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[Seth]

ok,
A 36foot willowbrook bodied PSu3/2R leyland of 1962. 614BBO
 

Correct again Jon!

Eighteen 36ft Leyland Leopards arrived in 1962, and were numbered 601 - 618 (601 BBO etc).
They were of the PSU3/2R model, with 0.600 engines and 4-speed semi-auto gearboxes. Willowbrook of Loughborough built the 54-seat bodies.

The lion's share were allocated to Bridgend, essentially for the trunk routes up along the three valleys that radiated northwards therefrom.
Most put in a 15-year stint, and were in use 18 hours per day, seven days a week!




Here's 602 arriving at Bridgend, all blinded-up in readiness for it's return working.
This view dates from the mid-60s: The bus has undergone it's first repaint at this time, and displays the later 'boxed-in' fleetname transfer and ultimate WW logo on the front panel. Just visible above the O/S fleet-number is a blue diamond - which confirms it's home depot is indeed Bridgend.

There was a tradition of displaying a Western Welsh vehicle at the annual Commercial Motor Show. 602 was one such example, and it retained a leather-clad steering wheel throughout it's entire working life. The lack of power steering made these heavy beasts to handle, though they were extremely reliable machines.

[Seth]

And talking of heavy steering, here's the chap who honed my skills in the art of handling a 36-footer within the restricted confines of the garage:


From the long, hot Summer of 1976, here's the late Arthur Smith, who was a shed driver at Bridgend.
At that time, he was already a '30-year man' who proudly wore his long service medal at all times whence on duty. His years of experience made him a most patient instructor, and his home-made lemon sponge cakes were an absolute 'must have' with a welcoming cuppa on an afternoon shift!

Flanking Arthur is Conductress Evelyn Underhill, whose amazing sense of humour and inimitable laughter would have us lads in stitches every day. She passed away quite recently - both are sadly missed here.   

[jonnycool]

Got any pics of a bit of 'heavy manoeuvring' Seth?

[Vamps]

We forget how easy modern psv and hgv are to drive these days, when i passed my tests thy were both 60's vehicles with crash gearboxes and certainly no power steering..........psv 1965? Bedford, hgv 1953 Commer....

[Seth]

Got any pics of a bit of 'heavy manoeuvring' Seth?

You asked for it dear boy ................

When a vehicle failed during the National Bus Company era, the nearest depot would inevitably be called upon to provide the necessary assistance.
As the M4 motorway crossed our patch, I and a fellow engineering colleague had previously recovered this coach therefrom - and also duly spent some considerable time cleaning-up the hard shoulder in the aftermath!




In order to release the coach, we had to undertake some serious shunting within Bridgend's large garage on a sunny Sunday morning in the Summer of 1980.


Cheltenham-based Leyland Leopard 129, from the National Travel (South West) Ltd fleet, had suffered a major failure of it's 0.680 engine - as evidenced by the oil-splattered side panels.
Maintenance standards were of the highest order at Cheltenham, and this really was an uncommon occurrence. 




Safely hitched-up to NTSW's AEC Marshal wrecker, and after a quick cuppa, 129 will begin the long trek back to Cheltenham for expert attention.
Such long-distance towing operations were quite common at this time, and the wreckers' 12.47-litre AV760 motor would have taken all this in it's stride!

[Vamps]

One little Amber light, nowadays they are lit up like Blackpool illuminations.....

[flyer 0712]

A friend of mine just came back from Malta and said that those nice old buses have to be replaced by new one now 

[The Red Baron]

A friend of mine just came back from Malta and said that those nice old buses have to be replaced by new one now 

as far as i know theve been on about that for a while now.

[jonnycool]

What's that coach being towed Seth? I was about 9 when this photo was taken, I remember that shape vaguely...

[Seth]

It's a Willowbrook 'Spacecar' body mounted on the trusty Leyland Leopard chassis.

National Travel South West received around a dozen of these ungainly coaches in the late-70s - this offering was Willowbrook's assault on a marketplace that was then dominated by Duple and Plaxton.
Within a comparatively short space of time, they were dispersed around various other NBC subsidiaries, and many ended their days with Irish operators - so I'm reliably informed!




Here's 131, sporting the 'stripey' NBC 'express' coach livery after transfer to Devon General.
The observant will notice the alternating blue/red seating arrangement, which was a contemporary NBC diktat for coaches employed on touring duties. It also decreed that coaches should carry either 'National Express' or 'National Holidays' livery at this time.

[Seth]

Below is an 'action shot' of Swansea-bound 131 in 'as delivered' allover white with NATIONAL fleetnames.

The photo was actually taken from overtaking Exeter-bound sister coach 127 on a sunny Summer evening in 1978:


Crossing Wiltshire near Chippenham, here's Swansea (North Dock) man Howell John thrashing westwards along the M4 with the 1830 London Victoria to Swansea service.

The 660 route was branded "The Red Dragon - Y Ddraig Goch" and linked Swansea with the Capital on a two-hourly frequency at this time.
 

[jonnycool]

I bet it was a great laugh working on the buses mate, sounds like you got to know a few characters eh? Be good to see a few of them 

 Enjoying the old photos, keep 'em coming 

[Seth]

Taken around 1968, below are a few characters on duty in the garage doorway at Bridgend.
As Western Welsh's biggest depot, there were almost 100 buses 'on shed' there at that time.


L-R: Fitter Alan Nelson, Inspector Eric Jones, Fitter Lew Cleaver, Shed-driver Joe Lloyd, Cleaner George Jones.
In the background is Leyland Tiger Cub 1132, blinded-up for a trip to Ogmore-by-Sea on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.

Apparently, Eric's claim to fame was that he never actually paid for his cuppas in the canteen during his entire 40+ years career at Bridgend!

It's appropriate to mention that not only did Alan pass-on his considerable mechanical knowledge and skills on 'all things Leyland' to this scribe - he also taught this lad to master the art of driving buses equipped with crash gearboxes.

Oh, and he also kindly supplied this photograph for inclusion here!

[dad1uk]

The industry both bus and coach was full of real characters, all, or certainly most dead by now. The unfortunate thing is some of the younger drivers who are following them them through will never live up to their predecessors.
This is partly down to the strict rules and regulations they now work under...... especially drivers hours, limiters and tachographs and I suppose VOSA deserve a mention.....

Keep the photo's coming Seth!
it's real nostalgia!

[Seth]

At the turn of the 1960s, declining passenger numbers essentially forced bus operators to seek major operational economies, and rapid introduction of 'one-man operation' was the order of the day.
Our neighbouring Swansea-based South Wales Transport Co set about converting many routes from crew-operated double-deck operation to single-deck OMO.

Always ardent AEC operators, the company introduced a substantial number of these 36ft AEC Reliances, which boasted an attractive cherry/primrose livery with copious amounts of Herzim polished aluminium mouldings thrown-in for good measure. Being 6MU2R models, they had the lively 8.2-litre AH505 engine driving through 4-speed semi-automatic gearboxes.
The Marshall 51-seat bodies featured forced-air ventilation and extra-width entrances for ease of passenger flow:



Brunswick-based 972 is seen above at the Pentrepoeth Road stance on Morriston Cross when only a few days old, in the charge of my old friend/colleague Eric "Paddy" Somers on the busy cross-city 90 service, which was an early convert to OMO.
Although this big-hearted native of the Emerald Isle didn't suffer fools gladly, he was a brilliant jovial character who could really handle a 36-footer confidently and safely. His passengers loved him too!

A truly evocative shot that perfectly captures the mood of British life during my early years in the bus industry - with not a chav in sight!

(BTW; this location is just around the corner from our Plomien's gaffe!)