The Bristol Railway Archive

jules wrote:Mainly about country routes though. I was never allowed on country buses as a kid.

As I recall, if you stopped the 329 Thornbury bus in Filton, it stopped at only the major stops on the way into town and the fares were twice what they were on the city buses (3, 6, 36, 98).

Many a freezing morning as a schoolboy I watched the 329 thunder past when all the aforementioned city services seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth!

Now, I do know for certain about this.

As Bristol Corporation (as it then was) had a stake in the City services, they laid down certain rules. Country buses running within the city boundaries did not/were not allowed to call at "request stops" (these were bus stops with a yellow backgroud on the bus stop sign). They only called at stops that had a white background on the sign. Presumably, "officially" buses were supposed to stop at those "white stops" whether or not there were any boarding or alighting passengers.

In addition, the country services within the city boundary had a minimum fare, which was effectively the price of a ticket to the nearest point not served by the City services.

I came across this time and time agian in the early 1960s waiting for buses outside Staple Hill bus depot, by the Red Lion pub. There was a 319 service from Pucklechurch to Bristol (one of the few through services) that arrived at Staple Hill at 08.11, due in the bus station at 08.29, allowed 18 minutes for the run. The number 4 city service bus was allowed 23 minutes from Staple Hill to Old Market. So, if I actually wanted to go to the Bus Station at that time in the morning, I would go on the 319.

Every time, there was a variation on this conversation:

(As I attempted to get on the bus): Conductor: "You can't get on this bus"

Me - "Why not? I want to go to the Bus Station"

Conductor - "Well all right, you can, but it'll cost you tenpence" (IIRC, sixpence was the fare on the number 4 to Old Market Street, and the tenpenny fare was from the last fare stage outside the City Service limits, which would in those days have been Mangotsfield village)

Me - "Thats OK - I'll pay the extra"

Conductor - "Get on then"

Ah, the memories come flooding back

PS - I'm talking "old money" here - ten pence was just sort of 4p and sixpece was 2.5p. Just to help our younger readers understand the sums involved

Pompey Lad wrote:I have been lurking on the site for some time, and never had much worth contributing.

However, I can recommend the Bristol Bus Routes website at www.bvbg.org.uk/Routes.htm You can check which routes ran in which years, although the maps are a bit disappointing. I came to Bristol as an adult, so do not have that encyclopaedic knowledge which can be gained by the schoolboy. Others will have much more to contribute.

Quite a wealth of information over there

Robin Summerhill wrote:

jules wrote:

caught the 33 bus

I don't wish to hijack this thread, so I'll start a new one about the 33 bus (and others) a little later today

Way way back in the early 1960s, I was happily minding my own business at the bottom of Temple Meads station approach, when a Bath-bound 33 service turned up with the prototype Bristol Lodekka (LC5000 LHY 949) working it. I immediately decided on a quick trip to Keynsham, and that was the only time I ever sat in that particular vehicle.

I've been searching the internet today in vain trying to find a photograph of the prototype, but my search has drawn a blank.

Has anybody else ever seen it and/or have a photograph? I also seem to recall that 5000 was not running in the then-standard Bristol green livery. I seem to recall it being in maroon but that might be the memory playing tricks.

( )

Not that I am much of an authority on these matters but there is a picture of c5000 in "The Bristol Story" Part 1 1908 to 1951 by Alan Townsin, published in June 1996 by Venture Publications (p137) It shows the vehicle on the 131 Bristol - Yate route soon after delivery by Eastern Coachworks in September 1949, yes 1949, it is actually on trade plates 217 AE. The fleet number has yet to be added but it is in Tilling green and cream. (but did it ever go to Cheltenham and District and get repainted)

There is also a photograph of the 2nd prototype LDX.002 which was in the livery of the West Yorkshire Car Co. Fleet no 822. It was like the first one much used by the BTCC as a demonstrator, including appearing at the 1951 Festival of Britain. Delivered on 3rd April 1950 it went to Brighton Hove & District before going to West Yorkshire in June. The West Yorkshire Car Co. livery was standard Tilling red and cream.

