Colchester Corporation Transport - Fleet History Colchester Corporation Transport - Tram Fleet List

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2 CONTENTS Colchester Corporation Transport - Fleet History Colchester Corporation Transport - Tram Fleet List Colchester Corporation Transport - Bus Fleet List Page 3 Page 11 Page 14 Cover Illustration: No. 36 (CWC36B) was a 1964 Leyland PD2A/30 with Massey 61-seat bodywork. (LTHL collection). First Published 2018 by The Local Transport History Library. With thanks to Mike Beamish, Eric Thompson, John Law and Old Colchester in Photos (Facebook Group) for illustrations. The Local Transport History Library ( For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise for commercial gain without the express written permission of the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved. PDF

3 A scheme to operate steam trams in Colchester was first promoted in 1883, and a provisional order for laying the track was obtained. The first section, between North Station and High Street, had reached Middleborough when finances ran out and the scheme was abandoned. Colchester Corporation later purchased and removed the track. In 1899 the British Electric Traction Company sought powers to operate trams within the borough, but the application was refused, since Colchester Corporation themselves were planning to operate trams. The Colchester Corporation Tramways Order of 1901 authorised construction of 5¾ miles of track, although it was 1904 before track laying, to 3ft 6ins gauge, commenced. A new depot was constructed in Magdalen Street to house the tramcar fleet, which consisted of 16 (Nos. 1-16) open-top double-deckers manufactured by the Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works of Preston, on Brill 21E trucks. On the 28th July 1904 the tramway opened. It consisted of three cross-town routes all radiating from the Great Eastern Railway's North Street Station; the main line ran to the suburb of Lexden, along North Station Road, North Hill and Head Street as a double-track line, then as a single-track line along Lexden Road and Lexden Street; another section extended from the double-track section at High Street, where it ran as a double-track line until it reached East Hill where it became single-track and terminated just over the River Colne in East Street; a further section ran from the junction of High Street and East Hill as a double-track line southward along Queens Street to St. Botolph's Station, where it, too, became single-track and headed out to Hythe where it terminated. On the 28th January 1906 a single-track line was laid from 3

4 St. Botolph's Station to the Recreation Ground, via Military Road, completing the Colchester system. For the next 25 years or so, the trams provided the transport in the borough of Colchester. However, as happened elsewhere, little provision was made for the financial burden of replacing the infrastructure and rolling stock when it started to wear out and the Colchester Corporation Act of 1927 provided for the replacement of tramway services by motorbuses. It authorised the Corporation to operate motorbuses anywhere within the borough and in the parish of Stanway (which was later absorbed into the borough). Provision was also made for the operation of trolleybuses along the tramway routes, although they were never used. In October 1927 the National Omnibus Company (soon to be Eastern National), along with two local independent operators Blackwell's and Berry's, made offers to run the motorbuses on the Corporation's behalf, but the offers were declined. On 21st May 1928 the trams on the North Station to East Street route were replaced by four Dennis G's (Nos. 1-4), with 20-seat front entrance bodywork by Strachan & Brown. They provided two half-hourly replacement services operating between Parsons Heath and Shrub End, and between Greenstead Road and the Drury Hotel. On October 1st 1928 the trams on the North Station to Lexden route were replaced by motorbuses, by which time five more single-deckers (Dennis E's with dual entrance 32-seat bodywork by Strachan & Brown) and two double-deckers (Dennis H's with open-top 48-seat bodywork, again by Strachan & Brown) had been delivered. 4

