In order for the family to emigrate, Edmund had to perform a job that an American citizen couldn't do. So while Stuart owned and paid for the company, Edmund ran it. It was established using a fleet of mainly former London buses. The bus depot was located at 3040 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado since redeveloped. Because of Edmund’s training at Paxman, he was able to understand how to maintain and run the buses using the materials and supplies that were available in America. Before the days of the internet he couldn’t order a part he needed and have it delivered to the door. Edmund’s mechanical engineering background allowed him to make his own tools, pieces and parts. He was able to take the company from nothing and build it into a lucrative business.

Brigitte recalls, “The buses were rented out to anyone and everyone who needed one. You would always see one at a Denver Bronco's game. Bachelor parties were another favourite as the guys could go from bar to bar and not worry about having to drive. Every Christmas one of the buses would be beautifully decorated with fairy lights and a loud speaker. It would take it’s place in The Parade Of Lights. We would invite our friends and would bring food and wave at all the little children standing out there in freezing cold. One of my favourite memories was having a bus take me and all my wedding party to the wedding rehearsal meal.”

For many years London Transport had operated buses specifically designed for it. Over the years ‘Off the Peg’ chassis/body combinations had been used with varying success. In the late 1970s the Daimler Fleetline had been bought in quantity with bodywork by Park Royal Vehicles of London or Metro-Cammell of Birmingham, both existing suppliers to London Transport.

By the early 1980s London Transport was finding the DMS vehicles, as they were classified, unsuitable to their needs and began selling them off. Despite the problems experienced in London, many bus operators throughout the UK were finding these vehicles to be ideal workhorses at a bargain price.

From April 1984, Edmund purchased ten DMS class Daimler Fleetline buses which were operated without any physical alteration. Painted in a ‘Union Jack’ style colour scheme, most were named after famous British landmarks or places of interest.

Background to the DMS Sell-OffIndex