When Stroud's buses were green
(and even red)
9th Stroud Bus Running Day 2009
2009 Running Day Report
Page 3
More will follow
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We continue to reflect on the 9th Stroud Running Day in words and images
  The ever changing Stroud Rear Engine Group fleet now includes this underfloor engined Bristol LH6L/ECW no. 415. Once of Bath but withdrawn at a young age, it saw service with that collector of LHs, Hants & Dorset and finally Western & Southern National. I really enjoyed this bus, not because it is particularly special but because it remains quite unusual, marking a short-lived and rather forgotten era. Here, the bus is at Beards Lane, Cainscross where throughout the 1970s all bar one bus awaiting the Downfield Schools' pupils to return them along their wide catchment would be green. The other? One of Lock's, later Ladvale's, going towards Frampton on Severn Relevance to Stroud: 5/5  Vehicles like the LH operated in Stroud between 1975 and 1981, replacing MWs. The LH was never as successful. It was noisy for passenger (and not in a poetic sort of way), offering an unsettled ride. The driver had to battle against its gearbox and the cab reintroduced a clutch pedal. It was never the ideal bus for driving along hilly or country Stroud lanes. The interior was, well, plasticy Relevance to Stroud: 5/5  I suppose it's surprising that this is the first visit of the Swindon Vintage Omnibus Society's long-standing preserved Bristol RESL/ECW. Contrast this bodywork with that of the two Southern Vectis RESL examples, noting the broad pillar between driver's cab & first offside passenger windows. Thamesdown operated to Stroud in the early post-deregulated years, under contract from Circencester, using LHs Relevance to Stroud: 4/5  Lest we forget our heritage, time was when buses always had their engines at the front. No matter how old rear- or underfloor-engined buses actually are, many look acceptably modern in the eyes of the general public. Not so half-cabs. These are the sorts of vehicle the layperson likes to see and ride upon  Brian Ede of the Stroud RE Group poses for the press in front of his ex-Western National SUS4A. The heat meant that by the end of the day, the jacket, shirt and tie were all off. The press weren't very interested in the event beforehand. Not even Stroud Life ran a story though it is their photographer showing an interest in Brian and his bus. The Stroud RE Group did, however, get airtime on Stroud Valleys Radio and BBC Radio Gloucester. As for the bus type, the SUS played a small but important role along the lanes and byways of Nailsworth and between Stroud, Slad, Cranham and Cheltenham Relevance to Stroud: 5/5 |
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