The Classic British Isles Buses Website

Surviving double deckers converted to service vehicles (by Dick Gilbert)

Last updated 24 August 2024

Email   Events diary   Past events list   Classified adverts   Classic U.K. Buses   Classic Irish Buses   Classic Manx Buses

 
Single-deck halfcabs Double-deckers converted to single-deck service vehicles Single-deck halfcabs abroad, based on an exported British chassis Double-deck halfcabs abroad, based on an exported British chassis Trolleybuses abroad, based on an exported British chassis Preserved trolleybuses

As an annex to my listing of surviving single-deck halfcabs, this is a list of all known British and Irish double-deck front-engined buses converted to single-deck service vehicles, tow trucks, and other odd things.

I have not included double-deck chassis that were actually built as single-deck vehicles, only those converted to single-deck. It's bound to be incomplete, so please send me any corrected information you may have about the list, or examples not shown below.

By the way, the colour scheme is meant to represent the livery of Eastern Counties.

To set the scene, here are former 1938 Southdown Leyland TD5 Titans 198 and 184, both converted to recovery vehicles in 1957. After so many years, they are seen here still in fine fettle at the Amberley museum in West Sussex in September 2018. The photo was kindly supplied by Ken Jones.

The listing is arranged in order of (1) Chassis manufacturer, (2) Chassis model, (3) Original operator in alphabetical order. Then each entry shows original operator, original fleet number, subsequent owners/fleet numbers if applicable, chassis type, chassis number in brackets {__} if known, body type (and age if different from chassis age), body number in brackets {__} if known, chassis build date, registration number, ownership details.

Abbreviations are listed at the end. The bodywork abbreviations are in the standard format, i.e. B, C or DP (for bus, coach or dual-purpose), followed by the seating capacity, then by the door position F, C, R or D (for front, centre, rear or dual). The prefix U means a wartime Utility body, F means a full-front, and O means open top. RV, of course, means recovery vehicle.

For the latest additions (i.e. a vehicle that was always around, but I've only just found out about it!) look for the *NEW* symbol. For any significant information updates see the *UPDATED* symbol.

Entries with links from the registration number (or with links crediting a photographer) will connect to a photograph of the vehicle elsewhere on this site, or to information on another site.

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

AEC (23 vehicles)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

BMMO (5 vehicles)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

Bristol (5 vehicles)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

Crossley (2 vehicles)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

Daimler (8 vehicles)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

Dennis (1 vehicle)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

Guy (3 vehicles)

Original Operator / Fleet Nbr. / Chassis / Body / Age / Registration / Last Known Owner

Leyland (36 vehicles)

GRAND TOTAL OF 83 VEHICLES

=========================================

ABBREVIATIONS

Email   Events diary   Past events list   Classified adverts   Classic U.K. Buses   Classic Irish Buses   Classic Manx Buses

SB