regentlad
A Regal turns Regent
During and after the war bus companies struggled to meet demands for increasing passenger transport. More capacity was urgently needed and with new buses scarce SMT re-bodied old single deckers to double deck. A batch of elderly AEC Regal coaches new in 1934 were rebuilt by Alexanders as 53 seat Regents. Around 20 of these appeared as Regents and a further 18 Leyland Tigers to TD5 standard. Here at St Andrew Square in 1949 is BB16A ready to depart for Birkenside. Behind is BB24G a new Regent with similar 'angular' bodywork departing for Rosewell. 'A' being the code for Edinburgh depot and 'G' the code for Dalkeith.
At the time the standard SMT livery was blue and cream (changed to green and cream shortly after this scene).
Note the advert for Hendry's. Edinburgh had numerous soft drink manufacturers, one of the oldest and largest was owned by John Hendry of Abbey Street, dating from 1890 and later moving their factory to Whyte Place, Lower London Road. Their leading brand was 'double top american cola' such was their success that the SCWS (Co-op) acquired them but retained the names and the Whyte Place factory for many years afterwards.
A Regal turns Regent
During and after the war bus companies struggled to meet demands for increasing passenger transport. More capacity was urgently needed and with new buses scarce SMT re-bodied old single deckers to double deck. A batch of elderly AEC Regal coaches new in 1934 were rebuilt by Alexanders as 53 seat Regents. Around 20 of these appeared as Regents and a further 18 Leyland Tigers to TD5 standard. Here at St Andrew Square in 1949 is BB16A ready to depart for Birkenside. Behind is BB24G a new Regent with similar 'angular' bodywork departing for Rosewell. 'A' being the code for Edinburgh depot and 'G' the code for Dalkeith.
At the time the standard SMT livery was blue and cream (changed to green and cream shortly after this scene).
Note the advert for Hendry's. Edinburgh had numerous soft drink manufacturers, one of the oldest and largest was owned by John Hendry of Abbey Street, dating from 1890 and later moving their factory to Whyte Place, Lower London Road. Their leading brand was 'double top american cola' such was their success that the SCWS (Co-op) acquired them but retained the names and the Whyte Place factory for many years afterwards.