The vehicles . . .
Introduction
The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company operated a mainly
Bristol/Eastern Coach Works fleet during the 'Tilling' era, but owing to the
amalgamation of the four predecessor companies* which formed Eastern Counties in
October of 1931, a relatively modern, but extremely varied fleet was inherited,
comprising many different makes and models with an interesting variety of
bodywork. As time progressed, the Company worked towards standardising on
a typically 'Tilling' fleet, comprising the rugged, well engineered Bristol
chassis combined with the very attractive and durable bodywork by Eastern Coach
Works of Lowestoft. It is worthy of note here to mention again that
Eastern Coach Works Ltd was originally wholly owned by the Eastern Counties
Omnibus Company, being inherited as part of the merger of the aforesaid
predecessor companies. Between 1931 and 1936 the coach building works was
known as Eastern Counties Coach Works Ltd. Eastern Counties adopted a fleet classification system comprising prefix
letters followed by suffix numbers. All
*Please refer to the Company history page for further details of the predecessor companies and the part they played in the formation of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in July of 1931.
Note: Fleet numbers in bold red type indicate that the vehicle is currently preserved. Fleet numbers in bold green type indicate that the vehicle is a survivor.
Complete Eastern Counties Omnibus Company 'Tilling' era fleet lists
Numerically by fleet number / Numerically by registration number / Alphabetically by chassis make & type / Chronologically by delivery date
These fleet lists aren in .pdf format and include all vehicles acquired from the four constituent companies, namely, United Automobile Services Ltd, Eastern Counties Road Car Company Ltd, Ortona Motor Company Ltd and Peterborough Electric Traction Company Ltd, upon formation in July of 1931. Also included are the motor buses inherited from the Norwich Electric Tramways Company Ltd, upon the cessation of that Company's trading activities on the 10th of December 1935.
Please use your browser's 'back' button if you wish to return to this page after viewing each list.
Section 1 - Vehicles delivered NEW to the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company
Standard
Vehicles
The A & AH classes PHOTOS
There were 50 members of the A & AH class.
Members of this class comprised five Leyland TD1 51 seat Leyland
bodied low-bridge double deck buses delivered in 1932; five Leyland TD1 52 seat
ECOC bodied low-bridge double deck buses delivered in 1932; twenty-one Leyland
TD2 56 seat ECOC bodied low-bridge double deck buses delivered in 1932 and 1933
and ten Leyland TD4 60 seat ECOC bodied high-bridge double deck buses delivered
in 1935. These vehicles were primarily used on stage carriage city and
county services. Many members of the A & AH class were rebodied and renumbered at various
times and many of the low-bridge A class were for some mysterious reason,
reclassified as AH during the war years. All were withdrawn from passenger
service by the end of 1961.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
A176
NG1911
A177
NG1912
A178
NG1913
A179
NG1914
A180
NG1915
A181
NG1916
A182
NG1917
A183
NG1918
A184
NG1919
A186
NG2721
A187
NG2722
A188
NG2723
A189
NG2724
A190
NG2725
A191
NG2726
A192
NG2727
A193
NG2728
A194
NG2729
A195
NG2730
A196
NG2731
A197
NG2732
A198
NG2733
A199
NG2734
A200
NG3861
A201
NG3862
A202
NG3863
A203
NG3864
A204
NG3865
A205
NG3866
A206
NG3867
A207
NG3868
A208
NG3869
A209
NG3870
A210
NG5401
A211
NG5402
A212
NG5403
A213
NG5404
A214
NG5405
A215
NG5406
AH232
AAH136
AH233
AAH137
AH234
AAH138
AH235
AAH139
AH236
AAH140
AH237
AAH141
AH238
AAH142
AH239
AAH143
AH240
AAH144
The
AT class
There were 10 members of the AT class.
