Coaches - Great Britain: Books - History and Models

British Coaching - Chassis Manufacturers, Coachbuilders and Operators

Coaches have long been a part of life in Britain, from the days of eighteenth-century stage coaches galloping along muddied tracks to air-conditioned fleets cruising the motorways of the modern day.
As we moved past the horse-driven coaches of the past, and the charabancs and buses that followed, three key parts of the industry shaped the world of coaching as we know it today: the chassis manufacturers, the coachbuilders and the operators.

Delving into his impressive collection of rare and unseen photographs, Michael Hymans explores each of these in turn and delivers a fascinating, lavishly illustrated history of the major players in the world of British coaching.
Profiling major names such as AEC, Leyland, Duple and Bristol, with photographs dating back as far as the early twentieth century, this is an essential volume for any enthusiast keen to learn more about Britain's coaching history.

Coach Styles 1950s-1990s

NEW

In the early 1950s, coach designs were conventional but underwent a significant transformation with the introduction of underfloor-engine chassis and longer maximum lengths. Advancements in technology facilitated more daring and stylish designs throughout the decade. By the 1960s, the era of motorways began, leading to larger coaches capable of higher speeds. Styles evolved accordingly, with maximum lengths reaching 12 meters by the decade's end.

The popularity of continental coach holidays surged, prompting European manufacturers to enter the UK market with executive and high-floor coaches. Despite a slow start in 1972, foreign chassis manufacturers, led by Volvo, dominated the market within fifteen years, relegating domestically-built coaches to a minority.
Tim Machin's book vividly chronicles these transformations, enriched with captivating imagery.

Coach Travel - An Illustrated History

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This book provides a chronological account of the history of bus and coach travel, highlighting its significant role in shaping Britain's tourism industry. Spanning eight chapters, the narrative traces the evolution of bus and coach travel from its early days with horse-drawn carriages to the contemporary era of electric buses.
Readers embark on a journey through technological advancements, shifts in ownership between the public and private sectors, and the competitive dynamics among rail, air, and road transport.

Authors Peter Robinson and Harry Cameron delve into scientific progress while also exploring the cultural impact of buses and coaches, addressing the enduring public fascination with group travel, coach tours, and heritage collections.
The book encapsulates a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted history, showcasing the intertwined development of bus and coach travel within the broader context of British transportation.

National Express - The Journey of an Iconic Brand

Since their debut in 1972, National Express coaches have become iconic fixtures on the UK's roads, ingrained in popular culture and even immortalized in songs and television. This book delves into the rich history of this quintessentially British brand, paying homage to its enduring legacy. It meticulously covers the business's operations, the evolution of the National Express brand, and the fleet's development, culminating in the latest Caetano Levante - an adept response to the operator's specific accessibility requirements.

Highlighting 50 years of coaching history, the book not only features insightful driver narratives and passenger recollections but also incorporates a wealth of detailed images, photographs, and designs. From the preservation of former National Express vehicles to the cutting-edge Caetano Levante, this literary work provides a comprehensive exploration of the brand's evolution, capturing the essence of a British institution in the realm of coach travel.

National Express Coaches

Although several coaching pools for express services were established in the late 1920s, it was not until 1972, three years after the formation of the National Bus Company, that a nationwide, fully coordinated express coach network came into being under the National banner.
With coaches provided by the various NBC subsidiaries, National Express dominated the scene and continues to do so today despite opposition from other major operators.

Over its forty-five years of existence it has introduced numerous innovative features and developed a motorway network of routes, some of which have been operated by double-deck vehicles, and has become a familiar sight across the whole of the UK.
In this book, the history of National Express is covered comprehensively by author Keith Jenkinson in both text and photographs.