A Leyland PD3 which was new to London Transport as a specialist support vehicle has been restored and is seeking a new home
In August 2022 in a yard at Whitwell, Derbyshire, Brian Maguire discovered a former London Transport breakdown tender, fleet no 1278LD, registered ALM 841B. Encroached upon by bushes with a tree growing where there was once a floor, it had not turned a wheel in 27 years. It lacked a floor, body panels, translucent roof panels (which were subsequently discovered in bushes at Whitwell), an exhaust pipe and many other smaller parts. After cleaning the fuel tank and fuel line plus some work on the starter motor, the Leyland O680 engine was fired up, allowing its owners to move the vehicle into the shed where restoration could be undertaken. With only 30,000 miles on the clock, the O680 engine had not experienced a hard life.
1278LD is a Leyland PD3/1A with Mann Egerton bodywork. It was originally based at London Transport’s Neasden Underground depot, where it was new on 19 March 1964. After having spent nearly 12 years at Neasden for use by the depot’s emergency gang it passed to Chiswick Works to be modified with the addition of towing eyes both front and rear to tow buses. On 21 June 1976 it arrived at Cricklewood Garage where it remained until March 1983. Much of the restoration was carried out by Brian Maguire, who has spent 40 years restoring trolleybuses and buses, and mechanic Ted Scotford, assisted by James Race, who drove 1278LD for the first time since restoration, saying it is a pleasure to to drive. A short video of 1278LD showing how it looked before and after restoration can be found by searching for ‘London Transport 1278LD’ on YouTube.
Now that the vehicle has been restored, the team behind the work say that due to their advancing age, they are looking to sell it to a good home. Any expressions of interest should be sent to Barry Coward on [email protected].
