Attending its first event since the late 1980s at the Browns Blue to Midland Red event in March (see last week’s Industry Heritage) was this beautifully restored 1962 Weymann-bodied Leyland PD2/37, new to Halifax. The bus has been owned for the past 22 years by Richard McAllister, who remembers it from his childhood days. “These PD2s were the backbone of the Halifax fleet during the ‘60s & ‘70s and this was the very last, staying until July 1980. It looked ancient standing next to West Yorkshire PTE Daimler Fleetlines,” said Richard. “Towards the end of its service life I remember it was on peak time workings. Another memory I have is the bus would often take me and my school class to the local baths for swimming lessons.’’
Around 1976 the PD2 received a thorough overhaul as part of a costing exercise to see if it was worth spending money on such vehicles. Apparently it was not! The bus was bought on withdrawal by a consortium of PTE inspectors who also owned two 1962 ex-Halifax Leyland Leopard L1s with Weymann bodywork, PJX 35 and PJX 232. Meanwhile Richard started work as a conductor with West Yorkshire PTE, working his way up to operations manager at First Halifax, buying a certain Leyland PD2 in 2001. “I’d always wanted that bus,” he said. ‘The Yorkshire winters had done their worst on it though.”
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In 2005 Richard became Operations Manager at Stagecoach Devon and then set up his own Paignton-based company, Devonian, in 2010, before returning to Yorkshire for family reasons. “I took the PD2 to Devon with me and various things were done to it including the fitting of a replacement engine from a Diamond T truck courtesy of my contacts at Plymouth Citybus.”
Major restoration work was carried out at a steady pace over a 15 year period. Finally the bus was completed. “After 22 years of ownership the bus is finished at last and I can finally have some enjoyment from it,” said Richard.
…and a book too
Also making its debut at the Browns Blue event was a new book for children written and illustrated by CBW contributor Emily Whitlam. The @dennis.n.friends book draws on a series of characters created based on the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust’s vehicles. The book combines a short children’s story and picture book with bus-related activities at the back. “All proceeds go to the Trust, and hopefully it will encourage more young children to get involved,” explained Emily. The book is available via the LTHT website at ltht.org and costs £5 plus postage and packing.
