Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[clan chieftain]

I drove with Central SMT in Motherwell from 1969 till 1974.. I passed my test in a rear entrance Bristol Lodekka.(B3).
When I started the PD3 Leylands were getting phased out. They could shift but the vacuum brakes on them were deadly especially when you had a full bus. A couple of pumps on the brake pedal and you hardly had a brake.
The Lodekka was a far better bus especially the longer front entrance ones,and they had heaters that actually worked. I would love a go on one of them again.
Then they had a couple of Bristol VRs but they were a dead loss and after a couple of months they were swapped for Lodekkas from Eastern Scottish.Then we had the Daimler fleetlines and the Leyland Leopards and when they arrived we just knew that one man operation was just around the corner. I stuck out OMO for a couple of months and then went back to my old job in the Post Office.
They were happy days though and I would love to turn the clock back just for a week
I still have my drivers badge MM58350.

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The Clan Chieftain

[clan chieftain]

I could write a book about what went on at the bus depot. It would outsell 50 shades of grey.
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The Clan Chieftain

[poodge]

I used to be a bus driver in Christchurch,New Zealand.When i started in 1974,the most numerous were 1952-55 AEC Regal mk IV's with either Park Royal or Crossley bodies,virtually indistinguishable.One of the first of these was actually on the Commercial Motor Show stand,before being shipped out.The novelty of pram hooks on the front of the bus was shown in accompanying photos
There were also 3 varieties of Reliance.
I left for a different job,but returned in 1976.
By then,locally bodied Bristols with Leyland 500 engines were coming in.The aluminium bodies quickly caused many rattles,so the next batch were steel bodied,and a bit better.The thing i remember most was the diabolical driving position.The steering wheel was offset in relation to the seat,causing many drivers back problems.
The next batch were the same chassis,(i believe diverted from another overseas customer who cancelled the contract),but fitted with licence built Hess bodies.Again in aluminium,and prone to rattle.
In the early 80,s,MAN SL202's became the main fleet vehicle,again with locally built TUV bodies,including 8 with a 3-axle trailing layout.These were semi-coaches,with a higher floor,and upgraded seating.
At this time,about 10 of the last Hess/Bristols were re-engined with MAN engines,and the chassis improved somewhat,making these at last good driveable vehicles.
I left in 1990,when de-regulation turned the whole system into a shambolic mess.
The biggest player bought a fleet of Dennis Dart chassis,which were horrible,noisy and less than a success.Then they went back to MAN chassis,which is now the main player in the city bus industry.

[poodge]

Here is a pic of an AEC mk IV in preservation:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/76010245@N05/6989224583/

[Rick]

[Ashley]

[peter scott]

My memory of SMT buses is of the single deck half cab Leyland Tigers of the 1950s. They had front entry and a big circular heater at the front of the isle and the light fittings and ash trays were a bit art deco but my overriding memory was of the tobacco smoke fug. It was intense. You didn't get a clear view to the other end of the bus.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[clan chieftain]

I remember the heaters on the old buses being round with chrome on the outside and mesh across and they used to whine when they were on.
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The Clan Chieftain

[peter scott]

Seats were different but the heater was the same:


Peter


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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon