View source for Volvo Ailsa B55

{{Short description|Scottish double-decker bus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
|name             = Volvo Ailsa B55
|image            = File:West Midlands PTE Volvo Ailsa 4527.jpg
|imagesize        = 
|caption          = Preserved [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive|West Midlands PTE]] [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AV bodied Volvo B55 at [[The Transport Museum, Wythall]] in 2020.
|manufacturer     = [[Volvo Buses|Volvo]]
|production       = 1974–1985
|factory          = [[Irvine, Scotland|Irvine]] 
|operator         = 
|length           = Various
|width            = Various
|height           = Various
|floortype        = [[High-floor|Step entrance]]
|doors            = 1 or 2
|weight           = 
|chassis          = 
|engine           = Volvo TD70E/TD70H
|capacity         =
|powerout         = 
|transmission     = [[Self-Changing Gears|SCG]] [[Semi-automatic transmission#Usage in other vehicles|Pneumocyclic]] <br/> [[Voith]] D851
|predecessor      = 
|successor        = [[Volvo B10M#B10MD/D10M|Volvo B10M Citybus]]}}

The '''Volvo Ailsa B55''' was a front-engined [[double-decker bus]] chassis manufactured in Scotland by Ailsa, [[Volvo Buses|Volvo's]] British subsidiary in which it owned 75%,<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/30th-june-1972/17/volvo-buys-control-in-ailsa Volvo buys control in Ailsa] ''[[Commercial Motor]]'' 30 June 1972</ref> from 1974 until 1985.

==Versions==
[[File:Volvo Ailsa B55.jpg|thumb|[[First Glasgow]] [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] RV bodied B55 in [[Bridgeton, Glasgow|Bridgeton]] in August 2005]]
[[File:Trans-Clyde Volvo Ailsa.jpg|thumb|Volvo Ailsa in [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport|Trans-Clyde]] livery in Glasgow in May 1984]]
[[File:London Buses bus V3 (A103 SUU) 1984 Volvo Ailsa B55 Alexander RV, 2008 Cobham bus rally (2).jpg|thumb|Preserved former [[London Regional Transport|London Transport]] [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] RV bodied B55 V3 in April 2008]]
[[File:Cardiff Bus bus 408 (NDW 408X), 24 June 2002.jpg|thumb|[[Cardiff Bus]] [[Northern Counties Motor & Engineering Company|Northern Counties]] bodied B55 in June 2002]]
The B55 was designed with a front-mounted engine that still allowed a front entrance position suitable for one-person operation. In this sense there was a common goal with the earlier, unsuccessful, [[Guy Wulfrunian]]. It was fitted with the Volvo TD70 engine, a compact turbocharged unit of 6.7-litres. The rest of the design was relatively simple, with beam axles and leaf springs. A [[Self-Changing Gears]] semi-automatic gearbox was used. It first appeared at the 1973 Scottish Motor Show.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-november-1973/44/over-90-per-cent-british-content-in-ailsa-decker Over 90 per cent British content in Ailsa decker] ''Commercial Motor'' 2 November 1973</ref><ref name=CommercialMotor7Jun74>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/7th-june-1974/29/bg-orders-40-ailsas-rty-ailsa-double-deck-ises-wit SBG orders 40 Ailsas] ''Commercial Motor'' 7 June 1974</ref>

The most popular bodywork was the [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AV type, replaced by the R type from the earlier 1980s. The [[Falkirk]] based Alexander factory thus meant that the Alexander bodied Ailsa B55s were entirely built in Scotland, a significant factor in securing Scottish orders (notably from the [[Scottish Bus Group]], [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport|Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive]] and [[Tayside|Tayside Regional Council]]) especially given the ease in securing locally sourced spare parts and repairs.

A prototype low height Ailsa, designated B55-20 (instead of the standard B55-10), was built for [[Arriva Derby|Derby Borough Transport]] in 1975.<ref name=CommercialMotor21Feb75>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/21st-february-1975/23/aliso-sells-1975-decker-production Alisa sells 1975 production] ''Commercial Motor'' 21 February 1975</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-december-1975/18/low-bridge-ailsa-decker Low-bridge Ailsa decker] ''Commercial Motor'' 12 December 1975</ref>

In 1977, an improved Mark II version appeared, with two transmission options offered, a [[Self-Changing Gears]] pneumocyclic unit and a [[Voith]] D851 with retarder.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/29th-september-1978/25/options Options] ''Commercial Motor'' 29 September 1978</ref> It was followed in 1980 by a Mark III version, for which the Ailsa name was dropped.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/27th-july-1979/5/new-name-for-ailsa New name for Ailsa] ''Commercial Motor'' 27 July 1979</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/4th-october-1980/27/double-volvo-launch Double Volvo launch] ''Commercial Motor'' 4 October 1980</ref> This continued to use the Volvo TD70H turbocharged engine, and utilised a Volvo truck rear axle in place of the previous troublesome axle.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/8th-december-1979/24/volvo-threat-to-bl-in-city-bus-market Volvo threat to BL in city-bus market] ''Commercial Motor''</ref>  Air suspension was also an available option. In 1981, a 3-axle version was developed to meet the demand for 3-axle buses in Asia.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-may-1984/50/on-worldwide-demand Volvo's Irvine plant thrives on worldwide travel] ''Commercial Motor'' 12 May 1984</ref>

Following the end of production in 1985, the Ailsa B55 was effectively replaced by the mid-engined [[Volvo B10M#B10MD/D10M|Volvo B10M Citybus]].

