A horrible Sunday in Blackpool, but at least I had a hobby to keep me occupied but it was a foul day and I did get wet. Blackpool like St.Helens and a few others liked the AEC Swifts and not including the London types must have run the second biggest UK fleet after St Helens who just pipped them with slighty more than this fifty-four but the last batch went to the PTE so they might not count! However despite the over-indulgence the love affair was not to last and they would only enjoy short lives at the seaside. The Leyland Panther was not considered a good bus either like all the early rear engined saloons but obviously they were good workhorses as many enjoyed quite long normal likes and three could be found nearby at Fylde.
Great Yarmouth had 35 (33 new plus two bought from Waveney). The ultimate rear-engined saloon of the period was surely the Bristol RE. Just my two cents worth.
ReplyDeleteYes Great Yarmouth was a keen user of the AEC Swift too. No I hadn't forgotten the Bristol RE for as you say it was the best of the bunch but I didn't include it as the engine was behind the rear axle but not perched at the end which made it slightly different and no doubt reduced body stress too.
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