Strathclyde Transport - Leyland Olympian LO1 (VGB364W):
To be a little more precise, it is in fact a Bristol B45 Chassis, (No B45.03), with Alexander bodywork (Body No 2879/1) built in early 1981.
When the bodybuilding was almost completed, the bus was sent to Leyland Motors for use as a development/testing vehicle.
It was photographed in what was the then Leyland Motors Spurrier Works. After Leyland Motors had finished with it, it was returned to Alexander’s at Falkirk for completion of the bodywork and painting into Strathclyde livery then to service with Strathclyde.
Towards the end of its working life it was agreed that it would be preserved in Scotland. Preservation never came as, sadly, the vehicle was destroyed in a garage fire before it’s withdrawal.
Dennis Javelin:
Some pictures of the same Albion Lowlander bus. First is when it was on loan to Glasgow Corporation Transport. The second is when it was being operated by Bamber Bridge and the third is with Ribble after the destination display had been changed to their preferred design.
I remember that Lowlander well - Ribble did operate it with its original destination display but the front dome was damaged and replaced with one to match RIbble’s own Lowlanders, and with the upper front windows mounted higher. I remember the mould for that front dome lying in the corner of the body shop yard for years.
Ribble 1968 [747EUS] by maljoe, on Flickr
It did look very striking in its BBMS livery:
BBMS No1 & No6 by jim_bbms, on Flickr
Dennis Javelin:
Ray Smyth:
A Highland Albion Lowlander with bodywork by Northern Counties of Wigan.
There was not a lot Lowlanders south of the border, Ribble Motor Services
had about 16 of them with bodywork by Alexander of Falkirk, 6 of which were
at Wigan depot where I spent 2 years in the late 1960s, and they performed well.
Not my picture. Ray.
Of the 274 Lowlanders built 80 of them were supplied to operators in England - around 30%. A lot more than you would have thought.
Ribble, Luton, Southend? I think they were all Lowlander operators? But they were always badged as Leylands in England, apart from 747EUS, I think. Ribble bought 16 of them from new, as Ray says
240 Gardner:
Dennis Javelin:
Ray Smyth:
A Highland Albion Lowlander with bodywork by Northern Counties of Wigan.
There was not a lot Lowlanders south of the border, Ribble Motor Services
had about 16 of them with bodywork by Alexander of Falkirk, 6 of which were
at Wigan depot where I spent 2 years in the late 1960s, and they performed well.
Not my picture. Ray.
Of the 274 Lowlanders built 80 of them were supplied to operators in England - around 30%. A lot more than you would have thought.
Ribble, Luton, Southend? I think they were all Lowlander operators? But they were always badged as Leylands in England, apart from 747EUS, I think. Ribble bought 16 of them from new, as Ray says
You also had Yorkshire Woollen who took 14 of them and East Midland had 13.
Rapsons of Brora had former East Midland Albion Lowlander D162 162 NVO new in November 1962 which I photographed at Ardgay, Sutherland beside the A836 in the summer of1979.
Here some interior views of the Central SMT Bristol VRLL BN331. cuttings from my collection.
240 Gardner:
Dennis Javelin:
Ray Smyth:
A Highland Albion Lowlander with bodywork by Northern Counties of Wigan.
There was not a lot Lowlanders south of the border, Ribble Motor Services
had about 16 of them with bodywork by Alexander of Falkirk, 6 of which were
at Wigan depot where I spent 2 years in the late 1960s, and they performed well.
Not my picture. Ray.
Of the 274 Lowlanders built 80 of them were supplied to operators in England - around 30%. A lot more than you would have thought.
Ribble, Luton, Southend? I think they were all Lowlander operators? But they were always badged as Leylands in England, apart from 747EUS, I think. Ribble bought 16 of them from new, as Ray says
Yes I seem to remember a few about with the LAD type looking grills. Southend Borough Corporation had a fair old bus fleet. The fleet seemed old fashioned until the ultra modern J reg rear engined Fleetlines arrived.
Talking of Southend -
Southend Transport had 5 1972 Northern Counties bodied Daimler Fleetlines rebodied in 1984/85 because of bodywork corrosion problems.