All members of this class were Leyland TS4 29 seat ECOC bodied rear
entrance coaches delivered in 1933. Having said this, the last of the class
(AT136) possibly may have carried Bush & Twiddy bodywork.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
AT127
NG3871
AT128
NG3872
AT129
NG3873
AT130
NG3874
AT131
NG3875
AT132
NG3876
AT133
NG3877
AT134
NG3878
AT135
NG3879
AT136
NG3880
Unfortunately, there are no known survivors of the AT class in preservation.
The
LD class
There were 6 members of the LD class.
All members of this class were Dennis engined, Bristol JO4D 35 seat
ECW bodied stage carriage saloons delivered in 1937.
LD1
LD2
LD3
LD4
LD5
LD6
The
LG class
There were 14 members of the LG class.
Members of this class comprised ten Bristol GO5G 56 seat ECW bodied
double deck buses delivered in 1936 and four Bristol GO5G 54 seat ECW bodied
double deck buses delivered in 1937. A further 8 second hand
Weymann bodied Bristol GJW, 48 seat double deck buses new in 1933, swelled this
class in 1935, following the Company’s acquisition of the Norwich Omnibus
Company Ltd. These vehicles carried fleet numbers LG1 to LG8 and are shown under
the ‘vehicles acquired second hand’
heading.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
LG9
AVF351
LG10
AVF352
LG11
AVF353
LG12
AVF354
LG13
AVF355
LG14
AVF356
LG15
AVF357
LG16
AVF358
LG17
AVF359
LG18
AVF360
LG19
LG20
LG21
Fortunately, one of
these open topped conversions, former Norwich Omnibus Company LG4 (VG 5541)
survives in preservation, having been exported to the USA in 1960 and then
repatriated by Roger Burdett, an enthusiast from the West Midlands, some forty
years later in 2000! The vehicle has since been splendidly restored as
open topped HLG4 and it made a very welcome return to
The
LJ class
There were 38 members of the LJ class.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
LJ1
NG9901
LJ2
NG9902
LJ3
NG9903
LJ4
NG9904
LJ5
NG9905
LJ6
NG9906
LJ7
NG9907
LJ8
NG9908
LJ9
NG9909
LJ10
NG9910
LJ11
AVF361
LJ12
AVF362
LJ13
AVF363
LJ14
AVF364
LJ15
AVF365
LJ16
AVF366
LJ17
AVF367
LJ18
AVF368
LJ19
AVF369
LJ20
AVF370
LJ21
LJ22
LJ23
LJ24
LJ25
LJ26
LJ27
LJ28
LJ29
LJ30
LJ31
LJ32
LJ33
LJ34
LJ35
LJ36
LJ37
LJ38
Sadly,
there are no known surviving LJs in preservation. The last known survivor,
namely LJ38, was noted as a derelict hulk at dealer, Ben Jordan's farm premises
adjacent to the former WWII and ‘Battle Of Britain’ aerodrome near
Coltishall,
The
LN class
There were 10 members of the LN class.
All members of this class were Bristol JNW 36 seat ECOC bodied
stage carriage saloons delivered in 1935.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
LN1
NG9911
LN2
NG9912
LN3
NG9913
LN4
NG9914
LN6
NG9916
LN7
NG9917
LN8
NG9918
LN9
NG9919
LN10
NG9920
The
LK class
There were 81 members of the LK class.
