Old Bus Photos

This page is for any abbreviations used on site for specification, manufacturer codes and operators who incorporated code letters in their fleet numbers. It is constantly being updated, if you know of any codes that may be of interest to others or if you spot any errors please let me know it will be much appreciated.
You can contact me through the ‘Contact Page’ or by email at obp-admin@nwframpton.com'

 

Specification Codes

Body Layout

H High-bridge double-deck (with centre gangways)
L Low-bridge double-deck (with sunken side gangway upstairs)
B Single-deck bus
C Coach
DP Dual-purpose single-deck
F Full front, where not usually fitted
O Open top
U Utilility (wartime) type body
BB Beverley Bar roof as supplied to East Yorkshire Motor Services

Entrance (shown after seating capacity if split upper deck shown first)

R Rear entrance
RD Rear entrance fitted with doors
F Front entrance
C Centre entrance
D Dual entrance

 

AEC vehicle chassis codes

Bridgemaster codes 1956-1963

Prefix code
B rear entrance
2B front entrance
Centre code number
3 Clutch four speed synchromesh gearbox
Suffix code
R Right hand drive
L Left hand drive
A Air pressure brakes

Regal IV codes 1949-1953

9821E 1949-50, 27ft 6in long, AEC A219 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes, only 25 built and all to London Transport
9821E 1950-53, 30ft long, AEC A219 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes, London Transport only had this version
9831E As 9821E above but left hand drive
9821S 1952, 30ft long, AEC A219 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed synchromesh gearbox, air pressure brakes, not many built
9822E 1952-53, 30ft long, increased frame height, AEC A219 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes
9822S 1952-53, 30ft long, increased frame height, AEC A219 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed synchromesh gearbox, air pressure brakes

Regent III codes 1947-1956

O681 1947-48, 26ft long, AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
6811A 1948-50, 26ft long, AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum brakes
6812A 1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A173 77 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
6813S 1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A173 7.7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed synchromesh gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
   
O961/2 1947-48, 26ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes
9612E 1948-50, 26ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes
9613E 1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed air operated preselective gearbox, air pressure brakes
   
SV179 1947-48, 26ft long, AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
9612A 1948-50, 26ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
9613A 1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed crash gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes
9613S 1950-56, 27ft long, AEC A208 or 218 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed synchromesh gearbox, vacuum assisted brakes

Regent V codes 1954-1969

Prefix code
D 27 foot long with AEC A218 or AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
2D (series 2) 27 or 30 foot long with AEC AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
MD (medium weight) 27 foot long with AEC AV470 7·68 litre six cylinder diesel
LD 30 foot long with AEC A218 or AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
Centre code numbers
2 Monocontrol four speed direct selection epicyclic gearbox
3 Clutch four speed synchromesh gearbox 
Suffix code
R Right hand drive
L Left hand drive
A Air pressure brakes
V Vacuum assisted brakes
One offs
D2RV6G / D2RA6G 27 foot long with Gardner 6LW 8·4 litre six cylinder diesel

Reliance Codes contributed by David Oldfield

Reliance Medium Weight codes with one of the following (AH410/AH470/AH505) engines


2
4
6
Version Numbers

Earliest versions had no number ie MU3RV – AH410 or AH470
Most numerous versions 2MU3RV and 2MU3RA – AH410 or AH470
Version 4 was 36 foot long – AH470
Version 6 had the – AH505

M Medium weight If missing denotes it is the Heavy Weight Reliance
U Underfloor engine  
2 Monocontrol gearbox  
3 Synchromesh gearbox  
4 Constant mesh gearbox  
R Right hand drive  
L Left hand drive  
A Air brakes  
V Vacuum brakes  

Reliance Heavy Weight codes with one of the following (AH590/AH691/AH760) engines

2 Original version AH590 engine
4 Air suspension version  
6 version AH691 and subsequently AH760 engine
8 Coil-Spring suspension version  
9 12m version  
U

Underfloor engine

 
2 Monocontrol gearbox  
3 Synchromesh gearbox  
Z 6 speed ZF gearbox  
R Right hand drive  
L Left hand drive  
A Air brakes  

The above were eventually all standardised in the 6U3ZR whatever length and suspension.


