Fleet Books A-G
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Peter Holmes
ISBN 1-946184-70-4 - 220mm x
380mm - 168 pages - Hardback |
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Malcolm Gee
ISBN 1-903016-51-7 - 210mm x
200mm - 52 pages - Softback
"The 1960s were a time of great
social change, especially in areas where people stopped using
the railways and turned to motorised transport to get them to or
from work, for shopping trips, or on their holidays. One area to
see a massive reduction in its railways was East Anglia, with
its truly rural countryside interspersed with a few major towns
and holiday resorts. |
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Gavin Booth
ISBN
0-7110-3033-2 - 222mm x 286mm - 80 pages - Hardback
"I wasn't sure about the Gavin
Booth's Buses Operators 1970 series, expecting it to be a rehash
of the usual and predictable but I needn't have been.
SDB |
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Gavin Booth
ISBN 0-7110-3032-4 - 222mm x 286mm - 80 pages - Hardback "I bought this book as it covers much of the area I lived in during my formative years and looking through it brings back many happy memories of time and buses long gone. As the title suggests it covers an area to the east of a line drawn from The Wash to The Solent covering major operators such as the Tilling fleets in East Anglia, London Transport, London Country and the BET fleets in the South East corner. The book also covers the smaller independents found within the area such as Hedingham and District, the still (at that time) independent Provincial. And one I personally loved Lowestoft Corporation. As well at the expected pictures of Lodekkas, REs, RTs, RMs, etc. Gavin Booth has managed to find pictures of some rare and odd vehicles e.g. a Ford Transit Minibus on a Romford to Sevenoaks Tunnel Express service worked by Thames Weald and a single deck Leyland Atlantean from great Yarmouth Corporation. Most of the pictures are the standard three quarter view and some of them show enough of the background so that those of us who are of a certain age can sit and wallow in nostalgia." BJK
Published in 2005 by Ian Allan |
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Gavin Booth
ISBN
0-7110-3034-0 - 222mm x 286mm - 80 pages - Hardback
"I remember the South West as
a place for family holidays in the early 70's, Dartmouth in
particular. As a lover of Bristols (pun intended) and the BTC
years, just before NBC this book is crammed with delights for
me. Inevitably there is a great chunk of pages given to Bristol
Omnibus Company (to me, a fleet almost as repetitious as London
Transport at the time) but when you get to the South Central and
West there are some gems. |
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Stewart J Brown
ISBN
0-946265-27-7 167mm x 237mm 48 pages Softbank Just in case anyone is in any doubt the Bluebird referred to is the famous Alexander Bluebird, now Stagecoach Bluebird, who together with their predecessors have provided bus and coach services to the North East of Scotland for over 90 years. It is an interesting little book with a variety of pictures from all over their area taken between the 1900s and 1990s. There are illustrations from the fleets of the various companies that have been taken over during the history of the Company and as you would expect many of the buses and coaches pictured have Alexander bodywork. The book is full of interesting facts, e.g. The Bluebird logo was not used until 1934 but is still in use today. BJK
Published in 1998 by Bus Enthusiast Publishing |
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Michael J. Mitchell
ISBN
0-9533983-0-7 297mm x 198mm - 108 pages Paperback "Aberdeen is another place where I have a long association first visiting there in 1967 and finally living there for a while in the 90s, its a great city famed, in transport terms, for being the birth place of First Group following the merger of Grampian Regional Transport and Badgerline in 1995 becoming First Bus and subsequently First Group One of the dangers of such a book is that the illustrations are often from the later period, not so in this book the author has not fallen into that trap and there are lavish photographs of Aberdeen Transport from 1890 to the 1990s The book is full of information and fleet lists and pictures from around the area. Those of you who attend Showbus will recognise the vehicle on the front cover as it is a frequent visitor to the show." BJK Published in 1998 by First Aberdeen Ltd.