Members of this class consisted of twelve Bristol K6A 55 seat Strachan's bodied double deck buses delivered between 1944 and 1946; twenty-nine Bristol K5G 55 seat ECW bodied double deck buses delivered between 1946 and 1950; fourteen Bristol K6B 55 seat ECW bodied double deck buses delivered between 1947 and 1950; twenty-one Bristol KS5G 55 seat ECW bodied double deck buses delivered between 1950 and 1951 and five Bristol KSW6B 55 seat ECW bodied double deck buses delivered in 1951. All of these vehicles were of 'low-bridge' design, featuring an upper deck sunken gangway on the offside, giving access to rows of four seats strung together on the nearside and a very low roof. They were mainly employed on county routes and were a familiar sight from the mid 1940s until the mid 1960s, the new fangled 'Lodekkas' bringing about their eventual demise. The last members of the class were finally withdrawn from passenger service in 1969. This class grew by a further 2 members when a couple of low-bridge Bristol K types were acquired second hand from West Yorkshire Road Car Company Ltd. These vehicles are shown under the ‘vehicles acquired second hand’ heading.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
LK1
LK2
LK3
LK4
FNG141
Bristol
K6A
L55R Oct
1945
1967
LK34
LK243
LK5
FNG142
LK6
FNG143
LK7
FNG144
LK8
FNG145
LK9
FNG146
LK10
FNG398
LK11
FNG399
LK12
FNG400
LK13 FNG810
LK14
FNG811
LK15
FNG812
LK16
FNG813
LK17
FNG814
LK18
FNG815
LK19
FNG816
LK50
FNG817
LK30
HAH230
LK366
KNG366
LK367
KNG367
LK368
KNG368
LK369
KNG369
LK370
KNG370
LK371
KNG371
LK372
KNG372
LK373
KNG373
LK374
KNG374
LK375
KNG375
LK376
KNG376
LK377
KNG377
LK378
KNG378
LK379
KNG379
LK380
KNG380
LK381
KNG381
LK382
KNG382
LK383
KNG383
LK384
KNG384
LK385
KNG385
LK386
KNG386
LK387
KNG387
LK388
KNG388
LK389
KNG389
LK390
KNG390
LK391
KNG391
LK392
KNG392
LK393
KNG393
LK394
KNG394
LK395
KNG395
LK
276 LNG276
Bristol
K5G
L55R Aug
1950
1966
LK
277 LNG277
Bristol
K5G
L55R Aug
1950
1966
LK
278 LNG278
Bristol
K5G
L55R Aug
1950
1966
LK
280 LNG280
LK
281 LNG281
LK
282 LNG282
LK
283 LNG283
LK
284 LNG284
LK
285 LNG285
LK
286 LNG286
LK
287 LNG287
LK
288 LNG288
LK
289 LNG289
LK
290 LNG290
LK
291 LNG291
LK
292 LNG292
LK
293 LNG293
LK
294 LNG294
LK
295 LNG295
LK
296 LNG296
LK
297 LNG297
LK
298 LNG298
LK
299 LNG299
LK
301 MAH301
LK
302 MAH302
LK
303 MAH303
LK
304 MAH304
LK
305 MAH305
Fortunately,
one example, LK374, survives in preservation and has been beautifully restored
by the Ipswich Transport Museum, being completed in late 2007.
The
LKH class
There were 177 members of the LKH class.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
LKH1
LKH2
LKH3
LKH4
LKH6
LKH7
FNG819
LKH8
FNG820
LKH9
FNG821
LKH60
FNG822
LKH61
FNG823
LKH62
FNG824
LKH63 FNG825
LKH64
FNG826
LKH65
GVF65
LKH66
GVF66
LKH67
GVF67
LKH68
