Reading 47 Motorbus

Registration Number : RD 7127

Chassis: AEC Regent
Chassis No. 06613647
Engine : AEC A.172 (7.58 litre)
Bodywork : Park Royal L26/26R
Length 26ft 0in, Width 7ft 6in.
Unladen Weight : 6 tons 14 cwts 0 qt
Entered Service : 1 August 1935
Withdrawn : 29 February 1956

HISTORICAL DETAILS

The first of a batch of 3 AEC Regents were delivered to Reading Corporation Transport (RCT) in 1933 which was to set the pattern for future motorbus purchases for the next 25 years. The following year saw five more enter service. Three more were taken into stock in 1935 and one of these was 47. These three vehicles were the first batch of metal framed bodies purchased by RCT.

The Regents were the mainstay of the town’s motorbus services during the second world war years, coping admirably with the heavy loadings experienced during those difficult years.

This photo, taken in London Street in the early post-war years shows 47 in its original condition

In 1950 47 underwent an extensive rebuild in RCT’s own workshops and this took most of the year to achieve. The front end was slightly re-designed and included a larger destination indicator. When it re-entered service in November that year its two sister vehicles bought in 1935 were withdrawn

47 is seen opposite the Great Western station, Reading shortly before withdrawal in 1956

47 remained in service until the 29 February 1956 whereupon it passed to Lancashire Motor Traders of Salford. After nearly a year in storage it was eventually purchased for further service by A.G. Lingfield (Chesswood Mushrooms) to transport workers between Worthing and Thakeham.

The Reading Transport Society’s first aim when formed in 1961 was to purchase a pre-war RCT trolleybus and motorbus for preservation. AEC Trolleybus 113 was purchased and following discovery of AEC Regent 47 in Worthing, some RTS members visited the owners in August 1961. Although 47 was not for sale at that time they agreed to keep in contact and let them know when it was ready for purchase.

Subsequently, 47 was repainted back into Reading livery externally and it took part in the 1965 London to Brighton Run.

In 1976 it took part in Reading Transport’s 75th Anniversary Parade and took part in a special running day for preserved ex-Reading buses in 1991 and 1993.

Over several years the interior was gradually restored, including the seats being completely re-upholstered and the engine and cab being rebuilt. 47 is one of the oldest buses in roadworthy condition in Britain and made the long journey from Reading to Sandtoft to take part in the Reading Trolleybus event over the 2006 Spring Bank Holiday

A return trip to Sandtoft was made over the Spring Bank Holiday in 2011 to take part in the BTS’s 50th anniversary celebrations when all vehicles owned by the BTS were to be seen together for the first time ever.

It also was on display in Broad Street, Reading on 2 July 2011 and the Reading Buses Open Day the following day.

In August 2018 47 traveled to Sandtoft to take part in the Reading trolleybus 50 event. Sadly, 47s bodywork has become a bit fragile now and can only carry a few passengers at a time.

At the end of 2026, it is planned that no.47 will be taken off the road to allow some initial inspections of the off-side of the bodywork to take place. It is suspected that over time some of the body’s steel structural members have become severely corroded.

If this is the case, the extent of the corrosion will need to beestablished, which will involve the removal of much of the external aluminium panelling. It is vitally important that as far as possible the design of the original bodywork structure is conserved and, as necessary, replicated, so accurate drawings of deteriorated parts will have to be prepared so that replacements can be fabricated and, one by one, the new parts can be bolted or riveted in place.

We know of all sorts of other tasks to bring no.47 up to standard:

• all bodywork steel needs to be rust-treated and painted

• some new opening windows are needed and all the glazing needs to be re-fixed in new rubber mountings

• the lino to both decks needs renewing

• light and bell circuits need to be re-wired and some internal light fittings need renovating

• internal panelling and some widow surrounds need replacing

• all sorts of surfaces need to be prepared for redecoration

On the plus side, the chassis and majority of the mechanical units seem to be in a good state with only minimal work required.

All the work needed on bus 47 requires much patience, attention to detail, record-keeping, experience and dedication -traditional skills that are not necessarily easy to find! A bus is big and there will be a lot of repetitive work.

So, at this early stage, it is impossible to establish any likely estimate of how much the necessary refurbishment work might cost, but we know it won’t be cheap!

Accordingly, the Society needs to do a lot of fundraising to allow this worthy project to go ahead – we could call this FARE’S FAIR FOR 47!

We have set up a dedicated Go Fund Me page for bus 47 and so we ask if you could, please, make a donation to this cause The equivalent cost of a couple of High Street coffees would be warmly welcomed, and likewise, the cost equivalent of a pint or two of ale would be a great help!

Fundraiser by Simon Guppy : The renovation of Reading Bus number 47