The Flickr 2U3Ra Image Generatr

I posted a copy of this shot here in its original B&W form several years ago if I remember correctly, so here then it is again with my added colour.
Back in my childhood and teenage years, it seemed that every other town you passed through on any journey, had a bus or coach company with a roadside garage. Added to that, you regularly found coaches outstationed at driver's homes along the way, parked between brief periods of activity around school transport times.
Ex Yelloways Harrington Cavalier bodied CDK 853C was a case of the latter. I remember seeing it on a few occasions parked outside a farm on the A458 on the Western side of Welshpool as you headed to where the road forked for Machynlleth or Dolgellau. I've still have no idea who owned it, but such were the mysteries of the hobby at the time that kept you on your toes in a thirst for knowledge which sometimes never came.
I believe the coach survives to this day as a slow burn preservation project.

I rummaged this picture out a few days ago, spurred on by a bit of a debate which is going on locally at the moment. For months, the sponsor of the town's football team and supplier of their coach, has seen fit to park it (a tri-axle Scania) in almost the same place I photographed HBU 685D back in about 1976/7. Needless to say, its causing a bit of consternation with the neighbours and drivers who're struggling to see round it. Anyway, my point is that there is little new under the sun and a precident for everything it seems.
Anyway, the somewhat battered Plaxton Panorama 1 bodied AEC Reliance would have only been about ten years of age at the time, and already its body is getting long in the tooth. The chassis would probably have had years of life left in it, but re-bodying wasn't seen as a solution by many. I'm guessing that the Certifying Officer would have seen to it that this once classy coach would soon end its PSV days, if it hadn't already done so.
My recollection is that there was either a carnival or a dance troupe meet nearby on the day I took the photo, so 'HBU' could have been privately owned.
BLoTW lists the coach as a 590 powered Reliance which had been new to Janes of Wembley in june of 1966. I assume that 'BU' was one of those registration marks which emigrated from the London area as some Yelloway Reliances carried those letters in the mid '70s.
My photo, my colourisation.

Back with one of Clem Smith's photos this evening, albeit not in the form in which he took it. I thought his B&W image would be a pleasant thing to colourise, except that it proved a particularly grainy original and threw up some challenges. Anyway, I was reasonably pleased with the result so I'll share it here.
The left hand side of the picture in modern day Biddulph (North Staffs), has changed out of all recognition. The parade of shops, new as they were then at the time of Clem's photo, early '70s, has gone and has been replaced by a large Sainsbury's superstore. The PMT 54 seat Willowbrook bodied Reliance, 931 UVT and its sisters are no more either and I suspect the deteriorating Riley Elf (?) has now been well and truly re-cycled, perhaps twice over!

T. SEVERN & SONS, DUNSCROFT

PWX591E, is an AEC Reliance 2U3RA with Plaxton Derwent, DP51F, body, new to them in June, 1967.

GRAYLINE

A. Gray of Tubbs Close, Bicester, have brought this wonderful Plaxton Panorama bodied AEC Reliance 2U3RA, to York.
NOY973E, had been new to Global, London, W1, in March, 1967.

In and amongst the scanning of Clem Smith's vast archive, I occasionally find the time to indulge the relatively new aspect of the hobby, that of colourising old B&W shots. Some of those worked on have, like the above, come from my own archive of things taken in my very first years of bus photography. Whilst none were very good, doing this sort of gives them a bit of a new lease of life imho.
Before I began my working life in buses here, I and my good friend Tim Machin befrended the folks at Stoniers of Goldenhill. On this occasion workshop foreman Amby Smith reversed AEC Reliance DXD 42C out of its withdrawn position at the rear of the garage so that I could photograph it prior to its departure for scrap (well, technically as a trade-in).
DXD 42 C was a bit of a rare machine, being one of a handful of steel framed Plaxton Derwent bodies built before the timber/composite ones we're more familiar with came on the scene. The AH 590 engined bus had been new to Hillside of Luton in 1965, a business whose work involved the need for high capacity moving people around and about Luton airport. To that end it seated 61 in 3 x 2 layout.
After leaving there, it went to Green Bus of Rugely before finishing its working days at Stoniers. It has to be said that whilst it was mechanically competent, it wasn't a popular bus, particularly with conductors and passengers.

When it became legal in the UK to operate single deck PSVs of 36ft in length, PMT were quick to jump on the bandwagon to make the most of the available seating capacity on one floor. British people were never, and probably still aren't, great lovers of standing in buses.
In 1962, PMT took their first 36ft long coaches (Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopards) and twenty service buses. The latter group order was split equally between AEC and Leyland. All twenty buses were bodied by Willowbrook with the Leopards allegedly being built to a slightly lower height. All seated 54 with the extra seat being gained by a single inward facing one at the front of the N/S. Almost universally the AECs were more popular with the drivers who found the Leopards cumbersome and heavy.
Back in the day as nothing but a casual teenage observer of the local bus scene, you knew it was curtains for a batch if one was turned out fully overhauled and no others followed. This probably owed more to the Certification regime of the day than anything else where overhauls were costly things at the company Central Works. This could tip the balance perhaps in favour of new vehicles especially when specifications had moved on from 4 speed manual gearboxes and mountainous entrance steps.
AEC Reliance 937 UVT was a case in point, it appeared one day gleaming whilst its brethren were either becoming shabby or had been withdrawn. No other overhauls of the type went forward. Clem Smith photographed it looking quite smart this day on Newcastle bus station.

