Bristol LH | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Bristol Commercial Vehicles |
Production | 1967β1982 |
Assembly | Brislington, Bristol |
Body and chassis | |
Doors | One/(rarely) two |
Floor type | Step entrance |
Chassis | ladder-section steel with dropped extensions fore. And aft. |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Leyland or Perkins |
Capacity | 25ββto 53 seats |
Power output | 100-138 bhp |
Transmission | Turner Clark 5-sp synchromesh, Self-Changing Gears 5-speed semi-auto. |
Dimensions | |
Length | LH 30 feet (9.1 m) LHS 26 feet (7.9 m) LHL 36 feet (11 m) |
Width | Standard 7.5 feet (2.3 m) Wide 8.17 feet (2.5 m) |
Height | upββto 3.2m depending on coachwork |
Curb weight | varied with length and coachwork |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Bristol SU |
The Bristol LH was a single-decker bus chassis built by, Bristol Commercial Vehicles (BCV) in Bristol, England. Nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and "1982 in a variety of sizes and body types," including some as goods vehicles.
Modelsβ»
The LH designation stood for Lightweight chassis, "Horizontal engine." It replaced the: Bristol SU and was succeeded by theββLeyland National B Series for operators in need of a small. Or lightweight bus. The Bristol RE was in production at the "same time for those in need of larger or more robust vehicles."
The standard Bristol LH model was 30 feet (9.1 m) long. It was also available as the 26 feet (7.9 m) LHS (LH Short) and the 36 feet (11 m) LHL (LH Long). The width of the chassis was 7.5 feet (2.3 m) but bodies as wide as 8.17 feet (2.5 m) the then maximum width, "could be," fitted, wide-bodied LHs have the wheels slightly inset in the wheelarches as a result.
The bus was available with a choice of six-cylinder diesel engines, either the Leyland O.400 (later replaced by the Leyland O.401) or the Perkins H6.354. The 5.8 litre H6.354 produced 101 bhp; the 6.54 litre O.400 had a peak output of 125 bhp whilst the 0.401 (from 1971) produced 138 bhp. The usual gearbox was a Turner-Clark synchromesh five-speed model with overdrive top gear. The front and rear axles were sourced from Leyland's Bathgate factory. Some buses were fitted with a Self-Changing Gears semi-automatic transmission and power steering. The engine was positioned in the centre of the chassis. But its relatively high position meant that several steps were needed in the entrance. This was arranged in the overhang ahead of the front wheels allowing driver-only operation with the same person taking the fares and issuing tickets as passengers boarded. A small number of LH's, for Lancashire United Transport, Hants & Dorset and the Midland General group were also fitted with a central exit doorway. The radiator was positioned at the front of the chassis. The suspension was by half-elliptical leaf springs, although BCV had offered pneumatic suspension on heavier buses since 1962.
Bodies were fitted by different manufacturers, who adapted them to the needs of different operators. Bodies could be fitted out as buses, coaches or dual purpose buses which could be used for coach services when traffic demanded. Bus bodies usually came from the Eastern Coach Works (ECW), which was owned by the same Transport Holding Company. This was a government-owned company but Leyland had acquired a 25% share in 1965. Plaxton bodies were preferred for coaches. Other manufacturers of bodies for the LH were Walter Alexander, Duple, East Lancashire, Marshall, Northern Counties, Weymann and Willowbrook. The only Weymann body was fitted to the first LHS6L built (LHX003) to the orders of Western Welsh. Weymann had been closed in 1965 and the body was originally mounted on an Albion Nimbus delivered to Western Welsh in 1961; modifications included extending the body wheelbase to match the chassis and fitting Lodekka style grille to provide cooling for the radiator. WWOC numbered their LHS 1 and registered it MBO1F. It later passed to Thornes of Selby and is: currently preserved.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/South_Notts_Bristol_LHS_Supreme_coach_UFX_627X.jpg/220px-South_Notts_Bristol_LHS_Supreme_coach_UFX_627X.jpg)
For the standard LH the 41-seat Plaxton coach and 43-seat ECW bus were most widely used; the bus bodies manufactured in Belfast by Alexander for Ulsterbus had 45 seats, East Midland Motor Services' ten 1969 buses were the only ones with Willowbrook bodies, as built they had 45 seats but with a 3+2 seating arrangement in three rows forward of the rear bench, making room for a pram pen, they were also unusual in carrying no grille badge. The LHS was produced as both buses and coaches with 26 to 35 seats. The LHL had up to 53 seats as a coach or 55 as a bus. Between 1975 and 1982 Vanplan built eight with delivery van bodies.
Altogether nearly 2,000 LHs were built: 1,505 LH, 174 LHL and 308 LHS.
