Bristol LH
Encyclopedia
The Bristol LH was a bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles
(BCV) in Bristol
, England. Nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and 1982 in a variety of sizes and body types, including some as goods vehicles.
B Series for operators in need of a small or lightweight bus. The Bristol RE
was in production at the same time for those in need of larger or more robust vehicles
The standard Bristol LH model was 30 feet (9.1 m) long. It was also available as the 26 feet (7.9 m) LHS (LH Short) and the 36 feet (11 m) LHL (LH Long). It was available in two widths, initially 7.5 feet (2.3 m) and later also 8.17 feet (2.5 m).
The bus was available with a choice of six cylinder diesel engines, either the Leyland O.400 (later replaced by the Leyland O.401) or the Perkins H6.354. The 5.8 litre H6.354 produced 101 bhp; the 6.54 litre O.401 produced 138 bhp. The usual gearbox was a Turner Clarke synchronized five-speed model equipped with manually-selected overdrive. Some buses were fitted with a semi-automatic transmission and power steering. The engine was positioned in the centre of the chassis but its relatively high position meant that several steps were needed in the entrance. This was arranged in the overhang ahead of the front wheels allowing one-man operation (as it was known in those days) with the driver taking the fares and issuing tickets as passengers boarded. The radiator was positioned at the front of the chassis. The suspension was by half-elliptical leaf springs, although BCV had offered pneumatic suspension on heavier buses since 1962.
Bodies were fitted by different manufacturers, who adapted them to the needs of different operators. Bodies could be fitted out as buses, coaches or dual purpose buses which could be used for coach services when traffic demanded. Bus bodies usually came from the Eastern Coach Works
(ECW), which was owned by the same Transport Holding Company
. This was a government-owned company but Leyland had acquired a 25% share in 1965. Plaxton
bodies were preferred for coaches. Other manufacturers of bodies for the LH were Walter Alexander
, Duple
, East Lancashire
, Marshall
, Northern Counties, Weymann
and Willowbrook.
For the standard LH the 31-seat Plaxton coach and 41-seat ECW bus of ECW were most widely used; the bus bodies manufactured in Belfast
by Alexander for Ulsterbus
had 45 seats. The LHS was produced as both buses and coaches with 26 to 35 seats. The LHL had up to 53 seats as a coach or 55 as a bus. Between 1975 and 1982 Vanplan built eight with delivery van bodies.
Altogether nearly 2,000 LHs were built: 1,505 LH, 174 LHL and 308 LHS.
operated 41 LHs with Walter Alexander Y-type bodies and Perkins engines in Scotland. All but the last three were coaches.
received six LH buses in 1971 with semi-automatic gearboxes. A further 110 (with manual gearboxes) were ordered for delivery between 1975 and 1980. A few more buses were acquired second hand including two LHSs from London Country.
NB 351-356 were initially B44F but rebuilt with one less seat to allow a window to be inserted in the rear panel to improve the driver's view when reversing.
operated services in Wales and north west England. They bought 16 Perkins-engined vehicles in 1969 and 40 Leyland with engines from 1975.
was the only Scottish Bus Group
company to order LHs apart from Alexander Midland when they took 34 Perkins-engined LHs finished by Walter Alexander as Y-type coaches.
is a largely rural county so [Lincolnshire Road Car]] always had a need for a number of small buses. Their orders amounted to 72 standard buses, 24 dual purpose, and 10 LHS buses.
in 1975 to replace Ford Transit minibuses on narrow roads were known by them as the BS class. These were followed in 1976 by standard LHs with automatic transmissions and narrow bodies known as the BL class, 95 of which were purchased. The 7ft 6in bodies were not only because of narrow roads on some routes, but also due to the restricted space at Kingston garage in Surrey which prevented the Leyland National being deployed there.
had five coaches with Plaxton Elite bodies, but the remaining 218 LHs ordered for this fleet were standard ECW bus bodies for services in north-east England. A number of second-hand buses were also acquired.
needed a large fleet of small buses. In 1969 the associated Southern National
fleet was merged with Western National. The coach services of both companies were mostly operated under the Royal Blue
brand. Neighbouring Devon General
was also brought under Western National control in 1971, having just placed their first order for 6 LHs (88–93).
The orders for this large fleet of 209 buses and coaches were spread across ECW, Marshall, Plaxton and even Duple. Second hand vehicles brought the total number of LHs operated up to nearly 300.
and some work was done by Lucas Aerospace. It was tested on the West Somerset Railway
between and in August 1980.
Bristol Commercial Vehicles
Bristol Commercial Vehicles was a vehicle manufacturer of in Bristol, England. Most production was of buses but trucks and railbus chassis were also built....
