The Lincolnshire LH's

 

 

The Lincolnshire Road Car purchased a total of 105 new Bristol Lightweight chassis, Horizonal engined single deck buses between 1968 and 1979. All had ECW bodies and were; 1801 - 10 (Bristol LHS6P); 1651 - 74 (Bristol LH6P) with dual purpose seating); 1001 - 22 (Bristol LH6) with bus seats; and 1023 - 72 (Bristol LH6L). Of the LHS6P's, 1801/2 (GVL 913/4G) were the first production LHS's, actually being built along with 1803 (GVL 915G) in 1968. All three had shallow type windscreens but problems encountered with the dual purpose versions (poor visibility for the driver) 1801, 1802, 1803 and the 1651 - 6 batch (the only ones of that type built by Eastern Coach Works) were returned to ECW to have their windscreens modified to the later type. Two second hand examples, 1601/2 (BHN 981/2H) with Plaxton C41F coach bodies were acquired from United in March 1979, but had a relatively short career with the LRCC and were withdrawn in September 1980. A further two second hand Bristol LHS6L's were acquired from Yorkshire Traction in 1988. They had ECW B35F bodies they were allocated fleet numbers 1007/8 (GPD 307/8N). With the takeover of Gash by Yorkshire Traction in 1989, three Marshall bodied examples 1001/3/5 (HRB 848N, LRC 291P and GVO 159V) passed into the LRCC fleet plus Plaxton bodied 1004 (WWB 987S). The two Torkshire Traction and the ex-Gash vehicles were all withdrawn during 1991/2. Another acquisition from Yorkshire Traction in 1989 was a Bristol LHS6L with Plaxton Supreme III C35F bodywork. It spent its entire career at Newark depot being withdrawn in November 1993. Two LH's were subsequently converted for driver training XFW 956S and DTL 541T, formerly 1061 and 1065. The final LH to be withdrawn was 1052 (SVL 852R) in December 1994. For many years the LH was the standard single deck bus and as such they were seen all over the LRCC network as the following photographs illustrate.

 

 

 
Two interior shots. The simple layout of the cab (above) contrasts greatly

with that of more modern vehicles ! The passenger section is also quite

basic.

 

 

 
1666 (KVL 452H) is seen at London before working express run D

to Cleethorpes via Peterborough, Skegness, etc. An end-to-end journey

time of 8 hs 22m must have been an interesting experience on an LH !

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 
1652 (GVL 908F) and 1654 (GVL 910F) are seen together working an

excursion, both still with the shallow windscreens.

(Photo : R. Belton collection)

 

 

 
Also with a shallow windscreen, 1654 (GVL 910F) is seen at London

Victoria Coach Station in summer 1968 having worked the express

route B from Cleethorpes via Lincoln and Peterborough. The vehicle

was new in July 1968 and withdrawn in 1980. It is seen below at

Beacon Way in Skegness after being relegated to stage carriage

work working the 94 service from Alford to Skegness.

(Photo above : R. Belton collection)

 

 

 
Following their career operating express runs and excursions, the dual

purposes LH's were demoted to operating ordinary service runs. 1651

(GVL 907F) is seen at Skegness Drummond Road bus station in 1976

prior to working the 91 to Chapel St. Leonards. A profile view of the

same vehicle is shown below.

 

 

 

Dual purpose seated Bristol LH 1663 (KVL 449H) is seen at Billinghay in

1976 en-route for Boston.

 

 

 

1656 (GVL 912F) is seen parked at Mablethorpe depot.

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 
1801 (GVL 913G) was a Bristol LHS6P with ECW B35F body. This,

and its sister 1802, were new to the LRCC in January 1969.

It is seen here on July 16th, 1979, on the 0952 first service to the

Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve.

 

 

 
LHS6P 1802 (GVL 914G) at Skegness depot

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 
LHS6P 1802 (GVL 914G) is seen at Louth depot

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 
New in 1970, LH6P 1010 (LVL 902J) is seen at Gainsborough depot

prior toworking a 105 run to Haxey where connections were available

with other LRCC runs to Doncaster and Scunthorpe. The vehicle was

withdrawn in 1980.

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 

Bristol LH 1674 (NFE 649J) was given a special brown and cream

livery in 1978 and given old style fleet name to commemorate the

50th anniversary of the LRCC.

 

 

 
LH6P 1011 (NVL 448K), new in 1970, is seen on the 116 Gainsborough

- Kirton in Lindsey - Brigg route.

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 
Shortly after the opening of the new bus station in Boston in 1976,

LH6P 1017 (OVL 451K) is seen in one of the bays before doing a

town service to Skirbeck Church on a rather wet day. In the

background can be seen a Kime'svehicle in another bay, and on

standby, another LRCC LH and Bristol FS5G 2514 (VFE 963).

 

 

 
An interesing view in rural Lincolnshire of LH6P 1021 (RVL 249L0) on

service 16 from Horncastle to Kirkstead. This route ran parallel to the

former railway line and, until closure of the station in 1970, would

connect with trains at Woodhall Junction station.