5 In 1929 more double- and single-deckers were delivered, enabling more routes to be opened. March 1929 saw the inauguration of routes between High Street and Bergholt Road, and High Street to Mile End. An additional motorbus service from St. Botolph's Station beyond the tram terminus to Old Heath was introduced in November, along with a service from High Street to Middlewick, via Mersea Road. On December 9th 1929, the last Colchester trams ran on the North Station to Recreation Ground line, replacement buses operating along the route the following day, thus ending Colchester Corporation's brief flirtation with the tramway era. Further deliveries of motorbuses in 1930, included the first of two AEC Regal's with locally built bodywork by Harold Willett, who had premises in High Street and was also responsible for converting the four Dennis H's of 1928 and 1929 to fully covered vehicles. On January 19th 1931 the Corporation commenced a new route between Ipswich Road and Maldon Road. In January 1933 the existing bus routes were completely re-organised, with the service along Greenstead Road being withdrawn and others linked. The Corporation now operated seven routes; Parsons Heath to Drury Hotel (No.1); Ipswich Road to Shrub End (No.2); Lexden to North Station (No.3); Hythe to Mile End (No.4); Bergholt Road to Shrub End (No.5); Old Heath to North Station (No.6) and Mersea Road to High Street (No.7). On the 29th June, following the opening of the Colchester by-pass, a new circular service from High Street to Lexden, along the by-pass, returning via Lexden Road to High Street, commenced, although it had been withdrawn by October. A similar fate befell the circular service from High Street via Butt Road, Goojerat Road, 5

6 Circular Road and Mersea Road to High Street, introduced in 1937 but withdrawn the following year due to lack of patronage. Eastern National again offered to purchase the borough routes from the Corporation in 1937, but again the offer was refused. Although a livery of blue and white had been proposed in 1939, subsequent deliveries, five AEC Regent's with Massey H26/26R bodywork, appeared in the traditional tuscan red and cream, a livery that continued to be used. With the onset of World War II in 1939, services had to be curtailed and reduced. Wartime deliveries consisted of Bristol K5G and K6A chassis along with Guy Arab I and II models, with utility bodies by a number of manufacturers. By September 1945 the services had been restored to pre-war levels, although in November 1946 several changes were made. Service 1 was extended to Reed Hall Avenue from Drury Hotel, via Layer Road; service 3 now operated from Lexden to Ipswich Road; service 4 had alternate journeys diverted along Mill Road; service 5 became a circular route serving North Station, Shrub End, Straight Road and Lexden to North Station, with route number 5A being used for journeys in the opposite direction, whilst service 7 was extended from High Street to Bergholt Road. The first postwar deliveries with relaxed specifications were four AEC Regents (Nos ) with Massey H30/26R bodywork, which were basically similar to the prewar Regents, arrived in March A new circular service (No. 8) was introduced in December between Head Street via East Hill, Greenstead Road, St. Andrews Avenue 6

7 and returning back via East Hill to Head Street, with journeys in the reverse direction being numbered 8A. This route was withdrawn in June 1948, again because of lack of patronage. More route revisions occurred in April and May 1949, when some journeys on service 1 were extended to Berechurch Camp, via Layer Road and Berechurch Hall Road; service 2 was extended to Dugard Avenue incorporating sections of service 3, which was withdrawn, and services 5 and 5A; service 5 was revised to operate from North Station to Borough Boundary or Dugard Avenue, whilst service 4 journeys to Mile End were extended to Severalls Hospital. In April 1949, five Daimler CVD6's (Nos. 1-5) arrived to bolster the fleet, but because of their comparatively high fuel consumption they were not frequently used, and this may have been a factor in the cancellation of an order for a further five due later in the year. Another new circular service commenced on 27th December 1950, travelling from High Street via North Hill, Cowdray Avenue, returning to High Street by way of East Hill. The service was numbered 3, with journeys in the opposite direction taking the route number 3A. Additions to the fleet in 1951 and 1952 consisted of four (Nos. 6-9) Crossley DD42/7's with Crossley H30/26R bodywork, although in 1953 the AEC Regent was again in favour, no doubt due to Crossley's merger with AEC. For the next few years AEC's continued to be the standard choice, until a forced change to the Leyland marque was made in 1960, since AEC no longer produced a 7ft 6ins wide chassis. 7

