4 PT1555 Vulcan ? ? B20? 5 PT2840 Vulcan ? ? B20? No. 5 came second-hand from an unknown operator. Withdrawn unknown (4-5). Page 8 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 1924 6 PT443 Talbot ? ? B14? No. 6 ex-Colledge Brothers, Beamish (new 1923). Withdrawn unknown (6). 1925 7 PT3780 Reo Sprinter ? ? B24? Withdrawn unknown (7). 1926 8 PT7050 Reo Speed Wagon ? ? B24? Withdrawn unknown (8). 1927 9 PT6990 Reo Major ? ? B24? No. 9 ex-R.D. Lewis, Stanley (new 1926). Withdrawn unknown (9). Page 9 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 1928 10 TY1151 Reo Pullman W2104 Robson B24? 11 UP837 Gilford ? ? B26? No. 10 ex-Armstrong, Ebchester (new 1924). No. 11 ex-G.E. Wray, Pity Me (new 1928). Withdrawn unknown (11), 1932 (10). 1929 12 UP2636 Gilford 166SD 10487 Duple C26? 14 UP2637 Gilford 166SD 10485 Duple C26? Withdrawn 1935 (12,14). 1930 15 UP4307 Leyland LT1 51163 Bracebridge B32F No. 15 was re-bodied to B30F by Plaxton in 1937. Withdrawn 1950 (15). 1931 16 UP5438 Leyland LT2 51483 Leyland B32F Withdrawn 1950 (16). Page 10 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 1932 17 TD5014 Leyland PLSC1 45095 Leyland B35F 18 UP6829 Leyland LT5 1334 Leyland B32F 19 UP6830 Leyland TS4 839 Plaxton B32F No. 17 ex-Singleton, Leyland (new 1929). Withdrawn unknown (17, 19), 1948 (18). 1933 20 UP7872 Leyland TS6 2864 Burlingham C32F No. 20 re-bodied by Burlingham to B35F in 1948. Withdrawn 1955 (20). 1934 21-22 UP8965-66 Leyland LT5A 4514/15 Northern Coachbuilders C32F 23 MS9242 Leyland LT1 50629 Alexander B32F 24 MS9066 Leyland LT1 50155 Alexander B32F Nos. 21/22 re-bodied by Northern Coachbuilders to C33F in 1939. No. 22 re-bodied again by Burlingham to B35F in 1945. Nos. 23/24 ex-Alexander (Nos. N51/N88; new 1929). Also quoted as bodied by Cowieson. Withdrawn unknown (23, 24), 1950 (21-22). Page 11 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 1935 25-26 APT464-65 Leyland TS7 5962/552 Burlingham C32F Withdrawn 1951 (26), 1952 (25). 1936 27 BPT923 Leyland TS7 9261 Burlingham C32F Withdrawn 1954 (27). 1937 28 BUP723 Leyland TS7 12838 Burlingham C32F 29 WF1069 Leyland PLSC3 46278 Leyland B32F No. 29 ex-East Yorkshire Motor Services (No. 212; new 1927 to Willerby, Binnington). Withdrawn unknown (29), 1954 (28). 1938 30 CUP474 Leyland TS8 15731 Burlingham C32F Withdrawn 1953 (30).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Historical Derby Fleet List
    DERBY BOROUGH TRANSPORT HISTORICAL FLEET LIST This list is not complete - Please email any additions or corrections to this list - thanks! Some notes on Derby's fleet numbering may be helpful. The prewar motorbus series reached 73, and the first wartime utility bus (a solitary Bristol K) took the fleet number 74. The series then reverted to 1, with 1-21 being Daimler and Guy utilities. By 1949, however, the new series was 'catching up' with the earlier prewar numbers, hence the jump from 41 to 75 to avoid duplication. This series then continued right up to 315, delivered in 1981; lowheight double deckers and coaches were numbered in separate series, as were the four Daimlers acquired secondhand from Halifax. A new series for new-generation double deckers was begun in 1978 by Foden NC number 101. Trolleybuses followed on from the tram series, with the first one (79) arriving in 1932; the series then continued unbroken to 243 of 1960. The motorbus series nearly caught up with the trolleybus numbers in 1966, but the complete withdrawal of trolleybus services in 1967 eliminated this problem. Trolleybuses F/No Reg. No. Chassis Body Year 186-215 ARC 486-515 Sunbeam F4 Brush H30/26R 1948/9 216-35 DRC 216-35 Sunbeam F4 Willowbrook H32/28R 1952/3 236-43 SCH 236-43 Sunbeam F4A Roe H37/28R 1960 Motorbuses F/No Reg. No. Chassis Body Year 22-31 ACH 622-31 Daimler CVD6 Brush H30/26R 1947/8 32-41 BCH 132-41 Daimler CVD6 Brush H30/26R 1949 75-84 BCH 575-84 Daimler CVD6 Brush H30/26R 1949/50 85-94 BCH 885-94 Daimler CVD6 Brush H30/26R 1950 95-104 CRC