(BCV) in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. Nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and 1982 in a variety of sizes and body types, including some as goods vehicles.
Models
The LH designation stood for Lightweight chassis, Horizontal engine. It replaced the Bristol SU and was succeeded by was the Leyland NationalLeyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
B Series for operators in need of a small or lightweight bus. The Bristol RE
Bristol RE
The Bristol RE was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles from 1962 until 1982. It is widely considered the most successful of the first generation of rear-engined single-deckers....
was in production at the same time for those in need of larger or more robust vehicles
The standard Bristol LH model was 30 feet (9.1 m) long. It was also available as the 26 feet (7.9 m) LHS (LH Short) and the 36 feet (11 m) LHL (LH Long). It was available in two widths, initially 7.5 feet (2.3 m) and later also 8.17 feet (2.5 m).
The bus was available with a choice of six cylinder diesel engines, either the Leyland O.400 (later replaced by the Leyland O.401) or the Perkins H6.354. The 5.8 litre H6.354 produced 101 bhp; the 6.54 litre O.401 produced 138 bhp. The usual gearbox was a Turner Clarke synchronized five-speed model equipped with manually-selected overdrive. Some buses were fitted with a semi-automatic transmission and power steering. The engine was positioned in the centre of the chassis but its relatively high position meant that several steps were needed in the entrance. This was arranged in the overhang ahead of the front wheels allowing one-man operation (as it was known in those days) with the driver taking the fares and issuing tickets as passengers boarded. The radiator was positioned at the front of the chassis. The suspension was by half-elliptical leaf springs, although BCV had offered pneumatic suspension on heavier buses since 1962.
Eastern Coach Works
Eastern Coach Works Ltd was a bus and railbus body building company based in Lowestoft, England.-History:The company can trace its roots back to 1912, when United Automobile Services was founded in the town to run bus services. United began a coach building business at the Lowestoft site in 1920...
(ECW), which was owned by the same Transport Holding Company
Transport Holding Company
The Transport Holding Company was a British Government owned company created by the Transport Act 1962 to administer a range of state-owned transport, travel and engineering companies that were previously managed by the British Transport Commission ; it came into existence on 1 January...
. This was a government-owned company but Leyland had acquired a 25% share in 1965. Plaxton
Plaxton
Plaxton is a builder of bus and coach vehicle bodies based in Scarborough, England.-History:The Plaxton of today is the successor to a business founded in Scarborough in 1907 by Frederick William Plaxton.-Beginnings:...
bodies were preferred for coaches. Other manufacturers of bodies for the LH were Walter Alexander
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
, Duple
Duple Coachbuilders
Duple was best known as a British manufacturer of coach and bus bodywork from 1919 until 1989.-History:Duple Bodies & Motors Ltd was formed in 1919 by Herbert White in Hornsey, London...
, East Lancashire
East Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the...
, Marshall
Marshall Bus
Marshall Bus was a British bus manufacturer between 1992 and 2002. The company's most popular product was the Marshall Capital, which was a single-decker bus body built between 1997 and 2003...
, Northern Counties, Weymann
Metro Cammell Weymann
Metro Cammell Weymann was once a major player in transportation manufacturing in the UK and Europe. It was formed in 1932 by Weymann Motor Bodies Ltd and Metro Cammell's bus bodybuilding division to produce bus bodies....
and Willowbrook.
For the standard LH the 31-seat Plaxton coach and 41-seat ECW bus of ECW were most widely used; the bus bodies manufactured in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
by Alexander for Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast. It is part of Translink , which also includes Northern Ireland Railways, Metro Belfast and Flexibus.-Services:Ulsterbus is responsible for most of the province-wide bus...
had 45 seats. The LHS was produced as both buses and coaches with 26 to 35 seats. The LHL had up to 53 seats as a coach or 55 as a bus. Between 1975 and 1982 Vanplan built eight with delivery van bodies.
Altogether nearly 2,000 LHs were built: 1,505 LH, 174 LHL and 308 LHS.
