Alpha BET.
One much loved BET subsidiary which was cut and carved with the 1970 formation of the National Bus Co. was Stockport based North Western Road Car Co. It's operations were distributed between Crosville, Trent and where it came within the Greater Manchester area, the new PTE - SELNEC. Latterly NWRCC had a fleet made up of BET favourites like AEC's Reliance, Leyland's Tiger Cub and Leopards plus Daimler's Fleetline, but it was perhaps the less usual things which endeared it to the enthusiast. AEC Renowns and Dennis Lolines were never overly common in other BET fleets, but the bus above was even less so, it being an Atkinson Alpha. The chassis built in Preston by a manufacturer who was predominantly a goods vehicle builder was a rugged Gardner powered creation with the engine mounted horizontally amidships. Few were built, but this preserved NWRCC example was even more unusual in that it's Weymann bodywork featured a somewhat anachronistic (for the underfloor engined era) rear entrance.
FDB 500 still exists and is undergoing a thorough restoration at a location in Cheshire. The picture was taken at one of Crich Tramway Museum's 'Grand Transport Extraviganza's in the early 1980s.
Alpha BET.
One much loved BET subsidiary which was cut and carved with the 1970 formation of the National Bus Co. was Stockport based North Western Road Car Co. It's operations were distributed between Crosville, Trent and where it came within the Greater Manchester area, the new PTE - SELNEC. Latterly NWRCC had a fleet made up of BET favourites like AEC's Reliance, Leyland's Tiger Cub and Leopards plus Daimler's Fleetline, but it was perhaps the less usual things which endeared it to the enthusiast. AEC Renowns and Dennis Lolines were never overly common in other BET fleets, but the bus above was even less so, it being an Atkinson Alpha. The chassis built in Preston by a manufacturer who was predominantly a goods vehicle builder was a rugged Gardner powered creation with the engine mounted horizontally amidships. Few were built, but this preserved NWRCC example was even more unusual in that it's Weymann bodywork featured a somewhat anachronistic (for the underfloor engined era) rear entrance.
FDB 500 still exists and is undergoing a thorough restoration at a location in Cheshire. The picture was taken at one of Crich Tramway Museum's 'Grand Transport Extraviganza's in the early 1980s.