One of them became Q476MEV - it had previously been GHJ377L.
ramone:
les-p:
Here’s another Dennis, Glasgow’s last Green Goddess tram, Bradford registration on the Elliott of York lorry wonder who used to own it, perhaps Ramone will remember it. 
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Cheeky [zb] Les 
i first thought that was the back of Thornbury tram shed the only bit that’s left . The front is now demolished and an eye sore a toral disgrace but that’s Bradford Council for you. I would think Elliotts had that from new but well before my time Les , did you work on them when they first came out (not the trams )
That Scammell dky 462 is quite a well known truck. New in 1944 to Pickfords, not sure when transferred to Elliott’s, but, remained with them until the 1970’s when it was retired into preservation. I believe the truck has remained with the same owners since then and still exists today. The earliest picture of it that I have seen dates from 1946 and last news of it was around 2012.
dhtriyadh:
ramone:
les-p:
Here’s another Dennis, Glasgow’s last Green Goddess tram, Bradford registration on the Elliott of York lorry wonder who used to own it, perhaps Ramone will remember it.
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Cheeky [zb] Les i first thought that was the back of Thornbury tram shed the only bit that’s left . The front is now demolished and an eye sore a toral disgrace but that’s Bradford Council for you. I would think Elliotts had that from new but well before my time Les , did you work on them when they first came out (not the trams )
That Scammell dky 462 is quite a well known truck. New in 1944 to Pickfords, not sure when transferred to Elliott’s, but, remained with them until the 1970’s when it was retired into preservation. I believe the truck has remained with the same owners since then and still exists today. The earliest picture of it that I have seen dates from 1946 and last news of it was around 2012.
Funnily enough, there is another photo around of the same truck actually in Thornbury tram depot in 1972 collecting a trolley us to go to Sandtoft!
Scammell DKY462:
Original photo from a few pages back:
Later photo from about 20 years ago:
Did it have cab replacement/modifications in the period between photos ?
Footnote:
I have copied the Glasgow photograph to The Brewery Lorries thread - nice Guinness advert.
Hope nobody minds.
Glasgow Leyland PD2 with bodywork by Alexander of Falkirk. NMP.
Ray Smyth:
Glasgow Leyland PD2 with bodywork by Alexander of Falkirk. NMP.
This was actually an in house built body albeit on an Alexander frame. Glasgow Corporation Transport built 50 PD2’s and 50 PD3’s at the Coplawhill works. They also built a considerable no of Leyland single deckers with the frames supplied by Weymann along with 43 Daimler single deckers.
Dennis Javelin:
Ray Smyth:
Glasgow Leyland PD2 with bodywork by Alexander of Falkirk. NMP.
This was actually an in house built body albeit on an Alexander frame. Glasgow Corporation Transport built 50 PD2’s and 50 PD3’s at the Coplawhill works. They also built a considerable no of Leyland single deckers with the frames supplied by Weymann along with 43 Daimler single deckers.
Dennis, Thank you for your Glasgow/Alexander info. Liverpool Corporation did a similar thing shortly
after World War 2. They purchased a large number of AEC Regents that were bodyframed by Weymann,
and completed at their large works at Edge Lane in Liverpool.
Cheers, Ray.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Great photos, I ca remember when the Trade Plate drivers used to drive a cab & coach chassis , The were well muffed up with goggles & gloves plus a very thick overcoat, They even did it in the bad winter months, They must have eaten loads of porridge to keep fit & warm, 
, Regards Larry.
This should bring back memories then
The Indians had the grace to give the drivers some protection on this Ashok chassis
At the time this pic was taken these buses were running against each other. The bus on the left is a Leyland PD3/2 with Massey bodywork built in 1959 and belonged at that time to Chieftain (Laurie) of Hamilton. It is passing a 1951 Leyland PD1A in the fleet of Central SMT. Two years later they would be sharing the same owners after Central took over Chieftain.
Stumbled over this whilst browsing, don’t know if it has been on before.
NMP
This was Foden’s Band bus.
Cheers, Leyland 600