PREMIER TRAVEL, CAMBRIDGE

Entering the old Sheffield United Tours depot on Charlotte Road, then used as a National Travel Interchange, is 247 (HLP 10C), an AEC Reliance 2U3RA with Harrington Grenadier body.
It was new in July, 1965, to Surrey Motors, Sutton, and acquired from them in 1974.

Showbus 2022: Harrington-bodied AEC Reliance 2U3RA HLP 10C, new to Surrey Motors of Sutton but preserved in the colours of its subsequent owner Premier Travel.

BERRESFORDS, CHEDDELTON

VDB943, an AEC Reliance 2U3RA with Willowbrook DP51F, body, was one of three, purchased from Greater Manchester PTE, in 1976.
They had been new in February, 1963, to North Western Road Car Co. Stockport.

POTTERIES

From 1962, the legal length of a single deck bus, or coach was extended from 30 foot to 36 foot.
PMT again was quick to take advantage of this, as seen by, 932 (932UVT), an AEC Reliance 2U3RA with Willowbrook body, that had seating for 54 passengers. It entered service in September, 1962.

Another of those PMT archive shots which I've colourised. It was taken for the house magazine and one of those articles relating to specific issues on the network. These usually took the form of tight turns or difficult obstacles to negotiate, but I think this one was taken by enthusiastic staff who though it presented a very pleasing view in the landscape!
PMT had just five of these very attractive Weymann DP bodied AEC Reliances (AEH 136-9C). Their '590 engines, 6 speed ZF boxes and 49 exceptionally comfortable seats made for a very luxurious service bus or an equally good coach substitute. I'll stick my neck out here and say that imho, they are probably the most attractive single deck bus I've ever come across.
There are no notes as to where the photo was actually taken, but I suspect it will be in the Ipstones area of the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The last new AEC Reliance chassis to be added to the Maidstone and District fleet were a batch of coaches with Harrington Grenadier bodies in 1966. What fantastic looking vehicles they were especially so in the lovely restrained but elegant M&D coach livery.

Purchased transparency, unknown photographer.

The first two PSV vehicles that I bought to kick-off my career as a used bus and coach dealer, were a pair of ex-Maidstone and District AEC Reliance/Harrington Grenadier coaches. They came from Davian Coaches of Enfield.
One of the pair FKL134D is seen here being piloted by my friend Dave and is about to descend a long incline on the old A20 trunk road near Wrotham.
The other Grenadier purchased was AKP251B, which I re-sold to a chap for use as a motorsport transporter.
Just now I cannot remember what happened to FKL.

ONE OF SEVERAL BOUGHT OF THE INTERNET RECENTLY. IF ANYONE CAN FILL IN ANY DETAILS PLEASE FEEL FREE, ALSO IF ANYONE KNOWS WHO OWNS THE COPYRIGHT PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

SIMON

The seemingly unstoppable series of arrivals at work continued this morning with that of this Panorama Elite III bodied AEC Reliance. It had been booked to be with us on Friday last, but issues with the towing delayed it to today. Both the coach and the morning were grey in parts as Jon Beech's Renault deposited it outside our gates.
Looking a little less sparkling than when it was re-clothed by Plaxton in 1972/3, this ex East Kent re-body did at least sound fit when it fired into life after a quarter of a turn of the starter.
I gather the formerly Park Royal bodied coach has been in this guise as a car transporter for some considerable time.

Photographed taking part in 2018's Easter Kirkby Stephen & Brough vintage vehicle rally is Lawrence Mc Duff's fabulous Willowbrook (badged Duple) AEC Reliance. Dual purpose LUS 524E had been new in 1968 to that legendary provider of transport in and around the Scottish Highlands, Macbraynes. Since retirement, it has lead a life where its wanted for nothing, owned by a doting enthusiast and as a result is a joy to both see and ride in.
For the first time in years the Kirkby Stephen event was cancelled this year (2020) as the Covid situation rendered its operation impossible. The photo here was taken as LUS paused at the bus stop for passengers wishing to visit Kirkby Stephen (East) station and its preserved railway. Next stop at the top of the hill would be Kirkby Stephen's remaining station on the national network (West as was) which forms the terminus of the free bus service for the event.

Alexander Fife FAC47. 1966 AEC Reliance 2U3RA Alexander C49F. Taken in 1970.

1966 AEC Reliance 2U3RA Alexander C49F
New to Scottish Omnibuses, no. ZB137

1966 AEC Reliance 2U3RA Alexander C49F
New to Scottish Omnibuses, no. ZB121

AEC's were getting rare in Scottish Bus Group by the 1980's so I was fortunate in finding these still running into Inverness. Alexander bodies, of course.