Gibson Brothers of Barlestone (Comfort Buses)

Gibson Brothers of Barlestone (Comfort Buses) - 1941 to 1955

Not seen Comfort Buses 1922 to 1940 click here

During the second world war Gibson's became P.S.V. Ltd buses based in the old telephone exchange in Rutland Street, Leicester. They were used for transporting troops and mail as far as Scotland. Unfortunately but understandably no photographs were taken of vehicles purchased during the 1941-45 period, only two were new, a pair of Bedford OWBs with Roe B32F bodies CNR 241 (10/42) and CNR 454 (02/43). Five secondhand vehicles were also purchased during this period.

EUT 282 fleet number 24 a Maudslay Marathon III with a Burlingham C33F body new 07/48 withdrawn and scrapped 03/61

EUT 896 fleet number 25 a Maudslay Marathon III with a Burlingham C33F body new 10/48 withdrawn and scrapped 06/60

FJU 350 fleet number 26 a Maudslay Marathon III with a Quorn C32F body new 04/49 withdrawn and scrapped 04/59

FJU 350 was the last of eighteen Maudslays owned by 'Comfort' and was quite a rarity with its Quorn body by Crawford Prince and Johnson at Queniborough Leicestershire. 'Comforts' didn't switch to buying A.E.C. after the take over of Maudslay by them in 1949.

JF 5892 fleet number 28 a Leyland Titan TD3 with a MCCW H26/24R body new to Leicester Corporation 07/34 with 'Comfort' 10/49 withdrawn no trace 09/57

FNR 597 fleet number 29 a Crossley DD42/7 with a Strachan H30/26R new 10/49 withdrawn 08/62 to Bird (dealer) Stratford-on-Avon

FNR 598 fleet number 30 a Crossley DD42/7 with a Strachan H30/26R new 10/49 withdrawn 06/62 to P.V.D. (dealer) Dunchurch

'Comforts' first double deckers arrived in October 1949 it is difficult to say which arrived first the two ex Leicester Corporation TD3s JF 5879/92 or the two new Crossleys FNR 597/8 all four are dated as entering service 10/49.

HAY 849 fleet number 32 a Leyland Titan PD2/12 with a Leyland H32/26RD body new 11/51 withdrawn no trace 07/68

HJU 524 fleet number 33 a Leyland Royal Tiger PSU1/11 with a Leyland C41C body new 04/52 withdrawn 03/63 to P Bartlett Ipswich withdrawn 01/64

By 1952 two more services had been added to their routes, a Wednesday and Saturday service from Market Bosworth to Leicester via Peckleton, and also a Friday service from Newbold to Coalville via Bagworth and Ellistown. By this time they were also delivering parcels, dropping them off at selected points along the route and also delivering villagers laundry to their two dry cleaning shops called "Wonday" in Leicester, returning it when it was clean.

HGF 938 fleet number 34 a Daimler CWA6 with a Park Royal H30/26R new to London Transport 10/46 to Comfort 06/53 withdrawn and scrapped 12/60

GLX 916 fleet number 35 a Daimler CWA6 with a Duple H30/26R new to London Transport 10/44 to Comfort 02/54 withdrawn and scrapped 01/59 after an accident

The first of several ex London Transport vehicles these two HGF 938 ex D261 and GLX 916 ex D30 both came vie Norths (dealer) Sherburn in Elmet near Leeds.

KNR 240 fleet number 35 a Leyland Royal Tiger PSU1/16 with a Yeates C41C body new 06/54 withdrawn 04/64 to Mrs I Mason Scawsby withdrawn 02/66 with E Thorpe & Sons Ltd Thurgoland by 10/68 withdrawn 04/70

Above is the first of many Yeates bodied coaches this a 'Riviera' on the air braked variation of the Royal Tiger chassis. Strangely this coach had the same fleet number 35 as the ex London Transport Daimler GLX 916, both ran concurrently and there never was a vehicle numbered 36.

The next gallery on Gibson Brothers of Barlestone (Comfort Buses) will be for the years 1956 to 1970.

Darren/Wendy Prime
03/2013

To view Comfort Buses 1956 to 1970 click here

15/03/13 - 12:40

There are obvious similarities between the bodies on Crossleys 29 & 30, but also obvious differences - and there are more differences than similarities. The body on 30 looks to me to be more typically Strachan (certainly for the date), the obvious inference being that the one on 29 has been heavily rebuilt - by Bond, perhaps, or even Strachan?

David Call

16/03/13 - 08:01

Taken together, parts 1 and 2 are very good indeed, with an interesting mix of colour and black & white views. I'm sure we are all waiting eagerly for part 3!

Pete Davies

19/03/13 - 07:28

Looking at the two Crossleys, it's clear that 597 has simply been fitted with rubber-mounted windows on the original frames. It seems that new panelling has been applied and then cut to suit some suitably sized panes of glass, resulting in the rather thicker surrounds than might be expected. Whether this was done by themselves or not is open to question. The sliding vents with their rounded ends, and panelled separate from the main window below, are reminiscent of Reading or possibly Duple. As both vehicles seem to have had a similar life-span, it is odd that one was done and not the other.

Alan Murray-Rust

20/03/13 - 10:10

Actually, since neither photo is dated, we can't be absolutely sure that Crossley 30 didn't ultimately receive the same treatment as was afforded 29, but it doesn't look to be in the first flush of youth, however.

David Call

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