So Robin did you ride on LDX.001 or LDX002? The mystery deepens

StrawberryLine wrote:So Robin did you ride on LDX.001 or LDX002? The mystery deepens

Funny you should mention this ....

When I was composing my original post I made reference to a second prototype, then I began to think that I might have dreamed it. Was there a 5001? - I couldn't quite remember for certain.

So I dug into my archives (an Ian Allan book from 1963/64 by which time it/ they were withdrawn) and those from the internet (here: http://www.bristolsu.co.uk/l/fleetlist/ ... amways.htm ) and I found that the registration numbers each side of LHY 949 were accounted for, so I concluded that I was wrong and there was only one. Now you go and post this!

The prototype I rode on was certainly 5000, LHY 949. I don't know if this was LDX001 or LDX 002, but I suspect the former. Does anybody know whether the other prototype entered service with the Bristol company and, whether or not it did, what registration number was allocated to it?

StrawberryLine wrote: soon after delivery by Eastern Coachworks

This reminds me of something else.

Does anybody else remember (you would probably have needed to live in south Bristol in the early 1960s to be able to do so) those poor buggers heavily dressed up to withstand the elements, that drove the bare bus chassis from Brislington to Lowestoft where the body was fitted?

Perhaps this question would be better posed on the "Things that would fall foul of Health & Safety" thread

I remember the bare chassis drivers well Used to see them on the M4 regularly. What a crazy job ... I seem to recall they were provided with plywood cabs in the winter ... I wonder if there are any pictures out there.

(at Schipol at the moment or I'd check myself!)

Was the factory at the top of the hill from Arnos Vale on the left as you go up ? I seem to remember seeing a number of chassis waiting to join the main road to Bath as I passed by on the 33 going to school.

trafalgar45682 wrote:Was the factory at the top of the hill from Arnos Vale on the left as you go up ? I seem to remember seeing a number of chassis waiting to join the main road to Bath as I passed by on the 33 going to school.

Yes. The site is now occupied by a major DIY retailer (or at least it was the last time I was down there)

C5000 was LHY 949, the chassis No. being LDX001. LDX002 was in the West Yorkshire Car Company livery fleet number 822 registration number JWT712. Whilst no doubt the second one came to Brislington on the odd occasion, there is no mention of it ever being part of or registered with the B.O.C.

To keep to a railway theme the Bristol Tramway and Carriage Companys works fronted the North Somerset Line as it went up from Sandy Park Road towards the Bath Road. I also remember seeing the chassis's presumably being driven to Lowestoft on the road, with just a windscreen to protect the driver it must have been a tad draughty, but then no doubt it was also the same for a Dean Goods or 22xx Crew running tender first in the winter. (although they no doubt could warm themselves on the fire)

I'm sure Fray Bentos won't object to me posting this link to one of his Flickr collection. This should show a Bristol chassis in Brislington presumably en route to a body builder
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/200198976/

I like that warm our selves on the fire when running tender first. Not down the filton bank on a day or night like to day very windy and cold.Oh I forgot we could get up in corner lol.

poor buggers heavily dressed up to withstand the elements, that drove the bare bus chassis from Brislington to Lowestoft

Thanks for looking out that pic. Another great one from Mr Bentos

I love the drivers crash helmet! He looks like someone out of Wacky Races or whatever that Dick Dastardly cartoon was ...

Presumably the helmet was more to keep the wind, rain and insects out of their face than for any particular health and safety reason. A bus chassis is hardly going to fall over and tree branches aren't generally that low on the road.

I'm surprised on hot days the radiator was any good at slow road speeds, with nothing surrounding it for the fan to suck through.

The Father of my best mate at the time worked in the drawing office at BCV - Len Norman. He had been there all his life, worked on Lodekka's and RE's and VR's. He stayed on until the bitter end and then retired. I should have taken more notice - I can remember him complaining about being sold out to Leyland and that their National replacement for his beloved RE was - well, his comments were unrepeatable, but began with "Northern" *0!x&*x! and ended with "crap".

