July 2025

The Trust archive includes many technical drawings and parts manuals relating to different vehicle manufacturers and bus and coach models. These can be an invaluable resource for restoring and maintaining the vehicle collection.

However, sales literature gives a fresh perspective on vehicles and their attributes, as well as details of their original specification.

This brochure from 1948 relates to the Bedford OB Duple Vista buses and coaches. The chassis was priced at £508 (including spare wheel and tyre) although the fully-fitted 29-seater Mk V service coach version was £1,483.

There are dimensioned layout drawings, a technical specification for the Bedford passenger chassis, and details of the construction and description of the fit out for the coach body.

As it happens Trust Supporters are actively restoring a Duple-bodied Bedford OB coach in the workshops. LTA748 was new to Western National as No. 1409 at the start of 1950. It was delivered in the 29-seat configuration but was modified to a 27-seat layout on entering Royal Blue service in 1955.

Restoration has been extensive from re-framing through to fitting out an emptied shell, so gems like this in the Archive provide interest and important technical detail.