Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Gloucester trams

Mon Sep 28 2009

Monday 28 September 2009: Gloucester trams

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

4000 - 4049 (Leyland Titans

Sun Mar 14 2004

Sunday 14 March 2004: 4000 - 4049 (Leyland Titans

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1700 - *** (Dennis Darts)

Sun Jan 25 2004

Sunday 25 January 2004: 1700 - *** (Dennis Darts)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1500 - *** (Dennis Darts)

Fri Jan 23 2004

Friday 23 January 2004: 1500 - *** (Dennis Darts)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

121 - 150 (Dennis Lances)

Fri Jan 2 2004

Friday 2 January 2004: There were few Dennis Lances, but a lot of them were bodied with Plaxton Verde units. And most of them ended up eventually with the First Group at bristol.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Minibuses

Sat Jun 2 2007

Saturday 2 June 2007: Minibuses

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8576 - 8579

Thu Jul 29 2004

Thursday 29 July 2004: 8576 - 8579

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2079 - 2086 (Ex Eastern National RELH)

Wed Feb 18 2004

Wednesday 18 February 2004: 2079 - 2086 (Ex Eastern National RELH)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

9600 - 98xx (First Group)

Fri Aug 13 2004

Friday 13 August 2004: 9600 - 98xx (First Group)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Early Bristols

Sat Dec 4 2004

Saturday 4 December 2004: Early Bristols

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

550 - *** (Leyland National B types)

Thu Jan 8 2004

Thursday 8 January 2004: 550 - *** (Leyland National B types)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2400 (Royal Tiger)

Sun Feb 29 2004

Sunday 29 February 2004: 2400 (Royal Tiger)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Weston-Super-Mare

Wed Dec 29 2004

Wednesday 29 December 2004: Weston-Super-Mare

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8071 rediscovered in the USA

Mon May 3 2004

Monday 3 May 2004: 8071 rediscovered in the USA

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

500 - *** (Bristol RESL)

Wed Jan 7 2004

Wednesday 7 January 2004: 500 - *** (Bristol RESL)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

5600 - *** (Bristol VR)

Mon Mar 22 2004

Monday 22 March 2004: 5600 - *** (Bristol VR)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

5200 - *** (Bristol VR - secondhand)

Sat Mar 20 2004

Saturday 20 March 2004: 5200 - *** (Bristol VR - secondhand)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

301 - *** (Bristol LH)

Tue Jan 6 2004

Tuesday 6 January 2004: 301 - *** (Bristol LH)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

5500 - 5546 (Bristol VR)

Sun Mar 21 2004

Sunday 21 March 2004: 5500 - 5546 (Bristol VR)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1400 - *** (Leyland Nationals)

Thu Jan 22 2004

Thursday 22 January 2004: 1400 - *** (Leyland Nationals)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

700 - *** (Leyland National B-types)

Fri Jan 9 2004

Friday 9 January 2004: 700 - *** (Leyland National B-types)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

4100 - 4156

Thu Mar 18 2004

Thursday 18 March 2004: 4100 - 4156

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2200 - *** (Leyland Tigers)

Tue Feb 24 2004

Tuesday 24 February 2004: 2200 - *** (Leyland Tigers)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2160 - *** (Leyland Leopard)

Mon Feb 23 2004

Monday 23 February 2004: 2160 - *** (Leyland Leopard)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2151 - *** (Bristol RELH/Plaxton)

Sun Feb 22 2004

Sunday 22 February 2004: 2151 - *** (Bristol RELH/Plaxton)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Cheltenham & Gloucester

Fri Dec 3 2004

Friday 3 December 2004: Cheltenham & Gloucester

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1900 - ***

Sun Jan 25 2004

Sunday 25 January 2004: 1900 - ***

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

200 - *** (Badgerline Darts)

Sat Jan 3 2004

Saturday 3 January 2004: 200 - *** (Badgerline Darts)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7000 - **** Daimler Fleetlines

Thu Apr 1 2004

Thursday 1 April 2004: 7000 - **** Daimler Fleetlines

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7600 - **** Mercedes minibuses

Mon Apr 26 2004

Monday 26 April 2004: 7600 - **** Mercedes minibuses

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1600 - ****

Sat Jan 24 2004

Saturday 24 January 2004: 1600 - ****

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

3800 - **** (Optare)

Sat Mar 13 2004

Saturday 13 March 2004: A batch of Optare Stariders which ran for a few years in Bristol and the surrounding towns.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

100 - *** (Volvo B10M)

Thu Jan 1 2004

Thursday 1 January 2004: 100 - *** (Volvo B10M)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

6500 - **** (Bristol VR)

Sat Mar 27 2004

Saturday 27 March 2004: 6500 - **** (Bristol VR)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7400 - *** Ford Minibuses

Sat Apr 24 2004

Saturday 24 April 2004: They looked like bread fvans, they sounded like bread vans, and they had as much interest for me as a breadvan might have....