    [Show full text]
  • Barrow Corporation Transport 1920-1986
    Barrow Corporation Transport 1920-1986 CONTENTS Barrow-in-Furness Tramways Company - Fleet History 1885 - 1920 ………… Page 3 Barrow-in-Furness Tramways Company - Fleet Summary 1885 - 1920…….. Page 6 Barrow Corporation Transport - Fleet History 1920 - 1986.……………………….. Page 11 Barrow Corporation Transport - Tram Fleet List 1920 -1932………….…………. Page 17 Barrow Corporation Transport - Bus Fleet List 1923 - 1986….…….……………. Page 20 Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. - Fleet History 1986 - 1989.……………….……. Page 49 Barrow Borough Transport Ltd. - Bus Fleet List 1986 - 1989.……………………. Page 51 Cover Photo: Barrow Corporation No. 104 (HEO274), a 1961 Leyland PD2A/27 with Massey 64-seat bodywork, originally numbered 4, it is seen here in Harrel Lane in 1977. (Patrick Keeley courtesy Michael Keeley). With thanks to Michael Keeley (also Patrick Keeley), George Cropper (courtesy Donald Hudson) and David Beilby for illustrations. First Published 2015 by the Local Transport History Library. Second Edition 2016. © The Local Transport History Library 2016. (www.lthlibrary.org.uk) For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, trans- mitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise for commercial gain without the express written permission of the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved. PDF-022-2 2 Barrow Corporation Transport 1920-1986 Barrow-in-Furness Tramways Co Ltd 1885-1920 The Barrow-in-Furness Corporation Act of 1881 authorised the construction of a tramway system within the borough and on the 27th February 1884 the Tramways Order Confirmation, promoted by the Barrow-in-Furness Tramways Co. Ltd., to whom the lines were to be leased, authorised the construction of the tramway.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic Fleetlists.Xlsx
    Fife Scottish Omnibuses Limited (trading as Fife Scottish) Fleet 1986… 25th Anniversary Fleet strength up to 305 (23 more than in 1984) Whilst the fleet hasn't seen much change in the two years since the 1984 fleetlist the opening of Glenrothes in 1985 and contract wins in North East Fife have seen various vehicle movements Glenrothes has an allocation of 26 vehicles, only six more than Newburgh Further secondhand double deckers have joined the fleet, this time bringing the Leyland Atlantean into the fleet for the first stime The Volvo replacement for the Ailsa double decker is the Citybus and the first 12 have joined the fleet. The initial two are unique with the Alexander RVC coach body Livery notes; A new red and cream livery is introduced with much more cream than previously with much larger 'Fife Scottish' fleetnames following the change of the company title to Fife Scottish Omnibuses Limited * At this time all vehicles had a type code and a number (eg FPE194, FRA67) to form the individual fleetnumber ** Seating code shows a bus, dual purpose or coach (starts with a B, DP or C) followed by number of seats and then F (all front entranced by now) a 't' at the end means toilet fitted *** Double decker seating is shown 'H' followed by the upper deck seating/lower deck seating and then the door code (F for front entranced or D for front and middle door) SINGLE DECKERS & COACHES (Active total 182) 1986 Fleet Depot Registration Chassis Vehicle Seats** Year Notes Number* Alloc Number Type Type New FLT 1 K SFS581Y Leyland Tiger Duple Goldliner