Note: the picture of this very large book is shown at
approximately 80% of the scale of the other pictures on the
page. Click
here
to see image to the same scale. |
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John Hillier and John Sherwin
ISBN 0-7110-2956-3 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Founded in 1912, Aldershot & District rapidly expanded its bus services in Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. By 1930 the company boasted some 236 vehicles, almost all of which were manufactured by the local firm of Dennis - a company that was to have close links with A&D throughout its existence. The company was to maintain its strong identity throughout its years until it was absorbed into the national Bus Company at the end of the 1960s. However the traditions of the old 'Tracco' - as the A&D was affectionately known - are still alive today courtesy of those ex-A&D vehicles that survive in preservation. RJL
Published in 2004 by Ian Allan |
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Gavin Booth
ISBN 0-7110-2609-2 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Glory Days BET Group takes a look at a company that dates from the late 19th century, eventually becoming a dominant force in the bus and coach industry until absorbed into the national Bus Company. RJL
Published in 1998 by Ian Allan |
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Kevin Lane
ISBN 0-7110-2954-7 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Bus operator lack & White was established in Cheltenham in 1926. Initially the business operated local tours, but it was soon to be found operating long distance coach services through most of the West of England, South Wales and the Midlands, its vehicles' distinctive black and white livery remaining a familiar feature of long-distance coach travel until absorbed into the national Bus company image in the early 1970s. Glory Days Black & White examines the history of the operator from its earliest days through to its demise, showing the great variety of the company's fleet over some 50 years. RJL
Published in 2003 by Ian Allan |
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John Hypher
ISBN 0-7110-3069-3 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback "My memories of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company stretch back many years when I lived in and around Lowestoft, home of Eastern Coachworks. The area operated by Eastern Counties was vast stretching from Lowestoft in the east to Peterborough in the west and from The Wash in the north to Ipswich in the south. The book itself follows the tried and trusted format of the Glory Days series providing a detailed history of the company together with an excellent selection of photographs dating from around from 1900. As you would expect many of the illustrations are of the standard Bristol/ECW offerings in all their guises, there are however some real gems, e.g. a Beadle Bodied Albion FT39L, a ECW bodied Dennis Ace and an Alexander bodied Ford A0609 midibus and many other varieties of buses and coaches particularly from the early days. The book covers both buses and coaches operated by Eastern Counties and is a superb introduction to anyone wishing to learn more of this large and interesting company." BJK
Published in 2005 by Ian Allan |
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Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop
ISBN 0-7110-3030-8 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Based in Canterbury, the East Kent Road Car Company provided bus services across a wide area of East Kent from its formation in 1916 until its individual identity was subsumed in the National Bus Company in the 1907s. It also served the Channel ports of Dover and Folkestone, becoming a leader in continental travel and a pioneer of day trips to France, and ran express coach services into London. Glory Days East Kent tells the story of the company's history, fleet and operations, portraying the great variety of its vehicles and services over the years. It will appeal to all those who knew East Kent in the period or who are interested in the history of the area. RJL
Published in 2005 by Ian Allan |
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James Prince
ISBN 0-7110-3105-3 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback One of the best known road-transport operators along the south coast of England, Hants & Dorset was established originally as Bournemouth & District Motor Services. The company adopted its more familiar title when the Tilling Group acquired a shareholding in 1920 and it came to dominate bus services in rural Hampshire and Dorset, with routes linking the major towns such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Swanage, until it was subsumed into the National Bus Company in 1969. In Glory Days Hants & Dorset author James Prince narrates the history of the company for its origins through to the early 1980s, exploring the great variety of the company's operations and fleet during these years. RJL
Published in 2006 by Ian Allan |
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Michael Eyre & Chris Heaps
ISBN
0-7110-2790-0 247mm x 190mm 112 pages Hardback Two cities bordering each other is something unique in the United Kingdom, Salford, the smaller of the two undertakings in bus terms, was around 1/5 the size of the Manchester fleet with, in the 1950s, around 320 and 1500 buses respectively. The book is subtitled A Century of Municipal Transport but does not set out to be a history of the two transport companies and thus covers the while gambit of municipal transport from horse power to the Mancunian via trams and trolleybuses. The book is crammed with illustrations, informative text and appendices. Manchester tended to take its vehicles from local suppliers such as Leyland and Crossley whilst Salford were not so rigorous and purchased buses from further afield, e.g. AEC. Manchester were also able to use their larger buying power to standardise their buses, e.g. the pre-war streamliners and post-war Mancunians. Interestingly Salford ordered 20 Mancunians but these were not delivered until SELNEC had taken control. Like London, Manchester also ran double deck coaches from the City Centre to the Airport, and these were based on Leyland Tiger Cub chassis. Manchester also borrowed Routemasters from London Transport in 1963 but no orders were forthcoming. BJK
Published in 2001 by Ian Allan |
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Roger Davies
ISBN 0-7110-3038-3 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Ribble Motor Services was one of the great names in British road passenger transport. From its inception in 1919 it grew quickly and soon dominated bus services through much of north-west England, as well as being known nationwide for its express coach services, until taken over by the national Bus Company at the end of the 1960s. In Glory Days Ribble Roger Davies draws on a mixture of official records and personal recollections to tell the fascinating story of this much-loved company which was a household name to many and affectionately known as the 'Ribble family' to those who were proud to work for it. RJL
Published in 2005 by Ian Allan |
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Gavin Booth
ISBN 0-7110-2710-2 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback
Glory Days Scottish Bus Group
recalls the era of of the SBG from its creation in 1949 through
to 1985 when it was split up for privatisation and deregulation.
