British United Traction

British United Traction (BUT) was a manufacturer of railway equipment and trolleybuses. It was established in 1946 as a joint venture between AEC and Leyland.

British United Traction
IndustryBus manufacturing
Founded1946
Defunct1964
OwnerAEC
Leyland

History
Historical BUT trolleybus #101 in Arnhem

British United Traction was established in 1946 when AEC and Leyland amalgamated their trolleybus interests. Neither had produced trolleybuses since early years of World War II. With both forecasting that demand would return to pre-war levels as networks began to close, a joint venture was formed. The new company was organised so that AEC would design and produce vehicles for the UK market while Leyland looked after export markets, although there were some exceptions to this. The only noticeable difference between the manufacturers output was the wheels.[1][2][3]

Initially vehicles were produced at Leyland's Ham, London factory, with the first vehicles completed in 1947 for Johannesburg. After the factory closed 1948, production moved to AEC's Southall and Leyland's Leyland, Lancashire factories. Following AEC's acquisition of Crossley Motors, AEC transferred its production to the latter's Stockport factory. Trolleybus production wound down in the late 1950s, however a final batch for Wellington was built at Scammell's, Watford factory in 1964.[1][2][3]

Trolleybuses
  • Bournemouth Corporation's no. 294, a B.U.T. 9611T with a Weymann 54-seat body (Sept. 1963).[4]
  • Bradford City's no. 774 (second-hand, transferred from Notts & Derby in 1953), a B.U.T. 9611T with a Weymann 58-seat body.[4]
  • Manchester City's no. 1319, a B.U.T. 9612T with a Burlingham 60-seat body (Sept. 1964).[4]
  • Glasgow Corporation's no. TB91, a B.U.T. 9613T with a Crossley 71-seat body (Sept. 1963).[4]
  • Newcastle upon Tyne Corporation's no. 615, a B.U.T. 9641T with a Metro-Cammell 70-seat body (Sept. 1963).[4]
  • Belfast Corporation's no. 253, a B.U.T. 9641T with a Harkness 68-seat body.[4]
  • Cardiff City's no. 243, a B.U.T. 9641T with an East Lancs 40-seat body.[4]
  • Glasgow Corporation's no. TBS1, a B.U.T. RETB1 with an East Lancs 36-seat body (Sept. 1963).[4]

Diesel engines for railways

British United Traction was a major supplier of diesel engines for British Rail's first-generation diesel multiple units. These engines were built in 125 hp (93 kW), 150 hp (110 kW) and 230 hp (170 kW) versions and were branded AEC, Leyland or Leyland-Albion.

A 275 hp (205 kW) version was supplied to the Ulster Transport Authority for its UTA MPD class railcar.

References
  1. Jack, Doug (1977). The Leyland Bus. Glossop: The Transport Publishing Company. pp. 295–299. ISBN 090383913X.
  2. Companion to Road Passenger Transport History. Walsall: Roads & Road Transport History Association. 2013. p. 102. ISBN 9780955287633.
  3. Lockwood, Stephen (2017). A-Z of British Trolleybuses. Marlborough: Crowood Press. ISBN 9781785002885.
  4. Kaye, David (1968). Buses and Trolleybuses Since 1945. London: Blandford Press.

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