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AEC links and publications


This page includes a number of links to other websites with some AEC interest, plus publications and other material about AEC buses. 

Links
The AEC Society The AEC Society exists for the appreciation, preservation and documentation of the products of AEC Limited, late of Windmill Lane, Southall, Middlesex, England.  All AEC products are featured, including trucks and railcars.
AEC: Builders of London's buses More photo galleries and a very full bibliography at this site, which has recently been updated and moved to a new server.
AEC Regals John Braga's site devoted to AEC Regals
AEC Regent register James Race's ambitious project to list all surviving AEC Regents, with photos where available.
Bob's Routemaster page Photos of current Routemaster operations plus news too.
Friends of the East Kent Maintain a collection of preserved East Kent AECs and some other types.
Footman James Specialists in insurance of classic and vintage vehicles.
M&D and East Kent Bus Club Fleet histories and photos are available dating from the early 1900s including many of AECs with the two major operators which give the club its name. Current operations in this area are, of course, covered in detail.
Malta buses photos Keith Till's Malta buses site includes a page featuring pictures of 37 ex LT AEC Swifts.
Northern Routemasters Has an introduction, plus a photograph and brief history of all 51 of the forward entrance Routemasters owned by Northern General.
Oxford Bus Museum The Oxford Bus Museum maintain an excellent collection of AECs and other types associated with Oxfordshire.  You can find pictures, news and details of forthcoming running days at their site.
Perthpanther Routemaster Collection Possibly the largest collection of Routemaster pictures on the web - courtesy of Mick Liddle.
Red RF Run by the owners of RF486, the site includes information about rallies and events involving preserved RFs and links to other sites.
Rigton Insurance Services Exclusively the only broker able to transact new and renewal Preserved Bus and Classic Bygone Bus cover with Chaucer Insurance. Cover can include, for example, attending rallies, giving free rides, for wedding use, private hire, use on stage services and training. Rigton are themselves enthusiasts who regularly attend bus rallies and enjoy meeting their clients there. Their clients are located throughout the UK. You can contact them by Telephone 01943 879539, Fax 01943 875529, email enquiries@rigtoninsurance.co.uk or their website www.rigtoninsurance.co.uk.
Routemaster Bus Site for Routemaster model collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
Routemaster Association Formerly the RMOOA. Aims are to pool knowledge and operating experience, to collect and make available technical information, to look into past and future developments, to assist in the procurement of spare parts as well as to cater for the historical and preservation interest. Membership is open to owners, suppliers and others with a genuine interest in Routemaster preservation and operation.
Routemaster Owners Club Another club for owners of Routemasters, started in 2007. They particpate actively in running days and also organise events of their own. Membership is open to owners of Routemasters and serious enthusiasts.
Southbus There are a few AECs dotted around Nigel Chatfield's Southbus site, which features buses from the southern counties past and present, including a nice feature on the the 1989 RT50 event.  Nigel's sent me one of his brother Christopher's photos for this site.
Surviving halfcab AEC Regals John Braga and Dick Gilbert ahve compiled a list of all known surviving half-cab Regals with pictures. Well worth a visit.
Woodhouse Bus Depot This site hasn't been updated since March 2000, but still contains some nice pictures of AEC Swifts and a Reliance in Malta.

Books/Videos
Blue Triangle, Alan Townsin, Venture Publications.   This is a reprint of the book first published in 1980 by the Transport Publishing Company as ISBN 903839342, with some extra information added, and contains excellent historical and factual information.  I used it to source much of the potted history information on the gallery pages.  The photos aren't all what we expect of more modern books and few are in colour, but I would recommend it to anyone.  If you don't have a copy you can get it from Book Law Publications of Nottingham (0115 926 7311) for just £8 instead of the £25 cover price.
AEC Buses in Camera, R. Hannay, Ian Allan Publications.  This is another reprint of an older book, which Ian Allan reissued at the end of 1998.  I haven't seen it but my guess is it is more of a pictures with captions kind of thing rather than a comprehensive text.  Still available from Ian Allan bookshops and MDS Book Sales, or ask you're local library to borrow it through an area scheme.
AEC, Alan Townsin, Ian Allan Publications, ISBN 0711026203.  Another AEC book by Alan Townsin, published by Ian Allan in 1998.  This book includes AEC trucks as well as buses, and includes some new photos, some official and some from the Ian Allan library.  Price £16.99 from MDS Book Sales and Ian Allan bookshops, but you may get it cheaper.  I got mine for a tenner from a bookshop opposite Farringdon underground station.
AEC Reliance, Gerald Truran and Philip Platt, Roundoak Publishing, ISBN 1871565340.  A new book published in 1999.  To quote the publisher's blurb, this book attempts to set out in words and pictures the story of the best selling postwar AEC single deck passenger chassis.  In fact most of the book is taken up with pictures, including several in colour and two of Reliance removal vans (yes - really!).You can get it for £16.95 from MDS Book Sales or Ian Allan bookshops, or why not get your local library to borrow it for you first.
Best of British Buses, 6: AEC Regals, Alan Townsin, Venture Publications.  It's that Townsin feller again.  This is another "remaindered" book that you can now get cheap from Booklaw Publications (0115 926 7311), £8 instead of £16.95.  Might be worth mentioning if you don't want socks for your birthday.
AEC Story, Part 1, Brian Thackray, Venture Publications.  Published April 2001. Packed with info and photos, it details the complete history of AEC and its full range of products up to around 1933. Available from MDS Book Sales, price £19.95.
AEC Story, Part 2, Brian Thackray, Venture Publications.  This volume was launched by Venture Publications at Showbus in September 2004, and covers all the vehicles built by AEC up to to 1928 when Rackham joined the firm. Further volumes will cover the later vehicles and the company history will continue in the AEC Story series. "AEC Vehicles: Origins to 1928" is an A4 hardback book, with 144 pages and is priced at £24.95 post free in the UK from Venture Publications in Glossop, via the MDS website or from usual specialist outlets.
40 years of Brown Bombers, A History of Neath and Cardiff Luxury Coaches, G.H. Truran, privately published.  Written by Gerald Truran, coauthor of the Reliance book (above) and former AEC employee, this book details the history of this well-known operator of AECs (and other types) and contains a number of photos of AECs and a list of those run by the company. Click here for more information.
Bus Business 2: The Rise and Demise of London's Routemaster, Video/DVD, with Jonathan Whitlam. Second sight Publications. May 2004.

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