Bedford JJL

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Bedford JJL
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[1][2].

Only four JJLs were produced, along with a pre-production prototype, starting in 1979[3]. The production vehicles were produced as follows[4]:

Chassis Number Number Plate Bodywork Code Seating Built
IRK0JL9008 UKX335X Marshall 260250 B24F 1981
IRK0JL9009 AVS903T Marshall 260251 B24F Novemember 1978
IRK0JL9010 EKX648T Marshall 260252 B24F 1978
IRK0JL9011 HKX553V Marshall 260253 B24F Novemember 1979

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[5][2][6].

Maidstone Borough Council took delivery of the JJLs in 1981/82[7]. UKK 335X and AVS 903T were sold to Brighton Buses, and then to Northern Bus, Sheffield in 1992[5][2]. EKX 648T also went to Brighton, but was scrapped in 1988 after a collision with a tree[6]. HKX 553V was sold to Bournemouth Transport (t/a Yellow Buses) in 1983 and then onto The Goodman Group [8] where it saw service with Rambler and Goodmans coaches. It is the last JJL in service[9], and has been exhibited at rallies.

  • [1] EKX 648T in Maidstone Borough livery
  • [2] UKK 335X in Brighton Buses station shuttle livery
  • [3] AVS 903T in Brighton Buses blue livery
  • [4] AVS 903T in Brighton Buses station shuttle livery
  • [5] HKX 553V at Showbus 2003
  • [6] HKX 553V in Yellow buses livery
  • [7] HKX 553V in Yellow buses livery
  • [8] HKX 553V in Goodmans Coaches livery
  • [9] HKX 553V in Rambler livery

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fotopic image of a Bedford YMQS with related development commentary
  2. ^ a b c Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 37
  3. ^ Bedford promotional leaflet for the JJL (see image)
  4. ^ Online database of bus orders Bedford JJL chassis search
  5. ^ a b Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 36
  6. ^ a b Picture and details about Brighton Corporation 38
  7. ^ Southbus webpage Maidstone Municipal Transport, A brief history
  8. ^ Colin Parkers Yellow Buses enthusiast site
  9. ^ Fotopic collection of Goodman Group of Whittlesey

[edit] External links