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orders for 1970 by Derek Moses
SWING TO SINGLE-DECKERS ACCELERATES
• An acceleration of the swing to singledecker buses; the adoption of the Daimler Fleetline rear-engined single-decker in some quantity; a continuation of the faith of ex-Tilling companies in Bristol /ECW vehicles; and a marked reduction in the number of AEC buses and coaches ordered —these are all features of the vehicle replacement programme for 1970 announced by the National Bus Company today.
Coming so shortly after the news of the joint NB P /BLMC Leyland National venture to build integral single-deckers (CM July 18), the first list of detailed orders released by NBC on behalf of its operating subsidiaries takes on an additional significance.
A total of 1,320 vehicles costing £9.62m have been specified for 53 companies; of these 844 will be single-decker buses, 206 double-deckers and 270 coaches (including 11 double-deckers). Just over half the chassis (674) will be built by the NBC manufacturing subsidiary Bristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd., while all but 35 of the remainder will be built by BLMC Truck and Bus Division as follows: Leyland 270, Daimler 234 and AEC 107.
Ironically, the only integral single-deckers ordered are 20 BMMO `S'-type buses, which will be the very last passenger vehicles to be built by Midland Red. Production of BMMO vehicles is ceasing due to chronic staff shortage at its Birmingham works, and not because of NBC policy.
Bodies will be supplied by the NBC subsidiary Eastern Coach Works Ltd. (520)and by Duple /Willowbrook (277-53 Duple coaches and 224 Willowbrook. buses), Alexander (163), Marshall (157), Plaxton (101 coaches), Northern Counties (15) and BMMO (20). Notable absentees from the list are the BLMC-owned Park Royal /Roe 'concerns and also MetroCammell Weymann. The choices for six chassis and coach builders for 67 chassis have still to be finalized.
Single-deck swing So marked is the swing to single-deckers that only 59 double-deckers (Bristol
VRT /EC W models) have been ordered by ex-Tilling companies. Largest intake is for United Coanties (15), closely followed by United Auto (13). Ex-Tilling double-deck bus operators not purchasing double-deckers for 1970 include Bristol Omnibus, Crosville, Cumberland, Eastern National, Hants and Dorset, Southern National, United Welsh, West Yorkshire, Western National and Wilts and Dorset.
Ex BET companies have ordered 111 Daimler Fleetline and 24 Leyland Atlantean double-deckers all with Alexander bodies—except Southdown (15 Northern Counties). Ribble is buying 11 Bristol VRL (longitudinal rear engine) double-decker coaches with ECW bodies, following the success of its prototype. These are the only ECW bodies for former BET companies, although 130 Bristol RE chassis will be
divided among six companies. Finally, Was Riding is also buying Daimler Fleetlini double-deckers (12), also with Alexande bodies_ Dropping double-deckers?
Ex-BET operators not buying double deck buses in 1970 include Aldershot Devon General, East Kent, Gateshead Maidstone and District, Mexborough, Nord Western, Potteries, Ribble, South Wales Tynemouth, and Yorkshire Traction. 'ft this list may be added Stratford-upon-Avor arid Sunderland District, although thes two undertakings only buy double decker: at extended intervals. Fleetline success One notable surprise is the specification of 101 Daimler Fleetline single-deck buses, most of which will join the Northern group (41), Maidstone, Mexborough and Yorkshire Traction fleets, and will have Duple/ Willowbrook bodies. This immediately poses the question—what of the Northern group Marshall Camair buses? Apart from one solitary Leopard coach, the only other vehicles in Northern's 1970 programme are six Fleetline double-deckers for the parent company.
This development (pioneered by Maidstone and District) also raises the possibility of a rear-transverse-engined version of the Leyland National integral single-decker.
The Daimler Roadliner appears to have been dropped by Potteries, which did a lot of proving work with this model. Instead 21 Fleetline single-deckers are being purchased and will have Alexander bodies. However, Black and White, now well known for its fleet of Roadliners, is buying another only Roadliners for NBC next year.
Surprisingly, some major operators are buying only centrally mounted underfloorengined buses (instead of rear-engined models); they include Midland Red, Oxford, Cumberland (which is buying the Bristol LH model only), Devon General, East Yorkshire, Rhondda and Thomas Bros.
The decline in the number of AEC buses and coaches ordered (107) will inevitably Lead to a further drop in the number of AEC p.s.v. However, the only non-Bristol rear underfloor-engined chassis will be AECs-15 Swifts for East Kent and 12 for South Wales.
The various models can be grouped as follows: Bristol VRT ,d/d (59), VAL ,d/d (11); Bristol RELL (344), RESL (79) and RELH coaches (67); Leyland Atlantean,d/d (24); Leopard (246); Daimler Fleetline,d/d (123), s /d (101); Roadliner (10); AEC Swift (27); Reliance (80); Bristol LH (114-86 buses and 28 coaches); BMMO (20) and Bedford (9). In addition to the above variety there are several different variations of the Leyland Leopards ordered.