    [Show full text]
  • No. 7 - DECEMBER 2019
    News No. 7 - DECEMBER 2019 Our photo this time is from the official collection of Charles Roberts, the Wakefield-based builders of bodywork for buses, trams, lorries, railway rolling stock and lots more. Here are four Albion Valkyrie PW65 with 35-seat rear entrance bodies, part of a large order in 1932 for MacShanes of Bootle who had recently expanded into stage carriages services. Many of these vehicles would see further service with Red and White Services, which had been appointed temporary managers of MacShanes before the business passed to Ribble in 1933. Wishing all our Readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2020! HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE incorporating Coach Cruising with Southdown Helping the Chatham restoration Pilchers Coaches Sentinel Steam and Early Aerial Post Page 1 New Arrivals It’s been a busy time at The Bus Archive; lots of people both in the industry and enthusiasts have been responding to us by donating lots and lots of new (old) material… Peter Greaves has decided to downsize his collection and has donated his work on local operators around Oldham, Lancashire and detailed records and photographs on coachbuilder Bellhouse, Hartwell. There is also a large collection of sound recordings of various bus types, taken of both preserved and ‘in service’ vehicles. We even have Peter’s cassette tape recorder complete with muffled microphone! The Bellhouse, Hartwell collection includes this official shot of a 1949 Crossley SD42/7 for Smiths of Wigan. There are also a number of official photograph albums from London-based coachbuilder Duple, including this Dennis Arrow which was new to Victory of Salisbury in 1931.
    [Show full text]
  • LIST of PRESERVED BUSES Jan 2012
    PRESERVED BUSES IN THE NORTH EAST TRAFFIC AREA Includes those of North-East origins, and those which worked in the area Key: R= Restored, AR = Awaiting Restoration, RP = Restoration in Progress Grey background indicates NEBPT VEHICLE REG. ORIG. OPERATOR/ PRESENT VEHICLE NO. CHASSIS BODY Fleet No OWNER, TOWN LOCATION YEAR YEAR NEW STATUS NOTES NEPBT MEMBER Preston, Hutton Rudby, C 56 1913 AA Replica Ch 20 ? Cleveland R N BR 6496 1928 ADC 416A Replica Northern General D376 Unknown R Sheffield N Chalk Pits BR 7132 1929 Leyland Lion LT1 Leyland B34F Sunderland Corporation 2 Michael Plunkett R Museum N CN 2870 1927 SOS Q Brush B37F Northern General 321 BaMMOT RP Wythall N Donated by Beamish CN 4740 1931 BMMO IM4 Short B34F Northern General 540 NEBPT AR Co Durham Museum Donated by Beamish CN 6100 1934 NGT LSE4 Short B44F Northern General 604 Northern Omnibus Trust RP Durham Museum CU 4740 1947 Leyland Tiger PS1 Burlingham C33F Hall Bros Unknown ARLathalmond N Morris Commercial DP 7680 1926 T/2 Replica B10D David Ritchie, Hetton R Hetton ex Jack Charlton N Burlingham DV 7890 1931 Leyland Lion LT2 ???C31F Pridham, Lamerton Snaith, Otterburn R Otterburn via Ray Thornton N Adrian Herbert, Slade EE 8128 1928 Albion PM28 Tow Wagon Grimsby 32 Green AR Dartford N EF 7380 1942 Leyland Titan TD7 Roe H26/22C West Hartlepool Corp 36 Bob Kell, Durham R Durham Y Unkown ex Robin EX 1128 1924 Guy BB United B26D Gt Yarmouth 30 Jenkinson, Leadgate AR Leadgate N Green, Thompson & GR 7100 1947 Crossley Mancunian Blagg B--F Sunderland Corporation 22 Moodie, Reading
    [Show full text]