Renown codes 1962-1967

Prefix code
3B 30 foot long with AEC AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel
Centre code numbers
2 Monocontrol four speed direct selection epicyclic gearbox
3 Clutch four speed synchromesh gearbox 
Suffix code
R Right hand drive
L Left hand drive
A Air pressure brakes

Routemaster codes 1954-1967

R2RH 1954-65, 27ft 6in long, AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed fully automatic or direct selection epicyclic gearbox, hydraulic brakes
R2RH/1 1961-67, 30ft long, AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed fully automatic or direct selection epicyclic gearbox, hydraulic brakes
2R2RH 1954-65, 27ft 6in long, Leyland O600 9·8 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed fully automatic or direct selection epicyclic gearbox, hydraulic brakes
3R2RH 1964-65, front entrance, 30ft long, AV590 9·6 litre six cylinder diesel, four speed fully automatic or direct selection epicyclic gearbox, hydraulic brakes

 

Bristol vehicle chassis codes

Prefix code
Single Deckers
L series 1938-1954
L ‘L series’ 26’ x 7’6” front vertical engined bus, coach or dual purpose
LW ‘L series wide’ 26’ x 8’0” front vertical engined bus, coach or dual purpose
LL ‘L series long’ 30’ x 7’6” front vertical engined bus, coach or dual purpose
LWL ‘L series wide long’ 30’ x 8’0” front vertical engined bus, coach or dual purpose
LS 1951-1958  ‘light saloon’ 30’ x 8’0” underfloor engined bus, coach or dual purpose
SC 1954-1961  ‘small capacity’ bus 27’6” x 7’6”, coach 26’6” x 7’6” front vertical engine bus or coach
MW 1957-1967   ‘medium weight’ 30’ x 8’0” underfloor engined bus, coach or dual purpose. The MW was bodied to 31′ x 8′ for coaches from 1963 onwards (although the chassis remained the same) but it is body sizes, rather than chassis sizes quoted elsewhere in the lists.
SU series 1960-1966
SUS ‘small underfloor short’ 24’2” x 7’6” underfloor engined bus
SUL ‘small underfloor long’ bus 27’10” x 7’6”, coach 28’2” x 7’6” underfloor engine bus or coach
RELL ‘rear engined long length low floor’ 36’ x 8’0” rear engined bus
RELH ‘rear engined long length high floor’ 36’ x 8’0” rear engined coach
REMH ‘rear engined motorway high floor’ 39’ x 8’0” rear engined coach
RESL ‘rear engined short length low floor’ 32’6” x 8’0” rear engined bus
RESH ‘rear engined short length high floor’ 32’6” x 8’0” rear engined coach
Double Deckers
K series 1937-1950
K ‘K series’ 26’ x 7’6”
KW ‘K series wide’ 26’ x 8’0”
KS series 1950-1957
KS ‘KS series’ 27’ x 7’6”
KSW ‘KS series wide’ 27’ x 8’0”
Lodekka LD series 1953-1959
LD Lodekka sunken gangway on the lower deck 27’ x 8’0”
LDL Lodekka ‘long’ sunken gangway on the lower deck 30’ x 8’0”
Lodekka FS series 1959-1968
FS Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – short length – rear entrance’ 27’ x 8’0”
FL Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – long length – rear entrance’ 30’ x 8’0”
FSF Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – short length – front entrance’ 27’ x 8’0”
FLF Lodekka ‘flat floor on the lower deck – long length – front entrance’ 30’ x 8’0”
VR series 1968-1981
VRL/LH ‘vertical rear longitudinal engined long length high floor’ 36’ x 8’0”
VRT/LL ‘vertical rear transverse engined long length low floor’ 33’ x 8’0”
VRT/SL ‘vertical rear transverse engined short length low floor’ 30’ x 8’0”
VRT/LH ‘vertical rear transverse engined long length high floor’ 33’ x 8’0”
Suffix code
4A Albion EN250H – 4·1 litre, four cylinder diesel
4LK Gardner 4LK, 3·8 litres, four cylinder diesel
4G Gardner 4LW, 5·6 litres, four cylinder diesel
5G Gardner 5LW, 7·0 litres, five cylinder diesel
6G Gardner 6LW, 8·4 litres, six cylinder diesel
6LX Gardner 10·45 litres, six cylinder diesel
6A AEC A202, 7·7 litres, six cylinder diesel
6B Bristol AW, 8·14 litres or BWV, 8.9 litre, six cylinder diesel
6L Leyland O.600 9·8 litres or (less common) O.510 8.2 litres, six cylinder diesel