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7500- **** minibuses

Sun Apr 25 2004

Sunday 25 April 2004: 7500- **** minibuses

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

5700 - Volvo doubledeckers

Tue Mar 23 2004

Tuesday 23 March 2004: 5700 - Volvo doubledeckers

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

6000 - MCW Metrobuses

Wed Mar 24 2004

Wednesday 24 March 2004: 6000 - MCW Metrobuses

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2500 - *** (Volvo coaches)

Mon Mar 1 2004

Monday 1 March 2004: 2500 - *** (Volvo coaches)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

6036 - 6041

Fri Mar 26 2004

Friday 26 March 2004: 6036 - 6041

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8350 - 8379

Tue Jul 13 2004

Tuesday 13 July 2004: 8350 - 8379

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Ancilliary support vehicles

Wed Dec 1 2004

Wednesday 1 December 2004: Ancilliary support vehicles

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Trainers

Fri Dec 24 2004

Friday 24 December 2004: Trainers

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

3000 - *** (Leyland Nationals)

Fri Mar 12 2004

Friday 12 March 2004: 3000 - *** (Leyland Nationals)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8600 - 8615 Open toppers

Wed Aug 11 2004

Wednesday 11 August 2004: Secondhand Fleetlines, Atlanteans and, later, new Roe-bodied Olympians, provided opentoppers to replace the Bristol K, FS and (lone) FLF at Weston-Super-Mare and elsewhere.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8466 - 8506

Sun Jul 25 2004

Sunday 25 July 2004: 8466 - 8506

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8507 - 8546 (excluding 8540)

Mon Jul 26 2004

Monday 26 July 2004: This batch - registered *** EHW and *** FHW - was the last batch of traditional LD-type Lodekkas. It was also the first in the fleet to feature the Cave-Brown-Cave heating system. The radiators were between decks, and the traditional grille arrangement was maintained for aesthetic reasons only. 8540 (995 EHW) was the prototype FLF, 70-seat forward entrance Lodekka, which would set the style for future deliveries. Only a handful of other deckers would appear from now on, eight FS-type rear loaders (though four were unusually built as convertible opentoppers), and 38 FSFs which would eventually become 6004 - 6041.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8451 - 8465

Sun Jul 25 2004

Sunday 25 July 2004: 8451 - 8465

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7240 - 7277

Wed Apr 21 2004

Wednesday 21 April 2004: 7240 - 7277

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7155 - 7200

Sun Apr 11 2004

Sunday 11 April 2004: 7155 - 7200

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2595 - 2636

Wed Mar 3 2004

Wednesday 3 March 2004: 2595 - 2636

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1085 - the destruction of a Bristol RELL6L/ECW B53F saloon

Mon Jan 12 2004

Monday 12 January 2004: On October 1 1969, 1085 (OHW 597F) was completing a fast motorway journey from Bristol to Cheltenham on the 530 service. It had cleared Gloucester, and was heading into Cheltenham when the overheating engine caught fire at Arle Court, Cheltenham. The driver had time to evacuate the bus, and used a nearby phone to summons help. But by the time the fire brigade arrived at the scene the bus was already blazing heavily at the rear end. The intensity was so great that the cylinder heads on the engine melted. The site of the fire could not have been more sensitive. The Cold War was still on, and although James Bond was a favoured fictional hero, GCHQ - the telecommunications centre of the British intelligence service - was still a closely-guarded secret. And the fire occurred just outside the prefabricated buildings where much of the work was undertaken. Small wonder a policeman was on duty to frown at the photographer. The bus was consigned to the scrap heap.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7056 - 7107

Sat Apr 3 2004

Saturday 3 April 2004: 7056 - 7107

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2549 - 2594

Tue Mar 2 2004

Tuesday 2 March 2004: 2549 - 2594

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1086 - 1103

Tue Jan 13 2004

Tuesday 13 January 2004: 1086 - 1103

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1056 - 1084

Sun Jan 11 2004

Sunday 11 January 2004: 1056 - 1084

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7278 - 7321

Fri Apr 23 2004

Friday 23 April 2004: 7278 - 7321

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2135 - 2150

Sat Feb 21 2004

Saturday 21 February 2004: 2135 - 2150

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2115 - 2134, 2151 - 2156

Fri Feb 20 2004

Friday 20 February 2004: 2115 - 2134, 2151 - 2156

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2080 - 2114 (LS and MW coaches)