  • Cardiff Corporation Transport City of Cardiff Transport Cardiff Bus
    Cardiff Corporation Transport City of Cardiff Transport Cardiff Bus Details of vehicles purchased new and secondhand from 1947 onwards Part 4 – 1973 to 1980 Cardiff buses which carried advertising liveries will be detailed in a future part of this listing; as a taster, 1978 Alexander-bodied Bristol VRT 327 (WTG 327T) is seen advertising Debenhams’ new Cardiff store on 28th June 1981. It was one of a number of vehicles in advertising livery at that year’s Cardiff Bus Rally. All photographs by Mike Street Cardiff’s Buses Page 1 1973 Seddon Pennine IV 101 (RNY 101M) is seen in Wood Street during its first week in service, on 25th March 1974. The 100-series of routes were introduced by these vehicles. 101 – 103 RNY 101 – 103M Seddon Pennine IV-236 Pennine DP25F Notes 101 - 103 (RNY 101 - 103M) were the first vehicles delivered in the new light orange and white livery in 10-11/73. They did not enter service until March 1974. 101 - 102 (RNY 101 - 102M) were withdrawn in early 1984 but not sold until 7/86. Years of withdrawal 7/86: 101-2 1988: 103 Cardiff’s Buses Page 2 1974 The first new vehicles to enter service in the light orange and white livery were Bristol VRT/SL2/6Gs 586 to 605 from December 1973 to March 1974. Here 602 (PKG 602M), a February 1974 example, heads from Greyfriars Road to Kingsway on 3rd March 1976. 201 RUH 201M Leyland National Leyland National B40D 10351/2R 202 – 211 GBO 137 – 146N Leyland National Leyland National B40D 10351/2R 586 – 605 PKG 586 – 605M Bristol VRT/SL2/6G ECW H43/31F Notes 586 – 605 (PKG 586 – 605M) were the first new vehicles to enter service in the light orange and white livery, from December 1973 to March 1974.
    [Show full text]
  • GP10 Being a Good Example of One)
    Dt [ t / t ! t / !"#$% & ' ( ' ( ) ( ( ( ( ( '$ ' * + * , %% C . $( + . , %% 0 ' $% Appendix A – Non Regular Publications London A London Transport Current Classes (when published) B London Transport Extinct Classes L Yearly News Sheet Summaries (L29A is regarded as LT1) LT Class Histories LTA Vehicle Allocation Indices LTB Trolleybuses LTC Class Summaries LTF Transport for London Contracted Fleets LTR Registration Indices LTS Fleet Survey of Current Vehicles LTY Body Number Idicies R LT and LCBS Route Allocation Schedules (R1 Central Area, R2 Country Area, R3 Trams or LTE Route Details) Provincial P Provincial Supplements (fleet lists and partial fleet histories) C Current Fleet Lists (1957 to 1962) D Current Fleet Lists (1962 to 1969) E Major Operator Fleet Lists (1969 to 1994) F Small Operator Fleet Lists (1969 to 1994) G Current County Fleet Lists (1994 onwards) Fleet Histories P Large Single/Multi-operator fleet histories R Smaller fleet histories H Fleet Histories published by Ian Allen Smaller Operators PXX Smaller operator fleets (XX = County) SXX Smaller operator fleets (XX = County) Pre-war series Other BB Body Makers (before 1/1999) B Body Makers (from 1/1999) CXB Chassis Makers (before 1/1999) C Chassis Makers (from 1/1999) EN Electronic News Sheets (years 2002 onwards) JP Preserved Vehicles (from 4/1997) M Miscellaneous Publications MM Manufacturer's Monograph O Overseas Operators PV Preserved Vehicles (before 4/1997) SSA Scottish Summary and Allocation Lists SB Stock Books VA Various publications with other organisations Internal Throughout the life of the PSV Circle, several internal listings have been produced (this GP10 being a good example of one). These are listed at the end of Appendix A, but their coding has always been unofficial, therefore they will not be listed here.
