The new bus station in Wigan town centre, opened on Sunday October 28th 2018. Ray Smyth.
oiltreader:
Bedford Val livery variety.
Oily
Wallace Arnold (Leeds) had a few, I drove one or two of them usually weekends fetching holiday folk back fro Manchester Airport. A decent drive but I always thought they needed a bigger engine.
One of a kind.
Oily
“AEC Sparshatts Airport Bus
1972, Aircraft Park, On long term display
This unusual coach was built in 1972 by Sparshatts of Portsmouth (later part of Wadham Stringer group of companies) for use at Bangladesh Airport. Due to internal problems in that country, it was never delivered and was registered in Britain as LLH 889K on 7th April 1972 then operated instead by British Airways at HeathrowAirport.
The unusual feature of a door at the front of the bus unfortunately makes it illegal to operate on public roads so it is therefore restricted to an airport site. It was donated to The Aerospace Museum at RAF Cosford in 1982 for display with other exhibits forming the BritishAirwaysMuseum.
Following the dispersal of the British Airways exhibits at the RAF Museum at Cosford in 2006, this unique vehicle was donated to Brooklands Museum.”
TruckNetUK . Old Time Lorries . Buses,Motorcoaches & Lorries. Page 16. Midland Red,Birmingham,Manchester,AEC Fronts,etc . VALKYRIE . 1918-2018 100TH Anniversary Armistice,Tuesday,13th November,2018.
Concealed radiators with New Look Radiator Grilles which covered the erstwhile exposed radiators date back to the 1930s at least,intially on motorcars,followed by lorries,buses and motorcoaches.
But mass acceptance of the New Look in the United Kingdom bus and motorcoach operating industry,especially in regard to double decker buses,didn’t take hold until the 1945 to 1956 period. The Birmingham Midland Motor Omnibus Company - Midland Red had already built a prototype Midland Red Front in 1942 on BMMO-Midland Red SOS FEDD,Brush Double Decker Bus,EHA 299,Midland Red,No.2167,of 1938.
The BMMO-Midland Red D1,Midland Red Front,/Weymann Double Decker Bus,Prototype,HHA 1, 1945,Midland Red,No.2541 came out in 1945,production versions,designated D5 and D5B were produced from 1949 to 1952.
D5/Brush,100 produced 1949-1950:MHA 457-556,fleet nos.3457-3556. D5B/Brush,100 produced 1950-1952:NHA 777-856,fleet nos.3777-3856.
Meanwhile,the first production Midland Red Front double decker buses were a batch of 100 using AEC Regent MkII O661/20 chassis,which were produced from 1948 to 1950,the first 50 had Brush bodies,JHA 1-50,fleet nos.3100-49 and were produced in 1948. The final 50 had Metro-Cammell bodies,JHA 51-100,fleet nos.3150-99 and entered service in 1949-1950. The BMMO-Midland Red type code was AD2.
The BMMO-Midland Red Front was a major influence in the growing trend of concealing traditional exposed radiators of double decker buses - especially double decker buses - and single decker buses and motorcoaches in the British Public Service Vehicle manufacturing and operating industries in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Please see my survey of the various fronts of Leyland Titan PDs,after the Daimler section, on Page 14 of this thread 
:-
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=156479&start=390
The near neighbour of BMMO-Midland Red,Birmingham City Transport,in the late 1940s-early 1950s was taking delivery of a large fleet of new Birmingham Standard Double Decker Buses,made up of mainly Crossley,Daimler and Guy chassis with Metro-Cammell and Crossley bodies.The vast majority of these Standards had a standardised radiator grille irrespective of the marque of chassis,and became known as the Birmingham Front.
As with the Midland Red Front,the Birmingham Front also became popular in other bus fleets in the United Kingdom.
Birmingham Midland Motor Omnibus-BMMO-Midland Red D5,Midland Red Front/Brush H30/26R Double Decker Omnibus,MHA 482,Smethwick,1949,BMMO-Midland Red,No.3482. MidlandRed.Net.1#
Crossley DD42/6,Birmingham Front/Crossley H30/24R Double Decker Omnibus,Chassis No.95177, JOJ 489,8-1950,Birmingham,No.2489.A Birmingham Standard. Showbus 2012.1#
The last homemarket exposed radiator Damlers were built for Belfast in 1953.All other Daimler halfcab double decker buses were now fitted with
Birmingham Fronts,until the Manchester Front became the standard front end on Daimler front-engined halfcab double deckers omnibuses in 1957.
