Red and White Guy Arab HWO 334

LOW BRIDGE DOUBLE-DECKER

Low bridges and trees are a major problem to operators of double-deck buses. Before there were developments reducing the height of bus chassis, it was necessary in difficult areas to save a few inches by placing the upstairs gangway to the offside, recessing it into the roof of the lower saloon.

Red & White was a large company, operating buses abroad as well as owning several UK subsidiaries. It ran bus services under its own name in south-east Wales and the counties of Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

It used to buy Albion buses but was obliged to buy Guy Arabs during World War Two. Red & White liked the Guys and carried on buying them after the war, including many with these high specification Duple bodies. In 1950 Red & White was sold to the state and had to change to buses built by Bristol.

Preservation

Red & White sold the Guys in the late 1960s and many found new owners. HWO 334 was one of several bought by Provincial, operating in Gosport and Fareham. It was saved for preservation and sold by J Woodward to the Museum in November 1984.