SCT '61 Photo Index
Timpson, Catford
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd., Catford, London SE6

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1. XL3517
A Timpson & Sons 47, XL3517, a 1924 Straker Squire A with Straker Squire O24/22R bodywork. As can be seen from the destination blind, being used on the Timpson Silver Omnibuses service from Plumstead Common to Bromley Common
2. DY3344
A Timpson & Sons 69, DY3344, a 1925 Leyland GH7 with unknown 35 seat bodywork. If only the photographer had photoed the magnificent double decker behind!
3. CY4006
A.Timpson & Sons 88, DY4006, a 1926 Leyland C7 with unknown bodywork quoted as 32 or 35 seat. Photographed in the front of the main depot at Catford. The destination board in the front shows Bournemouth - this would be an interesting ride
Photo taken Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford
4. TP8147
TP8147 was a Crossley Eagle with a Taylor (Eaton) C29F body new to Solent Line, Portsmouth, number 1, in July 1929.
Photo taken Market Place, Romsey
5. GC4828
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd 208, GC4828, an AEC Regal with Harrington C31R bodywork new in 1930. Can anybody shed any light why this was decorated like this.
Photo taken 1936 or 1937, Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford
6. GC4828
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd GC4828, an AEC Regal with Harrington C31R body new in 1930, seen inside the Rushey Green, Catford, London SE6 Depot, Timpsons Head Office. The coach in front right hand side of photo is another Harrington bodied AEC Regal but with C33F body which was new in 1936.
Photo taken 1936/7, Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford
7. GN7287
Timpson 287, GN7287, taken in or en-route for Ilfracombe, believed to be a Harrington bodied AEC Regal, possibly taken by Len when driving on Eastern National tours to Devon.
Photo taken 1930s
8. GN7264
A Timpson & Sons 264, GN7264, a 1931 AEC Regal with Harrington C31R bodywork. The driver looks justifiably proud of his coach. This coach was requisitioned by the War Dept in 1940 and never returned to Timpsons.
Photo taken 175 Rushey Green Depot, Catford
9. LYM456
Harrison's of Leeds (building contractors) LYM456, an AEC Regal IV with Windover "Kingsway" C39C body, one of ten built for Timpsons in 1951.
Photo taken Sunday 14 June 1964, Hunslet Road, Leeds
10. NUW965
Seen here at Ascot racecourse, Moore (t/a Imperial), Windsor NUW965 was a Bedford SB with a Duple C35F body which had been new to Timpson, London S.E.6 in June 1953.
Photo taken Saturday 19 June 1965, Ascot Racecourse
11. NUW966
New to Timpson, London S.E.6 in June 1953 but seen here at Ascot with Moore (t/a Imperial), Windsor, NUW966 was a Bedford SB with a Duple C35F body.
Photo taken Saturday 19 June 1965, Ascot Racecourse
12. MBY349
A Timpson & Sons a 1954 AEC Reliance. I always thought this was a Roe Daleman C41C body but I notice it has a Park Royal Body number. Hopefully somebody will enlighten me. Delivered in Bourne & Balmer livery, a company Timpsons acquired in 1953 but kept as a separate entity until 1960.
Photo taken 1966, rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
13. MBY909
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd. Catford London SE6, MBY909 a Leyland PSUC1/2 with Strachans C41C body. New to Homelands Tours, Croydon in 1954, when acquired by Timpsons in 1955 it was painted in Bourne & Balmer Livery (green & grey) until 1962 when it received Timpson cream & chocolate livery. Sold in 1965 to Chapman, SE3 (T/A Kims Coaches).
Photo taken 1965, rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
14. PGC970
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd. of Rushey Green Catford, London SE6, PGC970, a Beadle-Commer TS3 with Beadle C41F body new in November 1954.
Photo taken Bromley Road, Downham, Bromley, Kent
15. PXO973
A Timpson & Sons PXO973, an AEC Reliance with Park Royal Royalist C41C body new in 1955.
Photo taken Thursday 10 June 1965, rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
16. PXO974
Timpson, London S.E.6 PXO974, seen at Ascot races, was an A.E.C. MU3RV Reliance which had a Park Royal Royalist C41C body new in 1955. In 1968 it was rebodied with a Plaxton Panorama I C43F body after being acquired by Halifax and numbered 257.
Photo taken Saturday 19 June 1965, Ascot Racecourse
17. RYO473
Timpson, London S.E.6 put six A.E.C. MU3RV Reliances with Weymann Fanfare C41F bodies into service in 1956 and the third one, RYO473, is depicted here. All six passed to Cowley (dealer), Salford in March 1967.
