Ray Smyth:
Bristol Omnibus Co. Fleet No. LC5000, Reg.No. LHY 949 was the first of 2 Bristol Lodekka prototypes.
Picture by M.Mogridge.
I believe this was the second one
Regards John.
Ribble Albion Lowlander, 1855 is passing through Market Place, Wigan, on route 356 to Ormskirk.
The Wigan Corporation Leyland PD3 is at the start of its local journey to Ashton In Makerfield on
route 2. The Ford D Series at the rear is a local lorry, but I cant remember whose it was.
Ray Smyth.
old 67:
Ray Smyth:
Bristol Omnibus Co. Fleet No. LC5000, Reg.No. LHY 949 was the first of 2 Bristol Lodekka prototypes.
Picture by M.Mogridge.I believe this was the second one
0Regards John.
Yes John, This was the second prototype. Regards, Ray.
Carryfast:
cav551:
This weekend sees a celebration of the RT and RF buses’ significant anniversaries. 80 years since the first RT entered service and 40 years since both the RT and RF were withdrawn from service. There will be a recreation of the Last RT bus route - 62 - to run into Barking Garage.There was also also an RF tribute run in Kingston etc last Sunday and I got caught in loads of traffic with some of them there on Sunday evening.I had to use the 213 to go to New Malden because the car was off the road waiting for new road tax.Circumstances mixed with memories brought a few tears to my eyes seeing them there again.
You were getting emotional about AECs CF ? 
Ray Smyth:
Abbotts of Blackpool had a fine fleet of AEC Coaches. The location is the Promenade in Blackpool,
North Pier is on the left, and Clifton Square on the right, where the Fylde Borough Transport bus
is waiting to head south to St Annes and Lytham.
I remember them as a kid on our annual hols in Blackpool, didnt Blackpool council run Swifts too?
Ray Smyth:
Abbotts of Blackpool had a fine fleet of AEC Coaches. The location is the Promenade in Blackpool,
North Pier is on the left, and Clifton Square on the right, where the Fylde Borough Transport bus
is waiting to head south to St Annes and Lytham.
I remember them as a kid on our annual hols in Blackpool, didnt Blackpool council run Swifts too?
ramone:
You were getting emotional about AECs CF ?
It’s the memories of the times and the people,that just photos,let alone then seeing so many of them driving through a place often no longer recognisable,bring back.Losing my mum recently and the memories of waiting for the bus there with her to get home from shopping trips etc,when every bus you’d see/use in Kingston was either an RT or an RF and a few RM’s,made that an emotional sight and a strange coincidence having had to use the bus because I had to wait until the following week to tax the car.
ramone:
Ray Smyth:
Abbotts of Blackpool had a fine fleet of AEC Coaches. The location is the Promenade in Blackpool,
North Pier is on the left, and Clifton Square on the right, where the Fylde Borough Transport bus
is waiting to head south to St Annes and Lytham.I remember them as a kid on our annual hols in Blackpool, didnt Blackpool council run Swifts too?
Yes they did:
Blackpool Swift / Marshall. by Martyn Hearson, on Flickr
Ray Smyth:
Bristol Lodekka en route to Ventnor, Isle Of Wight.
Picture by Martin S Curtis.
I was a trainee spanner-chucker when the first of these came to Gloucester depot, although our’s were front entrance. There was great interest in the depot as they were seen to be a great leap forward in 1960 with their improved comfort, lighting, etc.
Except for that same old engine, of course!
Hi ROF, Here is a picture of a Hants & Dorset “Front Loader” just like you had in Gloucester.
Depending on when you emigrated to The Peoples Republic Of Macclesfield, do you have any
pictures of Macclesfield buses in the 1960s & 1970s ? Your area would have had buses from
North Western Road Car Co. Crosville, and PMT, Potteries Motor Traction. I used to think
that PMT meant something to do with ladies problems. 
Regards, Ray.
There are several videos of Last Saturday’s event at Barking Garage to recreate the Last running of Route 62 with RT buses in 1979. This one shows the buses leaving Barking Garage to take up service for the day on Barking Garage routes. What a shame the Bimmer driver didn’t have to wait a little longer. 
Over 25 preserved LTs! I wish we could do as well in France!
1976 Plaxton bodied Seddon Atkinson
Ray Smyth:
Hi ROF, Here is a picture of a Hants & Dorset “Front Loader” just like you had in Gloucester.
Depending on when you emigrated to The Peoples Republic Of Macclesfield, do you have any
pictures of Macclesfield buses in the 1960s & 1970s ? Your area would have had buses from
North Western Road Car Co. Crosville, and PMT, Potteries Motor Traction. I used to think
that PMT meant something to do with ladies problems.
Thanks for the Lodekka shot, Ray. I got dragged up to Macclesfield in the nineties and have to admit that I didn’t take much notice of what passed for public service vehicles in those days. Apart from the ever-present Bostock’s coaches who have been the ■■■■ of jokes in this part of the world since Adam was a lad!
Carryfast:
ramone:
You were getting emotional about AECs CF ?It’s the memories of the times and the people,that just photos,let alone then seeing so many of them driving through a place often no longer recognisable,bring back.Losing my mum recently and the memories of waiting for the bus there with her to get home from shopping trips etc,when every bus you’d see/use in Kingston was either an RT or an RF and a few RM’s,made that an emotional sight and a strange coincidence having had to use the bus because I had to wait until the following week to tax the car.
I know exactly where you are coming from with my dad going recently and my mum on a trip of no return , these old photos are worth their weight in gold for memories alone
ramone:
Carryfast:
It’s the memories of the times and the people,that just photos,let alone then seeing so many of them driving through a place often no longer recognisable,bring back.Losing my mum recently and the memories of waiting for the bus there with her to get home from shopping trips etc,when every bus you’d see/use in Kingston was either an RT or an RF and a few RM’s,made that an emotional sight and a strange coincidence having had to use the bus because I had to wait until the following week to tax the car.I know exactly where you are coming from with my dad going recently and my mum on a trip of no return , these old photos are worth their weight in gold for memories alone
Memories can be a problem for me I think they call it complicated grief when memories can often trigger a very sad reaction of loss and not a comforting one.Maybe not helped because I also just took it for granted that those times and older friends and family would be around forever at that age. 
flickr.com/photos/megaanorak … 160409178/
flickr.com/photos/megaanorak … 160409178/
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flickr.com/photos/megaanorak … 160409178/
flickr.com/photos/megaanorak … 160409178/
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flickr.com/photos/megaanorak … 160409178/
Dennis Loline of Reading Corporation with bodywork by East Lancs of Blackburn.
I believe the Dennis Loline buses were basically a Bristol Lodekka, built under
licence by Dennis Motors of Guildfordin Surrey.
Ray.
I believe that Dennis Lolines were the most hated (by the fitters) busses that Reading Corporation ran, I knew some and they had not a good word to say about them!
Pete.
Wigan Corporation Leyland PD1 No. 34 is seen at Station Road in Wigan on route 10
to Worsley Mesnes. I think this picture will be from the late 1950s or early 1960s.
At the rear is the ABC Cinema, formerly “The Ritz”, I cant make out the name of the
film that is being shown, but some film buffs will recognise the names of Leslie Carron
and Mel Ferrer. The Vauxhall on the left has a “Company Of Veteran Motorists” badge.
I passed my PSV Driving Test on Leyland 34 in October 1966.
Ray Smyth.
