Bedford JJL

The Bedford JJL was an innovative but ultimately unsuccessful bus model built by Bedford Vehicles. Bedford produced a short version of its YMQ chassis, the YMQS, ten years after the JJL. The JJL could have been a success as it was ahead of its time in predicting the boom in the midibus market, as seen by the success of the Dennis Dart.

Only four JJL's were produced, along with a pre-production prototype, starting in 1979. The production vehicles were produced as follows:

Chassis Number	Number Plate	Bodywork Code	Seating	Built
IRK0JL9008	UKX335X	Marshall 260250	B24F	1981
IRK0JL9009	AVS903T	Marshall 260251	B24F	Novemember 1978
IRK0JL9010	EKX648T	Marshall 260252	B24F	1978
IRK0JL9011	HKX553V	Marshall 260253	B24F	Novemember 1979

The build date of the first chassis may indicate that this was the prototype that was converted to a production bus, although it should be noted that the bodywork numbers and build dates conflict with those found in.

Maidstone Borough Council took delivery of the JJL's in 1981/82. UKK 335X and AVS 903T were sold to Brighton Buses, and then to Northern Bus, Sheffield in 1992. EKX 648T also went to Brighton, but was scrapped in 1988 after a collision with a tree. HKX 553V was sold to Bournemouth Transport (t/a Yellow Buses) in 1983 and then onto The Goodman Group where it saw service with Rambler and Goodmans coaches. It is the last JJL in service, and has been exhibited at rallies.

• [1] EKX 648T in Maidstone Borough livery
• [2] UKK 335X in Brighton Buses station shuttle livery
• [3] AVS 903T in Brighton Buses blue livery
• [4] AVS 903T in Brighton Buses station shuttle livery
• [5] HKX 553V at Showbus 2003
• [6] HKX 553V in Yellow buses livery
• [7] HKX 553V in Yellow buses livery
• [8] HKX 553V in Goodmans Coaches livery
• [9] HKX 553V in Rambler livery

See also

• Bedford Vehicles
• Maidstone Borough Council Transport
• Bournemouth Transport
• Midibus

External links

• Model Bus Kit website with a JJL kit