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[Darth Loo-knee]

There were, and indeed are, some very interesting people in the bus world


Werner Heubeck, who died on October 19 aged 85, was a former member of Rommel's Afrika Korps who became an unlikely hero of the Troubles in Northern Ireland when, as head of the Province's bus services, he boarded buses personally to remove bombs planted by the IRA; his exploits earned him an OBE and CBE.


More of this fascinating man here;


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/6399856/Werner-Heubeck.html

Are there???

I must admit I think this is the longest thread I have seen on the Forum... it could be a record breaker

[The Red Baron]

the pic of london utility bodied guy HGC 130 if memory serves me right did at one time run up here for burton corporation. the guy i am shareholder in FA9716 was built with the same body as HGC but re-bodied by massey.
a little bit more useless info for you there.

[Seth]

There were, and indeed are, some very interesting people in the bus world


Werner Heubeck, who died on October 19 aged 85, was a former member of Rommel's Afrika Korps who became an unlikely hero of the Troubles in Northern Ireland when, as head of the Province's bus services, he boarded buses personally to remove bombs planted by the IRA; his exploits earned him an OBE and CBE.


More of this fascinating man here;


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/6399856/Werner-Heubeck.html

Are there???

I must admit I think this is the longest thread I have seen on the Forum... it could be a record breaker

Well, I'm sure that there's loads more replies, judging by the amount of material that's constantly being unearthed.
 
Any idea Daz (in your new capacity) what the longest-running thread is on OOF?
 

[Seth]

the pic of london utility bodied guy HGC 130 if memory serves me right did at one time run up here for burton corporation. the guy i am shareholder in FA9716 was built with the same body as HGC but re-bodied by massey.
a little bit more useless info for you there.

IIRC; the LT one depicted was a wartime Mark1 Arab with utility-spec Park Royal body as sanctioned by the Ministry of Supply.
Many of these had the Gardner 5LW engine, though those that entered wartime service with our neighbouring Rhondda Transport had the 6LW, 'cos the 5LW-powered Arabs simply couldn't cope with the terrain round these parts.

And fear not Jon, you haven't supplied useless information here!
 

[Darth Loo-knee]

There were, and indeed are, some very interesting people in the bus world


Werner Heubeck, who died on October 19 aged 85, was a former member of Rommel's Afrika Korps who became an unlikely hero of the Troubles in Northern Ireland when, as head of the Province's bus services, he boarded buses personally to remove bombs planted by the IRA; his exploits earned him an OBE and CBE.


More of this fascinating man here;


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/6399856/Werner-Heubeck.html

Are there???

I must admit I think this is the longest thread I have seen on the Forum... it could be a record breaker

Well, I'm sure that there's loads more replies, judging by the amount of material that's constantly being unearthed.
 
Any idea Daz (in your new capacity) what the longest-running thread is on OOF?
 

They don't trust me with all the controls yet mate, frightened incase I accidently slip with their Post Counts me thinks
But I will ask

[The Red Baron]

burton corporation bought a few arabs( of the bus type) from london transport, bc tended to get the cheapest they could find & to have the 5LW also.
even the daimler deckers bought new had the 5LW.
a guttless wonder that engine.

[Seth]

There were, and indeed are, some very interesting people in the bus world


Werner Heubeck, who died on October 19 aged 85, was a former member of Rommel's Afrika Korps who became an unlikely hero of the Troubles in Northern Ireland when, as head of the Province's bus services, he boarded buses personally to remove bombs planted by the IRA; his exploits earned him an OBE and CBE.


More of this fascinating man here;


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/6399856/Werner-Heubeck.html

Are there???

I must admit I think this is the longest thread I have seen on the Forum... it could be a record breaker

Well, I'm sure that there's loads more replies, judging by the amount of material that's constantly being unearthed.
 
Any idea Daz (in your new capacity) what the longest-running thread is on OOF?
 

They don't trust me with all the controls yet mate, frightened incase I accidently slip with their Post Counts me thinks
But I will ask

[Seth]

burton corporation bought a few arabs( of the bus type) from london transport, bc tended to get the cheapest they could find & to have the 5LW also.
even the daimler deckers bought new had the 5LW.
a guttless wonder that engine.

You said it Jon ............ 

Oooops, burp, been hittin' the ol' Nacwestle Bowrn again mate!
 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Now for those miggy owners who do not want to put a large LPG tank in their boot, but still run on gas, you could try this;
the 1943 answer to powering buses by gas:



 

[splott]

Finally Sethsmate, I am posting the picture that you asked me to post for you..................

Got to be at the beach area near Port Talbot, the name of the beach escapes me.............


[/img]

[Seth]

The location is Aberavon Beach and the photo was taken on a lovely Summer evening in late July 1969.

Day's amusement arcade is left, and you can just see the facade of Miami Beach Pleasure Park lurking between the two buses.

If you look closely at the bus stop flag in the left foreground, it will be seen that the sign has a 'Rhondda' legend cast onto it.
Yes, even Rhondda Transport's Leyland Tiger Cubs reached Aberavon via the spectacular Bwlch Mountain and Afan Valley, on a 'Summer Sundays Only' limited-stop service and often operating in convoy, such was the demand at this time!


[/img]


Here's a Thomas Bros bus rounding the curve onto it's seafront stance on one of the intensive cross-town services.
The No.3 route linked the northern suburb of Goytre with the expansive Sandfields Estate via Port Talbot town centre and the beach.

OTX 137F was one of a trio of identical 36ft AEC Reliances with 51-seat Marshall bodies that arrived new in November 1967.
They were of the 6MU3R model, with AH505 engines and 5-speed all-synchromesh gearboxes.
With no power steering, they were heavy beasts to manoeuvre, though they were superb buses otherwise.

The destination blind displays "Sandfields Estate via Aberavon Beach, Four Winds and Dalton Road" and the livery is that superb 'Thomas Bros Blue' with a primrose waistband.
The fleetname font has changed from Gill Sans to a 'bold-extended' style.
 

Awaiting departure on the lengthy 7 route to Swansea is South Wales Transport Co 597, one of a sizeable batch of 30ft Park Royal-bodied AEC Regent Mk5s which were new in 1964.
 


   

[splott]

I was right about Port Talbot then! Ish!
Kev

[Seth]

I was right about Port Talbot then! Ish!
Kev

[splott]

Here is a nice Blue Bus or is it Green? Where was this one taken then Byron?.................

[/img]

[Seth]

'Twas taken at the eastbound Aberavon Beach bus stop in Summer 1968, and is another view of '137' when still quite new.
It's crew-operated, as 'one-manning' was yet to be introduced with Thomas Bros at this time.

Seen here working an eastbound journey on the 3 service to the pretty suburb of Goytre, 137 shows off the contemporary Thomas Bros livery to good effect. It would have been lovingly applied using the traditional 'brush method' by resident coachpainter, the late Tom Warmington.


Was the main colour 'Thomas Bros Blue' or was it 'Thomas Bros Green'?
Apparently, this was an oft-debated subject amongst the Port Talbot staff - I'll let you decide ............. !

[/img]

In the background to the left of the bus is the then newly-completed Afan Lido, an Olympic-spec swimming pool which has nowadays been further developed into a substantial leisure complex.

To the right you can see a number of buses and coaches in the parking area.
The red-liveried one is none other than a Midland Red CM6T motorway express coach. Aberavon (along with the other South Wales coastal resorts), was a popular day-trip destination for many Midlanders at this time.
The blue/cream liveried buses are from the vast Llynfi Motors of Maesteg fleet, and were no doubt laying-over between duties on their busy service from that town.