GVF68
LKH69
GVF69
LKH70
GVF70
LKH71
GVF71
LKH72
GVF72
LKH73
GVF73
LKH74
GVF74
LKH75
HPW75
LKH76
HPW76
LKH77
HPW77
LKH78
HPW78
LKH79
HPW79
LKH80
HPW80
LKH81
HPW81
LKH82
HPW82
LKH83
HPW83
LKH84
HPW84
LKH85
HPW85
LKH86
HPW86
LKH87
HPW87
LKH88
HPW88
LKH90
HPW90
LKH91
HPW91
LKH92
HPW92
LKH93
HPW93
LKH94
HPW94
LKH95
HPW95
LKH96
HPW96
LKH97
HPW97
LKH98
HPW98
LKH99
HPW99
LKH100
HPW100
LKH101
HPW101
LKH102
HPW102
LKH103
HPW103
LKH104
HPW104
LKH105
HPW105
LKH107
HPW107
LKH109
HPW109
LKH110
HPW110
LKH111
HPW111
LKH112
HPW112
LKH113
HPW113
LKH114
HPW114
LKH115
HPW115
LKH116
HPW116
LKH117
HPW117
LKH118
HPW118
LKH119
HPW119
LKH120
HPW120
LKH121
HPW121
LKH122
HPW122
LKH123
HPW123
LKH124
HPW124
LKH125
HPW125
LKH126
HPW126
LKH127
HPW127
LKH128
HPW128
LKH130
HPW130
LKH131
HPW131
LKH132
HPW132
LKH133
HPW133
LKH134
HPW134
LKH135
HPW135
LKH136
HPW136
LKH137
HPW137
LKH138
HPW138
LKH139
HPW139
LKH140
HPW140
LKH141
HPW141
LKH142
HPW142
LKH152
KNG152
LKH153
KNG153
LKH154
KNG154
LKH155
KNG155
LKH156
KNG156
LKH157
KNG157
LKH158
KNG158
LKH159
KNG159
LKH160
KNG160
LKH161
KNG161
LKH162
KNG162
LKH163
KNG163
LKH164
KNG164
LKH165
KNG165
LKH250
KNG250
LKH251
KNG251
LKH252
KNG252
LKH253
KNG253
LKH254
KNG254
LKH255
KNG255
LKH256
KNG256
LKH257
KNG257
LKH258
KNG258
LKH259
KNG259
LKH260
KNG260
LKH261 LNG261
LKH262
LNG262
LKH263
LNG263
LKH264
LNG264
LKH265
LNG265
LKH266
LNG266
LKH267
LNG267
LKH268
LNG268
LKH269
LNG269
LKH270
LNG270
LKH271
LNG271
LKH272
LNG272
LKH273
LNG273
LKH274
LNG274
LKH275
LNG275
LKH306
MAH306
LKH307
MAH307
LKH308
MAH308
LKH309
MAH309
LKH310
MAH310
LKH311
MAH311
LKH312
MAH312
LKH313
MAH313
LKH314
MAH314
LKH315
MAH315
LKH316
MAH316
LKH317
MAH317
LKH318
MAH318
LKH319
MAH319
LKH320
MAH320
LKH321
MAH321
LKH322
MAH322
LKH323
MAH323
LKH324
MAH324
LKH325
MAH325
LKH326
MAH326
LKH327
MAH327
LKH328
MAH328
LKH329
MAH329
LKH330
MAH330
LKH331
MAH331
LKH332
MAH332
LKH333
NAH933
LKH334
NAH934
LKH336
NAH936
LKH337
NAH937
LKH338
NAH938
LKH339
NAH939
LKH340
NAH940
LKH341
NAH941
LKH342
NAH942
LKH166
OVF166
LKH167
OVF167
LKH168
OVF168
LKH169
OVF169
LKH170
OVF170
LKH171
OVF171
LKH172
OVF172
LKH173
OVF173
Fortunately, three examples of this once extensive class, namely LKH108, LKH133 and LKH341 survive in preservation. LKH133 is fully restored and currently privately owned by Patrick Burnside and Michael Kingston. LKH341 is currently owned and undergoing restoration by the Eastern Transport Collection Society of Norwich. LKH108 was once owned by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Society, but was sold on for further preservation and is presently housed in a semi restored state in a farmer's barn near Raunds in Northants, under private ownership.
The
LL class
There were 242
members of the LL class.
Fleet
No. Reg.No.
Chassis
Body Date
In
Date
Out
2nd No. 3rd No.