Principal bus operators
The following lists only include vehicles ordered by the company named, however many took additional vehicles second-hand from other operators. The code following the chassis model 'type' column shows the number of seats. The prefix B represents a bus body, C a coach or DP a dual purpose vehicle. The suffix F shows a single front door, D shows dual front and centre doors.Alexander Midland
Alexander MidlandMidland Scottish
Midland Scottish Omnibuses Ltd, in Scotland, was a bus operating subsidiary of the Scottish Transport Group formed in June 1985 from Walter Alexander and Sons Ltd, and operated until 1991 when it became Midland Bluebird Ltd.- Operation :...
operated 41 LHs with Walter Alexander Y-type bodies and Perkins engines in Scotland. All but the last three were coaches.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLH1–19 | SMS 671–678H, SWG 669–679H | LH C38F | 1970 |
| MLH20–33 | WMS 920J–925J, WWG 326J–333J | LH C41F | 1971 |
| MLH34–38 | BWG 334–338L | LH C41F | 1972 |
| MLH39–41 | BWG 339–341L | LH B45F | 1972 |
Bristol Omnibus
Bristol Omnibus CompanyBristol Omnibus Company
The Bristol Omnibus Company is the former name of the dominant bus operator in Bristol, one of the oldest bus companies in the United Kingdom. The company once ran buses over a wide area of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. The name was in operational use until 1985...
received six LH buses in 1971 with semi-automatic gearboxes. A further 110 (with manual gearboxes) were ordered for delivery between 1975 and 1980. A few more buses were acquired second hand including two LHSs from London Country.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 351–356 | DHW 291–296K | LH B43F | 1971 |
| 357–364 | JHW 117–124P | LH B43F | 1975 |
| 365–389 | KHU 315–330P, KHU 615–616P, JOU 162–165P, KHY 430–432P | LH B43F | 1976 |
| 390–421 | OFB 963–968R, OTC 604–608R, REU 312–332S | LH B43F | 1977 |
| 422–433 | SWS 768–774S, TTC 786–790T | LH B43F | 1978 |
| 434–453 | WAE 186–193T, WAE 294–295T | LH B43F | 1979 |
| 454–466 | AFB 585–597V | LH B43F | 1980 |
NB 351-356 were initially B44F but rebuilt with one less seat to allow a window to be inserted in the rear panel to improve the driver's view when reversing.
Crosville
CrosvilleCrosville Motor Services
Crosville Motor Services was a bus operator running within the north west of England and north and mid Wales.-History:The company was formed as Crosville Motor Company Limited on 27 October 1906 in Chester, by George Crosland Taylor and his French business associate Georges de Ville, with the...
operated services in Wales and north west England. They bought 16 Perkins-engined vehicles in 1969 and 40 Leyland with engines from 1975.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLP144–159 | CFM 144–148G, DFM 149–159H | LH B45F | 1969 |
| SLL601–620 | KMA 531–536N, LMA 607–610P, MCA 611–620P | LH B43F | 1975 |
| SLL621–640 | OCA 621–640P | LH B45F | 1976 |
Eastern Counties
After taking 50 LH and 5 LHS buses between 1968 and 1972, Eastern Counties did not take any more new LHs until 1977 when a further 15 were added to the fleet.| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| LH523–531 | CNG 523–526K, DNG 527–531K | LH B45F | 1971 |
| LH532–537 | DPW2 532K, FNG 533–534K, GNG 535–536K, HAH 537H | LH B43F | 1972 |
| LHS595–599 | WNG 101–105H | LHS B37F | 1970 |
| LH685–692 | RAH 685–692F | LH B45F | 1968 |
| LH693–702 | UNG 693–695G, VAH 696–702H | LH B45F | 1969 |
| LH899–916 | WNH 899–901H, XPW 902–906H, YAH 907–911H, YPW 912–916H | LH B45F | 1970 |
| LH917–931 | TCL 137–142R, TCL 136R, WEX 924–931S | LH B43F | 1977 |
Eastern Scottish
Eastern ScottishEastern Scottish
Eastern Scottish, of Edinburgh, Scotland, was a bus and coach operator and a subsidiary of the Scottish Bus Group . Eastern Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. was formed in June 1985 from the main part of Scottish Omnibuses Ltd., which had itself traded as 'Eastern Scottish' since the 1960s...
was the only Scottish Bus Group
Scottish Bus Group
The Scottish Bus Group was a state-owned Scottish holding company that included a number of bus operators covering the whole of Scotland. The group was formed in 1961 as Scottish Omnibuses Group Ltd, to take control of the British Transport Commission's bus operating subsidiaries in Scotland...
