Knotty SMA, prior to re-paint.
Of all the buses I ever operated, this was high up in my list of favourites. In a hurry to get it out and play with it, I did something I really disapprove of, and ran it in it's former operators' colours. The livery here was a modification of it's last but one owner's, and the firm from which we acquired it, Blue Triangle of Bootle. The base cream and the maroon stripe was that applied by Bowman's of Carlisle, the blue, by the Liverpool business.
This picture was taken in Oulton near Stone, Staffordshire whilst working an afternoon County Council tendered journey in the mid 1990s. The bus had been ordered by South Wales Transport, but had been diverted to London Country where it saw out most of it's working life. LCBS referred to the class as SMA... this being SMA3. JPF 103K carries Alexander's panoramic windowed W type body. Of all the Swifts I've had the pleasure of operating, this one had the most pleasant demeanour, and the most taught bodywork. Like so many others, the bus was sold to a well meaning preservationist who set out with great intentions... only for it to end up in Ripley's scrapyard, Barnsley a couple of years later where it's remains languished for many a while.
Knotty SMA, prior to re-paint.
Of all the buses I ever operated, this was high up in my list of favourites. In a hurry to get it out and play with it, I did something I really disapprove of, and ran it in it's former operators' colours. The livery here was a modification of it's last but one owner's, and the firm from which we acquired it, Blue Triangle of Bootle. The base cream and the maroon stripe was that applied by Bowman's of Carlisle, the blue, by the Liverpool business.
This picture was taken in Oulton near Stone, Staffordshire whilst working an afternoon County Council tendered journey in the mid 1990s. The bus had been ordered by South Wales Transport, but had been diverted to London Country where it saw out most of it's working life. LCBS referred to the class as SMA... this being SMA3. JPF 103K carries Alexander's panoramic windowed W type body. Of all the Swifts I've had the pleasure of operating, this one had the most pleasant demeanour, and the most taught bodywork. Like so many others, the bus was sold to a well meaning preservationist who set out with great intentions... only for it to end up in Ripley's scrapyard, Barnsley a couple of years later where it's remains languished for many a while.