LL1
CNG201
LL2
CNG202
LL3
CNG203
LL4
CNG204
LL5
CNG205
LL6
CNG206
LL7
CNG207
LL8
CNG208
LL9
CNG209
LL10
CNG210
LL11
CNG211
LL13
CNG213
LL14
CNG214
LL15
CNG215
LL16
CNG216
LL17
CNG217
LL18
CNG218
LL19
CNG219
LL20
CNG220
LL21
CNG221
LL22
CNG222
LL23
CNG223
LL24
CNG224
LL25
CNG225
LL26
CNG226
LL27
CNG227
LL28
CNG228
LL29
CNG229
LL30
CNG230
LL31
CNG231
LL32
CNG232
LL33
CNG233
LL34
CNG234
LL35
CNG235
LL36
CNG236
LL37
CVF837
LL38
CVF838
LL39
CVF839
LL40
CVF840
LL41
CVF841
LL42
CVF842
LL43
CVF843
LL44
CVF844
LL45
CVF845
LL46
CVF846
LL47
CVF847
LL48
CVF848
LL49
CVF849
LL50
CVF850
LL51
CVF851
LL52
CVF852
LL53
CVF853
LL54
CVF854
LL55
CVF855
LL56
CVF856
LL57
CVF857
LL58
CVF858
LL60
CVF860
LL61
CVF861
LL62
CVF862
LL63
CVF863
LL64
CVF864
LL65
CVF865
LL66
CVF866
LL67
CVF867
LL68
CVF868
LL69
CVF869
LL70
CVF870
LL71
CVF871
LL72
CVF872
LL73
CVF873
LL74
CVF874
LL75
CVF875
LL76
CVF876
LL77
CVF877
LL78
CVF878
LL79
CVF879
LL80
CVF880
LL81
CVF881
LL82
CVF882
LL83
CVF883
LL84
CVF884
LL85
EAH685
LL86
EAH686
LL87
EAH787
LL88
EAH788
LL89
EAH789
LL90
EAH890
LL91
EAH891
LL92
EAH892
LL93
EAH893
LL94
EAH894
LL95
ENG345
LL96
ENG346
LL97
ENG347
LL98
ENG348
LL99
ENG349
LL100
ENG640
LL101
ENG641
LL102
ENG642
LL103
ENG643
LL104
ENG644
LL105
ENG705
LL106
ENG706
LL107
ENG707
LL108
ENG708
LL109
ENG709
LL110
ENG220
LL111
ENG221
LL112
ENG222
LL113
ENG223
LL114
ENG224
LL115
ENG355
LL116
ENG356
LL117
ENG357
LL118
ENG358
LL119
ENG359
LL120
ENG720
LL121
ENG721
LL122
ENG722
LL123
ENG723
LL124
ENG724
LL125
ENG725
LL126
ENG726
LL127
ENG727
LL128
ENG728
LL129
ENG729
LL130
FPW501
LL131
FPW502
LL132
FPW503
LL133
FPW504
LL134
FPW505
LL135
FPW506
LL136
FPW507
LL137
FPW508
LL638
FPW509
LL639
FPW510
LL640
FPW511
LL641
FPW512
LL642
FPW513
LL644
FPW515
LL645
FPW516
LL646
FPW517
LL647
FPW518
LL648
FPW519
LL649
FPW520
LL650
FPW521
LL651
FPW522
LL652
FPW523
LL653
FPW524
LL654
FPW525
LL655
FPW526
LL656
FPW527
LL657
GPW657
LL658
GPW658
LL659
GPW659
LL660
GPW660
LL661
GPW661
LL663
GPW663
LL664
GPW664
LL665
GPW665
LL666 GPW666
LL667
GPW667
LL668
GPW668
LL669
GPW669
LL670
GPW670
LL671
GPW671
LL672
GPW672
LL673
GPW673
LL674
GPW674
LL675
GPW675
LL676
GPW676
LL677
GPW677
LL678
GPW678
LL679
GPW679
LL680
GPW680
LL681
GPW681
LL682
GPW682
LL683
GPW683
LL684
GPW684
LL685
GPW685
LL686
GPW686
LL687
GPW687
LL688
GPW688
LL689
GPW689
LL690
GPW690
LL691
GPW691
LL692
GPW692
LL693
GPW693
LL694
GPW694