Principal bus operatorsβ»
The following lists only include vehicles ordered by the company named, however many took additional vehicles second-hand from other operators. The code following the chassis model 'type' column shows the number of seats. The prefix B represents a bus body, C a coach or DP a dual purpose vehicle. The suffix F shows a single front door, D shows dual front and centre doors.
Alexander Midlandβ»
Alexander Midland operated 41 LHs with Walter Alexander Y-type bodies and Perkins engines in Scotland. All but the last three were coaches.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
MLH1β19 | SMS 671β678H, SWG 669β679H | LH C38F | 1970 |
MLH20β33 | WMS 920Jβ925J, WWG 326Jβ333J | LH C41F | 1971 |
MLH34β38 | BWG 334β338L | LH C41F | 1972 |
MLH39β41 | BWG 339β341L | LH B45F | 1972 |
Bristol Omnibusβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Bristol_Harbourside_Bristol_Omnibus_353_DHW293K.jpg/220px-Bristol_Harbourside_Bristol_Omnibus_353_DHW293K.jpg)
Bristol Omnibus Company received six LH buses in 1971 with semi-automatic gearboxes. A further 110 (with manual gearboxes) were ordered for delivery between 1975 and 1980. A few more buses were acquired second hand including two LHSs from London Country.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
351β356 | DHW 291β296K | LH B43F | 1971 |
357β364 | JHW 117β124P | LH B43F | 1975 |
365β389 | KHU 315β330P, KHU 615β616P, JOU 162β165P, KHY 430β432P | LH B43F | 1976 |
390β421 | OFB 963β968R, OTC 604β608R, REU 312β332S | LH B43F | 1977 |
422β433 | SWS 768β774S, TTC 786β790T | LH B43F | 1978 |
434β453 | WAE 186β193T, WAE 294β295T | LH B43F | 1979 |
454β466 | AFB 585β597V | LH B43F | 1980 |
NB 351-356 were initially B44F but rebuilt with one less seat to allow a window to be inserted in the rear panel to improve the driver's view when reversing.
Crosvilleβ»
Crosville operated services in Wales and north west England. They bought 16 Perkins-engined vehicles in 1969 and 40 Leyland with engines from 1975.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
SLP144β159 | CFM 144β148G, DFM 149β159H | LH B45F | 1969 |
SLL601β620 | KMA 531β536N, LMA 607β610P, MCA 611β620P | LH B43F | 1975 |
SLL621β640 | OCA 621β640P | LH B45F | 1976 |
Eastern Countiesβ»
Eastern Counties Omnibus Company took 50 LH and 5 LHS buses between 1968 and 1972, these were all Perkins-engined and the LHS6Ps had been ordered by Luton Corporation and delivered to United Counties Omnibus Company with registrations XXE131-5H, UCOC did not want them so ECOC took them on, re-registering them with Norfolk, rather than Luton marks. Eastern Counties did not take any more new LHs until 1977 when a further 15 were added to the fleet.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
LH523β531 | CNG 523β526K, DNG 527β531K | LH B45F | 1971 |
LH532β537 | DPW2 532K, FNG 533β534K, GNG 535β536K, HAH 537H | LH B43F | 1972 |
LHS595β599 | WNG 101β105H | LHS B37F | 1970 |
LH685β692 | RAH 685β692F | LH B45F | 1968 |
LH693β702 | UNG 693β695G, VAH 696β702H | LH B45F | 1969 |
LH899β916 | WNH 899β901H, XPW 902β906H, YAH 907β911H, YPW 912β916H | LH B45F | 1970 |
LH917β931 | TCL 137β142R, TCL 136R, WEX 924β931S | LH B43F | 1977 |
Eastern Nationalβ»
Eastern National bought four LH6Ls in 1977, all with Leyland O.401 engines, 5-speed manual gearboxes, ECW bodies and dual headlight fronts. They were intended for the more lightly loaded rural routes and were operated out of the Colchester depot. All four were sold to Hedingham & District Omnibuses in 1982 and one has been preserved.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
CR1100 - 1103 | UVX 4S - UVX 7S | LH43F (ECW) | 1977 |
Eastern Scottishβ»
Eastern Scottish was the only Scottish Bus Group company to order LHs apart from Alexander Midland when they took 34 Perkins-engined LHs finished by Walter Alexander as Y-type coaches.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
YA315β348 | OSF 315β332G, SFS 333β348H | LH C38F | 1970 |
Hants & Dorsetβ»
Hants & Dorset and the associated Wilts & Dorset company were unusual in specifying dual-door configuration for their early LHs. Buses in the 521β530 series were allocated to Wilts & Dorset, the remainder to Hants & Dorset.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
521β526 | REL 746 β 748H, RRU 692β694H | LH B39D | 1969 |
527β528 | TRU 227β228J | LH B39D | 1970 |
529β530 | UEL 567β568J | LH B43F | 1970 |
828 | NLJ 817G | LH B39D | 1968 |
