In 1960 on it first day in service © John Howie

Seen at the Atlantean 50 event in 2008 © Geoff Meek

Notes

1686 spent virtually its entire life at Preston Depot(apparently it was loaned to Fleetwood depot to take part in a trial of new lubricating oils). It was withdrawn in 1981 being the last non-OMO fitted Atlantean to be operated- the rest had been withdrawn between 1975-1977. 1686 was painted in the NBC Poppy Red in June 1974. The RVPG had been tipped off by sources in Ribble that it was in excellent condition for its age despite having done one and a quarter million miles so the group made an offer for it which was accepted.However, it had been robbed of its heaters (to provide cab heating for a batch of Marshall bodied RE's being sent to the Falkland Islands) and we refused to accept 1686 until replacements were fitted . This was not a high priority for Ribble management , so the vehicle languished at the back of Bolton Depot for some time. When Bolton Depot closed we had no option but to collect it - and we never did get our heaters !

1686 was rallied extensively during the 80's and 90's. It was used by a nature conservation group in the Lake District for a couple of summers in the mid 1980's , carrying large paintings of animals on its advertising panels. It spent 18 months off the road around 1994 to have some body defects rectified and then became a film star being used as a prop in the filming of "And the beat goes on" which was set in Liverpool in the 1960's. It was filmed inside the now demolished Edge Lane Works.

1686 was given a repaint and had some repairs done to the floor in the lower saloon and had its first outing since 2003 to the Atlantean 50 event at Manchester Museum of Transport in October 2008.

In March 2009 it suffered a gearbox failure which necessitated removing the engine to fix the problem and at the same time some rewiring was done .