8 Services were again revised in 1953 when all journeys on service 4 were re-routed along Mill Road to Defoe Crescent; service 5 was extended, with alternate journeys operating to Bergholt Road, or via Turner Road and Defoe Crescent to Severalls; service 7 was shortened to operate between Head Street and Mersea Road, although on an increased frequency, with alternate journeys serving the newly built Monksea Estate. Throughout the 1950's the bus services were continually revised as the postwar boom in passenger numbers began to fall. From May to August in 1956 and 1957 circular tours of the town were operated on Sunday evenings, but these were not a commercial success and were withdrawn at the end of the summer season in In 1959 a complete revision of Colchester's bus routes was made, due to the continued financial pressures on the department. Frequencies were generally reduced and services linked to provide a more viable network. From September 13th the services were as follows; 1 Parsons Heath to Dugard Avenue, via Shrub End 1A Parsons Heath to Prettygate 2 Ipswich Road to Severalls, via North Station 2A Ipswich Road to Mill Road, via North Station 3 High Street to St. Andrews Avenue 4 Hythe to Layer Road Estate (Hedge Drive) or Berechurch Camp 5 Dugard Avenue to Bergholt Road, via North Station 5A Lexden (Borough Boundary) to Turner Road, via North Station 6 Old Heath to Prettygate or Shrub End Estate 7 Mersea Road or Monkwick Estate to North Station 8

9 The service frequencies, however, proved inadequate, and in January 1961 many were increased. Further development in the early 1960's meant that services were still subject to revisions and alterations, with large housing estates, notably, Greenstead in 1961; Barnhall in 1962; St. John's in 1967 and St. Michael's in 1968, all being served by new routes. These revisions necessitated an increase in the fleet size, which, until the early 1960's, had always been around 40 vehicles, but now was approaching 60 vehicles. In order to economise further, a move to one-man operation was made in the latter part of the decade. Ten Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1's were acquired in 1967 and 1968, along with a number of additional vehicles acquired second-hand in 1971, including six ex-salford Corporation AEC Reliance's, and five AEC Reliance's from Leicester City Transport. In May 1973 more service revisions took place, with an increase in one-man operated services, including the diversion of one route (No. 12, which was re-numbered 12A at the time) to take in the University of Essex at Wivenhoe, formerly the preserve of the Eastern National Company, but this was withdrawn in December due to poor patronage. In order to implement the full service revisions, buses were hired from various operators until the remaining Bristol RELL6L's on order had been delivered. In 1974 the title of the undertaking was changed to Colchester Borough Council Transport Department, and the long established tuscan red and cream livery was experimentally changed to cherry red and ivory, although the Council later decided to retain the traditional colours. By the following year, however, the livery had been 9

10 changed again, to crimson and cream, ostensibly because of the higher cost of obtaining tuscan red. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the commencement of municipal operations in the borough in 1979, Leyland Atlantean No. 75 (TPU75R) received a special version of the crimson and cream livery, along with the first version of the Colchester Borough Transport roundel worn by a public service vehicle. At the same time, 1968 Leyland Atlantean No. 48 (YWC648F), was converted to open-top for use on tours of the town, but did not enter service in this form until 5th April the following year. Throughout the 1970's, services continued to be converted to one-man operation so that by late 1980 only one service remained crew-operated, and the last rear-entrance vehicles had been withdrawn. Buses purchased in this period consisted mainly of double-deck Leyland Atlantean AN68 chassis (Nos ), with ECW bodywork. On the 26th October 1986, along with many other local authority undertakings, Colchester Borough Transport became an 'arms-length' limited company, effectively ending municipal involvement in local transport. The company was named Colchester Borough Transport Limited, and, like so many other municipalities, finally ended up being sold in 1993 to one of the large transport groups of the time. 10

11 Tram Fleet List This listing is in the format - Fleet No; Type; Trucks; Body; Seating ; Double-deck open-top 4-wheel; Brill 21E; ERTCW; 24/22 Withdrawn between 1928 and 1929 (1-16) ; Double-deck open-top 4-wheel; Brill 21E; UEC; 24/22 Withdrawn 1929 (17-18). 11

12 Colchester Corporation purchased 16 similar 4-wheel cars with Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works (of Preston) bodywork on Brill trucks in This is No. 2 soon after delivery. (LTHL collection).

