Royal Tiger MTE 837

This "narrow" Leyland PSU1/11 Royal Tiger with a Beccols C41C body started life with Taylor of Earlestown in 1951 and the bodywork is to a completely different design to the better known batch of "LYL registered" Royal Tigers bodied by Beccols. In this shot it is with a later operator using the fleet-name "TRS". Can anybody tell me who this is? The vehicle behind the Royal Tiger would appear to be a (Burlingham bodied?) Leyland Comet in the same livery. Also, can anyone identify the location? It's naggingly familiar but I can't put a name to it. Over to you!

Neville Mercer

20/07/13 - 04:38

I think you will find the location is Eccleston Bridge at Victoria - and that reflected in the coach is the Buckingham Road frontage of Victoria Coach Station

Peter Delaney

20/07/13 - 04:39

The location looks to me like Eccleston Bridge, the Green Line stopping point above Victoria Station. But I can't help you with the vehicle.

petras409

20/07/13 - 04:40

This coach operated for Hutfields of Gosport from 1954, but sadly I do not have a withdrawal date. I would hazard a guess that it is seen here with a subsequent owner. Hutfield's livery was plain cream as in attached picture in which it is returning home packed with sailors on a forces' leave service.

Philip Lamb

21/07/13 - 15:16

I blame the heatwave - I knew it looked familiar! Thank you gentlemen for replacing my brain, and also for the follow-up shot. Now all we need to know is the identity of "TRS". Just a thought, but could it be a tour company logo and not the name of the actual operator? Ignoring the "TRS" does the livery look familiar to anyone?

Neville Mercer

22/07/13 - 06:40

An internet search for MTE 837 found its full history on the Vic Hutfields website.
It passed to Tower Road Services, Boscombe, Bournemouth 5/1962
This explains the TRS logo in the photo.

Dave Farrier

22/07/13 - 06:46

Neville, there is a website for Hutfield's (www.hutfield.info), which gives a fleet list, including some details relating to MTE 837, under its 'vehicles' heading. It notes MTE 837 as being a Leyland Tiger (sic) PSU1/11 (502394) with Buccols (sic) C41C body new in April 1951, to Taylor, Barlestown (sic). The details state "Acquired vehicle from T W Goodman (Coaches ) Ltd, Forton Road, Gosport". The vehicle's movements are then listed as:

New to Taylor, Barlestown (sic)
- to T W Goodman (Transport), Forton Road, Gosport in 12/1952 or 1/1953
- to Hutfield Coaches (Gosport) Ltd c.1954
- to Hutfield Coaches (Warwick) Ltd 1/1954
- to Hutfield Coaches (Gosport) Ltd ?/195?
- to Osgood, Totton 11/1958 - sold 3/1961
- to Tower Road Services, Boscombe, Bournemouth 5/1962
- to ?, Portsmouth 4/1964

It's a pity some of the info is a bit 'woolly' but it is interesting nonetheless, such as reference to Hutfield's Gosport and Warwick operations, and the differentiation between Goodman's (Coaches) and Goodman's (Transport). Presumably the photo of MTE 837 in TRS livery was taken when in Tower Road Services ownership. Personally I think the coach looks much better in Philip's photo when with Hutfield's, as the plain cream makes it look more modern, less heavy and shows up the chrome detailing better. The styling certainly does not look like the work of a small coachbuilder does it? It looks quite a handsome beast in Hutfield's livery, and Beccols would no doubt have been proud of the result.

Brendan Smith

22/07/13 - 11:35

I agree entirely Brendan about the huge impression that livery can make on "image", and this coach certainly looks far happier in the all over cream. Just to illustrate the opposite effect, the appearance of nearly all the Samuel Ledgard coaches was, in my opinion and that of many, ruined by the seemingly irresistible policy of "looking modern." Gone was the superb dignified dark blue, black and rich cream in favour of pale ivory and sky blue. No batch suffered worse than the very traditional looking but dignified Picktree bodied Guy Arabs. Such colouring "spin" has blighted the image of the coaching industry ever since the 1960s.

Chris Youhill

22/07/13 - 11:36

I had forgotten about the Hutfield's website, thanks for the reminder! I had already taken the info I wanted off, some time ago, but have treated it with some care, due to some of the errors as highlighted here. Tom Goodman acted as a dealer as well as an operator, hence the distinction between 'Transport' and 'Coaches'. Hutfield's had two bases, the fleets controlled by different members of the Hutfield family. I think that they were actually two separate companies, although there was considerable vehicle movement between the two. The Warwick fleet used a cream and maroon livery, whilst the Gosport-based coaches were predominantly or all cream. National service forces leave was the main concern of the Gosport fleet, and when this ceased, the Gosport operation went into rapid decline. I would guess that this Royal Tiger initially went to Warwick, but being a heavyweight was soon returned to Gosport as it was the sort of coach that the arduous forces' leave services demanded.
As for the style of the body, it has similarities with Duple's Ambassador, and is in some respects a better looking version! Complex livery styles do, I agree, do nothing for coaches of this period, as they tend to clash with the extensive brightwork popular at the time.

Philip Lamb

22/07/13 - 11:37

Thank you to Dave and Brendan for clearing this one up and for the reference to the Hutfield's website which I've not come across before. Between us we really do know everything!

Neville Mercer

08/02/14 - 07:56

Looking at the photo of this coach in Hutfields livery I was struck by the similarity to Southdown's Beadle bodied Tiger Cubs with the double curved pillar behind the cab and the windscreen even the side moulding especially at the front. Then again maybe my eyesight, like the rest of me, is not what it used to be.

Diesel Dave

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