"PHILIP CURTIS V.C."
The annual order of Leyland Atlanteans were arriving later and later each year as Roe struggled to keep up with demand, most notably after hundreds were ordered by NBC subsidiary, London Country.
Plymouth City Transport - getting frustrated at this - turned to East Lancs Coachbuilders instead, and 138 formed part of the first of three batches of East Lancs bodied Atlanteans for Plymouth, consisting of no.'s 136 - 147 (VJY136-47V). In total Plymouth ordered 36 of these, over 3 years. 138 arrived at Milehouse depot in December 1979.
Both 138 and 143 had their wheels painted red and in January 1980 they were allocated names and these were worn above the front destination blinds in cream. 143 was named "NANCY LADY ASTOR", and 138 became "PHILIP CURTIS V.C."
138's livery was modified in October 1982 to the new Citybus livery, owing the launch of the Citybus services that same month. The cream around the lower deck windows being extended downwards and the red and black Citybus fleetnames applied. The wheels were also painted black to match the rest of the fleet.
When 138 was withdrawn it passed into the ownership of Guide Friday, who operated open-top bus tours in many towns and cities across the UK, including Plymouth. Surprisingly, unlike the majority of Guide Friday's buses, 138 was not converted to open-top, and it is not thought to have ever entered service with them. It subsequently passed onto Stratford-on-Avon Gliding Club, Warwickshire, still wearing its final Citybus fleet livery, where it spent 12 years. The bus acted as a control vehicle on flying days, monitoring wind speeds and communicating between the gliders and launch crew.
It entered preservation in 2016 when it was purchased by Group Member, Paul Furse.
Now for some pictures (courtesy of the PCPTG):
Images & text: PCPTG
For more information: http://plymouthcitytransport.co.uk/138/4592296560
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