Years ago, when "futuristic" meant sleek lines and a lack of hoverpads, Southampton unveiled a fleet of brand-new buses that promised to revolutionise commutes.
It offered a world where boarding a bus didn't involve small talk with an often grumpy man sporting a large pouch of change.
Captured in these glorious Daily Echo photos from May 1967 was the scarlet and cream vanguard of a public transport revolution – a single-level, gleaming bus!
And, strangely enough, that's all it took to get Southampton excited back in the day. The new buses were the talk of the town.
There were even whispers telling of five more vehicles joining the ranks shortly if the pioneering behemoth was well received. It was a tantalising glimpse of what was to come.
(Image: Echo)
The Transport Department planned for these one-man-operated marvels to whisk passengers to and from the suburbs with the efficiency of a well-oiled tea trolley.
While the colour scheme remained delightfully familiar - red top, for those unfamiliar with the Southampton Corporation's bussing aesthetic - the generous proportion of cream colour let the public know they were the new busses.
Designed by the esteemed coach-builders Strachans Ltd of Hamble, these titans of the tarmac boasted a capacity of 66 passengers – 47 in the comfy seats, and 19 clinging on for dear life during rush hour. This was cutting-edge in 1967!
An extra six feet in length compared to the existing fleet meant more legroom for all, or at least a slightly less claustrophobic experience during rush hour commutes.
Powering this beast was a mighty six-cylinder engine, a whole 154 horsepower of quiet, smooth-ish locomotion.
The placement of this marvel of engineering at the back – a radical concept at the time – promised to leave the roar of the engine behind.
(Image: Echo)
But the real innovation lay in the safety features. Gone were the days of leaping blindly through a doorway while the driver yelled something about minding the gap. Passengers would now enter through a swanky electro-pneumatically operated door operated by the driver.
A second door, helpfully located in the middle, featured a fancy transmission interlock to prevent any enthusiastic exits while the bus was still hurtling down the road.
And for those prone to lingering farewells, an electronic eye, like a benevolent Big Brother of the bus door variety, ensured the exit remained open until everyone was safely clear.
If, however, a particularly emotional goodbye resulted in a near-confrontation with the closing door, this marvel of 1960s technology would simply reopen upon contact.
The pièce de résistance? An automatic ticket machine with a change dispenser! This marvel promised to usher in a golden age of speedy boarding and to eliminate the need for a bus conductor.
The interior rang out a symphony of Formica, large windows and ample space for prams and luggage. Truly, these were the chariots of the future!
These forerunners of Southampton's public transport odyssey first graced the Weston Estate (No 8a) route on May 8, 1967, seamlessly replacing the existing single-decker buses.
One can only hope they came equipped with a healthy dose of patience, as explaining automatic doors and change dispensers to befuddled passengers set in their ways must have been fun.
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