LFW 326 - 1955 Bristol Lodekka LD6B

Eastern Coach Works H33/25RD body

Lincolnshire Road Car No. 2318

The Bristol Lodekka was the first production double decker to be built to low height (13 ft 6 in) specification but with a normal centre gangway in the upper deck instead of the more traditional, but less comfortable side gangway. This was made possible by a dropped centre axle and offset transmission line. (In recent years 'Low Floor' buses have used a similar method).

Over 5,200 Lodekkas were produced between 1954 and 1969, Lincolnshire Road Car taking delivery of 136 new examples including 12 forward entrance, 30 ft long ('FLF') models. It is likely that far more could have been sold, but the model was only available to nationalised bus companies, both Bristol and Eastern Coach Works being nationalised under the British Transport Commission in the late 1940s.

Fleet No 2318 is fitted with a Bristol AVW engine (6 cylinders, 8.2 Litres) and a 5 speed overdrive "crash" gearbox, also of Bristol manufacture, it operated mainly from the Skegness and (now closed) Boston depots before withdrawal and preservation in 1973, by which time it was one of the last remaining 'LD' models in service - most by this time were the later 60 seat 'FS' type.

No. 2318 in service, as a duplicate to service 57 (Skegness - Boston) - this service often required duplicates on Boston market days. Photo courtesy of Bristol Vintage Bus Group.

No. 2318 has been a consistent and reliable performer on our Open Days and other special bus services in recent years (The photograph at the top of the page shows it re-creating service 11 at Doddington Village for 'Discover Greater Lincoln' weekend.)