History Eastern Coach Works

a preserved bristol re ecw bodywork @ manchester museum of transport



a leyland atlantean an68/1r ecw bodywork, built in 1978 (yno 77s) colchester borough transport, later converted open top bus city sightseeing operation in colchester



a bristol lodekka ecw bodywork

the origins of eastern coach works (ecw) can traced 1912, when united automobile services founded in lowestoft run bus services. united began coach building business @ lowestoft site in 1920. in 1931, east anglian operations of united hived off new company, eastern counties omnibus company, , eastern counties inherited coach works - concentrating on building bus bodies, workforce of on 600 people. in july 1936, coach works separated new company, eastern coach works limited, developed largest full-time employer in lowestoft.

in may 1940, factory received orders military authorities cease production. thought that, following outbreak of world war ii, east coast first target invading german army, wheeled vehicles moved away site did not fall enemy hands. result of this, 950 staff laid off production shifted irthlingborough. 1947, though, production pre-war levels.

ecw nationalised in 1947. next 18 years, business consisted of building bus bodies, mounted on bristol chassis, state-owned bus operators. in 1965, state-owned transport holding company sold 25% share in ecw leyland motors, enabled ecw sell private sector. during 1960s, common see bare bus chassis being driven through town goggle-wearing driver, delivering chassis body. in 1969, ecw became part of 50/50 joint venture between national bus company (successor transport holding company) , british leyland (successor leyland motors).

the materials build buses came coachworks via essex road @ of factory, newly built buses driven out of big doors @ front. drove down short, narrow lane, no pavements called eastern way, on way new depot. eastern way used called laundry lane, name changed eastern way following opening of eastern coachworks.

the joint venture came end in 1982, when british leyland bought out nbc’s shareholding. ecw closed in january 1987. site subsequently demolished make way north quay retail park, opened in 1990. ecw 1 of lowestoft s largest employers, around 1,200 staff @ peak.