British double-deckers in Perth II - Daimler Fleetlines

[Herbert]

These two former-West Riding Daimler Fleetlines were operated by Companion Travel. On the left is former West Riding 676 with Alexander body; on the right is ex-716 with Northern Counties body. Och, aye, I'm sure it's not just Scots who think the Alexander is the much more attractive beast!





A slightly earlier view of 676 prior to it being re-registered TC203:



716's rump:



Alexander vs NC saloons:

[Swift]

Good shots of some nice buses.It's amazing how the general public would call these a London bus just for being a red English double decker whereas I would straight away recognise them as being anything but London!

[SMS88AEC]

I wonder which of these two drove best???
Alexanders have a long tradition of using curvy fibreglass panels, and they get my vote over boxy Northern Counties (and equally unattractive East Lancs) bodywork anyday.676 was built almost 2 years before 716 so it just goes to show how Northern Counties with its captive Greater Manchester business didnt have to use design skills to win orders unlike Alexanders who supplied from Scotland to the whole UK (although London didnt buy any new ones until the era of Dennis Tridents came along).

[panther998]

... Alexanders who supplied from Scotland to the whole UK (although London didn't buy any new ones until the era of Dennis Tridents came along).

The part in brackets is not strictly accurate - London Transport DID buy 3 new buses bodied by Alexander in 1984-85. They were front engined Volvo Ailsa B55-10s, numbered V1, V2 and V3 (A101-103SUU).

[Tas Bus Nut]

Certainly a lot better looking than our own Atlanteans from Sydney.

[Guy_Arab]

The Daimler is a great bus to drive as I drive it each week for Horizons West. No good for the steering wheel attendants no power steering.
Guy Arab

[Leyland B21]

dont know how far peoples memorys stretch but i distinctly remember in conjunction with the Fremantle Train Line being reopened in the early 80's, one of these was used doing free shuttle tours around Fremantle for about a month

[Fleabag]

Yep, attractive body design on the Alexander.

[mike.crean]

I was the original importer owner operator of both the fleetlines and it would not be hard to work out the favorite. Of course this would be 676 with out a doubt. What a beautiful beast to drive, you could throw it around like well tuned sports car an O the throb of that 6LX under you bum.

Mike Crean

[mike.crean]

PS. Unknown to most there was anther Alexander imported before 676 and was sent up to Kununurra WA about 12 months before 676 arrived at Fremantle.

Mike Crean

[OLYMPIAN]

Is the Alexander bodied one ended up as Melbourne Explorer ?

[Doc68]

Certainly a lot better looking than our own Atlanteans from Sydney.

each to their own I suppose I think they look old compared to the square modern looking Sydney Atlanteans