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.
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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 |
| 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
