CONTRIBUTORS PAGE
This page is designed for photographic contributions to the Manx
Electric Railway Society website. If you have any views of transport
to or on the Isle of Man and would like to see them added to the
website please e-mail first with details to [email protected]
All contributions welcomed.
Photographer Clive Brown visited the Island for a short break during
May 1982, when he was able to capture some of the many facets of Manx
transport during that period. It was an interesting toime especially
on the bus scene, with many of the 'traditional' buses entering their
twylight days in service being replaced with more modern types,
albeit second-hand. Clive has a many thousands of transport and
scenic photographs from all over the UK on his website at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cliveabrown/
with the Manx page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cliveabrown/sets/72157605943072350/
and has very kindly allowed the inclusion of some on the Manx
Electric Railway Society website. To see these images in full-size or
the other good quality photographs from his collection please take a
look at theabove links.
This page features some of the single-deck buses found in the Isle of
Man National Transport fleet during May 1982. The MERS is very
grateful for the use of these photographs, which make a welcome
addition to the website. Copyright for each view remains with Clive
Brown.
Ten Marshall bodied Leyland Leopards were purchased from Ribble
in 1979/1980, some entering service in National Bus Comapny poppy red
livery, although all later gained IoMNT unrelieved red. Loading
up on the Peel stand at Dougls bus station is Leopard 6 (F809 MAN),
the chassis of which still survives in 2008
The ex-Ribble Leopards weren't the first to operate on the Island,
Isle of Man Road Services taking delivery of three Willowbrook
dual-purpose buses and a similar number of Duple bodied coaches
1967/1968. All six passed to Tours (IOM) in 1972 with the three
Willowbrooks returning to IoMRS the following year. Numerically the
first of the trio 11 (696 HMN) is seen at Douglas bus
station
During the 1974-1977 period a total of twenty Leyland Nationals were
bought new by the Isle of Man Road Services, and later
IoM National Transport. Two are seen at Douglas bus station, 15
(MAN 15D[i]), in red and white livery, from the 1975
batch, and 29 (MAN 29N) in as delivered livery from
1977
Leyland National 21 (MAN 21H), dating from 1976, is seen near
Kerristal on the Douglas-Port Soderick route, worked by
single-deckers due to the IMR railway bridge at Port Soderick
station
All Leyland Royal Tiger NMN 906, formerly bus 88 was converted
into a publicty bus after withdrawal. By 1982 it was being used by
Isle of Man Railways as a staff bus and is seen at Douglas railway
yard
In 1979 two ex Wallace Arnold Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopards were
acquired and numbered 89/90 (A814/815 MAN). Little used, largely
because of the manual door, the former is seen at Douglas railway
yard. It would later gain an all-over advert for Sealink Manxline
before passing to Tours (Isle of Man) and subsequent disposal off the
Island
1982 saw the arrival of the first of a number of ex-Preston
Corporation Leyland Panthers. Most had Pennine bodywork - although
the first two to arrive carried Marshall bodies and were allocated
ex-Atlantean registrations. Having enetered service just two months
earlier Panther 92 (A516 MAN[ii]) is seen departing Douglas
bus station on Douglas town service 27. Only a matter of weeks later
the bus would be withdrawn and converted into a publicity vehicle