Bristol Lodekka
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The Bristol Lodekka was a low-height double-decker bus, built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in England.
Bristol manufactured over 5200 Lodekkas from 1949 to 1968, as a standard double-deck vehicle for the UK state-owned bus sector. With all examples bodied by Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft, they have a traditional half cab design and a lower floor level allowing a low overall height. The first LD-series and the later FL and FS had a rear platform, but the FSF and FLF had a front entrance. Most were powered by 5 or 6-cylinder Gardner engines, with fewer having a Bristol or Leyland power unit. With the arrival of more modern "OMO" or one person operated buses, such as the Leyland Atlantean and Bristol VRT (the Lodekka's successor), many Lodekkas found themselves relegated to driver training duties. Surrey-based Top Deck Travel converted approximately 100 to "decker home" caravan standard between 1973 and 1997, and used these reliable buses on extended tours to Europe, Asia and North America.
The Bristol Lodekka was also manufactured by Dennis under licence, and was sold as the Dennis Loline.
Lodekka users in the UK included: Brighton & Hove, Bristol Omnibus, Eastern Counties, Eastern National, Hants & Dorset, Lincolnshire Road Car, Scottish Omnibuses, Southern Vectis, Thames Valley & Aldershot, United, United Counties, West Yorkshire Roadcar Co, Western National, Central SMT and Wilts & Dorset. While no Lodekkas were bought by any London based companies, they often worked into the capital on services operated by Thames Valley and Eastern National.
In the early 1990s, Surrey based "Leisurelink" used an example on a weekend-only tourist service, linking Gatwick Zoo (now closed), Gatwick Airport and the Bluebell Railway.