The Manchester Front end assembly was made of glass fibre reinforced plastics and gave better visibility on the front left hand side,compared to the New Look Fronts,because of the narrower bonnet and lower front-wing wheel-housing. It was designed with the help of Manchester Corporation
Transport - hence the Manchester Front name 1957-1971.
Daimler CVG6DD,Manchester Front/Roe H26/33R Double Decker Omnibus,Chassis No.20198,Body No.GO6622, JVV 267G,10-1968,Northampton,No.267.Last Daimler front-engined bus to be sold in the United Kingdom.Flickr.1#
The principle optional radiator and radiator grille fronts for Postwar AEC Regent Half Cab Double Decker Bus models on the home market 1945 to 1968 were:-
A.Traditional exposed radiator,chromium-plated and cast aluminium options - the cast aluminium version became the standard version. 1945-1957.
Fitted to Regent MkII,Regent MkIII and Regent MkV models.
B.The London Transport AEC Regent RT exposed cast aluminium radiator,which had the beautiful and usual AEC styling,had a lower profile and softer look,unique to the RT.1939-1942.1946-1954.
C.Midland Red Front.As has already been documented above,BMMO-Midland Red bought AEC Regent MkII O661/20 chassis with Brush and Metro Cammell double decker bus bodies as the first production buses with the New Look Midland Red Front 1948-1950.
D.Birmingham Front Radiator Grille,1952 - circa 1954.
E.Birmingham-Liverpool Front Radiator Grille,1953-1955. Unique to Liverpool.
F.Birmingham-Liverpool-Glasgow-Aberdeen Front Radiator Grille. Liverpool,Glasgow and Aberdeen,1955-circa 1959? 
G.AEC Tin Front Radiator Grille for Tin Front MkIII - Tin Front MkV bus models,1954-1968. The design was inspired by the beautiful Rover P4-P5 motorcar models radiator grille,and suited AEC motor vehicles very well The original AEC Tin Front Radiator Grille had vertical bars,which were replaced by fine mesh grille panels phased in 1958-1959 with the introduction of the MkV Lorry Range. This radiator grille was also fitted to certain full-fronted Regent MkVs and Regent MkV single deckers.
NOTE: The AEC Rover P4-P5 style radiator grille continued to be fitted on certain home market and export models after 1968 until the very unfortunate,needless and futile end of AEC production in 1979.
H.AEC - PRV = Park Royal Vehicles Routmaster London Transport RM,RMA,RMC,RMF,RML,RCL Classes Double Decker Omnibuses and Motorcoaches had its own style of radiator grille loosely based on the AEC Rover P4-P5 style radiator grille. 1958-1968.
AEC Regent MkV/Willowbrook H30/26RD,Beverley Bar Domed Roof,Double Decker Omnibus,Chassis No.MD3RV272,Body No.56819, VKH 44,Kingston-Upon-Hull,11-1956,East Yorkshire,No.644.Preserved.BeverleyFM.1#
This beautiful AEC Regent MkV Beverley Bar East Yorkshire DD Bus,VKH 44,is fitted with the standard exposed cast aluminium radiator for 1945 to
1957 provincial AEC Regent MkII,MkIII and MkV models.
AEC Regent MkIII RT/Park Royal H30/26R Double Decker Omnibus,Chassis No.09616056,Body No.L276, LYR 641,London,8-1951,London Transport RT2657.Preserved. London Bus Museum.1#
The AEC RT radiator had the beautiful and usual AEC styling,but had a lower profile and softer look,unique to the RT. Although a number of provincial AEC RTs were supplied to operators such as Birmingham,West Riding,Coventry,Aberdeen,
Halifax,Devon General,Grimsby,etc,some of which didn’t have RT-style bodies.
AEC Regent MkIII,Birmingham Front/Weymann Aurora H30/26R Double Decker Omnibus,Chassis No.9613S7173,Body No.M5523, NTT 679,Devon,1-1953,Devon General,No.DR679.Prerserved.John Stringer.1#
AEC Regent MkIII,Birmingham Front/Crossley H30/26R DD Bus,C. No.9613S7655, NKD 536,11-1953,Liverpool,No.A 36 & AEC Regent MkV,Birmingham Front/Metro-Cammell H33/29R DD Bus,C.No.D3RV267, VKB 900,9-1957,Liverpool,No.A 267.1#
LEFT:NKD 536 has the Liverpool version of the Birmingham Front. RIGHT:VKB 900 has the Birmingham-Liverpool-Glasgow-Aberdeen Front Radiator Grille.
