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Details: Saving the best for last again, this peculiar vehicle is an 'Air Cushion Recovery Unit' in the fleet of Bristol City Line. Photographed at Lawrence Hill Garage on 27th June 1992, the vehicle is based on a Dennis chassis/cab more normally associated with fire engines. The Q registration disguises the real age of the vehicle but I would guess it dates from the mid 1970s. It does seem odd to have a vehicle dedicated to such a specialised role. In London, air cushion equipment (for righting overturned buses) was carried by the Leyland Freighter recovery trucks, as demonstrated at a couple of Chiswick Works open days during the 1980s.

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Posted By	Comments	Date/Time
Wayne Gilmore	This is an ex Fire service rescue tender, ex Bristol Fire brigade	Mon 26/07/2010, 19:20
Adam Floyd	This is a Dennis F108 ex emergency tender, apparently new to the Fire Service College, Moreton in Marsh, as ALT 470H and acquired by Bristol in 1983.	Sat 18/12/2010, 11:17
Derek Everson	This was indeed new to the Fire SDervice College at Morton on the Marsh, however it wasn't Bristol Fire Brigade afterwards. Bristol City Line is that City's bus operator and this vehicle was an air cushion recovery vehicle. I dont know if it survives now though. This is an excellent website by the way!	Wed 04/01/2012, 21:05