18. RYO477
Bird's Coaches of St Pauls Cray RYO477, a Beadle-Commer TS3 integral new to Timpsons in 1956.
Photo taken Saturday 27 August 1966, London Victoria Coach Station
19. RYO478
Timpson, London S.E.6 ran a number of Beadle-Commer integrals and RYO478 with a C41F body was one of six new in 1956. It passed to Bird, St. Pauls Cray in January 1966.
Photo taken Wash Lane Coach Station, Clacton
20. TGJ490
A Timpson & Sons TGJ490, a Beadle-Commer TS3 with Beadle C41F body new in 1956. I believe this body was called the Rochester.
Photo taken rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
21. TGJ484
Halifax Joint Omnibus Committee 259, TGJ484, a 1957 AEC MU3RV Reliance which was acquired from Timpson, Catford with a Burlingham Seagull C41F body in June 1966 as number 260. It was renumbered to 259 in October 1967 and rebodied with a Plaxton Panorama I C43F body in July 1968 and is seen leaving Wembley after the Rugby League Cup Final.
Photo taken Saturday 15 May 1971, Wembley Staduim
22. TGJ485
Seen in Leeds Central Bus Station is Halifax Joint Omnibus Committee 264, TGJ485, a 1957 Burlingham Seagull C41F bodied AEC MU3RV Reliance acquired from Timpson, Catford in 1966.
Photo taken Friday 11 August 1967, Leeds Central Bus Station
23. TGJ488
Charlton-on-Otmoor Services (G.P.Holder) of Charlton-on-Otmoor, Oxfordshire operated TGJ488, a 1957 C41F Beadle-Commer integral, acquired from Timpson, S.E.6 in April 1967.
Photo taken Saturday 27 February 1971, Depot, High Street, Charlton-on-Otmoor
24. ULY496
A Timpson & Sons ULY496, a 1958 AEC Reliance with Duple Midland Donington C41F body, showing Timpsons trade mark Old English Font fleetname and original chocolate and cream livery.
Photo taken Tuesday 23 August 1966, rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
25. ULY497
With a Duple Midland Donington C41F body on an A.E.C. MU3RV Reliance chassis, ULY497 was one of ten new in 1958. It was withdrawn in October 1967 passing to Holloway, Scunthorpe.
26. VXP501
VXP501, a Weymann Fanfare C41F bodied A.E.C. 2MU3RV Reliance of Timpson, London S.E.6, one of eight new in 1958/9, is seen in Clacton along with one of their Park Royal Royalist bodied Reliances behind.
Photo taken Tuesday 1 September 1959, Clacton
27. VXP504
Hilton, Burton-on-Trent VXP504, an AEC Reliance 2MU3RV with Weymann Fanfare C41F body, new to Timpson's, London SE6 in 1958.
Photo taken Saturday 19 September 1970, Lawn Motor Park, Skegness
28. VXP508
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd., London SE6, VXP508, a 1959 AEC Reliance with Weymann Fanfare C41F bodywork,
Photo taken Sunday 28 February 1965, rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
29. VXP509
A. Timpson & Sons Ltd, Catford, SE6, VXP509, an AEC Reliance with Harrington Wayfarer C37F body, new in March 1959.
Photo taken Sunday 18 July 1965, Main Depot, Rushey Green, Catford
30. 529BGW
William Press, contractor, CH69, 529BGW, a Ford Thames Trader 570E with Duple Yeoman C41F bodywork. New to Timpson, London SE6, this was providing staff transport for work at British Steel in Redcar.
Photo taken December 1971, Redcar
31. XXT518
A Timpson & Sons XXT518, a 1960 AEC Reliance with superb Harrington Cavalier C41F bodywork.
Photo taken Monday 28 November 1966, rear of Depot, 175 Rushey Green, Catford (Plassy Road)
32. XXT522
A Timpson & Sons XXT523 and XXT522, 1960 Ford 570Es with Duple Yeoman C41F body. From new these coaches were in Bourne & Balmer livery and were photographed outside the Bourne & Balmer Coach Station in Dingwall Road, East Croydon. This lovely building was demolished and replaced with an office block with a tunnel underneath which became the coach station.
Photo taken Dingwall Road, East Croydon
33. 526BGW
526BGW, seen in the off-white and red livery adopted by Timpson, London S.E.6 in 1966, was a Ford 570E with a Duple Yeoman C41F body, one of six new in 1961. 525-527 BGW were C41F and 528-530 BGW were C37F. This one passed to Rentower, Bedford in June 1970.
