Two stalwarts from the mid-Sixties languish at the side of the Ellen Smith Garage at Wardlesworth near Rochdale in the early Eighties. Both are Leyland Leopards one with a Plaxton Panorama body whilst Harrington Grenadier CDK 448C lived on as a diecast EFE model for collectors. At the back are even earlier Tiger Cubs and maybe the odd AEC Reliance too from this well known thirteen vehicle fleet.
Great photo! I always love buses that are put aside and keep lingering on the premises for years sometimes. Somewhere behind the garage or at the side, often taken over by vegetation. Nice from this picture is to see how a livery is applied on different types of buses. We had these companies also in The Netherlands, with 10 up to 20 buses, but not two of them the same. Not even close.
ReplyDeleteEllen Smith was a bit special. It was named after the proprietor's daughter and the coaches were rather special as the operator used Leyland's leaping cat as it motif. Even though the business was sold it lives on as it was bought by Rossendale Transport one of the few remaining UK Municipal based operators who now use a black livery.
ReplyDelete