THE HOME COUNTIES BUS IMAGE GALLERY
ALDER VALLEY | Bristol Lodekkas
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 Formerly D18 (DRX122C), 650 is seen in the characterless new Newbury Bus Station, which replaced the former facilities at the Wharf. Lodekka 650 used to sport a second cream band below the top deck windows, a feature of Newbury depot repaints, long after other depots lost them. |
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 Early in 1972, 655 (FJB739C) is seen on the forecourt of Maidenhead depot in late afternoon weak sunshine. Whereas the Bristol LD behind had gained its new Alder Valley NBC style fleetname, former D23 has retained its Thames Valley fleetname. It must be remembered that there was a year or so between the formation of Alder Valley from Thames Valley and Aldershot & District and the advent of the NBC corporate identity. Many Thames Valley and Aldershot & District buses received the Ribble dark red livery and small gold Alder Valley fleetnames during that time. |
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 FLF coach Lodekka, 636 (ABL116B), formerly Thames Valley D4, is seen in Reading on the 44 to Twyford, still in Tilling red. The Twyford group of services were amongst the first to pass to Reading Buses, some years before they acquired the Reading operations of what became Alder Valley North (Bee Line). |
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 An odd collection of vehicles in the Reading yard. On the left is Bristol LD6G 543 (OCY955) originally United Welsh 308 and sold to Thames Valley as their 620 in 1969. Centre, in Thames Valley's South Midland livery used for coaches, is 59 (BJB883J), originally TV400, a Plaxton Panorama Elite Express bodied Bristol RELH6G. The final vehicle shows we were in NBC days, 706 (TRD706M) is one of the batch of 25 Ford R1014s with ECW bodies delivered to assist Alder Valley with its vehicle shortages. |
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 With blinds set for Woodley and a very battered roof RT360 (HLX177) is seen in the Lower Thorn Street yard of Alder Valley in summer 1974. Look at the repairs on the Lodekka alongside, a symptom of Alder Valley's acute vehicle shortage which resulted in hired RTs from London Country, Lowlanders from Southend, they even had a Portsmouth Titan and this RT, which is thought to be ex-Lesney (one of several used for staff transport by the toy maker). RT360 was in an attractive blue and battleship grey colour scheme! |
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