What typed of bus ran in Essex late 50's early 60's

[cravensdmufan]

Quick questions for bus experts out there:

 

Never managed to travel on the Eastern National X10 Southend to London express service when it was operated with reverse livery cream/green FLF's

 

I always wondered why the rear windows of the downstairs saloon were fitted with opaque glass - and why was the rear window of the upstairs saloon only half glazed?

 

Were they fitted with more powerful engines, being as they were for limited stop express use? 

 

IMO these vehicles always looked really smart in their cream livery and shiny hubcaps.

 

Would be really interested to learn more about these.  I think EFE did a version which I must look out for.

 

Thanks!

 

Here's a photo of a preserved one showing the windows I'm talking about:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikesbusphotos/3962829973/

 

Edit:  Can't believe it - just found an audio clip of one!:

 

 

Edited March 28, 2020 by cravensdmufan
To include audio clip

[PhilJ W]

As you can see in the picture they were fitted with coach seats. That was the reason for the half height window upstairs, glazing the lower half was unneccessary as it would have been obscured by the seat headrests. The obscured windows downstairs were where the luggage racks were.

[Andy Reichert]

2 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Do you remember the six wheel coaches operated by City and for a while after the take over by EN? The most unusual were the Leyland Gnu's with two axles at the front.

 

My firm recollection is only that they were double deckers and not a lot different layout in the lower saloon from my local RT's.  I do have a very vague memory of what I think think was either an open rear platform or the same with a door. That could suggest there was not a front entrance on those.

 

Andy

[PhilJ W]

You must have been a bit too late then, Some of the Leyland Gnu's lasted long enough to be painted in EN colours but were only used infrequently by that time.

 

[SweenyTod1]

Watching this subject takes me back to my childhood, (born 1946), and I have a memory (surprisingly!!) of a single deck, half cab Easter Counties bus that was occasionally put on the Littleport to Ely service. It was a noisy beast and very slow, but as the frequency of service was limited, we had little choice. Now if it was still around, I would love to ride on it.

 

As a teenager I had very close encounter with a Premier Travel ( of Cambridge ) AEC double decker, contracted to ferry Pyes (later Philips) workforce to and from their Cambridge site. On a dark, cold, wet winter's night, head down to avoid the driving rain, I had inadvertantly crossed over the central white line on the road. The driver seeing me, crossed over to his wrong side. In the glare of his lights, I saw my error and so foolishly attempted to get back to my correct side...........BANG!!!  OUCH! I landed onto the grass verge, nearly ending up in a ditch. Luckily, I was wearing a thick overcoat which took most of the point of contact. My poor, nearly new bike. didn't fair so well, but did acquire a new frame and back wheel, once my less than sympathetic father had calmed down!!

I regularly saw the bus passing through the village, but they never removed the dent in the offside front wing, no doubt going to the Scrappy with it's battle scar, as a reminder to all cyclists, to watch where they are going!!. As a 65th birthday present, a "kind" friend who knew the story, bought me the EFE model of the same livery bus. It doesn't have a dent in the wing though, but it sits in my display cabinet and if it could speak, it would  say, "remember me?!!!

Ah, such memories of youth (and a particular bus)..........! But thankfully and fortunately I live to tell the tale.

 

Tod

[PhilJ W]

That Eastern Counties single decker was almost certainly a Bristol J or L type. Eastern Counties not having that many hills to contend with fitted them with the least powerful engine that they could, the Gardner 4LW.

[cravensdmufan]

I have enjoyed following this topic - I love hearing folks' memories of old buses.

 

Whilst finding occasional topics and posts here on RMWeb, I wonder if anyone knows of a forum just for old buses?  Particularly Eastern National and Eastern Counties. 

 

I've found a few preservation websites, but no forum / chat sites.  I'm not on Facebook or Twitter - but perhaps those sites are where folk chat about such subjects?

 

Any links would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[PhilJ W]

Try this:- http://www.essexbus.org.uk/  They also have a page on Facebook.

[Mike Harvey]

Loads of photos here including Essex operators.

 

http://busphoto.co.uk/

 

http://www.busphoto.co.uk/gallery.php?mode=gallery&id=54&page=1

 

http://www.busphoto.co.uk/gallery.php?mode=gallery&id=56&page=1

 

This site has plenty of interesting topics.

 

http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/

 

http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/?cat=491

 

http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/?cat=558

 

Facebook is probably the richest source of discussion and photos.

Edited July 20, 2020 by Mike Harvey
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