In the days before privatisation, many bus companies adapted old buses
for a variety of specialist uses as service vehicles. Using the skills
and ingenuity of their workshops, buses might become, among other
things, stores vans, tree loppers or uniform stores. Trolleybuses may
have been converted to tower wagons to maintain the overhead wires. Some
bus operators converted old buses to towing lorries to rescue broken
down vehicles. Others preferred ex-military trucks such as the AEC
Matador. These came with somewhat austere cabs, but here again the body
shop would often come up with a custom-built body using various bus
parts. Buses would also be adapted to serve as information offices or
publicity buses, promoting such things as holiday tours or special
ticket offers. Since privatisation, such practices have died out for a
variety of reasons. Expensive, in-house workshops have largely been
closed. Construction and Use Regulations have been tightened up.
Emissions zone restrictions may limit the use of older less clean
engines in city centres. Furthermore the modern low-floor rear-engine
buses are probably less suited to such conversions. Companies will use
the services of specialist commercial bus and truck rescue services
rather than retaining their own towing vehicles. This book looks at a
variety of service vehicles from around the country over the last fifty
years, including examples that have survived into preservation.
