At least 20 GM PTE and Lancashire United buses in Wigan in 1979, many are 1960/61 ex Wigan Corporation long PD3 and PD3A Leyland Titans, GJP8-19 (tin fronts), HEK706-707 and HJP1-11(fibreglass St Helens fronts) with locally built Massey and Northern Counties bodies. HEK705 was the last passenger bus remaining in Corporation crimson and white and wasn't in the video. Rear entrance short PD2 DJP754 was a training bus since 1971 before withdrawal in 1980. Earlier PD3 Titans EJP501-510, the first front entrance buses had gone by 1977, and surprisingly the 1962-63 short St Helens front PD2As JJP502-509, KEK739-750 which were the first Wigan buses to be withdrawn under GMT control in 1975/76 followed by the 1964 batch AEK1-10B in 1977. The newer Titans in the video were 1966-68 exposed radiator short PD2s DEK2-3D and FEK1-9F (Massey), and DEK4-7E (Northern Counties). Some of the 32 dual door Leyland Atlanteans bodied by Northern Counties were featured being short PDR1 FJP566G and GJP2-10G with different front end to later long PDR2 KJP20-31J and AN68 NEK1-10K. There were three Leyland Panther single deckers with dual door Northern Counties bodies, HJP950-961H, but won't be HJP959H because that one was scrapped following accident damage in 1973, and a smaller Massey bodied Leyland Panther Cub being either DJP468E or EEK1F. Two ex Bolton East Lancs bodied Atlanteans from the OBN H batch that had moved to Wigan, but no ex Salford PRJ304-313G Park Royal bodied Atlanteans also now at Wigan. There was a long TXJ515-522K Metro Scania from the Leigh depot (the VVM605-609L batch were short length. The Lancashire United buses were two Plaxton bodied Seddon RU being WTD671-690H and DTC712-741J, a third single decker probably an Alexander bodied Bristol RESL, NTC111-130G. The newest LUT bus is a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Fleetline TWH690-704T, the first batch in the different orange and white livery, contrasting with the two GMT Wigan depot standard Atlanteans, I can't make out the fleet or registration numbers, but the last digit on the first bus maybe a 4, so probably 7614 LJA614P, and on the 614 route to or from New Springs!!!
I remember going on those half cab wigan buses as a kid, the upstairs was literally an ashtray and stupid signs on the nicotine stained curved ceiling saying `Please do not smoke ` which had always been altered to `Fleas do not smoke` . There was another sign saying `seat slashing is prohibited` yet every one of the red shiny leatherette seats seemed to be slashed :-(
Gee this was a time to be a bus nut and admire the ladies!! So much 0680 action. Loved the Panthers (Brisbane here in Oz had around 350 -largest fleet of Panthers in the world, most with two speed ZF auto, about 10% with Wilson semi auto). Funny seeing half cabs with modern livery, while Leyland Nationals wore old fashioned garb. Were these front engine buses 0680 as well??
There were lots of ex Wigan Leyland PD2 and PD3s still in service when the video was taken, yet by August 1980 only about eight were still in use. No doubt, the bus grant where the governmnet paid 50% of the cost of a new bus (if it was suitable for driver only operation), led to the rapid demise of half cab buses in Wigan as well as many other areas.
Great video and a wonderful childhood memories like the corners of my life
I can't believe I'm watching a video about buses in Wigan
hey - it's gripping stuff
At least 20 GM PTE and Lancashire United buses in Wigan in 1979, many are 1960/61 ex Wigan Corporation long PD3 and PD3A Leyland Titans, GJP8-19 (tin fronts), HEK706-707 and HJP1-11(fibreglass St Helens fronts) with locally built Massey and Northern Counties bodies. HEK705 was the last passenger bus remaining in Corporation crimson and white and wasn't in the video. Rear entrance short PD2 DJP754 was a training bus since 1971 before withdrawal in 1980. Earlier PD3 Titans EJP501-510, the first front entrance buses had gone by 1977, and surprisingly the 1962-63 short St Helens front PD2As JJP502-509, KEK739-750 which were the first Wigan buses to be withdrawn under GMT control in 1975/76 followed by the 1964 batch AEK1-10B in 1977. The newer Titans in the video were 1966-68 exposed radiator short PD2s DEK2-3D and FEK1-9F (Massey), and DEK4-7E (Northern Counties). Some of the 32 dual door Leyland Atlanteans bodied by Northern Counties were featured being short PDR1 FJP566G and GJP2-10G with different front end to later long PDR2 KJP20-31J and AN68 NEK1-10K. There were three Leyland Panther single deckers with dual door Northern Counties bodies, HJP950-961H, but won't be HJP959H because that one was scrapped following accident damage in 1973, and a smaller Massey bodied Leyland Panther Cub being either DJP468E or EEK1F. Two ex Bolton East Lancs bodied Atlanteans from the OBN H batch that had moved to Wigan, but no ex Salford PRJ304-313G Park Royal bodied Atlanteans also now at Wigan. There was a long TXJ515-522K Metro Scania from the Leigh depot (the VVM605-609L batch were short length.
The Lancashire United buses were two Plaxton bodied Seddon RU being WTD671-690H and DTC712-741J, a third single decker probably an Alexander bodied Bristol RESL, NTC111-130G. The newest LUT bus is a Northern Counties bodied Leyland Fleetline TWH690-704T, the first batch in the different orange and white livery, contrasting with the two GMT Wigan depot standard Atlanteans, I can't make out the fleet or registration numbers, but the last digit on the first bus maybe a 4, so probably 7614 LJA614P, and on the 614 route to or from New Springs!!!
I remember going on those half cab wigan buses as a kid, the upstairs was literally an ashtray and stupid signs on the nicotine stained curved ceiling saying `Please do not smoke ` which had always been altered to `Fleas do not smoke` . There was another sign saying `seat slashing is prohibited` yet every one of the red shiny leatherette seats seemed to be slashed :-(
614 - I used to love that number when I saw it on my bus home from school.
New Springs?
I'd like to see all buses revert back to orange/white.
my dad is more than likely driving one of those buses... this is great
Gee this was a time to be a bus nut and admire the ladies!!
So much 0680 action. Loved the Panthers (Brisbane here in Oz had around 350 -largest fleet of Panthers in the world, most with two speed ZF auto, about 10% with Wilson semi auto).
Funny seeing half cabs with modern livery, while Leyland Nationals wore old fashioned garb.
Were these front engine buses 0680 as well??
There were lots of ex Wigan Leyland PD2 and PD3s still in service when the video was taken, yet by August 1980 only about eight were still in use. No doubt, the bus grant where the governmnet paid 50% of the cost of a new bus (if it was suitable for driver only operation), led to the rapid demise of half cab buses in Wigan as well as many other areas.
I started work at Northern Counties in 1978
I was a sperm in my dad's testicles until 86.then I started at billinge
Born 1979
Could the standard Atlantean around 1:58-2:03 be 8174 which was later reallocated from Wigan to Stockport in 1980 ?