He used to say the RE stood for "racing engine" and a lot of Bristol bus drivers apparently agreed. They were the fastest buses in the west. I was once in the car with my Father waiting at red lights behind an RE. One minute it was there, the next it was gone!

Probably as fast as a Western or a Warship (railway thread retained!)

carpetcone wrote:I'm sure Fray Bentos won't object to me posting this link to one of his Flickr collection. This should show a Bristol chassis in Brislington presumably en route to a body builder
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos/200198976/

That's not just A chassis, but a Bristol RE no less!

Robin Summerhill wrote:Way way back in the early 1960s, I was happily minding my own business at the bottom of Temple Meads station approach, when a Bath-bound 33 service turned up with the prototype Bristol Lodekka (LC5000 LHY 949) working it. I immediately decided on a quick trip to Keynsham, and that was the only time I ever sat in that particular vehicle.

I've been searching the internet today in vain trying to find a photograph of the prototype, but my search has drawn a blank.

Has anybody else ever seen it and/or have a photograph? I also seem to recall that 5000 was not running in the then-standard Bristol green livery. I seem to recall it being in maroon but that might be the memory playing tricks.

I found this message, and this forum, quite by chance while surfing the web. As it is something I recall, I registered here.

I remember bus LC5000 only too well. In 1961-62 I was at Bristol Grammar school, and as we lived off Wells Road it needed a daily bus journey. The main number 3 bus route ran from Whitchurch village, but plenty of duplicates in the morning rush hour started from just round the corner in New Fosseway Road, where you could board while it was waiting. LC5000 was a standard vehicle on the departure that left shortly after 8 am. It wasn't doing the whole route, just going to the Centre, so it became my regular transport.

(incidentally, while waiting to leave it was common to see a couple of those bare bus chassis also discussed above pass by, heading south down Wells Road, driven by men dressed up in kit like the Michelin Man).

LC5000 seemed underpowered. After the Imperial Ground, the steep pull up to Knowle (does this hill have a name?) was a challenge if well loaded. Down into second, slower and slower, and then a final attempt at changing down into bottom on the move was rarely successful, I think there was no synchromesh, and it would just stop. Into bottom gear, rev the engine, both hands to release the handbrake (yes, really), and with much vibration and engine noise, but not a lot of forward speed, it would restart and crawl up at about 3 mph. We knew it as "that old bus", although I didn't realise at all that it was unique.

It seemed to do other jobs around as well, I recall it coming along Stockwood Road in Sturminster, not on a regular run but as a school special, on a few occasions. It would be a handy lowbridge bus to get under the old low bridge on West Town Lane. It operated from the garage in Brislington, next to where it was built.

I recall the livery as almost standard, but it seemed to have a bit more cream on it. The bus was 12-13 years old by then, and apart from being underpowered it just looked old and battered by this time.

I would put more here but this forum seems mostly about trains! Haven't lived in Bristol since those times. Goodness, 50 years ago, long ago and far away.

Bill wrote: I would put more here but this forum seems mostly about trains!

At the risk of incurring the wrath of the Administrator, stick around! Its not all about trains

But in truth, all buses of that era were underpowered when compared with today. I lived in Stockwood 1964-1970 and the Lodekkas that were used on the 145 (later 40) service all used to crawl up Red Lion Hill (that's the name of the hill you were looking for ) even with a relatively small payload.

Should you ever find yourself at one of the many classic bus rallies that take place around the country you can confirm this for yourself. A couple of years ago now I attended the Bristol Rally based at Brislington Park & Ride/ Flowers Hill and had a ride on the preserved KSW Lowbridge L8089 (OHY 938) into the Centre.

Its "performance" was such that, had I been on a steam special I would have confidently expected it to "stop for a blow up" coming up the hill from the former Brislington depot towards Brislington village!

I never knew that LC5000 was ever allocated to Brislington - I thought it was always based at Lawrence Hill. But if it worked the 3s, that would suggest it was attached to either Brislington or Muller Road depots for part of its life in service