==Operators==
The Ailsa B55 type was particularly popular with the [[Scottish Bus Group]]: of all the constituent divisions, Northern and Lowland were the only ones never to adopt the Ailsa into their fleets.<ref name=CommercialMotor21Feb75/><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/29th-may-1982/13/volvo-buses Volvo buses] ''Commercial Motor'' 29 May 1982</ref> [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport|Strathclyde PTE]] was a significant buyer of the Ailsa, but not until the introduction of the Mk III. By far the most enthusiastic supporter of the Ailsa was [[Tayside|Tayside Regional Council]] who bought 161 examples for use on their [[Dundee]] city services between 1976 and 1984, with four different body types, [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AV and RV, [[Northern Counties Motor & Engineering Company|Northern Counties]] and [[East Lancashire Coachbuilders|East Lancs]].

The B55 was popular with the [[passenger transport executive]]s, with significant purchases made by [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive|West Midlands]] and [[South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive|South Yorkshire]] and to a lesser degree [[Merseytravel|Merseyside]] and [[Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive|Tyne & Wear]].<ref name=CommercialMotor7Jun74/><ref name=CommercialMotor21Feb75/><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/3rd-august-1979/25/tyne-sells-off-ailsas Tyne sells off Ailsas] ''Commercial Motor'' 3 August 1979</ref> Other customers included [[Cardiff Bus]], who purchased 36 new with Northern Counties bodywork between 1981 and 1984 as well as acquiring second-hand examples,<ref name="Cardiff">{{cite magazine |last=Thomas |first=Tudor |date=October 2022 |volume=25 |issue=5 |title=Cardiff Bus and the Volvo Ailsa |magazine=[[Bus & Coach Preservation]] |pages=12–15 |publisher=Meteor Books}}</ref> and the [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]] subsidiary [[Maidstone & District Motor Services]] for operational trials against the [[Bristol VRT]] and the [[Scania Metropolitan]]; the Ailsas proved unpopular there with both passengers and employees, the latter of whom went on strike in the [[1976 British Isles heat wave|summer of 1976]] due to poor ventilation inside the bus, and were withdrawn by 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=The Bus Archive |editor-last=Stenning |editor-first=Ray |title=NBC trials |magazine=Classic Bus |date=October-November 2022 |issue=181 |pages=30–34 |location=London |publisher=Best Impressions}}</ref> Ayrshire independent operator [[Ayrshire Bus Owners (A1 Service)|A1 Service]], whose operating area included the Ailsa plant in [[Irvine, Scotland|Irvine]], also purchased several of the vehicles new, increasing its fleet, where it could, through the purchase of used vehicles.

As part of its Alternative Vehicle Evaluation programme, [[London Regional Transport|London Transport]] took delivery of three Mark III vehicles in 1984. The programme was intended to evaluate alternative vehicle types for future fleet replacement in [[London]], which, at that time, was purchasing [[Leyland Titan (B15)|Leyland Titans]] and [[MCW Metrobus]]es.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/30th-july-1983/16/lts-off-the-peg-buses LT's off-the-peg buses] ''Commercial Motor'' 30 July 1983</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-june-1984/19/volvo-deckers-arrive-in-london Volvo deckers arrive in London] ''Commercial Motor'' 16 June 1984</ref><ref name=IansBusStop>[http://www.countrybus.org/Ailsa/V.htm The London Transport Volvo Alisas] Ian's Bus Stop</ref>

The most interesting of the three vehicles was fleet number V3. This vehicle maintained the usual front entrance door, but had an additional exit behind the rear axle and a second staircase adjacent. This had the advantage of improving passenger flow during loading and off-loading at peak times. But the second staircase created a blind spot for the driver and the vehicle was restricted to crew operation. The vehicle remained unique, although London Buses rebuilt the rear, removing the doors, but leaving the staircase in place. After a fatal crash on a stormy night in which V3 crashed into a [[Mini]] and turned over on its side, the bus was sold for scrap. V3 was rescued from a scrap dealer by [[Black Prince Buses]] and extensively rebuilt, retaining both staircases. In March 2006, it was purchased by Roger Wright's [[Blue Triangle|London Bus Company]] and can now be seen restored to London condition at rallies and running days across Southern England.<ref name=IansBusStop/>

No further orders for new B55s were placed by London Transport, but numerous second-hand examples were purchased from the South Yorkshire and West Midlands PTEs in the late 1980s.<ref name=IansBusStop/>

A solitary Ailsa chassis was bodied as a single-deck bus by [[Marshall Bus|Marshall]] for Strathclyde PTE. Later, the same operator created a second single-decker, by converting an Alexander-bodied double-decker, the upper deck of which had been damaged.