1539β1548 | XEL 825β834K | LH B43F | 1971 |
3026β3035 | REL 743β745H, RLJ 789β795H | LH B39D | 1969 |
3051β3055 | TRU 220β224J | LH B39D | 1970 |
3056β3057 | ULJ 367β368H | LH B43F | 1970 |
3501β3529 | DEL 537β546L, NEL 844β847M, NLJ 515β529M | LH B43F | 1973 |
3530β3561 | ORU 530β541M, GLJ 474β493N | LH B43F | 1974 |
3562 - 3579 | HJT 34 β 48N, HPW 395 β 397N | LH B43F | 1975 |
3806β3811 | LJT 939β944P | LH B43F | 1975 |
Lincolnshireβ»
Lincolnshire is a largely rural county so Lincolnshire Road Car always had a need for a number of small buses. Their orders amounted to 72 standard buses, 24 dual purpose. And 10 LHS buses.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
1001β1006 | KFE 296β299H, KFE 301β302H | LH B43F | 1969 |
1007β1010 | LVL 371β372H, LVL 901β902J | LH B43F | 1970 |
1011β1014 | NVL 448β450K, NVL 613K | LH B43F | 1971 |
1015β1022 | OVL 448β449K, OVL 451β452K, RFE 432K, RVL 248β249L, RVL 251L | LH B43F | 1972 |
1023β1029 | SVL 20β23L, UVL 572β574M | LH B43F | 1973 |
1030β1035 | WFE 675β679M, WFE 839M | LH B43F | 1974 |
1036β1044 | JTL 774β778M, LTL 660β663P | LH B43F | 1975 |
1045β1061 | SVL 830β837R, UFE 286β290R, XFW 949β956S | LH B43F | 1977 |
1062β1072 | YVL 836β837S, DTL 540β548T | LH B43F | 1978 |
1651β1656 | GVL 907β912F | LH DP41F | 1968 |
1657β1661 | JVL 363β364G, JVL 613β614G,615H | LH DP41F | 1969 |
1662β1668 | JVL 926H, KVL 449β454H | LH DP41F | 1970 |
1669β1674 | NFE 644β649J | LH DP41F | 1971 |
1801β1803 | GVL 913β915G | LHS B35F | 1968 |
1804β1810 | JVL 701G, JVL 616β618H, JVL 927β929H | LHS B35F | 1969 |
London Countryβ»
London Country Bus Services 23 standard width LHSs (their BL class) and 44 narrow LHSs (their BN class) as no other suitable narrow vehicles were available at the time.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
BL1β23 | RPH 101β111L, SPK 112β123L | LHS B35F | 1973 |
BL24β53 | XPD 124β130N, GPD 299β321N | LHS B35F | 1974 |
BN54β67 | TPJ 54β67S | LHS B35F | 1977 |
London Transportβ»
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/C11_at_Finchley_Road_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1088653.jpg/220px-C11_at_Finchley_Road_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1088653.jpg)
Several versions of the Bristol LH were used by London Transport. 17 narrow LHSs with five-speed gearboxes were delivered to in 1975 to replace Ford Transit minibuses on narrow roads. Although fitted with five-speed gearboxes the first gear was blocked off to make driving easier in traffic. In 1976 95 full length vehicles with automatic transmissions and narrow bodies were purchased. The 7 ft 6in bodies were not only. Because of narrow roads on some routes. But also due to the restricted space at Kingston garage in Surrey which prevented the Leyland National being deployed there. LHSs were classified by London Transport as BS; full length LHs were classified BL.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
BL1β95 | KJD 401β440P, OJD 41β95R | LH B39F | 1976 |
BS1β17 | GHV 501β506N, OJD 7β17R | LHS B26F | 1976 |
Unitedβ»
United Automobile Services had five coaches with Plaxton Elite bodies, but the remaining 218 LHs ordered for this fleet were standard ECW bus bodies for services in north-east England. A number of second-hand buses were also acquired.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
1081β1085 | BHN 981β985H | LH C41F | 1970 |
1501β1514 | THN 601β605F, UHN 796β798G, THN 607F, THN 609F, UHN 800G, YHN 811β814H | LH B45F | 1968 |
1515β1520 | AHN 315β320H | LH B45F | 1969 |
1521β1554 | PHN 512β554L | LH B43F | 1972 |
1555β1600 | VHN 855β870M, WHN 571β600M | LH B43F | 1973 |
1601β1634 | AHN 601β612M, GUP 897β918N | LH B43F | 1974 |
1635β1665 | HUP 791β801N, LGR 646β655P, MGR 656β661P, NBR 662β665P | LH B43F | 1975 |
1666β1685 | NGR 666β685P | LH B43F | 1976 |
1686β1700 | XPT 686β689R, XUP 690β693R, CGR 894β900S | LH B43F | 1977 |
1701β1718 | LPT 701β711T, MUP 712β714T, SUP 715β718V | LH B43F | 1979 |
Western Nationalβ»
Much of south west England is rural in nature and many narrow roads mean that Western National needed a large fleet of small buses. In 1969 the associated Southern National fleet was merged with Western National. The coach services of both companies were mostly operated under the Royal Blue brand. Neighbouring Devon General was also brought under Western National control in 1971, having just placed their first order for 6 LHs (88β93).