 

Daimler vehicle chassis codes

First code letter
C Commercial
Second Code letter
F Series Version
H Series Version
P Petrol
O Oil 1934-1940
W War 1943-1947
V Victory 1946-1967 UK/1972 OS
S Synchromesh gearbox
C Constant mesh gearbox
L Lightweight
R Rear engine
RE Rear engine (early code for Fleetline)
Third code letter (engine code)
D Daimler 8·6 litres, six cylinder diesel
G Gardner 5LW, 7·0 litres, five cylinder diesel or 6LW, 8·4 litres, six cylinder diesel
A AEC A173 7·7 litre six cylinder diesel
L Leyland
Fourth code number
5 5 cylinder engine
6 6 cylinder engine
6LW 8·4 litre Gardner engine (suffix for the Fleetline only)
6LX 10·5 litre Gardner engine (suffix for the Fleetline only)
Fifth code number (length in Feet and not always used)
27 feet
30 feet
33 feet
36 feet
Sixth code letters (for CV only that I can see and not always used)
DD Double Decker
Special Codes
There was a one off CD-650 chassis but the code was really for the 10·6 litre six cylinder engine
COG5/40 single deck chassis which seated 39 passengers
COG5/60 double deck chassis for Coventry Corporation which seated 60 passengers

 

Dennis Loline III vehicle chassis codes

L3   Loline III

A     Long Wheelbase
B     reserved for 27ft 6in length, but none were made
C     for the shorter length Reading buses

F     Forward Entrance

1     Gardner 6LW engine
2     Gardner 6LX
3     Leyland O.600

A     Dennis 5 speed gearbox for 6LW
B     Dennis 5 speed  for 6LX
C     Dennis 4 speed for 6LW and similarly rated engines
D     Dennis 4 speed for 6LX
E     SCG 4 speed (for Belfast, China Bus and Dennis demonstrator examples)
F     SCG 5 speed (for Halifax)
G     Bristol 5 speed (for Reading)

1     Dennis rear axle
2     Bristol rear axle


 

Leyland Titan PD vehicle chassis codes

All PD1s had the Leyland E181 7·4 litre six cylinder diesel engine
PD1 26’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – constant-mesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1946/50
PD1/A 26’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – constant-mesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1946/50
– slight suspension alteration
PD1/3 26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – constant-mesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1946/50
   
All PD2s had the Leyland O.600 9·8 litre six cylinder diesel engine
PD2/1 26’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1947/50
PD2/3 26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1947/50
PD2/4 26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1947/50
PD2/5 26’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1949/51
Special version for Blackpool full fronted centre entrance.
PD2/10 27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1950/55
PD2/11 27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – pneumocyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1950/55
PD2/12 27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1950/55
PD2/13 27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1950/55
PD2/14 27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – preselective gearbox – air brakes – 1950/55
PD2/20 27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1953/55
PD2/21 27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1953/55
PD2/22 27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1953/55
PD2/23 27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1953/55
PD2/24 27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1954/68
PD2/25 27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1954/62
PD2/26 27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1954/68
A Lightweight version.
PD2/27 27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/68
PD2/28 27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/62
PD2/30 27’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/68
PD2/31 27’ x 7’6” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/62
PD2/34 27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/68
PD2/35 27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/62
PD2/37 27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/68
PD2/38 27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/62
PD2/40 27’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1950/68
PD2/41 27’ x 7’6” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/62
   
