Bedford JJL

The Bedford JJL was an innovative but ultimately unsuccessful bus model built by Bedford Vehicles. Tricentrol of Dunstable produced a short version of Bedford's YMQ chassis, the YMQ/S, ten years after the JJL. The JJL could have been a success, but was ahead of its time in predicting the boom in the midibus market, as seen by the success of the Dennis Dart [ [http://beds-herts-bucks-buses.fotopic.net/p43853109.html Fotopic image of a Bedford YMQS with related development commentary] ] .

Only four JJLs were produced, along with a pre-production prototype, starting in 1979 [Bedford promotional leaflet for the JJL (see image)] . The production vehicles were produced as follows [ [http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/chassis/lists/chassis515.asp?MenuType=Chassis&Manu=Bedford Online database of bus orders] Bedford JJL chassis search] :

The build date of the first chassis may indicate that this was the prototype that was converted to a production bus, although it should be noted that the bodywork numbers and build dates conflict with those found in [http://www.firstnight-cabaret.co.uk/brightonbuses/details.php?id=322 Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 36] ] [http://www.firstnight-cabaret.co.uk/brightonbuses/details.php?id=323 Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 37] ] [http://www.firstnight-cabaret.co.uk/brightonbuses/details.php?id=324 Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 38] ] .

Maidstone Borough Council took delivery of the JJLs in 1981/82 [ [http://www.southbus.co.uk/maidstone/mcthistory.htm Southbus webpage] Maidstone Municipal Transport, A brief history] . UKK 335X and AVS 903T were sold to Brighton Buses, and then to Northern Bus, Sheffield in 1992. EKX 648T also went to Brighton, but was scrapped in 1988 after a collision with a tree. HKX 553V was sold to Bournemouth Transport (t/a Yellow Buses) in 1983 and then onto The Goodman Group [ [http://www.freewebs.com/colinsplace/buses/yellows/minipix.html Colin Parkers Yellow Buses enthusiast site] ] where it saw service with Rambler and Goodmans coaches. It is the last JJL in service [ [http://david806.fotopic.net/c1081166_1.html Fotopic collection of Goodman Group of Whittlesey] ] , and has been exhibited at rallies.

* [http://themunicipals.fotopic.net/p38061219.html] EKX 648T in Maidstone Borough livery
* [http://www.firstnight-cabaret.co.uk/brightonbuses/details.php?id=322] UKK 335X in Brighton Buses station shuttle livery
* [http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1037107438036313870MVcSzE] AVS 903T in Brighton Buses blue livery
* [http://themunicipals.fotopic.net/p37528053.html] AVS 903T in Brighton Buses station shuttle livery
* [http://richardsbusphotos.fotopic.net/p1317919.html] HKX 553V at Showbus 2003
* [http://themunicipals.fotopic.net/p37284391.html] HKX 553V in Yellow buses livery
* [http://www.freewebs.com/colinsplace/buses/yellows/m10.gif] HKX 553V in Yellow buses livery
* [http://david806.fotopic.net/p33968316.html] HKX 553V in Goodmans Coaches livery
* [http://www.showbus.co.uk/p1/hkx553va61xfw.jpg] HKX 553V in Rambler livery

ee also

* Bedford Vehicles
* Maidstone Borough Council Transport
* Bournemouth Transport
* Midibus

References

External links

* [http://www.worldwidemodelbuses.com/model_kits.htm Model Bus Kit website with a JJL kit]