13 No. 17 was a 1906 United Electric Car built (successor to ERTCW) 4-wheel car on Brill trucks, seen here traversing an almost deserted Colchester High Street in the early twenties. (LTHL collection).

14 Bus Fleet List This listing is in the format - Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating ; VW ; Dennis G; /203-04; Strachan & Brown; B20F 5-6; VW ; Dennis E; ; Strachan & Brown; B32D 7; VW6463; Dennis E; 17556; Strachan & Brown; B32D 8; VW6462; Dennis E; 17561; Strachan & Brown; B32D 9; VW6464; Dennis E; 17581; Strachan & Brown; B32D 10; VW6482; Dennis H; 90016; Strachan & Brown; O24/24RO 11; VW6481; Dennis H; 90017; Strachan & Brown; O24/24RO Nos. 1-4 re-seated to B18F at a later date (probably 1935). Nos. 5-9 re-seated to B31D by Nos top-covered by Willett of Colchester in 1930; re-seated to H26/22RO in Withdrawn 1939 (10), 1940 (6), 1942 (5, 11), 1943 (4, 7-9), 1944 (1-2), 1945 (3). 14

15 No. 11 (VW6481) was a 1928 Dennis H with Strachan & Brown open top 48-seat bodywork. It was top-covered in 1930 by local bodymaker Willetts and withdrawn in (LTHL collection - via Old Colchester in Photos ).

16 ; VW8425; Dennis H; 90067; Strachan & Brown; O24/24RO 13; VW8426; Dennis E; 17612; Strachan & Brown; B32D 14; VW8424; Dennis H; 90066; Strachan & Brown; O24/24RO 15-16; VX ; Dennis HS; 90103/07; Strachan & Brown; H24/24RO 17; VX3222; Dennis HS; 90105; Strachan & Brown; H24/24RO 18; VX2746; Dennis EV; 17846; Strachan & Brown; B32D 19; VX2745; Dennis EV; 17847; Strachan & Brown; B32D Nos. 12, 14 top-covered by Willett of Colchester in 1930; re-seated to H26/26RO by Nos. 13, re-seated to B31D by Withdrawn 1939 (13), 1943 (14), 1944 (12, 15, 17), 1945 (16, 18-19) ; VX ; AEC Regent; /47/46; Short; H24/24R 23; VX5554; AEC Regal; ; Willett; B32D No. 23 re-seated to B31D at a later date. Withdrawn 1947 (23), 1948 (21), 1949 (20, 22). 16

17 No. 16 (VX3224) was a 1929 Dennis HS chassis with Strachan & Brown open staircase bodywork seating 48. It survived in the Colchester fleet until (LTHL collection - via Old Colchester in Photos ).

18 ; EV3599; AEC Regal; ; Willett; B32D 25-26; EV ; AEC Regent; ; Ransomes; H24/24R No. 24 re-seated to B31D at a later date. Withdrawn 1947 (24), 1949 (25-26) ; DPU ; AEC Regent; ; Strachan; H24/24R Withdrawn 1949 (27), 1952 (28-29) ; GVW ; AEC Regent; ; Massey; H26/26R Withdrawn 1956 (33), 1957 (30-32, 34) ; JPU ; Bristol K5G; ; Bristol; H30/26R Withdrawn 1956 (35-36). 18