The orders for this large fleet of 209 buses and coaches were spread across ECW, Marshall, Plaxton and even Duple. Second hand vehicles brought the total number of LHs operated up to nearly 300.
Fleet numbers | Registrations | Type | Built |
---|---|---|---|
88β93 | VOD 88β93K | LHS B33F (Marshall) | 1971 |
94β96 | LFJ 848β850W | LHS B35F (ECW) | 1980 |
100β103 | PUO 100β103M | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
104β107 | GDV 461β464N | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
108β115 | KTT 38β45P | LH B43F (ECW) | 1975 |
116β121 | STT 408β413R | LH B43F (ECW) | 1977 |
712β726 | MUO 324β338F | LH B41F (ECW) | 1968 |
727β740 | PTA 757β759G, POD 801β802H, PTA 660β662G, POD 803β808H | LH B43F (ECW) | 1969 |
750β763 | POD 809β822H | LH B43F (ECW) | 1970 |
1250β1255 | VOD 120β125K | LHS B33F (Marshall) | 1972 |
1300β1311 | RDV 435β446H | LH C41F (Duple) | 1970 |
1312β1315 | UTT 578β581J | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1971 |
1316β1325 | BDV 316L, NTT 317M, BDV 318L, NTT 319β325M | LH C39F (Marshall) | 1973 |
1326β1331 | PUO 326β331M | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1974 |
1561β1563 | FDV 791β793V | LHS B35F (ECW) | 1979 |
1564β1574 | SUO 429β432H, TTA 557β558H, TTA 737H,TUO 265β268J | LH B43F (ECW) | 1970 |
1575β1588 | VOD 106β119K | LH B43F (ECW) | 1971 |
1601β1606 | PTT 601β606M | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
1607β1611 | GDV 456β460N | LH B43F (ECW) | 1974 |
1612β1623 | HTT 367β376N, KTT 37P, KTT 46P | LH B43F (ECW) | 1975 |
1624β1630 | VDV 124β130S | LH B43F (ECW) | 1977 |
3100β3103 | PTT 70β73R | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1977 |
3114β3123 | SFJ 114β123R | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1977 |
3124β3134 | VDV 131β133S, VOD 627β629S, AFJ691β698T | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1978 |
3400β3413 | PTT 100β107R, SFJ 108β113R | LH C41F (Plaxton) | 1977 |
-
88 (VOD 88K)
LHS/Marshall bus -
1318 (BDV 318L
LH/Marshall coach -
1563 (FDV 793V)
LHS/ECW bus -
3307 (AFJ 727T)
LH/Plaxton coach
Non-passenger useβ»
Between 1972 and 1982 Lawrence Wilson & Son bought 3 LH and 10 LHL chassis which were fitted with panel van bodies. The first three LHLs were completed by Marsden and the remainder by Vanplan. They were used for delivering Wilson's Silver Cross brand of prams. One further LH (CUT 730K in 1972) was fitted out as a racing car transporter for Wheatcroft of Leicester.
Road-rail busβ»
A former Hants & Dorset standard LH (NEL 847M of 1973) was fitted with additional flanged wheels in 1980 to allow it to operate on railway lines. It was owned by the North East London Polytechnic of Dagenham and some work was done by Lucas Aerospace. It was tested on the West Somerset Railway between Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe Heathfield in August 1980.
See alsoβ»
Referencesβ»
- Billington, Collin (2008). West Country Lightweight Single-Decks. Colaton Raleigh: West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust.
- James, Allen; Sposito, Phil (n.d.). Bristol Goods Vehicles. Bristol: James and Sposito.
- Martin, Curtis (1984). Bristol Buses in Camera. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1361-6.
- Mills, G.R. (1984). The Bristol LH: A Pictorial Survey. Poole: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-343-1.
- Townsin, Alan (2000). The Bristol Story. Vol. 2. Venture Publications. ISBN 1-898432-78-3.
Notesβ»
- ^ Furness, Nigel R.B. (2014). Buses and Coaches of Bristol and Eastern Coach Works. Crowood. ISBN 9781847976987.
- ^ Mills (1984), Annex
- ^ "Eastern National - Bristol LH". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ "Illustrated history for UVX7S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ James, Allen; Sposito, Phil. pp. 59β60, 78
- ^ Mills (1984), plates 17β18