TYPICAL 1940s COACH
Reg No: ORB 277 - new 1950
Operator: Blue Bus Services, Willington
Chassis: Daimler CVD6
Engine: Daimler CD6 8.6 litre diesel
Gearbox: Pre-selective
Body: Duple 35 seats
Midland Red led the field in introducing underfloor engined buses and coaches after the Second World War and the big manufacturers soon followed. Underfloor engines meant the end of half cabs and coaches took on a more streamlined look. This was serious for coach operators whose customers expected them to be up-to-date. This Daimler is a typical early postwar top specification coach but evolution rendered it out of fashion almost on its arrival in July 1950. Moreover, longer, wider coaches became possible two months later. The buyer, Blue Bus Services of Willington, Derbyshire, advertised it for sale almost immediately but found little interest. Blue Bus fortunately also operated local and school services so the Daimler settled down to what turned out to be a long life, surviving until 1970 with this immaculate operator. Most other half-cab coaches suffered shortened lives, although some received cosmetic facelifts with a full width cab enclosing the engine whilst others were rebodied as double-deckers.
Blue Bus Services ran services in the area between Derby and Burton-on-Trent from 1922 until 1973 when the company was sold to Derby Corporation. Daimlers were their principal choice from 1935, always beautifully maintained with high specification interiors for the buses too. Derby Corporation retained the Blue Bus Services name but tragically the Willington operation and its vehicles were destroyed by fire in January 1976. Very little of Blue Bus thus remains. Fortunately this coach had been saved privately upon its March 1970 retirement and carefully repainted and maintained. It passed to the Museum in July 1980 and has needed very little attention since.
