Reading the messages below there seems to be a bit of confusion about the design and history behind these motorway coach designs. The design was pioneered in America, the idea being that passengers did not need a large area of vision while travelling on motorways hence the high window line and shallow windows associated with operators like Greyhound. This style was later used by Australian coach operators and it wasn't until Alexander developed the "M-type" in 1968 that this design was seen in this part of the world albeit in Scotland. The "M -type" had the same shallow window line with angled pillars and was produced for a number of years for Scottish operators. It was not until September 1980 that Duple launched its Dominant III which copied the window line of the Alexander coach. A lot of Dominant III's went to Scottish operators as well but several independent operators in England and Wales bought them too. I have a Dominant III on a Bedford YNT chassis that was new to a operator in Bedfordshire (appropriately given the chassis!). The Duple Goldliner as distinct from the Ulsterbus Goldliner was introduced in 1981 and was a higher version of the Dominant, the Goldliner III looked like a taller Dominant III for example. With the launch of the Duple Laser and Carribbean in September 1982 the Dominant range was phased out with none of the new range carrying the distinctive motorway window style. Probably the best way of finding out if the Sureline Ford is fitted with Duple windows is to measure them and compare the size to a Dominant III. This rare Sureline coach would be a worthy addition to any coach collection and I hope the museum will look after it well because it deserves a secure future.

Thanks for your very interesting history of the sloping windows. It is of great help.

Obviously we too regard the Sureline as a very important vehicle and she will be kept "on the button" as she currently is.

The real credit for getting her goes to John Quirke as we did not even know she existed.

I should say that as we now have three other Fords we do have ample spares - unless of course some fool with an artic trailer hits her as happened CKE. She will certainly be looked after.


Thanks again.

Michael Grimes