19 ; JTW ; Guy Arab I; FD ; Park Royal; H30/26R 39-40; JTW ; Guy Arab II; FD26116/36; Weymann; H30/26R 45; JVW242; Guy Arab II; FD26330; Park Royal; H30/26R Withdrawn 1956 (45), 1959 (37-38, 40), 1960 (39) ; JVW ; Guy Arab II; FD26506/50/634/29; Strachan; H30/26R Withdrawn 1960 (41-42, 44), 1962 (43) ; KEV331; Bristol K6A; W2042; Duple; H30/26R 47; KEV624; Bristol K6A; W2020; Park Royal; H30/26R 48; KEV625; Bristol K6A; W2056; Duple; H30/26R 49; KEV738; Bristol K6A; W2021; Park Royal; H30/26R 50; KEV804; Bristol K6A; W2022; Park Royal; H30/26R Withdrawn 1963 (48-50), 1964 (46-47). 19

20 No. 48 (KEV625) was one of five Bristol K6A chassis purchased in It carried a Duple 56-seat body. (LTHL collection).

21 ; KPU ; AEC Regent; ; Massey; H30/26R Withdrawn 1964 (53), 1966 (51-52, 54) ; KPU519; Crossley DD42/3T; 93840; Massey; H30/26R Withdrawn 1967 (55) ; OHK ; Daimler CVD6; ; Roberts; H30/26R Withdrawn 1966 (1-2), 1968 (3-5) ; SVW ; Crossley DD42/7; ; Crossley; H30/26R Withdrawn 1968 (6-7) ; TVX ; Crossley DD42/7; ; Crossley; H30/26R Withdrawn 1968 (8-9). 21

22 1947 AEC Regent No. 52 (KPU516) with Massey 56-seat bodywork. It was withdrawn in (Mike Beamish)

23 In 1949 Colchester purchased this solitary Crossley DD42/3T with Massey 56-seat bodywork. (Mike Beamish)

24 ; WPU ; AEC Regent III; 6812A108-10; Massey; H30/26R Withdrawn 1971 (10-12) ; HEV; AEC Regent V; D3RV140-43; Massey; H33/28R Nos re-numbered 55, 23 respectively in 1973; No. 16[23] re-numbered again in 1973 to 60; Nos. 15[55], 16[60] re-numbered again in 1975 to 5, 2 respectively. Withdrawn 1971 (13-14), 1975 (15[5], 16[2]) ; F; AEC Regent V; D3RV409-12; Massey; H33/28R No. 17 re-numbered 13 in Withdrawn 1972 (18), 1973 (17[13], 19-20) ; MNO; AEC Regent V; D3RV663-65; Massey; H33/28R Nos re-numbered 63, 62 respectively in Withdrawn 1971 (23), 1973 (21[63], 22[62]). 24

25 No. 12 (WPU734) was one of three Massey 56-seat bodied AEC Regent III chassis purchased in (LTHL collection).

26 ; VX; Leyland PD2/31; /83-84/2084; Massey; H33/28R Withdrawn 1971 (24-28) ; MWC ; Leyland PD2A/31; /765-67/698-99; Massey; H33/28R Withdrawn 1976 (35), 1977 (29-34) ; CWC36-38B; Leyland PD2A/30; L ; Massey; H33/28R Withdrawn 1977 (36-38) ; OVX139-44D; Leyland PD2A/30; L /42-44; Massey; H33/28R Nos fitted with platform doors in Withdrawn 1978 (39, 41, 43), 1979 (40, 42), 1980 (44). 26

27 1964 Leyland PD2A/30 No. 36 (CWC36B) with favoured Massey 61-seat bodywork. Compare the livery variation with the cover illustration. (LTHL collection).

28 ; WEV745-47F; Leyland PDR1/1; ; Massey; H43/31F Withdrawn 1980 (45-47) ; YWC648-49F; Leyland PDR1/1; ; Massey; H43/31F 50-54; AVX50-54G; Leyland PDR1/1; /96-97; Massey; H43/31F 55; 652GVA; AEC Reliance; 2U3RA4901; Plaxton; B55F No. 48 was converted to open-top as O43/31F in 1979; to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet number. No. 55 ex-hedingham & District (No. L53, new 1963); re-numbered 12 in Withdrawn 1975 (55[12]), 1980 (51-54), 1985 (50), 1986 (49). 28

29 No. 49 (YWC649F) was a 1968 Leyland PDR1/1 with Massey 74-seat bodywork. It was withdrawn in 1986 just before the undertaking passed to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd following de-regulation. (John Law).