Rover P4 110,4-Door,4-Light,Saloon-Sedan Motorcar,1964,CAS 232,Nairnshire - age related.Re-engined with Ford 552 CID - 9,047CC Big Block V8 & C6 3-Speed Automatic Gearbox.Quarter mile @ 11.3 seconds! 
Engine Swap Depot.1# A most un- Auntie Rover-like performance! 
QUOTE Rover One Of Britain’s Fine Motorcars UNQUOTE. A famous Rover advertising slogan Rover One of Britain’s fine motorcars indeed!
This great slogan could also very rightly apply to A E C : AEC One Of Britain’s Fine Commercial Vehicles …
Anyway,the Rover P4-P5 motorcar models radiator grille was a major influence in the design of the AEC Tin Front MkIII and MkV radiator grille
AEC Regent MkV/Roe H34/32RD,Beverley Bar Domed Roof,Double Decker Omnibus,Chassis No.LD3RA379,Body No.GO4521,WAT 652,Kingston-Upon-Hull,11-1957,East Yorkshire,No.652.Preserved.JamesHorrellPhotography.1#
This beautiful AEC Regent MkV Beverley Bar East Yorkshire DD Bus,WAT 652,has the original style of AEC Tin Front MkIII - MkV radiator grille which
has vertical bars on the grille,which were superseded by fine mesh grille panels phased in during 1958-1959.
AEC Mammoth Major Eight Tin Front MkIII,Tillitson-Cabbed,Flat-Bodied,R8x2 or R8x4 Lorry,JCW 175,Burnley,6-1959,Allisons Freightlines.Has fine-mesh radiator grille.Peter Davies.1#
VALKYRIE
As ever wonderful stuff Valkerie.
Just as a added bit of info, the Birmingham City Transport Crossley is wearing its wheel trims, as did many other New Look Birmingham tin fronts.
The trims where soon discarded as it was thought they contributed to overheating of the brakes.
Likewise the front edge of the front wings had a section cut off raising them to allow more air to flow over the front brakes.
City stage carriage works places huge demands on the brakes of course.
All the standard Birmingham vehicles had vacuum assisted brakes fitted with Birminghams own design of auto brake adjuster.
My recollection was that they never kept up with the actual wear on the brake lining.
When the Fleetlines arrived they had a similar system which did the opposite and had a tendency to over rack.
I can recall unladen Fleetlines travelling through the soapy water from the washing machine in the depot with the visible front wheel locked !
Another view of the Ribble Bus Station in Tithebarn Street in Preston in the early 1960s.
Ray Smyth.
Ribble Leyland Atlantean 1954 is reversing off the Ribble bus station in Tithebarn Street, Preston,
about to return to Wigan via Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Coppull, and Standish. This bus was based
at Ribble Wigan depot, just 2 miles from where Northern Counties built the bodywork. NMP
Ray Smyth.
Ray Smyth:
Another view of the Ribble Bus Station in Tithebarn Street in Preston in the early 1960s.
Ray Smyth.
Lovely photo Ray, thank you. The first three, at least, are from the Scout fleet - as they are in Ribble colours, I’d suggest that that would place the photo as post-1963 or so - I think it was about that time that they were repainted
oiltreader:
One of a kind.
Oily
“AEC Sparshatts Airport Bus
1972, Aircraft Park, On long term display
This unusual coach was built in 1972 by Sparshatts of Portsmouth (later part of Wadham Stringer group of companies) for use at Bangladesh Airport. Due to internal problems in that country, it was never delivered and was registered in Britain as LLH 889K on 7th April 1972 then operated instead by British Airways at HeathrowAirport.
The unusual feature of a door at the front of the bus unfortunately makes it illegal to operate on public roads so it is therefore restricted to an airport site. It was donated to The Aerospace Museum at RAF Cosford in 1982 for display with other exhibits forming the BritishAirwaysMuseum.
Following the dispersal of the British Airways exhibits at the RAF Museum at Cosford in 2006, this unique vehicle was donated to Brooklands Museum.”
I’don’t know if I’m in the right " quote" bit but looking at the Rover reminded me of a very good friend of mine John Derbyshire from Ashbourne who worked for Trent and what he didn’t know about Gardner and S.O.S. engines was superb.He put a Gardner into his Armstong Siddely.I think there was a Bentley going about with a Gardner Engine somewhere
rastone:
oiltreader:
One of a kind.
