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The vehicles . . .

Section 2 - Vehicles delivered NEW to the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company

Non-Standard Vehicles (ie. those not of Bristol or Leyland manufacture)

The Eastern Counties Omnibus Company acquired many non-standard vehicles which were delivered new to them. These included such makes as Albion, Bedford, Dennis, Maudsley, etc. Many of these acquisitions were diverted orders, placed by independent operators, which were subsequently taken over by Eastern Counties.

The B class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 11 original members of the B class.

All members of this class were Bedford OB 30 seat Duple bodied stage carriage saloons delivered in 1949 and 1950. These small capacity vehicles were generally employed on lightly loaded rural routes but were also called upon to back up the coach fleet during busy periods. All were withdrawn by the end of 1956, having only served the Company for an average of six or seven years. A further 15 members of this class, which were acquired second hand from various independent operators taken over by Eastern Counties, are shown under the ‘vehicles acquired second hand’ heading.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

B938 KAH938 Bedford OB B30F Oct 1949 1956

B939 KAH939 Bedford OB B30F Oct 1949 1956

B940 KAH940 Bedford OB B30F Nov 1949 1956

B941 KAH941 Bedford OB B30F Dec 1949 1956

B942 KAH942 Bedford OB B30F Dec 1949 1956

B943 KAH943 Bedford OB B30F Dec 1949 1956

B944 KAH944 Bedford OB B30F Jan 1950 1956

B945 KAH945 Bedford OB B30F Jan 1950 1956

B946 KAH946 Bedford OB B30F Feb 1950 1956

B947 KAH947 Bedford OB B30F Jul 1950 1956

B948 KAH948 Bedford OB B30F Jul 1950 1956

There are no known surviving members of the B class in preservation.

The BS class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 10 members of the BS class.

All members of this class were Bedford OB 29 seat Duple bodied coaches delivered in 1949 and 1950. These small capacity coaches were generally employed on tours and excursions duties. All were withdrawn by the end of 1957, having only served the Company between seven and eight years. A further 6 members of this class, which were acquired second hand from various independent operators taken over by Eastern Counties, are shown under the ‘vehicles acquired second hand’ heading.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

BS949 KAH949 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS950 KAH950 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS951 KAH951 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS952 KAH952 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS953 KAH953 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS954 KAH954 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS955 KAH955 Bedford OB C29F Jul 1949 1957

BS956 KAH956 Bedford OB C29F Aug 1950 1957

BS957 KAH957 Bedford OB C29F Aug 1950 1957

BS958 KAH958 Bedford OB C29F Aug 1950 1957

There are no known surviving members of the BS class in preservation.

The BV class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 18 members of the BV class.

All members of this class were Bedford SB4LK 37 seat Duple bodied coaches delivered in July of 1954. These medium capacity coaches were generally employed on tours and excursions duties, but were often employed on London express services. The whole class were powered by Gardner ’s smallest engine, the frugal 4 cylinder LK unit. The first six members of this class were re-classified as BVS and down-graded to stage carriage duties in the early 1960s. All were withdrawn by the end of 1966, having served the Company for around twelve years.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

BV848 PPW848 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966 BVS848

BV849 PPW849 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966 BVS849

BV850 PPW850 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966 BVS850

BV851 PPW851 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966 BVS851

BV852 PPW852 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966 BVS852

BV853 PPW853 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966 BVS853

BV854 PPW854 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV855 PPW855 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV856 PPW856 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV857 PPW857 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV858 PPW858 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV859 PPW859 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV860 PPW860 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV861 PPW861 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV862 PPW862 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV863 PPW863 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV864 PPW864 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

BV865 PPW865 Bedford SB 4LK C37F Jul 1954 1966

There are no known surviving members of the BV class in preservation.

The CB class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 16 original members of the CB class.

All members of the original CB class were Bedford JCB 35 seat Beadle bodied stage carriage saloons delivered in 1949. These light-weight, Dartford constructed vehicles were mainly deployed on rural services in the relatively flat west Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Fen districts. All were withdrawn by the end of 1961, having served the Company for between ten and twelve years.

The CB class was resurrected six years later in 1967, when four Bedford VAM14 45 seat Duple bodied coaches and six Bedford VAM70 45 seat Duple bodied coaches were delivered new to the Company during 1967 and 1968.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

