1961 AEC Bridgemaster Bus - 217 AJF

Type of Vehicle - Bus
Year Built/Registered - 1961
Vehicle Description - AEC Bridgemaster / Park Royal
Reg No - 217 AJF
Fleet No - 217
Livery/Operator - Leicester City Transport
    

Brief history of 217 AJF

This AEC Bridgemaster was one of 10 acquired by Leicester City Transport between 1959 and 1962. They were bought because of their advanced specification consisting of a low floor and air suspension. However, they were withdrawn in 1971 due to being non standard. All 10 were quickly sold for further service.

217 AJF spent the following three years with Fosters of Dinnington, South Yorkshire, before moving to Rennie's of Dunfermline who only ran it for six months. In 1976 the bus moved further north to a fruit farmer, Arbuckle of Logie who used it as a 'berry bus' transporting workers around the area. Withdrawn in 1989 it ended up in the yard of scrap dealer, Dunsmore of Larkhall.

Purchased for preservation in September 1998, it was moved to Hampshire to become part of the Friends of King Alfred Buses collection. However, plans changed and after initial mechanical work it was moved to Uttoxeter where a full restoration was undertaken by Andy Russon. This was completed in July 2011 and 217 is now part of the associated collection of the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust.