FHN 923 Old Darling

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This vehicle was originally purchased by United on the 5th June, 1940. Then it was K-type double-decker bus. In that form, it spent its first 10 years at Redcar depot. In 1950, it moved to Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1956, the bus was converted by United’s Central Works, Darlington, into a tow-truck. In that form it worked from Darlington as a recovery vehicle. Then it moved to the same role at successively Middlesbrough from 1958 and Scarborough from 1975. It was withdrawn in 1978. Charlie Bullock purchased the vehicle that same year, when he retired. He sold it to this Society in November, 2005, for safe-keeping. During its time FHN 923 became the longest serving vehicle in United’s fleet, with a working life span of 38 years.

    Technical Specification
  • chassis: Bristol K5G (number 55018)
  • body: built by Eastern Coachworks as a bus converted by United Automobile Services to a tow truck
  • engine: Gardner 5LW (number 70784)
  • transmission: manual clutch and four forward speeds (crash) and reverse
  • length: 26 feet (7.92 metres)
  • width: 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 metres)
  • maximum speed: 32 mph (51.5 km/h)
  • United fleet number BDO 23 (1940 - 1950), BGL23 (1950-1956), ED023 (1956-1968), 35 (1968- 1971), 61 (1971 - 1978)
Return to vehicles' page. Charlie Bullock (owner 1978 - 2005), with Old Darling. Charlie was a legend in his lifetime.

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