Thu Feb 19 2004

Thursday 19 February 2004: 2080 - 2114 (LS and MW coaches)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8172 - 8199

Wed Jun 9 2004

Wednesday 9 June 2004: A total of 28 KSW6G/H60RDs were delivered for country services between August 1954 and March 1955. They gave loyal service until the first withdrawals in 1968. Last to go was 8191. Two of the batch, 8179 and 8180, were modified to open platformed vehicles at the end of 1966 for Bristol City operations.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Trowbridge - in Western National days

Sat Dec 25 2004

Saturday 25 December 2004: Trowbridge - in Western National days

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8334 - 8349

Mon Jul 12 2004

Monday 12 July 2004: A batch of KSW6Gs, all fitted with doors for country service operations. No automation on these doors - but the conductors needed good stomach muscles sometimes to drag the doors shut.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8200 - 8241

Thu Jul 8 2004

Thursday 8 July 2004: Delivery began in September 1954 of another 40 KSW6B/H60R for Bristol City services. But there were also two Gardner-engined vehicles, numbered C8200 and C8201. The last of the batch was delivered in March 1955, and they remainedi n service until sales began in 1969. The last disappeared from Bristol's streets in 1971.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8082 - 8085

Wed May 5 2004

Wednesday 5 May 2004: A batch of four KSW6B/ECW H60R doubledeckers that ran in service for 15 years between August 1952 and withdrawal in October 1967.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

9500 - ***

Thu Aug 12 2004

Thursday 12 August 2004: 9500 - ***

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8078 - 8081

Tue May 4 2004

Tuesday 4 May 2004: Four highbridge KSW6Bs were delivered with conductor-operated (or more accurately manhandled) rear doors were delviered in July 1952 for country services. Late in their lives, two - 8078 and 8080 - were converted to open platforms to allow them to be used on Bristol City services. Three were disposed of in 1967, but one - 8078 - lasted to the following spring.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Secondhand from Trowbridge and Porton Down

Sat Dec 11 2004

Saturday 11 December 2004: In the early Seventies, Bristol omnibus took over responsibility for Trowbridge services previously operated by Western National. It was part of the retrenchment of the once-enormous empire that had stretched from Cornwall into Gloucestershire. It brought a mixed bag of LS and KSW, FLF - and a couple of Bristol's old FSFs that had been transferred to the Nationals in the mid-Sixties. The Porton Down vehicles came from the still much-loved Silver Star fleet that had been absorbed by Wilts & Dorset after years of co-existence. Bristol took their sole Trojan, and the company's fleet of Leyland Atlanteans.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

3000 - 3007 (LS upgradings)

Fri Mar 12 2004

Friday 12 March 2004: 3000 - 3007 (LS upgradings)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

5000 - 5157 (Bristol VR)

Fri Mar 19 2004

Friday 19 March 2004: 5000 - 5157 (Bristol VR)

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8134 - 8171

Tue Jun 8 2004

Tuesday 8 June 2004: This was a batch of 37 KSW6Bs and one (8166) KSW6G delivered between August 1953 and July 1954, that ran in service until withdrawals wiped out the batch between 1967 and 1971.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8265 - 8270

Sat Jul 10 2004

Saturday 10 July 2004: A batch of six KSW6G/H60RD deckers delivered to Bath Tramways between October and November 1955. They were withdrawn between 1970 and 1972, but were not disposed of until 1972 when they all went for scrap.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8096 - 8132

Fri May 7 2004

Friday 7 May 2004: A mixed batch of Bristol- and Garner-engined KSWs for Bristol City services, and all fitted with open platformed bodies. Deliveries began in October 1952 and ended in August 1953. They were sold between 1967 and 1971.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8086 - 8095

Thu May 6 2004

Thursday 6 May 2004: Ten Bristol KSW/ECW vehicles were acquired for country services between August and October 1952, numbered L8086 to L8095. They were the company's last lowheight (side gangwayed) doubledeckers. Five were Bristol-engined, five had Gardner units. Bath Tramways had four KSW6Bs and one (L8095) KSW6G. Later a second KSW6G - L8094 - joined them. They survived in service until the late Sixties, averaging more than 15 years in revenue-earning service, and then seven of the vehicles became driver trainers, lasting another 10 years in some cases. One of the three sold to Norths for scrap lasted until the Eighties - L8092. Two are reportedly still surviving, in preservation. They are L8089 and L8094.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Cheltenham District Traction