CB816 HPW801 Beadle-Bedford B35R Mar 1949 1959

CB817 HPW802 Beadle-Bedford B35R Mar 1949 1959

CB818 HPW803 Beadle-Bedford B35R Mar 1949 1959

CB819 HPW804 Beadle-Bedford B35R May 1949 1959

CB820 HPW805 Beadle-Bedford B35R Jul 1949 1959

CB821 HPW806 Beadle-Bedford B35R Jul 1949 1960

CB822 HPW807 Beadle-Bedford B35R Aug 1949 1960

CB823 HPW808 Beadle-Bedford B35R Aug 1949 1960

CB824 HPW809 Beadle-Bedford B35R Aug 1949 1961

CB825 HPW810 Beadle-Bedford B35R Sep 1949 1960

CB826 HPW811 Beadle-Bedford B35R Sep 1949 1960

CB827 HPW812 Beadle-Bedford B35R Sep 1949 1960

CB828 HPW813 Beadle-Bedford B35R Oct 1949 1961

CB829 HPW814 Beadle-Bedford B35R Oct 1949 1961

CB830 HPW815 Beadle-Bedford B35R Oct 1949 1961

CB831 HPW816 Beadle-Bedford B35R Oct 1949 1961

CB836 LNG836E Bedford VAM14 C45F May 1967 1976

CB837 LNG837E Bedford VAM14 C45F May 1967 1976

CB838 LNG838E Bedford VAM14 C45F May 1967 1975

CB839 LNG839E Bedford VAM14 C45F May 1967 1975

CB840 PPW840F Bedford VAM70 C45F May 1968 1974

CB841 PPW841F Bedford VAM70 C45F May 1968 1974

CB842 PPW842F Bedford VAM70 C45F May 1968 1975

CB843 PPW843F Bedford VAM70 C45F May 1968 1975

CB844 PPW844F Bedford VAM70 C45F May 1968 1972

CB845 PPW845F Bedford VAM70 C45F May 1968 1975

There are no known surviving members of the CB class in preservation.

The CD class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 16 members of the CD class.

All members of this class were Dennis 32 seat ECW bodied stage carriage saloons delivered in 1950. These were specially designed chassis-less vehicles built by Eastern Coach Works Ltd which incorporated Gardner 4LK oil engines, Dennis gearboxes and other components from withdrawn pre-war D class ECW bodied Dennis Aces. In common with the CB class vehicles referred to in the previous paragraph, most of these frugal, light-weight saloons were allocated to the west Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Fen districts where the relatively flat territory suited their low powered engines. All CD class vehicles were withdrawn during 1961, having served the Company for an average of eleven years.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

CD832 HPW817 Dennis ECW B32R Jun 1950 1961

CD833 HPW818 Dennis ECW B32R May 1950 1961

CD834 HPW819 Dennis ECW B32R Jun 1950 1961

CD835 HPW820 Dennis ECW B32R Jun 1950 1961

CD836 HPW821 Dennis ECW B32R Jun 1950 1961

CD837 HPW822 Dennis ECW B32R Jul 1950 1961

CD838 HPW823 Dennis ECW B32R Jul 1950 1961

CD839 HPW824 Dennis ECW B32R Aug 1950 1961

CD840 HPW825 Dennis ECW B32R Aug 1950 1961

CD841 HPW826 Dennis ECW B32R Sep 1950 1961

CD842 HPW827 Dennis ECW B32R Sep 1950 1961

CD843 HPW828 Dennis ECW B32R Oct 1950 1961

CD844 HPW829 Dennis ECW B32R Oct 1950 1961

CD845 HPW830 Dennis ECW B32R Nov 1950 1961

CD846 HPW831 Dennis ECW B32R Nov 1950 1961

CD847 HPW832 Dennis ECW B32R Dec 1950 1961

It is indeed very unfortunate that there are no known surviving members of this unique class of vehicles, which were built specially for the Eastern Counties fleet, in preservation.

The D class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 21 members of the D class.

Members of this class consisted of twenty Dennis Ace, 20 seat ECW bodied stage carriage saloons, delivered during 1938, 1939 and 1941 and one solitary Dennis JCB 33 seat Beadle bodied stage carriage saloon delivered in 1947. Most of this class were allocated to the Company’s western area, with King’s Lynn depot being a particular stronghold. They became affectionately known as ‘flying pigs’ due to their protruding bonnets. The majority of the Aces were withdrawn in the late 1940s, with just a couple holding out until 1952. The ‘odd man out’ JCB served the Company for a surprising twelve years before withdrawal in 1959.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

D1 CAH 921 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1938 1949 D971

D2 CAH 922 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1938 1949 D972

D3 CAH 923 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1938 1949 D973

D4 CAH 924 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1938 1949 D974

D5 CAH 925 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1938 1949 D975

D6 CAH 926 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1938 1949 D976

D7 CAH 927 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Feb 1938 1948 D977

D8 CAH 928 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Mar 1938 1948 D978

D9 CVF809 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jan 1939 1948 D979

D10 CVF810 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Feb 1939 1949 D980

D11 CVF811 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Feb 1939 1949 D981

D12 CVF812 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Mar 1939 1949 D982

D13 CVF813 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Mar 1939 1949 D983

D14 CVF814 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F May 1939 1949 D984

D15 CVF815 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F May 1939 1952 D985

D16 CVF816 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F May 1939 1949 D986

D17 CVF817 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F May 1939 1949 D987

D18 CVF818 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Jul 1939 1952 D988

D19 DVF519 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Dec 1941 1948 D989

D20 DVF520 Dennis Ace 4LK B20F Dec 1941 1949 D990

D999 FNG818 Beadle-Dennis JCB B33R May 1947 1959

Fortunately, there is one surviving member of the D class in preservation, namely D19, which has had a very chequered career since leaving Eastern Counties service in 1948. It has now been beautifully restored by its present custodians, the Ipswich Transport Museum Society and made its official rally debut at an ITM event staged in November of 2019.

