| This vehicle was an AEC
demonstrator (hence the Middlesex registration). Early
photos show it in Grimsby crimson / cream livery but all
crimson with three cream bands and a silver roof. After a
few months trial, it was purchased by GCT and repainted
into standard mainly cream livery. At first used on the
No. 3 route which at that time was from Riby Square to
Nunsthorpe, and was later used on route 9. It was prone
to overheating and it was a common sight to see the
service van in attendance at the town terminus to top up
the radiator. During the latter part of the War the body
was rebuilt and an oil engine fitted and a mainly crimson
livery was applied. A member of staff told me the how the
oil engine was obtained. A Binbrook farmer bought a
"Q" single decker chassis for conversion to a
farm truck and sold the engine the the Corporation. In
latter days the bus was only used for peak traffic -
Football Specials and duplicating the No. 6 service from
Grimsby to Cleethorpes via Walesby Road on fine summer
Sundays. My first ride on it was in 1937 travelling on
the No. 9 route and the last ride was in 1953 on a Dance
Special from the Winter Gardens at Cleethorpes to Weelsby
Road. The last time I saw 48 was in 1957 in Cleethorpes
depot with many other buses awaiting disposal. It was
seen in a yard in London. I think there were plans to
preserve it but, alas, these did not transpire. |
