I HAVE a challenge for you, wrote Michael Harwood, a former Boltonian who now lives in Tunbridge Wells.

His mother, who lives in Bolton, sends him cuttings "about Bolton Wanderers and also your marvellous Looking Back column. I have now for many years been compiling a scrap book of photographs and articles from your column concerning items of interest to me -- locations I remember, Bolton Wanderers, and local transport."

And that is where the challenge comes in. Michael continues: "Corgi, the model makers, have recently introduced a new model of a 'Bolton Corporation Tramways' AEC Q-Type double-decker bus. I have purchased the model. Its route number is 10 and its destination Crompton Way.

"The note accompanying the model says that the Q-Type first made its appearance from AEC's Southall works in October, 1932, and is remembered as one of the most remarkable advanced bus designs of its era, which visually pointed the way that was to be followed almost 25 years later. Its door is adjacent to the driver's cab, as is the case with modern-day bus design. However, apparently only 23 double-deck Qs were built.

"The model carries the registration plate WH4850, and the note says it was new to Bolton in 1933. The model carries the fleet number 2 despite the note saying the fleet number was 42. I wonder if any readers of Looking Back remember the Q-Type operating in Bolton? Even better if they (or your archives) have a photograph of one on location."

Well, as you may know, I know very little about a lot of things, so I went to Aidan Anderson, from the Bolton Bus Preservation Group for more details, and he also sent me this photograph of the bus in question on location in Bolton.

Aidan also wrote: "The bus was delivered to Bolton Corporation Tramways Department in 1933, and was allocated the fleet number 2. She retained this number all her life with Bolton, even though there was another number 2 delivered in 1938 (that was a single-deck Leyland TS8c with Park Royal Bodywork, ABN402).

"The Q saw little use after 1937 until her official withdrawal from service in 1939. She was sold to another Bolton operator, Knowles, in 1940. In November, 1942, the bus went to a small operator in the village of Canon Pyon, just outside Hereford; and from there to another operator in Enstone, just outside Chipping Norton. By late 1952, she was found to be found serving as a cricket pavilion in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Who knows what happened to her after that?"

One other question raised by Michael Harwood. "Why was a bus bought by 'Bolton Corporation Tramways'. When did Bolton Corporation Tramways become Bolton Corporation Transport?" Aidan answers that one as well: "On April 1, 1947, after the last tram in Bolton ran on March 31, 1947."