The DL class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 2 members of the DL class.

These were Dennis Lance II 60 seat ECOC bodied double deck buses delivered in 1936. These vehicles were only operated for four months, after which the two bodies were transferred to Bristol GO5Gs, LG16 and LG17 respectively, thereby becoming members of the LG class, after serving only four months on their original Dennis Lance chassis. The two Dennis Lance chassis were returned to the manufacturers and subsequently dismantled.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

DL1 ANG701 Dennis Lance 2 H60R Jan 1936 1936

DL2 ANG702 Dennis Lance 2 H60R Jan 1936 1936

The MS class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 2 members of the MS class.

These were Maudslay Marathon III 37 seat Gurney-Nutting bodied coaches delivered in 1951. These coaches were a diverted order, originally intended to go to Suffolk independent operator, Beestons of East Bergholt , but were delivered directly to Eastern Counties before the official acquisition date. Both vehicles were allocated to Ipswich depot from new, primarily for use on express duties to and from the Capital and remained there for their entire eleven year service lives with the Company until withdrawal in 1962.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

MS907 LRT 133 Maudslay Marathon III FC37F Jun 1951 1962

MS908 LRT 134 Maudslay Marathon III FC37F Jun 1951 1962

Unfortunately, neither of these fine vehicles made it into preservation.

The N class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There was only 1 member of the N class.

The sole member of the N class was a unique Albion Victor FT 39 seat ECW bodied stage carriage saloon which was very similar in appearance to the standard Bristol L type body, but featuring a full cab. This rare vehicle spent its entire service life in East Suffolk , mainly based at Ipswich depot, but was later out-stationed at Eye. The bus was withdrawn in 1967, following fourteen years of loyal Company service.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

N973 NAH973 Albion Victor FT39L B35R Jun 1953 1967 N999

Sadly, this unique vehicle somehow managed to slip through the preservation net and was scrapped in 1977, following many years of use as a road contractor’s site hut.

The P class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 10 members of the P class.

All members of this class were Tilling Stevens B39A7 36 seat ECOC bodied stage carriage saloons delivered in 1933 and 1934. These ten vehicles were the tail end deliveries of a much larger class of Tilling Stevens vehicles, which were acquired by Eastern Counties second hand, upon the merger of constituent companies, United Automobile Services Ltd and Eastern Counties Road Car Company Ltd, plus an odd four acquired from a couple of small independent operators subsequently absorbed. These vehicles were originally petrol powered, but were re-fitted with Gardner 4LK oil engines at a later date. These pre-war vehicles survived in service with Eastern Counties until 1950-51. This class also included a further 76 members which were acquired second hand as a result of the merger of the four constituent companies in October of 1931. These vehicles, which all came from United Automobile Services Ltd and Eastern Counties Road Car Company Ltd, are shown under the ‘vehicles acquired second hand’ heading.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

P166 NG5801 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Dec 1933 1950 P866

P167 NG5802 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Dec 1933 1950 P867

P168 NG5803 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Jan 1934 1950 P868

P169 NG5804 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Jan 1934 1950 P869

P170 NG5805 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Jan 1934 1950 P870

P171 NG5806 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Jan 1934 1951 P871

P172 NG5807 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Jan 1934 1950 P872

P173 NG5808 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Feb 1934 1950 P873

P174 NG5809 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Feb 1934 1950 P874

P175 NG5810 Tilling-Stevens B39A7 B36R Feb 1934 1950 P875

Unfortunately, none of these vehicles have made it into preservation.

The SB class PHOTOS (Not yet available)

There were 4 members of the SB class.

Members of this class comprised two Bedford VAM5 and two Bedford VAM14 41 seat ECW bodied stage carriage saloons delivered in 1967. In common with the aforementioned CD class, these four vehicles were unusual in the Eastern Counties fleet. Their ECW bodies resembled those fitted to standard MW stage carriage saloons in the earlier LM class, but with totally different front profiles. Worthy of note, is that SB661 and SB662 were fitted with under-floor vertically mounted Bedford 330 engines, whilst SB663 and SB664 had similarly positioned Leyland 400 power units. All four of these vehicles unfortunately suffered from excessive engine and transmission noise, making them unpopular with platform staff and passengers alike and they were all withdrawn in 1976, after having served for just nine years.

Fleet No. Reg.No. Chassis Body Date In Date Out 2nd No. 3rd No.

SB661 NAH661F Bedford VAM5 B41F Oct 1967 1976

SB662 NAH662F Bedford VAM5 B41F Nov 1967 1976

SB663 NAH663F Bedford VAM14 B41F Oct 1967 1976

SB664 NAH664F Bedford VAM14 B41F Nov 1967 1976

Somewhat unsurprisingly, none of these vehicles have made it into preservation.

Please click this link to return to details of the Standard Vehicles delivered NEW to the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company (ie. those of Bristol and Leyland manufacture)

Please click this link for details of the Second hand vehicles acquired by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company

Please click this link for details of the Service vehicles operated by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company

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