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[Seth]

Many of the coaches that were initially utilised on long-distance express duties were ordered with jack-knife doors. This allowed for a straightforward conversion to OMO; and down-grading to 'dual-purpose' vehicles in later life, with such examples then being deployed on more localised 'limited stop' services.

Red & White followed this policy as seen below:


Originally numbered RC 368, Aberdare-based RD368 has just arrived at Cardiff's Central Bus Station after the 90-odd minute thrash from Bristol on the 301 service.
The 'D' signifying 'Dual-purpose' status as opposed to it's previous 'Coach' role.

NBC's corporate livery has now replaced the traditional R&W cream/red livery in this Summer 1977 view. 

[Seth]

Red & White's final batch of Bristol REs with this style of ECW coach bodies arrived in 1969.

Again, they were of the RELH6L model and were registered SAX 1-11G with fleetnumbers RC1-1169.
Here's a freshly-overhauled and repainted example over the inspection pits at R&W's Central Workshops at Bulwark, Chepstow in the mid-70s:


The neighbouring Jones Omnibus Services, Western Welsh Omnibus Co and Red & White would soon join forces to create the National Welsh empire, and this coach has already been renumbered (from it's original RC 469) into a common series in readiness for the merger.

'RC' signified 'Rear-engined Coach', whilst '4869' denoted the 48th vehicle of 1969

The destination display indicates that it's last duty was a Cheltenham-Cardiff journey. 

[Seth]

An Associated Motorways Trilogy:


A trio of Bristol RELH6Gs from the United Counties, Crosville and Royal Blue fleets, showing the operator-specified detail differences in the ECW coach bodies.

[Seth]

Cheltenham-based Black & White Motorways were among the original founding partners of Associated Motorways.

During the 1960s; the standard fayre at Cheltenham was the trusty Leyland Leopard with nicely-finished Plaxton body:


A long way from home and taking a refreshment halt, is one of the 1966 Leopards with Plaxton 'Panorama' 47-seat bodies that were finished to B&W's exacting standards.
These had the evergreen 0.600 engine and less-common 4-speed synchromesh gearbox.



This emblem was centrally-positioned between the destination blinds:


It also prominently adorned Black & White's premises at St Margarets Road in Cheltenham.

[Seth]

Bristol Tramways (latterly the vast Bristol Omnibus Co) were also amongst the original founding partners of Associated Motorways.

Bristol Omnibus' coach fleet was liveried in Tilling Cream with Tilling Red relief, and ran under the 'Bristol Greyhound' fleetname as seen below:


A 1966 Bristol MW6G with the ultimate style of ECW coach body for this chassis model.
The trusty Gardner 6HLW engine was mounted horizontally in mid-wheelbase, and drove through a 5-speed overdrive 'box to an overhead worm rear axle.

Although the 'MW' model was utterly reliable in service, the triple-servo vacuum brakes took some getting used to (trust me!), and you really had to anticipate the traffic conditions. The accelerator pedal was extremely heavy to hold to the floor (in typical Gardner fashion), and they were also quite economical to operate, returning upwards of 15 mpg on long distance work.

Top whack was an astounding 52 mph with that Gardner in full cry at 1750 rpm!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I love that simple, but very effective, colour scheme Seth.

[Seth]

At the turn of the 1970s; increasing National Bus Company influences saw it's South West area subsidiaries' coaches appearing in revised liveries. It also became apparent that NBC favoured the Leyland Leopard chassis for it's coaching requirements, and here's a Plaxton-bodied example:


Bristol Omnibus chose Magenta as the relief colour for it's 'Bristol Greyhound' coach fleet.
This coach was amongst the very first Leopards for BOC; and is seen here when only a few days old resting at Lawrence Hill depot, having worked a 'stopping' service from London via the A4. 

The entrance door has a peage window for possible future Continental work.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I love that pink livery.  Very unusual I would have thought.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I really must get two of my Leyland 680 (horizontal) engines stripped ready for re-build over the next few months.

[Seth]

I love that pink livery.  Very unusual I would have thought.

It was certainly distinctive Lizzie, and sat nicely on the Plaxton bodies of that era.

[Seth]

Black & White Motorways had long favoured the Plaxton-bodied Leyland Leopard as it's standard unit.

Somewhat surprisingly, a handful of Bristol REs arrived at Cheltenham in the early 70s - although B&W's allegiance to Plaxtons continued.
One such vehicle in the revised livery:


A 1972 Bristol RELH6G at Cheltenham Coach Station awaiting a turn on a private hire job.
This example also has a peage window on the entrance door, and has the optional 'Bristol Dome' above the windscreens.

Waist-level destination boxes could not be specified on Bristol REs due to a front-mounted radiator - even though the engine was 36ft aft of it!

[Seth]

Deviating from the 'Express Coach' theme:


After successful negotiations, the only known survivor of Western Welsh's 'Capital Class' coaches has just returned home to WW's former Barry depot, which is now a thriving bus museum.

Withdrawn after a ten year stint on the extensive touring programme, it was last used in service by it's successive owner way back in 1974. It's remarkably complete after spending nearly 40 years in a Northamptonshire barn.
Someone's gonna be busy .... it would seem! 





New in March 1958, 107 is an AEC Reliance with 39-seat Harrington 'Wayfarer IV' coach body.
Seen above in it's original livery of Royal Ivory with Wine Red relief.





On arrival at Barry - late afternoon on Sunday 2 December.





Being expertly manouvered into it's new home.





In it's final WW livery of Royal Ivory with Peacock Blue relief.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Buses were also considered for other applications and some have found there way onto the iron roads in various forms.

The following rancid device is LEV1 which stands for Leyland Experimental Vehicle 1



This nasty device re-uses the Leyland modular bus body on a HSFV (High Speed Freight Vehicle) frame along with a TL11 engine (200bhp) connected to a fully automatic SCG gearbox and a Gmeinder final drive unit driving one axle.

In the case of this vehicle, which succesfuly combined the worst of bus and rail in a single package, it did actulay enter service inn the Anglia region.

Interestingly, this is now part of the national collection!

[Richie London]

Still going then this one

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Still going then this one

It will never die!