(Photo : LEYTR collection)

 

 

 

Alford Market Place was at one time the point where the main (61)

Boston to Louth route connected with the 54 (Alford - Mablethorpe)

and 94 (Alford - Skegness) services. Here, 1033 (WFE 678M) is seen

after arriving from Skegness.

 

 

 

Another view of 1033 at the long since closed Mablethorpe bus station

 

 

 

1063 (YVL 837S) arrives at the small village of Martin whilst working

the 2C Sleaford to Lincoln run.

 

 

 

Seen outside Boston depot in 1978 is 1014 (NVL 613K) displaying

the long withdrawn route 61 which linked Boston with Louth via Spilsby

and Alford. The LRCC depot at Boston closed in August 1989.

 

 

 

In 1984 services in the Sleaford area were marketed under the name

"Country Courier" and Bristol LH 1042 (LTL 661P) was given a very

bright and distinctive colour scheme as it operated many rural services

in the area. Sadly, it was written-off after a serious accident with a

lorry in 1987.

 

 

 

1072 (DTL 54T) was the last Bristol LH to be purchased new by the

LRCC in January 1979. It is seen outside the Newark depot.

(Photo : LEYTR archives)

 

 

 

A line up of four LH's at Skegness (left to right) 1049 (SVL 834R);

1066 (DTL 542T); 1054 (XFW 949S); and 1047 (SVL 832R).

 

 

 

1069 (DTL 545T) is seen at Skegness bus station before departure

on the short lived through route 550 to Grimsby via Mablethorpe and

Louth - the prospect of three hours on an LH with no break would no

doubt have deterred many would-be passengers !

 

 

 

1066 (DTL 542T) seen at Boston in 1985

 

 

 

1067 (DTL 543T) at Stamford bus station before working the 604 to

Grantham.

 

 

 

1048 (SVL 833R) is seen at Scunthorpe bus station

 

 

 

1070 (DTL 546T) is seen picking up at Grimsby. For many years the

service 45 to Immingham Dock was jointly operated between the

LRCC and Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport but is now exclusively

operated by Stagecoach GCT.

 

 

 

During the early deregulation era, there were various modifications to

the fleet livery and 1072 (DTL 548T) is seen wearing one such

application as it stands at the St. Marks bus station in Lincoln.

 

 

 

1008 (GPF 308N) was one of two LHS's acquired from Yorkshire

Traction in 1989 and is seen passing Lincoln Central station.

 

 

 

On Friday, November 26th, 1993, 1056 (XFW 951S) picks up

passengers at the Neighbourhood Centre on the Birchwood Estate

before forming the 1105 service 4 to the Lincoln City Centre.

 

 

 
1052 (SVL 837R) was the last operation LH in passenger service in the

fleet and was withdrawn in December 1994. Earlier in that year it is seen

(above) departing from Newark bus station for Bingham on route 55 and

(below) at Bingham prior to returning to Newark on route 54.

 

 

 

After withdrawal, 1054 (XFW 949S) stands looking forlorn in the

compound of Newark bus depot.

 

 

 

After the LH's had ceased their passenger duties, two examples were

converted to driver trainers. Above is 3019 (formerly 1065) DTL 541T

at Scunthorpe whilst below is 3018 (previously 1061) XFW 956S at

Skegness.

 

 

 

A much earlier conversion was 1809 (JVL 928H) which had been

converted in 1979 to take wheelchair passengers and reseated to C20F

for its duties as the Bassetlaw Community Bus. It was to be the last

LHS6P in the fleet and was withdrawn in January 1985.

(Photo : LEYTR archives)

 

 

 

1048 (SVL 833R) was withdrawn from passenger service in July 1986.

Between October 1986 and June 1987 it was converted into a Mobile

Travel Office to replace an older Bristol RE. It continued to serve in

this capacity until transferred to Yorkshire Traction in September 1990.

It is seen in both view at the Lincoln St. Marks bus station which was

closed and demolished in 1995.

 

 

 
1056 (XFW 951S) spent much of its career allocated to Skegness depot and is illustrated at

the bus station in that town (top left). (Top right) It was subsequently transferred to Lincoln

and sold to Blue Bus Services of Derby where it had a short spell as a Driver Trainer

(bottom left). By a strange quirk of fate, it was purchased by Hunt's of Alford in 1995 and so

returned to Lincolnshire. It is often seen at Skegness (bottom right) albeit now owned by a

rival operator ! Another LH which went to Blue Bus Services was 1045 (SVL 830R) for use

as a driver trainer, has subsequently been preseved (see bottom photo).

 

 

 

Another former LRCC 1067 LH DTL 543T when in the fleet of TMS

at Middlesborough.

(Photo : Barry Smith)

 

 

A historic memento kindly donated to LEYTR by Road Car is

the fleet number plate 1052 off SVL 837R, the last Bristol LH in

passenger service with the LRCC.

 

 

 

Immaculately preserved in NBC green, Bristol LH / ECW 1045

(SVL 830R) at the Central Station in Lincoln during the LVVS open

day on April 23rd, 2000.

(Photo : A. Cartwright)

 

The Bristol Comercial Vehicle register also has a couple of photos of LRCC LHs - to visit this please click here

 

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