One imposing 'decker.
Love 'em or hate 'em, the production AEC / Park Royal Bridgemasters were certainly imposing machines. In an enthusiast publication many moons ago, I can recall the Irish CIE Atlanteans being referred to as having an appearance of 'being hewn out of Granite', ... something which could equally have been said about the above. The squat and chunky visual characteristics were further exacerbated in the case of this ex 'East Yorkshire' example by the inward taper of the upper deck... or 'Beverley Bar' roof.
By the time I caught up with 9716 AT in 1979 it had moved on from it's original owner (along with a sister bus) to the wonderfully varied and interesting Nottingham based fleet of A Camm.
In this Sunday morning scene, the Bridgemaster and several other of the company's buses were seen parked around the remains of demolished side streets adjoining the garage premises.
The 'Integrally' constructed Bridgemaster wasn't the runaway success AEC/PRV hoped it might have been and after relatively low build numbers was replaced in 1963 by the more stylish and chassissed Renown.
My reason for being in Nottingham early one Sunday morning was to collect two ex. Ribble Leyland Leopards we at Stonier's were hiring to cover for a vehicle shortage following the first run-in with the 'Ministry' man.
One imposing 'decker.
Love 'em or hate 'em, the production AEC / Park Royal Bridgemasters were certainly imposing machines. In an enthusiast publication many moons ago, I can recall the Irish CIE Atlanteans being referred to as having an appearance of 'being hewn out of Granite', ... something which could equally have been said about the above. The squat and chunky visual characteristics were further exacerbated in the case of this ex 'East Yorkshire' example by the inward taper of the upper deck... or 'Beverley Bar' roof.
By the time I caught up with 9716 AT in 1979 it had moved on from it's original owner (along with a sister bus) to the wonderfully varied and interesting Nottingham based fleet of A Camm.
In this Sunday morning scene, the Bridgemaster and several other of the company's buses were seen parked around the remains of demolished side streets adjoining the garage premises.
The 'Integrally' constructed Bridgemaster wasn't the runaway success AEC/PRV hoped it might have been and after relatively low build numbers was replaced in 1963 by the more stylish and chassissed Renown.
My reason for being in Nottingham early one Sunday morning was to collect two ex. Ribble Leyland Leopards we at Stonier's were hiring to cover for a vehicle shortage following the first run-in with the 'Ministry' man.