1006
| Registration Number: NCK 106J |
June 2005 revealing its rotten framework © G. Meek
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| Chassis: Leyland Leopard PSU4B/4R | |
| Body : Plaxton Panorama Elite II | |
| Seating Format: C43F | |
| Built in: 1971 | |
| Original Owner: Ribble | |
| Fleet Number: 1006 | |
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Notes: 1006 was part of a batch of 10 “short Leopards” with Plaxton Panorama Elite II bodies numbered 1001-11 built in 1971. Delivered in May of that year it was allocated to Liverpool, remaining there until February 1976 when it moved to Grange over Sands. By March 1977 it was listed as “Not Authorised for Service” and in April was transferred to sister NBC company National Travel Midlands, it was later transferred to National Travel West as their fleet number 6 in 1978 when this company was formed from merging National Travel North West and National Travel Midlands. Thus 1006 and its sisters had a short life with Ribble, but in retrospect their purchase was an odd choice by the Company. Since 1962 Ribble had standardised on 36ft C49F coaches for its express routes, the shorter C36F Leopards purchased in 1970 being for tour work. By 1971 Ribble was beginning a programme of converting its express routes to One Person Operation, which was largely completed by 1977. 1001-1011 with their manual doors and smaller seating capacity had operational limitations and were not suited for OMO; therefore it’s not surprising that as early as 1972 1002-1004 had passed to Standerwick, and the rest had been withdrawn by the end of 1976. 1006 remained with National Travel West until 1980 when it was acquired by Sykes (Dealer). In 1982 it was bought by Bernard Kavanagh of Urlingford, County Kilkenny (Dealer) and exported to the Republic of Ireland, being re-registered 411 LIP. By June 1982 it was in the fleet of Patrick Frearley of Ballyglunin, County Galway. It remained there until 1989 when it was acquired by Glynn Brothers near Carlow, where it was used mainly on school contract work. By 2001 it was out of service, stored in the open with many of Glynn’s other second hand vehicles, many dating back to the early 1950’s, 1006 was bought for preservation in 2005, returned to the UK and is now part of the RVPT collection. It has now been re-registered with its original registration. Years of outside storage have taken their toll and the vehicle’s bodywork was found to be in poor condition, although the chassis and engine were good. The Trust has been fortunate in acquiring a donor Elite which will provide much of the framework for 1006’s restoration. A start was made on the vehicle’s restoration in 2006 when the chassis and donor frames were shotblasted and painted in grey primer. |