All PD3s had the Leyland O.600 9·8 litre six cylinder diesel engine
PD3/1 30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/69
PD3/2 30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/67
PD3/3 30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/62
PD3/4 30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1955/69
PD3/5 30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1955/67
PD3/6 30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – vacuum brakes – 1955/67
PD3/11 30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
PD3/12 30’ x 8’0” – concealed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
PD3/14 30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – synchromesh gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
PD3/15 30’ x 8’0” – exposed radiator – direct selection epicyclic gearbox – air brakes – 1967/69
Concealed radiators
In 1960 the style of the concealed radiator changed from the vertically slatted grilled ‘Tin Front’ version based on the BMMO D7 design. The new ‘Scalloped’ version with horizontally slatted grill was mainly made of glass fibre. The new front resulted in a suffix code of a letter ‘A’ being added to the basic model number eg PD3A/1.

 

Operator Fleet List Codes

United Automobile Services codes

B Single deck Bristol L or LL type bus with Bristol 6 cylinder engine

G Single deck Bristol L or LL type bus with Gardner 5 cylinder engine

U Single deck Bristol LS or MW type bus with 5 or 6 cylinder Gardner engines

R Single deck Bristol RELL type with Gardner 6 cylinder engine

GS Single deck Bristol LL type bus with Gardner 5 cylinder engine (Scarborough seafront service)

S Single deck Bristol SUL type bus with a 4 cylinder Albion engine

BBL Double deck Bristol K or KSW type with a lowbridge body and Bristol 6 cylinder engine

GL Double deck Bristol K type with a lowbridge body and Gardner 5 cylinder engine

BH Double deck Bristol K, KS and KSW type with a highbridge body and Bristol 6 cylinder engine

L Double deck Bristol Loddeka Gardner or Bristol engine

UE Single deck Bristol LS & MW type dual purpose body with Bristol or Gardner engine

UT Single deck Bristol LS type coach body with Bristol engine

UC Single deck Bristol LS & MW type coach body with Bristol or Gardner engine

RE Single deck Bristol RELL type coach body with Gardner engine 

LUT Single deck Leyland Royal Tiger type coach body with Leyland engine


West Yorkshire codes

SG Single deck Bristol L type bus with Gardner engine

SGL Single deck Bristol LL type bus 30ft long with Gardner engine

SGW Single deck Bristol LL & LWL type bus 30ft long with Gardner engine & 8ft wide body

SB Single deck Bristol L type bus with Bristol engine

SBW Single deck Bristol LL & LWL type bus 30ft long with Bristol engine & 8ft wide body

EBW Single deck Bristol LWL type dual purpose body with Bristol engine

EUG Single deck Bristol LS & MW type dual purpose body with Gardner engine

SUG Single deck Bristol LS type bus converted from a dual purpose body with Gardner engine

SMA (Saloon Medium Albion) Single deck Bristol SU type bus with Albion engine

SMP (Saloon Medium Perkins) Single deck Bristol SU type bus with Perkins engine

CUG Bristol LS & MW type coach with Gardner engine

CP Bedford coach with Petrol engine

SP Bedford bus with Petrol engine

DG Double deck Bristol K type with Gardner engine

DB Double deck Bristol K & KS type with Bristol engine

DBW Double deck Bristol KSW type 8ft wide with Bristol engine

DGW Double deck Bristol KSW type 8ft wide with Gardner engine

DX Double deck Bristol Loddeka Gardner or Bristol engine

 

K Preceding above codes denotes Keighley West Yorkshire

Y Preceding above codes denotes York West Yorkshire

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Old Bus Photos from Saturday 25th April 2009 to Wednesday 3rd January 2024