34. 535CYU
Timpsons of Catford, SE1, 535CYU, one of six 1961 Ford Thames Trader with Duple 'Yeoman' C41F coachwork, seen at Victoria Coach Station in July 1966.
Photo taken Saturday 30 July 1966, Victoria Coach Station, London
35. 533CYU
Timpson, Catford 533CYU was a Ford 570E with a Duple Yeoman C41F body new in March 1962.
Photo taken Sunday 20 September 1964
36. 537CYU
A. Timpson & Sons 537CYU, an AEC Reliance with Plaxton C49F body new in 1962. Numerically this was the first coach to the new 36 foot length in the fleet. Photographed at Hollesley Bay Open Prison in Suffolk on a service to take people to visit the inmates.
Photo taken Saturday 23 March 1968, Hollesley Bay Open Prison, near Woodbridge
37. 537CYU
Seen at Whitchurch in the original Timpson, London S.E.6 livery, whilst on an Omnibus Touring Circle visit, is 537CYU which was an A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliance with a Plaxton Panorama C49F body new in 1962. The trip visited Keith Coaches at Aylesbury, Todd at Whitchurch, Taylor at Bicester and Holder at Charlton-on-Otmoor.
Photo taken Sunday 7 April 1963, Whitchurch
38. 537CYU
A rear view of 537CYU, an A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliance with a Plaxton Panorama C49F body new to Timpson, London S.E.6 in 1962. It is seen in Whitchurch outside Todd's garage on an Omnibus Touring Circle visit.
Photo taken Sunday 7 April 1963, Whitchurch
39. 160FYV
United AS 1000, 160FYV, a Bedford J2SZ10 built in 1963 with Plaxton C16F bodywork.
Photo taken August 1974, Teesside Airport Terminal
40. 160FYV
Timpsons, Catford 160FYV, a Bedford J2SZ10 with Plaxton C16F new in 1963. Known in the fleet as Tonibell - the name of a local ice cream company.
Photo taken Saturday 31 July 1965, Rushey Green Depot, Catford
41. 542EYL
542EYL of Timpson, London S.E.6 is seen turning from Buckingham Palace Road into Semley Place on its way to Victoria Coach Station. This was an A.E.C. 2U3RAE Reliance with a Duple Northern Alpine Continental C49F body new in February 1963. The P.S.V. Circle Timpson Fleet History notes that the 'E' in the chassis designation was to indicate experimental engine components on trial for A.E.C.
Photo taken Saturday 25 March 1972, Buckingham Palace Road, London
42. 545EYL
A.Timpson & Sons 545EYL, a 1963 AEC Reliance with Duple Northern C49F body photographed at Colchester Bus Station whilst on a refreshment break.
Photo taken Sunday 19 June 1966, Colchester Bus Station
43. 545EYL
Seen in Victoria Coach Station is 545EYL, an A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliance with a Duple Northern Alpine Continental C49F body of Timpson, London S.E.6, operating a Feeder service.
Photo taken Sunday 2 April 1972, London Victoria Coach Station
44. 549GXX
549GXX was the first of four A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliances with Plaxton Panorama C49F bodies put into service by Timpson, London S.E.6. in February 1964.
45. 550GXX
Seen at Wembley Stadium, Browne, Halewood 550GXX which was an A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliance, new to Timpson, London S.E.6 with a Plaxton Panorama C49F body in 1964.
Photo taken Saturday 8 May 1976, Wembley Stadium
46. 552GXX
Timpson, London S.E.6 552GXX was an A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliance with a Plaxton C49F body new in February 1964.
Photo taken Sunday 14 August 1966
47. CUW559C
CUW559C, an A.E.C. 2MU4RA Reliance of Timpson, London S.E.6, one of four new in March 1965 with Harrington Grenadier C41F bodies, is seen on Ebury Bridge near Victoria Coach Station.
Photo taken Saturday 25 March 1972, Ebury Bridge, London
48. CUW561C
Driver Bill Warwick at the wheel of 'his coach'. Bourne & Balmer, Croydon CUW561C, new in July 1965, was one of two AEC 2MU4RA Reliances with Harrington Grenadier C41F bodies in this fleet, the remainder of the batch of six being with the parent company, Timpsons, Catford.
