The AEC Bridgemaster was a front-engined low-height double-decker bus chassis manufactured by AEC.

AEC Bridgemaster
Park Royal bodied AEC Bridgemaster (forward-entrance)
Overview
Manufacturer	AEC
Production	1956-1963
Powertrain
Engine	AEC AV470 (first two prototypes) AEC AV590
Transmission	AEC synchromesh
Chronology
Successor	AEC Renown

History

The AEC Bridgemaster was introduced by AEC in 1956 to meet the demand of low-height double-deckers from municipal and independent bus operators across the United Kingdom, which were barred from purchasing the Bristol Lodekka. It was designed as a fully-integral vehicle, utilising two sub frames like the contemporary Routemaster. Four pre-production examples were bodied by Crossley with an aluminium body; production examples bodied by Park Royal were introduced from 1958 with steel body frames at the request of British Electric Traction.[1]

In 1960 a forward-entrance version with slightly different driveline layout was introduced.[2] A total of 180 were produced before it was superseded by the AEC Renown in 1963.[3] East Yorkshire Motor Services were the largest customer, purchasing 50.[1][4][5]

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  AEC Bridgemaster initial styling concept.[6]
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  Rear-entrance AEC Bridgemaster chassis layout.[7]
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  AEC Bridgemaster body frame.[6]
• 
  First pre-serial AEC Bridgemaster, registration YDH225, chassis number MB3RA001, bodywork by Crossley with H41/31R layout, entered into service with Walsall in Nov. 1956.[6][5]
• 
  Second pre-serial AEC Bridgemaster, registration 9JML, chassis number MB3RA002, bodywork by Crossley with H41/31R layout,[5] in the service of the Birmingham Corporation.[6]

In popular culture

Bulgy the Double-Decker bus, his friend and 25 Australian buses from the Railway Series and the children's television series Thomas & Friends is based on the AEC Bridgemaster.

References

• Brown, Stuart J (2013). The Lodekka Alternatives. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing.

External links

Media related to AEC Bridgemaster at Wikimedia Commons

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