Bristol LH
The Bristol LH was a bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles (BCV) in Bristol, England. Nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and 1982 in a variety of sizes and body types, including some as goods vehicles.
Models
The LH designation stood for Lightweight chassis, Horizontal engine. It replaced the Bristol SU and was succeeded by was the Leyland National B Series for operators in need of a small or lightweight bus. The Bristol RE was in production at the same time for those in need of larger or more robust vehicles
The standard Bristol LH model was 30 feet (9.1 m) 10m long. It was also available as the 26 feet (7.9 m) 8m LHS (LH Short) and the 36 feet (11 m) 11m LHL (LH Long). It was available in two widths, initially 7.5 feet (2.3 m) and later also 8.17 feet (2.49 m).
The bus was available with a choice of six cylinder diesel engines, either the Leyland O.400 (later replaced by the Leyland O.401) or the Perkins H6.354. The 5.8 litre H6.354 produced 101 bhp; the 6.54 litre O.401 produced 138 bhp. The usual gearbox was a Turner Clarke synchronized five-speed model equipped with manually-selected overdrive. Some buses were fitted with a semi-automatic transmission and power steering. The engine was positioned in the centre of the chassis but its relatively high position meant that several steps were needed in the entrance. This was arranged in the overhang ahead of the front wheels allowing one-man operation (as it was known in those days) with the driver taking the fares and issuing tickets as passengers boarded. The radiator was positioned at the front of the chassis. The suspension was by half-elliptical leaf springs, although BCV had offered pneumatic suspension on heavier buses since 1962.
Bodies were fitted by different manufacturers, who adapted them to the needs of different operators. Bodies could be fitted out as buses, coaches or dual purpose buses which could be used for coach services when traffic demanded. Bus bodies usually came from the Eastern Coach Works (ECW), which was owned by the same Transport Holding Company. This was a government-owned company but Leyland had acquired a 25% share in 1965. Plaxton bodies were preferred for coaches. Other manufacturers of bodies for the LH were Walter Alexander, Duple, East Lancashire, Marshall, Northern Counties, Weymann and Willowbrook.
For the standard LH the 31-seat Plaxton coach and 41-seat ECW bus of ECW were most widely used; the bus bodies manufactured in Belfast by Alexander for Ulsterbus had 45 seats. The LHS was produced as both buses and coaches with 26 to 35 seats. The LHL had up to 53 seats as a coach or 55 as a bus. Between 1975 and 1982 Vanplan built eight with delivery van bodies.
Altogether nearly 2,000 LHs were built: 1,505 LH, 174 LHL and 308 LHS.
London Country
London Country 23 standard width LHSs (their BL class) and 44 narrow LHSs (their BN class) as no other suitable narrow vehicles were available at the time.
London Transport
Several versions of the Bristol LH were used in London. The 17 narrow LHSs with six-speed gearboxes delivered to London Transport in 1975 to replace Ford Transit minibuses on narrow roads were known by them as the BS class. These were followed in 1976 by standard LHs with automatic transmissions and narrow bodies known as the BL class, 95 of which were purchased. The 7ft 6in bodies were not only because of narrow roads on some routes, but also due to the restricted space at Kingston garage in Surrey which prevented the Leyland National being deployed there.
References
- Billington, Collin (2008). West Country Lightweight Single-Decks. Colaton Raleigh: West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust.
- James, Allen (undated). Bristol Goods Vehicles. Bristol: James and Sposito.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link) - Martin, Curtis (1984). Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-1361-6.
{{cite book}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)</ref> - Mills, G.R. (1984). The Bristol LH. Poole: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-341-1.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help) - Townsin, Alan (2000). The Bristol Story. Vol. 2. Venture Publications. ISBN 1-898432-78-3.