Photo taken Saturday 11 September 1965, Ribble Garage, Burnley
49. CUW562C
Bourne and Balmer, Croydon CUW562C, an A.E.C. 2MU4RA Reliance with a Harrington Grenadier C41F body seen in Henley on Thames whilst on an Omnibus Touring Circle visit to operators in the area. Although taken over by Timpson, London S.E.6 in 1953 Bourne and Balmer coaches continued to carry their livery of grey with two shades of green used for the trim, including additions to the fleet.
Photo taken Sunday 27 March 1966, Station Road, Henley-on-Thames
50. CUW564C
CUW564C was an A.E.C. 2MU4RA Reliance with a Duple Northern Commander C41F body which Timpson, London S.E.6 had repainted into the white and purple livery, adopted in 1972. It is seen here in Semley Place turning into Victoria Coach Station.
Photo taken Saturday 21 July 1973, Semley Place entrance, London Victoria Coach Station
51. CUW565C
On a very welcome holiday break from Halifax in the summer of 1966 I came across these East Kent Guy Arab IIIs shoved away at the side of the Rye depot. At the front is EFN201, Guy Arab III with Park Royal L27/26R body delivered in July 1950.
Photo taken Summer 1966, East Kent Rye Depot
52. CUW565C
Seen in the off-white and red livery adopted by Timpson, London S.E.6 in 1966 is CUW565C, an A.E.C. 2MU4RA Reliance with a Duple Northern Commander C41F body which was one of four new in June 1965.
53. JJJ568D
A Timpson & Sons JJJ568D, an AEC Reliance with Duple Northern Commander C41F body new in 1966. This was the first batch of coaches delivered new in the new BET off white and red livery
Photo taken Wednesday 13 July 1966, Bournemouth Coach Station
54. JJJ574D
The Races in this case are at Epsom and JJJ574D of Timpson, London S.E.6 is seen arriving at one of the parking areas on the Downs. This was one of four A.E.C. 2U3RA Reliances with Plaxton Panorama C49F bodies new in April 1966.
Photo taken Wednesday 7 June 1972, Epsom Downs
55. NMX583E
DeSilva 29Sri1401 was an A.E.C. 6MU4R Reliance with a Plaxton Panorama I C41F body seen at Galle, new to Timpson, London S.E.6 in April 1967 and registered NMX583E.
Photo taken Saturday 6 February 1982, Galle, Sri Lanka
56. NMX586E
A. Timpson & Sons NMX586E, an AEC Reliance 6MU4R with Plaxton C41F body new in 1967. Photographed at Marlborough whilst route learning drivers on a new tour - the only time I can remember this happening. This coach has been reported as acquired by Alex Timpson's grandson for preservation.
Photo taken Monday 19 February 1968, Marlborough
57. SJJ589F
Seen on the forecourt of the Earls Court Exhibition Hall in the white and purple livery of Timpson, London S.E.6 is SJJ589F, a Bedford VAL70 with a Plaxton Panorama I C49F body, one of four such coaches. New in June 1968, these were the first to be delivered in the grey and green livery adopted for the fleet, the change to white/purple being made in 1972.
Photo taken Saturday 21 July 1973, Earls Court, London
58. ELU604J
This A.E.C. 6U3ZR Reliance with a Plaxton Panorama Elite II C44F body, ELU604J, seen here in Beechcroft Road, London S.W.17 in the livery of Frames Tours, London W.C.2, although carrying a Timpson's fleetname board, was new to Timpson, London S.E.6 in February 1971 and was transferred to National Travel (South East) in January 1974 along with the rest of the fleet. It was one of three painted for hire to Frames Tours during the season but, due to a downturn in traffic, was not used as such.
Photo taken Sunday 31 March 1974, Beechcroft Road, London
59. CJH620K
CJH620K was an AEC 6U3ZR Reliance with a Duple Viceroy C44F body, new in February 1972 to Timpson, London S.E.6. with whom it is seen here in Victoria Coach Station in Frames livery, for which they held a contract, but here carrying Timpson slip boards.
Photo taken Saturday 30 March 1974, London Victoria Coach Station
60. JYT611K
JYT611K of Timpson, London S.E.6 was an A.E.C. 6MU4R Reliance which had a Plaxton Panorama Elite II C41F body. It marked a change in the livery with this batch JYT 606-613K, new in May 1972, being the first to be delivered in this white and purple livery. In this view it is turning from Buckingham Palace Road into Pimlico Road, followed by one of the B.O.A.C Atlanteans.
Photo taken Saturday 17 June 1972, Buckingham Palace Road, London