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 the above links.
This page continues to look at some of Isle of Man National
Transport's double-deckers found in the 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.
Wearing the original Isle of Man National Transport livery well,
Metro-Cammell Orion bodied Leyland Titan PD3 34
(XMN 346) could still be found on schools and service work
in 1982 despite being 24 years old.. It is seen at the rear of Ramsey
bus garage working duty R9, which at that time of day saw it on a
schools run.
Few of the half-cab buses gained the short lived, drab and uninspired
all-over red livery, but two that did were 35/36
(XMN 347/345) from the 1958 batch of Leyland Titans. The
former is parked on the area of land in front of Cambrian Place,
commonly called the 'Patch', opposite Douglas bus station, and
carries side advert for CIS Insurance, a regular advertiser on
Manx buses.
Another frequent advertiser was the Manx Co-op, as seen on the side
of AEC RegentV 41 (8124 MN) which by chance is passing
one of the six remaining Co-op shops in Douglas. During this
period two of the town services were 'linked' operationally, the 3
service to AnaghCoar and the 22 to Willaston. Consequently when a
vehicle departed the outer end of each service it was the practice to
show the correct route number for the service but with the ultimate
destination for the other service, with the route number only being
changed at Douglas bus station. Upon setting down in the bus station
a few moments later, driver Les Cannan would change the screen to
show '22 - Bucks Road, St. Ninian's WILLASTON'
Caught at the rear of the former Douglas Corporation depot in York
Road, Douglas are two differing AEC Regents - withdrawn mark V
43 (679 BMN) and mark III MAN 643J. The Northern Counties
bodied mark III had once been 56 (HMN 687) in the Douglas
fleet but had been sold prior to the merger of the
DCT & IoMRS operations in 1976, passing for
non-psv use and when it was reregistered. After disposal by its new
owners it was stored for a while back at its former depot, but would
soon leave the Island for scrap. The Regent V was unique in the
fleet, being the first ex-DCT bus to receive IoMNT livery
it gained white upper deck emergeny exit surround, the application of
which was dropped on all subsequent applications.
One time with Bournemouth Corporation, Weymann Orion bodied Leyland
PD3 45 (LMN 73) pauses in Castletown Square en route to Port St.
Mary
Gradually entering service during 1982 were further Alexander
panoramic bodied Leyland Atlanteans acuquired from Tyne
& Wear PTE the previous year. Despite the majority
being delivered in the drab all-red livery, only the first two to
enter service sported this garb, the scheme being abandoned before
the others could be prepared for service. 62 (N872 MAN), parked on
Lord Street, Douglas, would soon be repainted into an all-over advert
- which were becoming increasingly popular for a number of years from
1981, but markedly so during the mid years of the decade.
Arriving at Ramsey on the trunk service from Douglas is Willwobrook
bodied Leyland Titan PD3 71 (MN 2671), which had been new to
Stratford Blue
In 1982 all six former Isle of Man Road Services rear-entracnce
Leyland Titan PD3's were still in use both on schools and service
work, including 72 (67 UMN) dating from 1964, seen at Port Erin
depot
Also at Port Erin is former Liverpool/Merseyside
PTE Metro-Cammell bodied Leyland Atlantean 80 (A519 MAN).
Following a spell out of use, the bus returned to service less it's
offside fleetname
Numerically the last of the ex-Liverpool Atlanteans, 88 (C55
MAN) is seen on the 'Patch' at Douglas. Alongside is former
Preston Corporation Marshall bodied Leyland Panther 91,
which upon arrival on the Island had been re-registered with the
mark C58 MAN formely carried by Atlantean 87, by then
withdrawn