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Trent Motor Traction AEC Regals (by Dick Gilbert)

Last updated 22 August 2024

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Another visit to some delightful vehicles from the past. This time it's a look at the AEC Regals operated by Trent Motor Traction. Before world war 2, most of the buses of Trent Motor Traction, based in Derby, were made by B. M. M. O., and in 1935 the entire fleet of over 250 vehicles was single deckers. However, Trent bought their first new AEC Regals in 1937 and, after the war, three more batches of halfcab Regals buses, and two deliveries of coaches were purchased, although the company was to standardise on Leyland products from 1951 onwards. One of the coach batches came without bodies, and was allotted units from old Daimlers, and from the second post-war bus delivery, 20 were selected in 1958 for extension to 30 feet and a total rebuild.

Mike Flanagan took this shot of RC 4615 at the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Trust (BaMMOT) site at Wythall, near Birmingham. Mike has copyright, but it was kindly supplied by Roger Hardy, who thinks it was probably taken during 1996. Many thanks to Roger for providing the picture and letting me use it.

This shows Trent 714 (RC 4615), a 1937-vintage AEC Regal I. The Willowbrook B35F body was fitted new in 1950. It is part of the collection at the Transport Museum, Wythall, Birmingham. It certainly looks smart, and is the only survivor of its batch of 20 (and the only surviving Trent pre-war Regal).

The fleet list has been arranged in order of delivery date, which is not necessarily in order of fleet number. My thanks to David Root for his great assistance with facts and figures, and filling in the gaps.

As with my other lists, the mistakes are bound to creep in, and some relevant information may be missing so, in order to make it as accurate a reference as possible, I would of course welcome any additions or corrections.

FLEET LIST

Trent's first AEC Regal, no. 700 (RC 4601) seen in the 1950s, after being fitted with a new Willowbrook bus body. Photo: unknown.

AEC Regal I   -   700 - 719 (Total 20)

Built March-May 1937

Chassis: AEC Regal I with 7.7 litre O662 oil engines. Most of the batch had pre-selector transmission.

Body: 700-709 originally had Duple B35F bodies, and 710-719 had Willowbrook B35F bodies, but all except 703, 712, 717 and 719 were later fitted with new Willowbrook B35F bodies in 1950.

AEC Regal I   -   637 - 642 (Total 6)

The coachwork on No.641 was already eight years old when this Regal was built. Photo by kind permission of The Omnibus Society (# 47/32).

Built in 1946

Chassis: AEC Regal I, O662 engine.

Body: Fitted with pre-war Duple C31F bodies from 1938 Daimlers RC 5988-93 (which carried the same fleet numbers), and which had been converted to double-deck. The bodies had been stored throughout the war.

Notes: When withdrawn they were the last Trent coaches in red and cream livery (as opposed to cream and red).

AEC Regal I   -   720 - 749 (Total 30)

Regal No.724 (RC 8751) in the 1950s. Photo from the Colin Routh collection by kind permission.

Built in 1946

Chassis: AEC Regal I, 7.7 litre O662 engine.

Body: Willowbrook B34F

Notes: Many of the buses had been withdrawn by 1959, and five of the remainder were renumbered to fill in gaps that appeared as a result of those withdrawals. Thus from 1959-1960 there were 18 remaining buses numbered in a new continuous series from 730 to 747, thirteen wearing their original numbers, and five that had been allocated new ones. Then, in 1960, all the remaining vehicles were withdrawn.

AEC Regal I   -   750 - 794 (Total 45)

No.765 (RC 9671) working route 19 to Melbourne in the 1950s. This bus was to be lengthened and completely rebuilt in 1958. Photo: unknown.

Built in 1947

Chassis: AEC Regal I, 7.7 litre O662 engines.

Body: Willowbrook B35F (except 750 and 751 which were B34F).

Notes: 20 of the vehicles were extended to 30 feet long in 1958, and the bodies rebuilt accordingly. These vehicles were renumbered 300-319. Two of the surviving vehicles were then withdrawn in 1959, and the remaining 23 formed a new continuous series between 752 and 774. This process required the renumbering of several at the end of the batch.

AEC Regal II   -   300 - 319 (total 20)

Built in 1947

Chassis: AEC Regal II

Body: Willowbrook DP39F

Notes: The vehicles were part of the batch 750 - 794, with bodies extended and rebuilt by Willowbrook to 30 feet long in 1958 as FDP39F. For details therefore see that batch.

AEC Regal III   -   600 - 611 (total 12)

No.611 (ACH 441) visits the Swannington Festival, Leicestershire in 1984 (Photo: Dick Gilbert)

Built in May 1948

Chassis: AEC Regal III, 7.7 litre O682 oil engine, Chassis numbers O682001 to 0682012

Body: Windover Huntingdon C30F. Converted to C32F in 1953. Numbers 608 and 609 operated as C27F for a while from 1949.

AEC REGAL III   -   643 (total 1)

Built in 1949, acquired in 1956.

Chassis: AEC Regal III, 9.6 litre 9621A engine.

Body: Burlingham C33F.

Notes: Acquired among other vehicles in 1956 with the business of E. Naylor and Sons, of South Normanton.

AEC REGAL III   -   644 (Total 1)

Built in 1950, acquired in 1956.

Chassis: AEC Regal III, 9.6 litre 9621E engine.

Body: Burlingham FC33F.

Notes: Acquired among other vehicles in 1956 with the business of E. Naylor and Sons, of South Normanton.

AEC REGAL IV   -   645 (Total 1)

Built in 1951, acquired in 1956.

Chassis: AEC Regal IV, 9821E

Body: Burlingham C33C.

Notes; Acquired among other vehicles in 1956 with the business of E. Naylor and Sons, of South Normanton.

AEC REGAL III   -   100 - 119 (Total 20)

No.100 (BRC 300), from Trent's last batch of front-engined Regals, on an excursion in the 1950s. The paintwork is gleaming, and it's a shame that this is not a colour picture, so that the striking red livery could be fully appreciated. Photo: unknown.

Built in 1950

Chassis: AEC Regal III, 7.7 litre oil engine with Crossley syncromesh gears. Chassis numbers in the range 6821X428 to 6821X447 (6821X designated a Crossley gearbox - 6821A was a crash gearbox).

Body: Willowbrook DP33F.

Total 130   (with 3 survivors - 611, 714, 746)

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