    [Show full text]
  • Leyland Torque 44.Indd
    Leyland cover 44 9/6/09 18:53 Page 1 No.44 - SUMMER 2009 www.leylandsociety.co.uk THE MAGAZINE OF Leyland cover 44 9/6/09 18:53 Page 2 PUBLICATIONS FOR SALE Available from The Leyland Society, "Sunnyside", Whitchurch Road, Aston, Nantwich, CW5 8DB. Cheques made payable to Hon. PRESIDENT To be appointed “The Leyland Society Ltd.” please. Prices include P&P. Hon. VICE PRESIDENTS Gordon Baron, 44 Rhoslan Park, The Leyland Buses of Wigan Corporation,..............£7.95 76 Conwy Road, Colwyn Bay LL29 7HR The Leyland Buses of Southport Corporation, ........£7.95 John D. Bishop, 10 Betley Hall Gardens, The Ribble Double Deck Coaches, .........................£8.95 Betley, nr. Crewe, Cheshire, CW3 9BB The Leyland Buses of Leigh Corporation, ...............£8.95 Leyland Fire Engines, 1930-1942............................£8.95 Neil D. Steele, 18 Kingfisher Crescent, The Leyland Buses of Burnley, Colne & Nelson......£8.95 Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1RZ NEW TITLES CHAIRMAN, BCVM LIAISON Ron Phillips, 16 Victoria Avenue, The Leyland Buses of Plymouth City Transport ‘FLEET BOOKS’ EDITOR Grappenhall, Warrington, WA4 2PD NOW AVAILABLE, 48pp. Colour laminated cover, Expected price £8.95 EDITOR and SECRETARY Mike A Sutcliffe MBE, ‘Valley Forge’ Leyland Fire Engines. 1942-1960 213 Castle Hill Road, Totternhoe, To follow as soon as time permits. 48pp Fully illustrated and Dunstable, Beds LU6 2DA with a colour laminated cover. Expected price £8.95 MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY David J. Moores, 10 Lady Gate, See the Society website for our other items for sale Diseworth, Derby DE74 2QF TREASURER David E.Berry, 5 Spring Hill Close, VEHICLE REGISTRAR Westlea, Swindon, Wilts, SN5 7BG BUS & COACH PRESERVATION WEBMASTER John Woodhouse CHASSIS RECORDS Don Hilton, 79 Waterdell, Leighton Buzzard, Beds.
    [Show full text]
  • Blue Cars Became an Important Part of the Tale
    Produced in March 2020 during the COV19 pandemic as a pdf for downloading, this is an updated version of the original edition of 2013. There are only a few updates and therefore no plans to reprint the book. However, if you would like a printed copy of the original, a few copies may be available. The update was one of the last projects on which my good friend and co-author Peter Greaves was working when he suddenly and tragically suffered an acute stroke that left him severely disabled. I have finished the job on his behalf. Several of the authors, not least Peter, and our good friend Mark Senior of MDS Books have had family members hit by cancer and a donation to the Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester would be kind. Thank you. The updates are in red text so that they are more easily found. The pages affected are: Page 9 Beccols’ start up funding Page 27 Ford ET corrected to “English Truck” Page 36 An extra Ford coach (with picture) Page 83 Bodies for the Dennis Storks Page 90 Front design of the two Sharrock coaches Page 91 Payment of creditors in full Page 95 The demise of BHW Page 100 Build totals amended Page 103 EK 8203 not a new body Page 107 JTF 840 Crossley added Page 113 EK 8203 added as rebody Page 123 Ford UEV 2 added Page 125 HTD 260 added (with picture) Michael Eyre, March 2020 the complete story of the coachbuilders Beccols & Bellhouse Hartwell & how Blue Cars became an important part of the tale THIS PICTURE Ready to go to the United States and resplendent in the dark red livery of St Christopher Travel Service of New York with gold anodised trim, the first of the Beccols-bodied Royal Tigers for Blue Cars is inspected by Blue Cars director Robert Langton, brother of Ted Langton, and publicity manager T G Davies.