LL695
GPW695
LL696
GPW696
LL401
KAH401
LL402
KAH402
LL403
KAH403
LL404
KAH404
LL405
KAH405
LL406
KAH406
LL407
KAH407
LL408
KAH408
LL409
KAH409
LL410
KAH410
LL709
KNG709
LL710
KNG710
LL711
KNG711
LL712
KNG712
LL713
KNG713
LL714
KNG714
LL716
KNG716
LL717
KNG717
LL718
KNG718
LL719
KNG719
LL720
KNG720
LL721
KNG721
LL722
KNG722
LL723
KNG723
LL724
LNG724
LL725
LNG725
LL726
LNG726
LL727
LNG727
LL728
LNG728
LL729
LNG729
LL730
LNG730
LL731
LNG731
LL732
LNG732
LL733
LNG733
LL734
LNG734
LL735
LNG735
LL736
LNG736
LL737
LNG737
LL738
LNG738
LL739
LNG739
LL740
LNG740
LL741
LNG741
LL742
LNG742
LL743
LNG743
LL744
MAH744
The
AP class
There were 20 members of the AP class.
Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.
AP346
GPW346
AP347
GPW347
AP348
GPW348
AP349
GPW349
AP350
GPW350
AP351
GPW351
AP352
GPW352
AP353
GPW353
AP354
GPW354
AP355
GPW355
AP356
GPW356
AP357
GPW357
AP358
GPW358
AP359
GPW359
AP360
GPW360
AP361
GPW361
AP362
GPW362
AP363
GPW363
AP364
GPW364
AP365
GPW365
The
LS class
There were 93 members of the LS class.
Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.
LS1
DAH161
LS2
DAH162
LS493
GPW493
LS494
GPW494
LS495
GPW495
LS704
KNG704
LS705
KNG705
LS706
KNG706
LS707
KNG707
LS708
KNG708
LS750
OAH750
LS751
OAH751
LS752
OAH752
LS753
OAH753
LS754
OAH754
LS755
OAH755
LS756
OAH756
LS757
PVF757
LS758
PVF758
LS759
PVF759
LS760
PVF760
LS764
SNG764
LS765
SNG765
LS766
UNG766
LS767
VVF767
LS768
VVF768
LS769
VVF769
LS770
VVF770
LS771
VVF771
LS772
VVF772
LS773
VVF773
LS774
VVF774
LS775
VVF775
LS776
VVF776
LS777
VVF777
LS778
VVF778
LS779
YNG779
LS780
YNG780
LS782
YNG782
LS783
YNG783
LS784
YNG784
LS785
YNG785
LS786
YNG786
LS787
YNG787
LS788
5788AH
LS789
5789AH
LS790
5790AH
LS791
5791AH
LS792
7792NG
LS793
7793NG
LS794
7794NG
LS795
4821VF
LS796
4822VF
LS797
4823VF
LS798
4824VF
LS799
4825VF
LS800
4826VF
LS801
4827VF
LS802
4828VF
LS803
4829VF
LS804
3804PW
LS805
3805PW
LS807
3807PW
LS808
3808PW
LS809
3809PW
LS810
3810PW
LS811
3811PW
LS812
3812PW
LS813
3813PW
LS814
3814PW
LS815
3815PW
LS816
816
LS817
817
LS818
818
LS819
819
LS820
820
LS821
821
LS822
822
LS823
823
LS824
LS825
LS826
LS827
LS828
LS829
LS830
LS831
LS832
LS833
LS834
LS835
The
LE class
There were 28 members of the LE class (15 members
originally).
Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.
LE697
KNG697
LE698
KNG698
LE699
KNG699
LE700
KNG700
LE701
KNG701
LE702
KNG702