A number of 2-axle Ailsa B55 were sold overseas. Indonesia received 320 buses between 1981 and 1985.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/29th-june-1985/23/volvo-wins-share-of-new-jakarta-order Volvo wins share of new Jakarta order] ''Commercial Motor'' 29 June 1985</ref> [[China Motor Bus]] in Hong Kong received eight between 1975 and 1978 (six out of these eight buses were destroyed by fire).<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-november-1978/22/ailsa-for-kowloon Ailsa for Kowloon] ''Commercial Motor'' 17 November 1978</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-december-1979/59/british-b55-earw-praise-hi-colony British B55 weans praise in Colony] ''Commercial Motor'' 1 December 1979</ref> One B55 was exported to Singapore as a demonstrator for [[Singapore Bus Services]] and another to [[Bangkok]].<ref>{{cite book| last1=Davis |first1=Mike |last2=Phillips |first2=Ron |title=Singapore Buses Volume 1 Singapore Bus Service Part 2 |year=2005 |publisher= DTS Publishing|publication-date=2006 |isbn=9781900515269}}</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/8th-september-1978/25/ellm-sale £1.1 million sale] ''Commercial Motor'' 8 September 1978</ref><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-february-1979/25/bangkok-likes-deckers Bangkok likes deckers] ''Commercial Motor'' 16 February 1979</ref>

A total of three 3-axle Ailsa B55s were built for export, two were sold to China Motor Bus as demonstrators, and the third was exported to Indonesia.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/28th-march-1981/25/yes-to-jumbo-underframe Yes to jumbo underframe] ''Commercial Motor'' 28 March 1981</ref>

In all, just over 1,000 B55s were built, 890 of them being bodied by [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]].<ref>[http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/list.asp?listname=839&Type=Chassis Volvo B55] Bus Lists on the Web</ref> Of the remainder, 64 Ailsas received unusual [[Van Hool McArdle]] bodies built in [[Dublin]] - 62 buses for the South Yorkshire PTE and two for A1 Service, Ayrshire.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-april-1976/22/first-irish-bodied-ailsas First Irish-bodied Ailsas] ''Commercial Motor'' 2 April 1976</ref> [[Northern Counties Motor & Engineering Company|Northern Counties]] bodied some for [[Arriva Derby|Derby Corporation]]<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-march-1979/26/derbys-trad-deckers Derby's trad deckers] ''Commercial Motor'' 2 March 1979</ref> and Cardiff Bus,<ref name="Cardiff" /> a total of 35 were also bodied by East Lancs Coachbuilders for Tayside, and a small number were also bodied by Marshall for Strathclyde and Derby Corporation.

The last significant number of Ailsas in service in the UK were operated by [[Cardiff Bus]], who maintained 18 of the type in regular service by 2007 following extensive refurbishment.<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/24th-august-1979/23/cardiff-policy-changes Cardiff policy changes] ''Commercial Motor'' 24 August 1979</ref> They were withdrawn at the end of 2007.<ref>[http://www.cardiffbus.com/company/fleet/AilsaFarwell.htm Last Ailsa Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216015331/http://www.cardiffbus.com/company/fleet/AilsaFarwell.htm |date=2007-12-16 }} Cardiff Bus</ref><ref name="Cardiff" /> However, as of February 2014, ten Ailsas remain in service for school work, school contracts and rail replacement with [[Edwards Coaches]] of South Wales.

==Preservation==
[[File:Preserved Maidstone & District bus 5385 (LKP 385P) 1975 Volvo Ailsa B55 Alexander AV, 2010 North Weald bus rally.jpg|thumb|Preserved [[Maidstone & District Motor Services]] [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AV bodied B55 in July 2010]]
There are now around 30 Volvo Ailsas in preservation, with the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust having six.<ref>[http://www.gvvt.org/stock-list Stock List] Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust 23 September 2014</ref> The [[Sheffield]] based 388 Group have 1 Van Hool bodied example. The other, A1 Service PSJ 824R now resides at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, previously being based in Sheffield.<ref>[http://www.the388group.webeden.co.uk Home] The 388 Group</ref> With Tayside being the most prolific buyer of the Ailsa, there are also a significant number in various stages of restoration with Tayside Vintage Vehicle Society, and two preserved examples regularly visit rallies and events throughout the country, WTS 273T and the open top WTS 272T.

A number of Cardiff Bus Volvo Ailsas have been preserved, one such example being NDW412X, owned by the 302 Group.<ref name="Cardiff" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*Jack, A.D. (1997). ''Volvo Bus: 25 Years of Progress''. Venture Publications Ltd. {{ISBN|1-898432-52-X}}.
*Booth, Gavin (1983). ''The British Bus Today and Tomorrow''. London: Ian Allan Ltd. {{ISBN|0-7110-1296-2}}.
*Townsin, Alan (1985). ''The British Bus Story - The Late 'Seventies - The Calm Before the Storm''. The Transport Publishing Company. {{ISBN|0-86317-150-8}}.

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{Volvo Buses|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1973]]
[[Category:Volvo buses|Ailsa B55]]
[[Category:Double-decker buses]]
[[Category:Tri-axle buses]]
[[Category:Step-entrance buses]]
[[Category:Bus chassis]]