Photo © John Stringer. Please do not re-post without permission.

One of the Bedlington & District (formerly Nottingham) AEC Renown 3B3RA with Weymann H40/30F body, new in 1965.
Just repainted by B&D but in the Nottingham style This side-on view shows the easy access arrangement of this what-would-now-be-47-year old bus quite well. With a fold down ramp, the stanchion and a pair of seats removed it could probably even have accomodated wheelchairs.
B&D apparently operated round-the-clock miners' works contracts, which included very heavy financial penalties for failing to operate on time. They had to have sufficient spare vehicles to cover all eventualities and ensure the miners arrived on time, and though they did not operate a pretty fleet (not exactly Delaine shall we say), the vehicles worked hard and would have to be kept up to during their short lives maintenance-wise.

Photo taken by John Stringer, Summer 1977, Lintonville Terrace, Ashington

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