company to order LHs apart from Alexander Midland when they took 34 Perkins-engined LHs finished by Walter Alexander as Y-type coaches.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| YA315–348 | OSF 315–332G, SFS 333–348H | LH C38F | 1970 |
Hants and Dorset
Hants and Dorset and the associated Wilts and Dorset company were unusual in specifying dual-door configuration for their early LHs. Buses in the 521–530 series were allocated to Wilts and Dorset, the remainder to Hants and Dorset.| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 521–526 | REL 746 – 748H, RRU 692–694H | LH B39D | 1969 |
| 527–528 | TRU 227–228J | LH B39D | 1970 |
| 529–530 | UEL 567–568J | LH B43F | 1970 |
| 828 | NLJ 817G | LH B39D | 1968 |
| 1539–1548 | XEL 825–834K | LH B43F | 1971 |
| 3026–3035 | REL 743–745H, RLJ 789–795H | LH B39D | 1969 |
| 3051–3055 | TRU 220–224J | LH B39D | 1970 |
| 3056–3057 | ULJ 367–368H | LH B43F | 1970 |
| 3501–3529 | DEL 537–546L, NEL 844–847M, NLJ 515–529M | LH B43F | 1973 |
| 3530–3561 | ORU 530–541M, GLJ 474–493N | LH B43F | 1974 |
| 3562 - 3579 | HJT 34 – 48N, HPW 395 – 397N | LH B43F | 1975 |
| 3806–3811 | LJT 939–944P | LH B43F | 1975 |
Lincolnshire
LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
is a largely rural county so [Lincolnshire Road Car]] always had a need for a number of small buses. Their orders amounted to 72 standard buses, 24 dual purpose, and 10 LHS buses.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1001–1006 | KFE 296–299H, KFE 301–302H | LH B43F | 1969 |
| 1007–1010 | LVL 371–372H, LVL 901–902J | LH B43F | 1970 |
| 1011–1014 | NVL 448–450K, NVL 613K | LH B43F | 1971 |
| 1015–1022 | OVL 448–449K, OVL 451–452K, RFE 432K, RVL 248–249L, RVL 251L | LH B43F | 1972 |
| 1023–1029 | SVL 20–23L, UVL 572–574M | LH B43F | 1973 |
| 1030–1035 | WFE 675–679M, WFE 839M | B43F | 1974 |
| 1036–1044 | JTL 774–778M, LTL 660–663P | LH B43F | 1975 |
| 1045–1061 | SVL 830–837R, UFE 286–290R, XFW 949–956S | LH B43F | 1977 |
| 1062–1072 | YVL 836–837S, DTL 540–548T | LH B43F | 1978 |
| 1651–1656 | GVL 907–912F | LH DP41F | 1968 |
| 1657–1661 | JVL 363–364G, JVL 613–615G | LH DP41F | 1969 |
| 1662–1668 | JVL 926H, KVL 449–454H | LH DP41F | 1970 |
| 1669–1674 | NFE 644–649J | LH DP41F | 1971 |
| 1801–1803 | GVL 913–915G | LHS B35F | 1968 |
| 1804–1810 | JVL 701G, JVL 616–618H, JVL 927–929H | LHS B35F | 1969 |
London Country
London Country 23 standard width LHSs (their BL class) and 44 narrow LHSs (their BN class) as no other suitable narrow vehicles were available at the time.| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| BL1–23 | RPH 101–111L, SPK 112–123L | LHS B35F | 1973 |
| BL24–53 | XPD 124–130N, GPD 299–321N | LHS B35F | 1974 |
| BN54–67 | TPJ 54–67S | LHS B35F | 1977 |
London Transport
Several versions of the Bristol LH were used in London. The 17 narrow LHSs with six-speed gearboxes delivered to London TransportLondon Transport
London Transport could refer to:*London Transport Transport authorities that operated services under the brand:*London Passenger Transport Board *London Transport Executive *London Transport Board...
in 1975 to replace Ford Transit minibuses on narrow roads were known by them as the BS class. These were followed in 1976 by standard LHs with automatic transmissions and narrow bodies known as the BL class, 95 of which were purchased. The 7ft 6in bodies were not only because of narrow roads on some routes, but also due to the restricted space at Kingston garage in Surrey which prevented the Leyland National being deployed there.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| BL1–95 | KJD 401–440P, OJD 41–95R | LH B39F | 1976 |
| BS1–17 | GHV 501–506N, OJD 7–17R | LHS B26F | 1976 |
United
United Automobile ServicesUnited Automobile Services
United Automobile Services or United, as it was commonly known, was a major provider of bus services across the North East and North Yorkshire for 80 years or more...