30 1971 1; TRJ109; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV3870; Weymann; B45F 2-6; TRJ ; AEC Reliance; 2MU3RV ; Weymann; B45F 7-8; GJF; AEC Reliance; 4MU3RA ; Marshall; B47D 9-10; ABC195-96B; AEC Reliance; 4MU3RA ; Marshall; B47D 11; GBC199D; AEC Reliance; 4MU3RA6264; Marshall; B47D Nos. 1-6 ex-selnec PTE (Nos. 71, respectively, new 1962). Nos ex-leicester City Transport (Nos , , 199 respectively, new 1963 (197-98), 1964 (195-96) or 1966 (199) respectively). Withdrawn 1973 (2-3), 1974 (5), 1975 (4, 7-8), 1976 (1, 6, 9-11) ; SWC24-28K; Bristol RELL6L; [RELL-3-] ; ECW; B53F Nos , 28 to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers. Withdrawn 1984 (27). 30

31 ; YWC14-18L; Bristol RELL6L; [RELL-3-] /48; ECW; B53F 19-23; OWC719-23M; Bristol RELL6L; [RELL-3-] ; ECW; B53F No. 21 re-seated to B50F in Nos. 16, 18, to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers. Withdrawn 1983 (14-15, 17) ; JHK N; Leyland AN68/1R; / ; ECW; H43/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers ; NNO61-66P; Leyland AN68/1R; / ; ECW; H43/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers. 31

32 No. 66 (NNO66P) was a 1976 Leyland AN68/1R Atlantean with ECW 74-seat bodywork. It passed to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd in October 1986 following de-regulation. (LTHL collection).

33 ; TPU67-76R; Leyland AN68/1R; /293/323/436/41/85/ 554/78/903/16; ECW; H43/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers ; YNO77-82S; Leyland AN68A/1R; /04/235/54/404/64; ECW; H43/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers ; MEV83-87V; Leyland AN68/1R; /86/2296/99/301; ECW; H43/31F ; DHK101-02T; Leyland PSU3E/4R; /122; Duple; C51F Nos , to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers. 33

34 ; RVW88-90W; Leyland AN68/1R; /71/74; ECW; H43/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers ; MVK538R; Leyland AN68/2R; ; Alexander; H48/34F 52; MVK546R; Leyland AN68/2R; ; Alexander; H48/34F 53; MVK548R; Leyland AN68/2R; ; Alexander; H48/34F Nos ex-tyne & Wear PTE (Nos. 538, 546, 548, new 1976 (538) or 1977; to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers ; C41-42HHJ; Leyland ONLXCT/1R; ON2002/03; ECW; H47/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers. 34

35 No. 51 (MVK538R) was a 1976 Leyland AN68/2R Atlantean that was purchased from Tyne & Wear PTE in It originally had a dual entrance but was converted to forward entrance with the staircase on the nearside and is seen here in 1984 exiting Colchester Bus Station. (Eric Thompson).

36 ; D43-44RWC; Leyland ONLXC/1RH; ON10232/33; ECW; H47/31F Nos to Colchester Borough Transport Ltd. 10/86 retaining same fleet numbers. Note: Also delivered on 9th October was No. 32 (D32RWC) a Leyland Lynx with Leyland B49F bodywork, one of a pair on order, but it was not placed in service until 5th November and therefore never operated for Colchester Borough Council Transport before deregulation. 36

37 The last vehicles to enter service under municipal ownership were two Leyland Olympian chassis with ECW 78-seat bodywork. One of these, No. 44 (D44RWC) is seen here leaving Colchester Bus Station. (LTHL collection).

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