Thu Dec 2 2004

Thursday 2 December 2004: Cheltenham District Traction

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8432 - 8449

Fri Jul 16 2004

Friday 16 July 2004: 8432 - 8449

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8450 - the Bristol LDL long Lodekka

Tue Jul 20 2004

Tuesday 20 July 2004: L8450 was one of six 30-foot long Lodekkas to be built. It was the only one delivered to Bristol Omnibus.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8405 - 8431

Thu Jul 15 2004

Thursday 15 July 2004: The final batch of Bristol KSWs for Bristol Omnibus included the very last exposed radiator doubledecker from the Brislington works - and the last K-type - fleet number C8431.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8380 - 8404

Wed Jul 14 2004

Wednesday 14 July 2004: 8380 - 8404

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8133 - the pre-production Lodekka

Mon Jun 7 2004

Monday 7 June 2004: Two prototype Lodekkas were built and entered service with Tilling companies in 1949. They had exposed radiators, and looked similar to the K-series. Four years later six pre-production Lodekkas appeared that were radically different in appearance. The first of these went into service with Bristol Omnibus as its L8133, spending most of its life at Bath. It ran for two months - in May and June 1953 - with Red & White which eventually resulted in orders for its first Bristols. The vehicle was withdrawn in February 1968, and stored as part of the projected Bristol industrial museum. Like the others, the National Bus Company ordered their disposal after nine years in storage, and it went to Norths, the Sherburn-in-Elmet scrap merchant and dealer, in May 1977.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8242 - 8264

Fri Jul 9 2004

Friday 9 July 2004: Delivery of the first production batch of Lodekkas took place between February and June 1955. All were long-grilled when new. Many lost this feature as time and tears took their toll. Most were bodied as H58RD, but L8242 - L8249 were H58R, and only two of the batch - L8263 and L8264 - were Gardner-engined. The rest sported Bristol AVW engines. L8251 ended up in Canada where it is believed to be preserved. L8252-5 and L8260 went to Thames Valley.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8000 - 8007

Sat May 1 2004

Saturday 1 May 2004: This was a batch of eight eight-foot wide Bristol KSW6B with ECW H60R bodywork registered NAE 60 - 67. The second of the batch was transferred to Gloucester City services where it became G1801. A second, 8003, ended up in preservation in Denmark. A bid by the company to preserve the original vehicle - 8000 - was thwarted, and after 10 years storage it was sold for scrap on the instructions of the National Bus Company board. A bad mistake...

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

300 - 308 (SUS type)

Mon Jan 5 2004

Monday 5 January 2004: There were very few Bristol SUS4As built. The idea of a vehicle limited to only 30 seats seemed somewhat quaint - until the advent of the NBC (National Bus Company) Market Analysis Project (MAP). By then the SU was no more than an ageing member of a handful of fleets. The nine at Bristol Omnibus proved to be one of the biggest SUS4A fleets.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2930 - 2999

Wed Mar 10 2004

Wednesday 10 March 2004: These were Bristol's earliest MWs, and were followed by the 2500-series.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2012 - 2040

Thu Feb 5 2004

Thursday 5 February 2004: 2012 - 2040

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8008 - 8025

Sun May 2 2004

Sunday 2 May 2004: Eighteen of the initial eight-foot wide vehicles were intermediates - Bristol KS6B chassis designed for 7ft 6in wide bodies, but actually bearing eight foot wide, 60 seat ECW bodywork. All eight-foot wide vehicles were identified for crews in the early days by having cream grab rails and steering columns. This was eventually lost when almost the entire fleet became eight footers. They were delivered between January and June 1951, and remained in service until the late Sixties. Four went to Gloucester City services (8011, 8012, 8021 and 8025) as G1802 - 1804 and G1800. 8021/G1804 was sold to Holland in 1969. Five - 8016 ro 8021 - were Bath Tramways vehicles that were later transferred to the Bath Electric company.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8026 - 8077

Mon May 3 2004

Monday 3 May 2004: This was the first sizeable batch of KSWs for the Bristol Omnibus fleet. A total of 52 KSW6Bs with open platformed 60-seat ECW bodies was delivered for the Bristol City services, all being identified by the C-prefix. At the end of their lives, some were transferred to country operations and ended up all over the Bristol Omnibus territory. Of these 8059 was fitted with a Gardner six-cylinder engine after it was bought by a North Country operator, and 8072 went for preservation. 8071 had the strangest ending. It was modified by the company with the rear end being completely modified, to provide an offside entrance, and nearside stairwell, to attract overseas business. It even ended up in London transport red livery. It went to the States, the idea caught on - but Bristol's engineers never saw the business. Other dealers took up the idea, and continue to supply "London" buses to overseas operators that never saw a day's service in the capital - or even in red livery.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1104 - 1199

