Thought a break was slightly needed from the modern-day public service items, so am launching into the first of a triple bill of preserved heritage buses. First up we have AEC Swift SM88.
The history of the vehicle is it was new to the red central area of London Transport as SMS88 in 1970 whereupon it was allocated to Edgware garage and ran on routes 142, 186 & 286 for six years before passing to Poplar. SMS88 was one of a number in the batch to have it's secondary exit door sealed off becoming a member of the SMD family, after which it passed to Catford to run on routes 160 & 160A before withdrawal in 1977. SMS88 passed to A1 service in Scotland, whose flagship route linked Ardrossan with Kilmarnock where it ran till sometime in the 1980's.
SMS88 was then accquired for private preservation shortly afterwards, still in A1 service livery, and had been stored derelict in a barn for 20 years (a photo in as found condition has been included), SM88 first appeared to the public eye in September 2018 for the Epping Ongar Railway's 'Reshaping event' which hosted an abundance of Swift's and it's longer counterparts the Merlins. Two friends of mine, Keith Valla & John Wilcox then bought the vehicle and painstakingly restored it into not just running condition, but with an extensive internal refurbishment, paint job, seat re-trim into as new condition. Though SM88 never ran in London Country's green and yellow livery, it is the owners preference to have their bus painted this way, and I must confess that SM88 is one of the most immaculate preserved buses I have had the luxury of travelling on.
The journey recorded was a private run between Epping Station to Ongar via North Weald and Tylers Green. SM88 is powered by an AEC AH505 engine coupled to a 4 speed semi-automatic gearbox, with a loud growling exhaust giving it an almost Bristol RE sound to it.
I have rambled on long enough now. I shall let you enjoy this magnificent beauty of a bus. Do enjoy!
Негізгі бет *LOUD EXHAUST* Preserved: London Country: SM88 (AML88H) AEC Swift 4MP2R/ Park Royal
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