AEC Bridgemaster
Park Royal bodied AEC Bridgemaster (forward-entrance)
Overview
Manufacturer	AEC
Production	1956-1963
Powertrain
Engine	AEC AV470 (first two prototypes) AEC AV590
Transmission	AEC synchromesh
Chronology
Successor	AEC Renown

The AEC Bridgemaster was a front-engined low-height double-decker bus chassis manufactured by AEC.

History

The AEC Bridgemaster was introduced by AEC in 1956 to meet the demand of low-height double-deckers from municipal and independent bus operators across the United Kingdom, which were barred from purchasing the Bristol Lodekka. It was designed as a fully-integral vehicle, utilising two sub frames like the contemporary Routemaster. Four pre-production examples were bodied by Crossley with an aluminium body; production examples bodied by Park Royal were introduced from 1958 with steel body frames at the request of British Electric Traction.^[1]

In 1960 a forward-entrance version with slightly different driveline layout was introduced.^[2] A total of 180 were produced before it was superseded by the AEC Renown in 1963.^[3] East Yorkshire Motor Services were the largest customer, purchasing 50.^[1][4][5]

• 
  AEC Bridgemaster initial styling concept.^[6]
• 
  Rear-entrance AEC Bridgemaster chassis layout.^[7]
• 
  AEC Bridgemaster body frame.^[6]
• 
  First pre-serial AEC Bridgemaster, registration YDH225, chassis number MB3RA001, bodywork by Crossley with H41/31R layout, entered into service with Walsall in Nov. 1956.^[6][5]
• 
  Second pre-serial AEC Bridgemaster, registration 9JML, chassis number MB3RA002, bodywork by Crossley with H41/31R layout,^[5] in the service of the Birmingham Corporation.^[6]

In popular culture

Bulgy the Double-Decker bus, his friend and 25 Australian buses from the Railway Series and the children's television series Thomas & Friends is based on the AEC Bridgemaster.