Created 11-May-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
Rhondda's next double-deck purchases had two notable differences from previous examples. They were built to larger dimensions being 27'-0" long and 8'-0" wide (compared to 26'-0" long and 7'-6" wide). Although this could have led to a greater seating capacity instead it remained unchanged at 56, but the passengers had more room and wider gangway's made the conductor's life easier.
Rhondda's management was also becoming more cost-conscious and fuel economy was seen as increasingly important. The pre-selector transmission fitted to earlier Regents reduced effort for the driver and generally made for a smoother ride, but this type of transmission was less efficient. As a result these later Regents were fitted with a crash gearbox, a trend that had become BET Group policy at the time.
The bodies on these vehicles were a gradual development of the earlier Weymann body. The first batch, new in 1952, was 261-274 (LNY 342-355) and these had recessed window pans with larger radius upper corners and also a double-skin roof which gave a cleaner appearance as there was no external framing. They also saw the introduction of sliding cab doors which became standard practice for all future half-cabs.
The design progressed further with the second, smaller, batch 275-281 (MNY 536-542). These featured flush rubber-mounted windows and later rather odd additional mouldings which didn't go the full length of the bus. These had not been fitted initially and seem to have been a way of dealing with panel vibration on this semi-lightweight body - they seem to have been most unpleasant things to travel on.
Withdrawals started in 1963 for the first batch and finished in 1965, the same year that the whole of the second batch was withdrawn. Instead of going to Frank Cowley like earlier vehicles, these all went to North's of Sherburn-in-Elmet. Unlike previous batches, hardly any of these went for further service.
© David Beilby
