Albion Victor

Albion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow
Click image to enlarge

YFO 127: ex-Guernsey Railways Albion Victor (fleet no. 77).
Type: Albion Victor FT39 KAN chassis with Reading (Portsmouth) B35F body (35 seats, front entrance).
New: 1958 for Guernsey Railway Company / Guernsey Motors, fleet no. 77. Original Guernsey registration 8227.
Measurement: Dimensioned for Guernsey’s narrow roads: 27 ft long x 7 ft wide; licensed for 35 seated + 7 standing (typical for the Guernsey Albions).
Entered service: 1958 with Guernsey Railway Co (which, after trams closed in 1934, was the island’s bus operator). The bus worked the general island network from St Peter Port Town Terminus.
End of service: Withdrawal from Guernsey service: around the 1979–1980 handover period when Guernsey Railway Company’s bus operation ceased and Guernseybus took over. Vehicles (incl. no. 77) were sold by auction.
Engine: Albion 4-cyl diesel (noted for reliability & economy ~15–17 mpg in service).
Transmission: 5-speed constant-mesh (“crash”) gearbox.
Axle & performance: No overdrive; top speed 34 to 48 mph depending on rear-axle ratio. Guernsey 77 was new with a low-ratio axle (34 mph).
Body/fit-out: Reading B35F single-door front-entrance layout; 7 ft width to suit Guernsey width limits.

Albion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow
Click image to enlarge

Albion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgowbr>Click image to enlarge