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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, particularly pre 1980, and would like to see them added to the website please e-mail first with details to [email protected] All contributions welcomed. Geoffrey Meek has kindly sent in these views of Manx buses in the United Kingdom, for which the Manx Electric Railway Society is very grateful, and which make a welcome addition to the website. Copyright remains with the photographer. |
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The sad story of former Douglas Corporation AEC Regent III 68 (KMN 839) has been well documented through the pages of Manx Transport Review and other organs. Despite attempts to ensure the survival and restoration of this once fine vehicle, these were to be thwarted and the bus was moved from its safe storage to Jurby Airfield, where the body deteriorated very quickly. Finally the bus was taken to a local scrapyard, the body now needing a considerable amount of work to make it good again. Built in 1949, the bus carried Northern Counties H30/25R bodywork and formed part of a batch of similar vehicles delivered that year, which became 64-71 (KMN 835-842) in the DCT bus fleet. After withdrawal the bus was sold off the Island eventually finding its way into preservation, and was rallied in the late 1970's/early 1980's. By the mid 1980's it was returned to the Island for continued preservation, which has since proved not to have been effective. Finally in 2003 the body was removed for scrap by the Island scrapyard, but the chassis survives to provide spares for former Morecambe & Heysham AEC Regent 72. The photo was taken in July 2003, upon its arrival at the Freckleton base of the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust where M&H 72 is undergoing restoration. Regent 68 is presently stored in the open, (covered with a tarpaulin), but is virtually the same as shown in the photograph. |
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One time Ribble Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard 668 (DRN 668D) new in 1966, along with nine other members of the batch, passed to Isle of Man National Transport in 1979/1980, where it was numbered 2 and reregistered F807 MAN. Following withdrawal by IOMNT the bus passed to an Island based ATC squadron (440), who were to use this and similar 7 (F457 MAN - ex Ribble 665 [DRN 665D]) for a number of years. When the 440 Squadron disposed of their buses F807 MAN was ultimately scrapped, whilst F457 MAN later survived into preservation (see part one of the restoration story in Manx Transport Review issue 84). F807 MAN is seen at the M6 Charnock Richard southbound service station in May 1986 whilst taking the 440 squadron to the UK. |