    [Show full text]
  • Epsom Coaches Final Fleet List 1920
    Epsom Coaches Final Fleet List 1920 - June 2017 1921 17 Charabanc Warwick Type Z 1920 — 1939 1921 Lancia/Warwick P6231 14 1920 Introduction Ford Model ‘T’ Charabanc “Epsom Belle” Epsom Coaches was founded by Herbert P5180 Lancia Charabanc “Annie Laurie” 18 1920 Roderick Richmond in 1920. Known as “HRR” his initials still feature on many of the number PB8058 Lancia Z Type Warwick Charabanc 17 1921 plates of today’s modern fleet. PA9538 Straker-Squire Burtonshaw 1921 This brochure details the bus and coach fleet operated from those early days up to 2017 Unknown Thornycroft Charabanc (Solid Tyres) 28 1922 covering over 550 coaches and in later years, buses. Unknown Thornycroft Charabanc (Solid Tyres) 28 1922 Unknown AEC B Type Charabanc (Solid Tyres) 26 1924 The Company also operated horse transport from 1920 until 1953. Details of these vehicles were Unknown Thornycroft Charabanc (Solid Tyres) 28 1925 not recorded and are therefore not included. The listing also excludes the numerous support Unknown Lancia 1925 vehicles used over the years, ranging from cars to heavy recovery and hired buses and coaches. UU5955 Albion PR28 Viking Six 7040J London 31 1929 Lorries We would like to thank Geoff Heels for his PK1815 Reo Speed Wagon C20F 1928 assistance in compiling this list. PL503 Gilford 1680T Duple C32F 1932 1920 – 1939 PK7883 Albion PM28 7043B Duple Half Cab 4274 C31F 1929 The Company’s first new vehicle was a Ford Model T “Charabanc”, affectionately known as PK5568 Lancia 1932 the “Epsom Belle”, first registered in 1920. A wide variety of Charabancs were soon replaced PJ4824 Bedford WLB 108350 Duple C20F 1933 by covered saloon coaches as we moved to- PJ5953 Bedford WLB 108594 Duple C20F 1933 wards the 1930’s and the Second World War.
    [Show full text]
  • Buses Scrapped, Or Sold for Scrap AEC Regent II
    Buses scrapped, or sold for scrap This is our list of buses that have been scrapped, sold for scrap, or are thought to no longer exist. These buses can be considered to fall into two categories. Buses scrapped In most cases, these buses will have been sold to a vehicle dismantler or scrap dealer, where they would be stripped of any useful parts and the remains cut up, so that the vehicle no longer exists. In some cases the dismantling or cutting up has been done by the bus owner and the remains sold to a scrap dealer. Buses sold for scrap When buses are sold for scrap, it is probably the intention of the seller that the vehicle should be dismantled. Many of our records are conclusive, in that we record that the buses no longer exist. However, other buses are shown as ‘scrapped’, but it is possible that while we believe they were sold for dismantling, the physical destruction process may not yet have happened, and the buses may still exist on the dealer’s premises in either complete form or in a delapitated condition. We will update the records on this list in due course to identify any buses that we thought had been destroyed that perhaps do still exist in ‘sold for scrap’ condition. The buses are grouped into ‘Chassis Make’ lists, in registration/licence plate order. As always, if you can update or correct anything on this list, please contact us. Please note that there may be some conflicts with buses listed on the ‘To Check’ page, where this page has been updated and the To Check page has still to be updated.
    [Show full text]
  • Atlanteans in the South and West the Impact of ATLANTEANS in the South and West
    a Impact of Atlanteans in the South and West Atlanteans in the South and Impact of The impact of ATLANTEANS in the South and West David Toy David Toy, a former Chief Engineer and transport enthusiast now enjoying retirement, describes how the introduction of the rear-engined Leyland Atlantean impacted on the areas in which he was working – the south and west of England. Fully illustrated with sections on the competition it provides a fascinating review of a slice of history which lasted for 40 years. 128 PIKES LANE GLOSSOP DERBYSHIRE SK13 8EH (01457 861508 E-MAIL [email protected] INTERNET www.venturepublications.co.uk ISBN 978 1905 304 25 7 David Toy This free edition is provided by MDS Book Sales during the coronavirus lockdown. There’s no charge and it may be distributed as you wish. If you’d like to make a donation to our charity of choice - The Christie, Europe’s largest specialist cancer centre - there’s a link here. The impact of ATLANTEANS in the South and West David Toy © 2011 Venture Publications Ltd ISBN 978 1905 304 34 9 All rights reserved. Except for normal review purposes no part of this book maybe reproduced or utilised in any form by any means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of Venture Publications Ltd, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 8EH. The only single-deck Atlanteans supplied to an operator in the South and West were twelve delivered to Portsmouth, with Seddon bodies as seen below.
    [Show full text]