Fri Jan 16 2004

Friday 16 January 2004: 1104 - 1199

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8271 - 8300

Sun Jul 11 2004

Sunday 11 July 2004: The first seven were LD6B/H58R open platformed deckers for Bristol Joint services, and included the first Lodekkas - LC8273 and LC8275 -with the orthodox short grille. They were delivered in September 1955 and sold for scrap in 1972. The remainder of the batch consisted of 23 LD6G/H60RD that followed between October 1955 and July 1956. The vehicles were withdrawn between 1970 and 1973.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7108 - 7154

Sat Apr 10 2004

Saturday 10 April 2004: This batch was delivered to the company between 1963 and 1965, and includes the first of the vehicles with the attractive, new-look feature grille that would also appear on ME coaches for Crosville and others.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

8547 - 8550, 8576 - 8579

Wed Jul 28 2004

Wednesday 28 July 2004: Bristol Omnibus only operated eight FS types. Four were for the Country fleet. All have gone to the Great Scrapyard. The remaining four were open platformed, convertible open tops that replaced the last K-type doubledeckers. Three of the four remain in service in 2004.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2000 - *** Bristol J and L

Wed Feb 4 2004

Wednesday 4 February 2004: 2000 - *** Bristol J and L

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

7201 - 7239

Tue Apr 20 2004

Tuesday 20 April 2004: 7201 - 7239

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

3000 - 4156 (G and K types)

Thu Mar 11 2004

Thursday 11 March 2004: The Bristol K type - and its predecessor, the G-type - was a massive family of buses, with an intricate rebodying and reprofiling history. Unfortunately, my photographic collection only starts at the latter days of their operation, by which time the wooden grab rails had gone, the original PV radiator had been succeeded by the more stylish PV2, and BBW bodies and G-types were rapidly disappearing. But there was still plenty of interest around. It included two separate batches from Western National - at Stroud and Trowbridge - for example.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

6004 - 6035

Thu Mar 25 2004

Thursday 25 March 2004: I always felt that the Bristol FSF Lodekka was a stylish bus that deserved more orders. Presumably the extra 10 seats on its bigger sister, the FLF, swung the day. After all, that's more revenue per crew... Bristol's fleet - scattered across the Cities of Bristol, Gloucester, and the Bath and Stroud town depots - quickly disappeared. About a third ended up with the Western/Southern National fleet. Some went to the States. The rest quickly disappeared to the scrapyards around Barnsley.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2041 - 2078

Sun Feb 15 2004

Sunday 15 February 2004: 2041 - 2078

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2800 - 2929

Fri Mar 5 2004

Friday 5 March 2004: 2800 - 2929

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Official last day of FLF operation

Tue Dec 7 2004

Tuesday 7 December 2004: ....at least - it was supposed to be the final day, but as any Bristol enthusiast knows, after the buses were locked away in the garage for the last time, one at least kept reappearing for months afterwards. Like an old soldier, you can't bury a great bus! These images were taken on the last full day of operation, when dozens of like-minded enthusiasts insisted on doing exactly the same as me - riding the roads and taking the pics as a final memory....

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

Gloucester City fleet

Thu Dec 2 2004

Thursday 2 December 2004: Bristol Omnibus ran a completely separate fleet from 1937 to those of the Gloucester City joint services. The vehicles were separately numbered to enable separate auditing of the revenue (based on mileage) to pay the silent partners - Gloucester City Council - its rake of the profits. The fleet at variously times included Leyland TD1 Titans, wooden-framed G and K types, but had settled down to K, KS and KSWs by the Sixties. Eventually the vehicles were renumbered into the main body of the fleet, but could still be identified by the G prefix. Those vehicles are included in the main fleet sections.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

2500 - 2548 (Bristol MW)

Mon Mar 1 2004

Monday 1 March 2004: Between the delivery of its first in February 1958 (vehicles 2930-32) and the last (2635 and 2636) in October 1966, Bristol's fleet of MW/ECW saloons became the work horses of the rural country routes. A handful ran in the City fleets at Bristol and Gloucester. They had all disappeared from service by the end of the Seventies.

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline

1200 - 1340

Sun Jan 18 2004

Sunday 18 January 2004: 1200 - 1340

Published in Bristol Omnibus and Badgerline