Published in 2000 by Ian Allan |
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Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop
ISBN
0-7110-2793-5 245mm x 190mm 96 pages Hardback Those familiar with the Glory Days series will already be aware that this book will be crammed with information and pictures of the highest quality. The inside covers contain maps of Bus and Express Services covered by Southdown Motor services Limited. The authors consider the glory days of Southdown to be between 1929 and 1970, by which time the company was under the control of the NBC. This extensive period gives plenty of scope for illustrations of this very popular fleet. Southdown almost exclusively bought Leyland double deckers, except for during the war years when Guy Arab utilities were bought, their single deckers on the other hand were supplied by a number of different manufacturers: Leyland of course, but also Dennis, Bedford and Commer to name but a few. Perhaps the strangest of all were the Harrington bodied Shelvoke and Drewry Freighter, more at home with a dust cart body, which looked very similar to the LT Q class. Southdown owned an extensive fleet of coaches but perhaps they were best well known for their Queen Mary fleet of full front Leyland PD3s with Northern Counties bodywork. Many Southdown vehicles have been produced in diecast form including of course the Queen Marys. One thing that this book does illustrate throughout is that the fleet was always maintained in an excellent condition and unlike many fleets this condition was maintained right up to withdrawal. An excellent book full of interesting facts and illustrations a must for all Southdown fans. BJK
Published in 2001 by Ian Allan |
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Gavin Booth
ISBN
0-7110-2597-5 245mm x 190mm 96 pages Hardback The Tilling name was associated with public transport for 150 years but this book only looks at the post war years up to the formation of the National Bus Company in 1969. The Tilling group was made up of some 22 bus companies in England and Wales ranging from United Auto in the North East to Western National in the South West. One cannot think of the Tilling Group without thinking of the Bristol/ECW combination that comprised the vast majority of their fleet; this combination nevertheless had a surprisingly rich variation of types, many of which can be seen in the pages of this book. As with buses so the liveries were mainly red or green with the occasional blue, e.g. Midland General, whilst the livery tended to be applied to a standard for all buses there was a surprising variation in the coaching fleets. There is one picture in the book of three Bristol LS coaches with ECW coachwork all of which have subtle differences to the bodywork and different livery applications. The Tilling Group also had other bus types within its fleet, many of these were obtained as companies were taken over but at times of shortage new buses were also purchased, nevertheless it does seem strange to see a Strachan bodies Guy Arab II in Eastern National livery. The book follows the tried and trusted Glory Days format and includes a short history of each of the companies that went to make up the Tilling Group. Published in 1998 by Ian Allan
BJK |
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Kevin Lane
ISBN 0-7110-3081-2 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback From its beginnings in the years immediately before World War I, United Counties quickly expanded to become the main bus operator in much of the rural East Midlands, centred on Northampton. In Glory Days United Counties Kevin Lane examines the history of the company from its earliest years, through its development as part of the Tilling group in the 1930s and expansion in the 1950s, until it was eventually subsumed by the National Bus Co. at the end of the 1960s.The wide range of vehicles operated over the years is illustrated, prominent among which are the many classic Bristol and ECW models favoured by the company. RJL
Published in 2005 by Ian Allan |
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Roger Davies and Stephen Barber
ISBN 0-7110-3195-8 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Wallace Arnold could trace its origins back to 1912. when Robert Barr acquired his first vehicle. In 1926 he took over the partnership of Wallace Cunningham and Arnold Crowe, pioneers in the provision of coach tours from Leeds. As the range of destinations expanded Wallace Arnold flourished, its coaches becoming a regular sight all round the country. By acquiring rival operators the company established major presence not only in Yorkshire but nationwide, at its peak running more than 200 vehicles. In doing so, it became one of the best known names in British coaching - a situation that was to continue until a merger with Shearings in 2005. RJL
Published in 2007 by Ian Allan |
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John Hypher
ISBN 0-7110-3159-2 245mm x 190mm 96 pages
Hardback Established in Salisbury in 1915, Wilts and Dorset Motor Services Limited operated regular services throughout south Wiltshire, east Dorset and north Hampshire under the control of T&BAT and the Southern Railway in 1931. Although the Bristol/ECW combination dominated, as elsewhere within the Tilling Group, its fleet was more varied than most. After Nationalisation in 1948 it became increasingly associated with neighbouring Hants & Dorset, by which company it was taken over following the formation of the national Bus Company in 1969. The Wilts & Dorset name duly disappeared in 1972 but resurfaced in 1983, revived by a new company which survives to this day. RJL
Published in 2007 by Ian Allan |
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Owen Woodliffe
ISBN
9999050867 210mm x 297mm 175 pages Softback This is a book about London Buses with a difference it is the story of Grey Green who were the first independent company to win a London Regional Transport tender for a central London route and significantly the buses were not red but in Grey Greens own livery. The company started operations in 1919 until renamed as Arriva in 1998. The pictures are mainly from 1950 onwards but there are a few from earlier days. Prior to entering bus operations Grey Green were a well know coach operator well known not only for their private hire services but also for express coach services to the coastal towns of East Anglia and South East England. I can recall Grey Green and Orange Luxury coaches on the X3 express to Great Yarmouth and also for the additional services on Summer Saturdays. The illustrations are mainly of coaches with buses appearing later in the story; there are also a few pictures of their small haulage business including one of a Duple Super Vega coach rebuilt as a van following an accident. This is a fascinating book heavily illustrated and with informative text. BJK
Published in 2001 |
Bus
Operators 1970 - Scotland and NE England
Bus
Operators 1970 - The SE and Eastern Counties of England
Bus
Operators 1970 - SW and Southern England