had five coaches with Plaxton Elite bodies, but the remaining 218 LHs ordered for this fleet were standard ECW bus bodies for services in north-east England. A number of second-hand buses were also acquired.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1081–1085 | BHN 981–985H | LH C41F | 1970 |
| 1501–1514 | THN 601–605F, UHN 796–798G, THN 607F, THN 609F, UHN 800G, YHN 811–814H | LH B45F | 1968 |
| 1515–1520 | AHN 315–320H | LH B45F | 1969 |
| 1521–1554 | PHN 512–554L | LH B43F | 1972 |
| 1555–1600 | VHN 855–870M, WHN 571–600M | LH B43F | 1973 |
| 1601–1634 | AHN 601–612M, GUP 897–918N | LH B43F | 1974 |
| 1635–1665 | HUP 791–801N, LGR 646–655P, MGR 656–661P, NBR 662–665P | LH B43F | 1975 |
| 1666–1685 | NGR 666–685P | LH B43F | 1976 |
| 1686–1700 | XPT 686–689R, XUP 690–693R, CGR 894–900S | LH B43F | 1977 |
| 1701–1718 | LPT 701–711T, MUP 712–714T, SUP 715–718V | LH B43F | 1979 |
Western National
Much of south west England is rural in nature and many narrow roads mean that Western NationalWestern National
Western National was a bus operating company in South West England from 1929 to the 1990s.-Early history:Western National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the Great Western Railway and the National Omnibus & Transport Company...
needed a large fleet of small buses. In 1969 the associated Southern National
Southern National
Southern National was a bus company operating in South West England from 1929 to 1969, and again from 1983 to 1999.-Original company :...
fleet was merged with Western National. The coach services of both companies were mostly operated under the Royal Blue
Royal blue
Royal blue describes both a bright shade and a dark shade of azure blue. It is said to have been invented by millers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of which won a competition to make a dress for the British queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz....
brand. Neighbouring Devon General
Devon General
Devon General was the brand name for the principal bus operator in south Devon from 1919. The name was first used by the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Company which was created in 1919. In 1922 it was purchased by the National Electric Construction Company which merged with British Electric...
was also brought under Western National control in 1971, having just placed their first order for 6 LHs (88–93).
The orders for this large fleet of 209 buses and coaches were spread across ECW, Marshall, Plaxton and even Duple. Second hand vehicles brought the total number of LHs operated up to nearly 300.
| Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88–93 | VOD 88–93K | LHS B33F (Marshall) | 1971 |
| 94–96 | LFJ 848–850W | LHS B35F (ECW) | 1980 |
| 100–103 | PUO 100–103M | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
| 104–107 | GDV 461–464N | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
| 108–115 | KTT 38–45P | LH B43F (ECW) | 1975 |
| 116–121 | STT 408–413R | LH B43F (ECW) | 1977 |
| 712–726 | MUO 324–338F | LH B41F (ECW) | 1968 |
| 727–740 | PTA 757–759G, POD 801–802H, PTA 660–662G, POD 803–808H | LH B43F (ECW) | 1969 |
| 750–763 | POD 809–822H | LH B43F (ECW) | 1970 |
| 1250–1255 | VOD 120–125K | LHS B33F (Marshall) | 1972 |
| 1300–1311 | RDV 435–446H | LH C41F (Duple) | 1970 |
| 1312–1315 | UTT 578–581J | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1971 |
| 1316–1325 | BDV 316L, NTT 317M, BDV 318L, NTT 319–325M | LH C39F (Marshall) | 1973 |
| 1326–1331 | PUO 326–331M | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1974 |
| 1561–1563 | FDV 791–793V | LHS B35F (ECW) | 1979 |
| 1564–1574 | SUO 429–432H, TTA 557–558H, TTA 737H,TUO 265–268J | LH B43F (ECW) | 1970 |
| 1575–1588 | VOD 106–119K | LH B43F (ECW) | 1971 |
| 1601–1606 | PTT 601–606M | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
| 1607–1611 | GDV 456–460N | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
| 1612–1623 | HTT 367–376N, KTT 37P, KTT 46P | LH B43F (ECW) | 1975 |
| 1624–1630 | VDV 124–130S | LH B43F (ECW) | 1977 |
| 3100–3103 | PTT 70–73R | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1977 |
| 3114–3123 | SFJ 114–123R | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1977 |
| 3124–3134 | VDV 131–133S, VOD 627–629S, AFJ691–698T | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1978 |
| 3400–3413 | PTT 100–107R, SFJ 108–113R | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1977 |
Non-passenger use
Between 1972 and 1982 Lawrence Wilson and Son bought 3 LH and 10 LHL chassis which were fitted with van bodies. The first three LHSs were completed by Marsden and the remainder by Vanplan. They were used for delivering Wilson's Silver Cross brand of prams. One further LH (CUT 730K in 1972) was fitted out as a racing car transporter for Wheatcroft of Leicester.Road-rail bus
A former Hants and Dorset standard LH (NEL 847M of 1973) was fitted with additional flanged wheels in 1980 to allow it to operate on railway lines. It was owned by the North East London Polytechnic of DagenhamDagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
and some work was done by Lucas Aerospace. It was tested on the West Somerset Railway
West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
between and in August 1980.