PRESTON TODAY: Double-Decks

Last Updated: 21 May 2001

Over the years, the Preston fleet has been mainly double-decked. This trend still continues today although with the influx of midibuses the proportion of double-deckers is lower than it has been for some time.

Still the mainstay of the d/d fleet is the Leyland Atlantean. Mostly East Lancs bodied, these buses have served Preston faithfully for many years. All Preston Atlanteans have been of the long-wheelbase AN68.2R type and all but two, which were bodied as coaches, were delivered as dual-door 82 seaters. All the remaining Atlanteans were rebuilt by Preston to single-door layout in the early 90's.

The oldest examples remaining are Alexander bodied and date from 1980: 141-5/7-50 (UHG141V etc). The outstanding condition of these veteran workhorses belies their age and they could easily be mistaken for buses half their age. Illustrated is 143 (UHG143V) a 1980 AN68B.2R with H49/36F body. Not bad for a 21 year old! (photo by Andy Richards; 30 March 1999).

From the same batch are 148 and 150. (Photos: Rob Collis, September 1998)

These were followed in 1981 by a batch of 7 East Lancs bodied vehicles; 151-7 (GFV151-7W). Illustrated below are 152 seen in its 1999 condition and 153, seen when new in May 1981 wearing an advertising livery for Slalom Lager. (Andy Richards, 30 March 1999)

Below we see 152 looking rather sorry for itself having failed near Leyland. (Photo: Dave Farrier)

Next to arrive, in late 1981 and early 1982 were another 7 East Lancs bodied buses; 158-164(OBV158X etc). Below is pictured 163 passing the Preston Guild Hall, famous snooker venue. Clearly seen is the effect of the single door conversion. (Andy Richards, 30 March 1999)

When new, 160 received this stunning Terry's Harlequin advertising livery.

These were then followed by the final batches of Atlantean buses in late 1982 and early 1983. 165-171 (URN165Y etc) and 172-6 (DRN172Y etc).

Of the former batch, 166 displays the latest version of the Atlantean colour scheme and fleetname position. (Andy Richards, 30 March 1999)

Early in it's career is 174 (DRN174Y) exemplifying its original dual-door layout. (Photo: Dave Farrier)

To add to the variety, Atlantean 176 received a special repaint in 1998 when it received 1930s style livery. (Photo: Rob Collis, 1998)

There were, however, two more Atlanteans waiting in the wings. Ordered originally as buses, the order was amended and the final two Atlanteans emerged as East Lancs bodied single door coaches, 1 & 2 (DRN 1 &2Y). Here 1 is seen entering the Bus Station on a bright February day in 1987

Several changes have taken place in the Atlantean fleet since the vehicles were delivered.

The most obvious is the rebuilding programme which took place in the early 90's converting all Atlanteans from 141 onwards to single door. The expertise of the Preston bodyshops was very apparent in these conversions as only an expert can tell that they were originally dual-door. The revised capacity after rebuild was 85 for the Alexander bodied vehicles and 86 for the East Lancs.

The other major change affected the coaches 1&2 which were converted to buses receiving bus livery and being renumbered 181/2. Below can be seen the distinctive lines of the East Lancs coach body, even when "disguised" by bus livery. 181 leaves Preston Bus Station for Fulwood.

(Andy Richards, 30 March 1999)

The days of the Atlantean fleet are now numbered and the fleet is gradually dwindling. It will be a sad day indeed when the last Preston Atlantean makes its final trip into the depot.

Following on from the Atlanteans came Olympians. Or, more specifically, one Olympian. Indeed it was several years before the Olympian fleet expanded. If the Atlantean fleet had been very standardised, the Olympian fleet was not!

Preston's first Olympian was an oddball and seemed to the set the trend for the rest of the fleet. Numbered 3 (A33MRN) it had the only ECW body ever supplied to Preston. It was additionally unusual in being long wheelbase, complete with odd half-bay in the body so characteristic of both ECW and Alexander bodies for long wheelbase Ollys. It also had coach seats. And as if this wasn't enough, it spent most of its first 18 months of life on loan to Leyland as a demonstrator !!

Indeed, no 3 was hardly ever seen at home in Preston in this period. It was renumbered 33 shortly after arriving home and was rebuilt as a bus in the early 90's. 33 is seen in it's original coach livery.

Next to arrive was another one-off. Again long wheelbase, this time the body was by Northern Counties and was the first NCME bodied decker for Preston. It also introduced the Cummins engine to the fleet. 32 (F32 AHG).

Next? Well it was all change again. Short wheelbase this time; different bodybuilder; and a pair of pairs !. Two buses and two coaches that is. Bodywork this time was by Leyland who were, by now, producing complete Olympians at Whitehaven. Amongst the very first buses to receive Leyland bodywork of this era, it was like the circle had been completed as Preston had purchased many Leyland bodied Leylands in the traditional Leyland era. 34-7 (G34-7OCK)

And then there were.... four more, but this time again from Northern Counties. Arriving in early 1991 these buses had probably the best interiors of any of the Olympians despite being buses and are my personal favourites amongst the Ollys. 101-4 (H101-4BFR)

103 departs on service 25 to Lea via Ashton (Andy Richards, 30 March 1999)

The last Olympians for Preston - indeed the last ever Leylands came in 1992. Bodywork again reverted to Leyland, a somewhat ironic move. Once again the batch was mixed coaches and buses and again a demonstrator was part of the batch. By now Volvo owned Leyland and seemed a little less "helpful" in the registration stakes, so unlike previous demonstrators 106 did not get a Preston VLO registration. Indeed it did not even match the fleet number. Additionally, by this time the DVLC had reserved additional numbers for commercial resale purposes so the fleet numbering was a bit of a mess.
106-10,112-114 (J976PRW, J107-10KCW, J112-4KCW)

A very rare shot indeed of 106 playing demonstrators when brand new in Liverpool in September 1991. (Photo: Dave Farrier)

Leading a less eventful life is 107 on a private hire at Granada Studios, Manchester. Interestingly it shows the short lived "twin shield" livery variation. (Photo: Dave Farrier)

108 takes a break in Preston Bus Station. (Photo: Dave Farrier)

In the illustration below, 112 is seen in Preston Bus Station (Andy Richards, 30 March 1999)

With the advent of the Dennis Tridents, it was decided that a "new look" was called for and livery experiments have taken place using a lighter shade of blue and a richer shade of cream. The first experiment was carried out on 107. This was followed by 110 which wears what is going to be the new livery. (Andy Richards, 15 August 1999)

It's been seven years since the last deckers arrived in Preston. Much has changed in that period. Leyland is no more; it's successor Volvo Bus had discontinued the Olympian; low floor deckers are in vogue; so what's next.

Considerable surprise was caused in the Spring of 1999 when Preston announced its order for Dennis Tridents. These will be the first ever Dennis buses owned by Preston and introduce low floor deckers to the fleet. Bodywork is a little bit more familiar, as East Lancs have been selected to body these buses which will operate on the Tanterton group of services. They will also have a new livery based on that of 110.

The first examples arrived in late 1999 and were in the new swoops livery used for low-floor buses. Numbered 190-196 (V190-6EBV) they entered service on the Tanterton route, branded SuperRoute 33/34.

A second batch arrived in late 2000 and were almost identical to the first batch. Numbered 182-9(X182-9RRN), they are diagrammed to work the Fulwood/Sherwood 22/23 group of routes.