Oily
“AEC Sparshatts Airport Bus
1972, Aircraft Park, On long term display
This unusual coach was built in 1972 by Sparshatts of Portsmouth (later part of Wadham Stringer group of companies) for use at Bangladesh Airport. Due to internal problems in that country, it was never delivered and was registered in Britain as LLH 889K on 7th April 1972 then operated instead by British Airways at HeathrowAirport.
The unusual feature of a door at the front of the bus unfortunately makes it illegal to operate on public roads so it is therefore restricted to an airport site. It was donated to The Aerospace Museum at RAF Cosford in 1982 for display with other exhibits forming the BritishAirwaysMuseum.
Following the dispersal of the British Airways exhibits at the RAF Museum at Cosford in 2006, this unique vehicle was donated to Brooklands Museum.”I’don’t know if I’m in the right " quote" bit but looking at the Rover reminded me of a very good friend of mine John Derbyshire from Ashbourne who worked for Trent and what he didn’t know about Gardner and S.O.S. engines was superb.He put a Gardner into his Armstong Siddely.I think there was a Bentley going about with a Gardner Engine somewhere
‘Gingerfold’ will undoubtedly have more detail, but I think it was Hugh Gardner who had a Gardner-engined Bentley, and I have a feeling that there was a Gardner-engined Lagonda at the factory too. I’ve seen LK engines in a Mk IX Jaguar and also a Series 1 Land Rover and an early Range Rover, not to mention an LC Morris Commercial
pyewacket947v:
As ever wonderful stuff Valkerie.
Could not agree more “pyewacket947v” what a great post. A lot of time and effort has gone into that post ! 
240 Gardner:
rastone:
oiltreader:
One of a kind.
Oily
“AEC Sparshatts Airport Bus
1972, Aircraft Park, On long term display
This unusual coach was built in 1972 by Sparshatts of Portsmouth (later part of Wadham Stringer group of companies) for use at Bangladesh Airport. Due to internal problems in that country, it was never delivered and was registered in Britain as LLH 889K on 7th April 1972 then operated instead by British Airways at HeathrowAirport.
The unusual feature of a door at the front of the bus unfortunately makes it illegal to operate on public roads so it is therefore restricted to an airport site. It was donated to The Aerospace Museum at RAF Cosford in 1982 for display with other exhibits forming the BritishAirwaysMuseum.
Following the dispersal of the British Airways exhibits at the RAF Museum at Cosford in 2006, this unique vehicle was donated to Brooklands Museum.”I’don’t know if I’m in the right " quote" bit but looking at the Rover reminded me of a very good friend of mine John Derbyshire from Ashbourne who worked for Trent and what he didn’t know about Gardner and S.O.S. engines was superb.He put a Gardner into his Armstong Siddely.I think there was a Bentley going about with a Gardner Engine somewhere
‘Gingerfold’ will undoubtedly have more detail, but I think it was Hugh Gardner who had a Gardner-engined Bentley, and I have a feeling that there was a Gardner-engined Lagonda at the factory too. I’ve seen LK engines in a Mk IX Jaguar and also a Series 1 Land Rover and an early Range Rover, not to mention an LC Morris Commercial
Correct, there was the 4LW powered Bentley that won its class in the Monte Carlo Rally (when it was a prestigious event.) Lagonda, Alvis, Jags all have had Gardner transplants, sales director Dion Houghton had a Jag XK150 with a Gardner engine, and there’s Paul Gardner’s Invicta with one of the three 6LKs that were made. No doubt there will be other makes of car with Gardner engines, the 4LK was a popular transplant because of its outstanding fuel economy.
Mate of mine in London back in the '70s had a Mk6 Bentley with a 4LK. He was a lorry driver I can only guess where his fuel originated from . I rode in it a couple of times, it went OK but had a horrible vibration right through the bodywork on idle.
Bernard
This bus was one of a small fleet run by Percy Dunning from Great Ayton in North Yorkshire. School trips i can remember travelling on this.
A Wilts & Dorset Bristol Lodekka from 1963 on route 5 from Marlborough to Salisbury.
It is seen here at The Ship Inn, Upavon, Wiltshire, waiting for its connection with
another Wilts & Dorset cross country bus. Picture by M.R.Hodges.
Ray Smyth.
