Temporarily indispensible
Bristol Omnibus Co's three Leyland-engined Bristol FLF Lodekkas were the first made for any operator. It did not subsequently become a numerous type. The new engine option was a consequence of the absorption of Bristol Commercial Vehicles into the Leyland empire. Eventually ...twenty years later... it was to prove the kiss of death. The first of Bristol's three FLF6Ls went to the "country" fleet and was always allocated to Bath: the remaining two became part of the Bristol "city" fleet and were placed at Winterstoke Road. In February 1977 both became part of the Traffic Pool and went to Muller Road depot.
I seem to remember that both the city examples were withdrawn and then hurriedly reinstated to plug gaps caused by vehicle and spares shortages. Note that the bus has no fleetname or advertising. From the little square "puncture repair" in the centre of the front dome, I would guess that two-way radio equipment had been salvaged. The bus is seen at the 73 terminus at Church Road, Filton (always "Filton church"), on Wednesday 24th May 1978. The bus served out another year and was finally withdrawn on 31st May 1979.
Temporarily indispensible
Bristol Omnibus Co's three Leyland-engined Bristol FLF Lodekkas were the first made for any operator. It did not subsequently become a numerous type. The new engine option was a consequence of the absorption of Bristol Commercial Vehicles into the Leyland empire. Eventually ...twenty years later... it was to prove the kiss of death. The first of Bristol's three FLF6Ls went to the "country" fleet and was always allocated to Bath: the remaining two became part of the Bristol "city" fleet and were placed at Winterstoke Road. In February 1977 both became part of the Traffic Pool and went to Muller Road depot.
I seem to remember that both the city examples were withdrawn and then hurriedly reinstated to plug gaps caused by vehicle and spares shortages. Note that the bus has no fleetname or advertising. From the little square "puncture repair" in the centre of the front dome, I would guess that two-way radio equipment had been salvaged. The bus is seen at the 73 terminus at Church Road, Filton (always "Filton church"), on Wednesday 24th May 1978. The bus served out another year and was finally withdrawn on 31st May 1979.