BFE 419 - 1941 Leyland Titan TD7

Roe H30/26R body

Lincoln Corporation No. 64

Having bought only Leyland 'Titan' models for its double deck bus fleet, No. 64 (following identical No. 63) was the last Leyland to join the Lincoln fleet before Leyland's transfer to military production led to Guys becoming Lincoln's standard double deck chassis during and shortly after the war.

Some uncertainty surrounds this pair of buses - the outbreak of war in 1939 leading to cancellations of orders, and restrictions being put on the availability of materials. It is understood that Lincoln had ordered 4 Leyland bodied TD7s in 1940 - following earlier batches of Leyland bodied Titans - and 4 registration numbers were reserved.

It is known that No. 64's chassis was built during 1940. The engine is a diesel unit of 8.6 litres which develops 98 bhp at 1900 rpm and is matched to a 4-speed constant-mesh gearbox giving a top speed of around 35 mph.

For reasons that have never become clear, the two TD7s received bodies built by Charles H Roe of Leeds, to full pre-war specification using teak framework. These are understood to have been intended for other chassis - probably AECs, as a sign in the cab refers to 'heater plugs' which the TD7 chassis does not have. (If anyone has any more information on this, we would be glad to hear from them!)

63 and 64 were completed in February 1941, entering service in a modified version of the pre-war bus livery (with a green roof instead of the pre-war white roof which would have been highly visible from enemy aircraft) and with masked headlamps and white edges to the mud-guards to improve visibility in the 'blackout'.

These buses started a long association between Lincoln Corporation and Roe which lasted until the last Leyland Panthers were delivered in 1970.

The 'pre-war' livery including three, black-lined, cream bands was replaced at some point in the late 40s by the 'single cream band' livery it currently carries. A further repaint in the late 50s saw No. 64 receive the 'broad cream' livery that is represented in our fleet by No. 23.

No. 64 in post-war livery passing in service under Lincoln's historic Stonebow in the High Street - this has since been pedestrianised. LVVS Collection, photographer unknown	No. 64 in 'broad cream' livery outside the Brayford exit of the Corporation garage. Photo courtesy of Bristol Vintage Bus Group.

No 64 was withdrawn after 20 years service and purchased for preservation by F V Le Tall, one of the Society's founder members. It was passed to the Society's ownership upon his death and has been renovated into the livery it carried in the 1950's. Authentic adverts were added during a repaint in 2004 - this being courtesy of a grant from the Lincolnshire County Council Heritage Fund, and assistance from Lincolnshire Road Car. This includes a "Higgs for Lincoln Imp pipes" advert on the rear - well known around Lincoln in its day.

October 2006 - The centre platform rail has been recently repaired and strengthened.

Oct 2007 - Lincoln No 64 has now been tested. Thanks to Dexel tyres for helping out with a ‘flat’ on the day of the test.

LINKS Leyland Society Lincoln Corporation Transport - Book