Mention has been made elsewhere on the web-site, (shed shuffle / wildlife), about 1686, RVPTs MCW bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 which had been new to Ribble in 1960.
1686 was parked up in a corner of the shed after the Chorley Running Day in 2003 and remained there until a recent decision that she would go to our storage facility at Hutton. When she came out of her corner, those who had known her realised that 'storage' was not where she should be.
A quick assessment was carried out - it would not take a great deal to get 1686 back on the road.
A routine service was the first thing. An RVPT team effort was put into place - the engine was quickly sorted, replacement tyres put on, lino on the platform replaced along with a section of lino on the forward nearside saloon floor.
Next action will be replacement of the window rubbers, a rub down and an external re-paint prior to an MOT. It is hoped that 1686 will take to the road for the Atlantean 50 event at Boyle Street in October.
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The above photos show 1686 on the bus wash at Freckleton.
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attachment=216] This photo shows 1686 reversing off the bus wash.
The photo was taken from up on the scissor lift.
27.07.08.
John Howie has very kindly provided one of his photographs of 1686 taken on its first journey in 1960. Leaving Preston for a journey to Liverpool.
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attachment=224] Click on photo to enlarge
The photograph was taken in Lord Street, Preston. 1686 had just left the old bus station which is seen on the right of the photo.
The soldier in his best BD (possibly on National Service) and the other gent seem to be wanting to get on the bus - I think that they would have had to wait for the next one.
Towards the back of the scene on the left is a car, (an Austin A40, I think), driving South to North on Tithebarn Street. The car is pictured where the Southern exit to the present bus station is located.
27.07.08.
John Howie has very kindly provided one of his photographs of 1686 taken on its first journey in 1960. Leaving Preston for a journey to Liverpool.
The photograph was taken in Lord Street, Preston. 1686 had just left the old bus station which is seen on the right of the photo.
The soldier in his best BD (possibly on National Service) and the other gent seem to be wanting to get on the bus - I think that they would have had to wait for the next one.
Towards the back of the scene on the left is a car, (an Austin A40, I think), parked on Tithebarn Street. The car is parked where the Southern exit to the present bus station is located.
I still tend to think of Atlanteans as being a 'bit modern' so this photo is a reminder of how much the world has changed since 1686 entered service. Preston town (oops, city) centre has changed drastically since then while national service ended at the close of 1960 so soldiers in battle dress became much rarer.
One further comment. 1686 is being worked on to make it presentable at Atlantean 50 and it will be good to have it back in our active fleet. However, it is not being restored in the thorough RVPT manner.
17.08.08.
Shortly after 9 O'clock this morning I just happened to be standing
in Lord Street in Preston when a big red bus came along ...................
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Heritage liveried Stagecoach Olympian 16635 was out on a private hire.
It was being used by the Ribble Enthusiasts' Club for a trip to Hull - the
driver for the day was RVPTs Douglas Bailey, (who is also Chairman of REC).
The photograph (above) was taken at roughly the same spot as John Howie's 1960 photograph of Atlantean 1686.
The lamp-post, drainage gully and manhole are still there; the stone setts are now covered with tarmac; the old bus station has been replaced by the Guild Hall; the A40 has probably long since gone for scrap and the soldier may have faded away. The 'Tithebarn' pub is still there - just out of shot on the left hand corner at the top of the street.
16635 has recently been re-painted.
1686 is presently being re-painted.
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(click on photos to enlarge)
11.09.08.
Painting of 1686 continues.
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Painting of the roof, upper deck and cream band between decks is complete.
Work continues on preparing and painting the lower deck.
22.09.08.
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The painting of 1686 is progressing well.
Hopefully she will be presented for an MOT within the
next few days.
03.10.08.
Happy to be able to report that 1686 passed her MOT
today at Martins of Middlewich.
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Work will now resume to complete the external painting, apply the last of the transfers,
replace some of the window rubbers, re-fix the wheel trims and a few other minor jobs.
It is hoped that the first formal outing for 1686 will be the 'Atlantean 50' event at Boyle
Street, Manchester over the week-end of 18/19 October. 1686 will be there on both days
along with 1481 and the Exhibition National.
1686 attended the 'Atlantean 50' event at Boyle Street on
Saturday and Sunday 18/19.10.08.
The attached photograph shows her loading up for a run out
to the Grand Lodge at Heaton Park. (The Exhibition National
can be seen in the background).
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It would be nice to re-create a modern day image of 1686
in Lord Street, Preston when she was new (as shown in John
Howie's photograph). However, circumstances dictate that this
will have to wait until the summer of 2009.