ALBION DOUBLE-DECKER BUS

Reg No: HDG 448 - new 1949
Operator: Cheltenham District
Chassis: Albion Venturer CX19
Engine: Albion 9.1 litre 6-cyl. diesel
Gearbox: Crash
Body: Metro-Cammell 56 seats

Cheltenham District is one of the best examples of the influence of ownership on the buses a company buys. From 1914 it was a subsidiary of Balfour Beatty and bought Guys in the 20s and AECs in the 30s. In 1939 it passed to the Red & White Group which favoured Albions and, later, Guys. Red & White sold its British bus interests to the state in 1950 and Bristol/ECW buses became compulsory. The handsome Cheltenham colours disappeared under the National Bus Co in the 70s.

This Albion therefore clearly belongs to the Red & White period of ownership. Albion double-deckers were otherwise fairly rare in England and Wales and is interesting in this case because the body is built by Metro-Cammell of Birmingham - a builder noted for favouring larger contracts than this small batch for Red & White subsidiaries.

In 1963 the Cheltenham Bus Preservation Group was formed with the foresight to purchase this Albion, no. 72, as representative of the Red & White era for future generations to enjoy. The Group decided to wind up in 1998 and we were delighted to be chosen as the new home for 72 - the bus arriving at Wythall in April 1998.

Albion Venturers are now very rare but 72 still runs well. The body, however, does require some attention before 72 can be repainted.

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