High capacity saloon ... 1960s style.
Following on from the previous offering, this was my first encounter with 3x2 seated buses. DXD 42C joined the Stonier's fleet in the early '70s. It was an AEC Reliance 590 with Plaxton Highway bodywork which had been new to Luton Airport and for which duties the saloon was kitted out with 61 bus seats and a luggage pen. Overall length was the then legal maximum of 36ft or 11metres in modern speak. Following service in Bedfordshire the bus moved north to Rugeley and Wieldon's 'Green Bus Service' where I gather it wasn't a popular bus. After moving to Stonier's it's capacity was appreciated but once again 'DXD' was not popular with crews, particularly conductors, who found it's necessarily narrow gangway problematic. Withdrawal came circa 1976 after what was believed to be an attempt to sabotage the engine, the bus then being traded in against two four year old ex Maidstone Borough Leyland Atlanteans.
This picture was taken as the bus was awoken for my photograph by foreman Amby Smith prior to my starting work there ... I was still at school in 1976.
High capacity saloon ... 1960s style.
Following on from the previous offering, this was my first encounter with 3x2 seated buses. DXD 42C joined the Stonier's fleet in the early '70s. It was an AEC Reliance 590 with Plaxton Highway bodywork which had been new to Luton Airport and for which duties the saloon was kitted out with 61 bus seats and a luggage pen. Overall length was the then legal maximum of 36ft or 11metres in modern speak. Following service in Bedfordshire the bus moved north to Rugeley and Wieldon's 'Green Bus Service' where I gather it wasn't a popular bus. After moving to Stonier's it's capacity was appreciated but once again 'DXD' was not popular with crews, particularly conductors, who found it's necessarily narrow gangway problematic. Withdrawal came circa 1976 after what was believed to be an attempt to sabotage the engine, the bus then being traded in against two four year old ex Maidstone Borough Leyland Atlanteans.
This picture was taken as the bus was awoken for my photograph by foreman Amby Smith prior to my starting work there ... I was still at school in 1976.