The Group was formed initially by Alan
Holland and Roy Dowson back in July 1991, when ex Oldham Corporation 163 was
purchased for preservation. This was after long negotiations with the now disbanded
Darrenettes dance troupe from Oldham, who had acquired the bus in October 1981
for transporting the troupe to different carnivals and charity events up and
down the country.
Included are links to other websites as
well as a fleetlist of Atlanteans that Oldham bought, plus other interesting
items
163 when still in service seen in Manchester Piccadilly
Between 1965 and 1969, Oldham Corporation
purchased 73 new Leyland Atlantean double deck buses, with bodies by Charles
H.Roe of Leeds,(but on Park Royal frames) and also bodies by East Lancs and
Neepsend. Buses numbered 121 to 171 had 77 seat single door bodywork, whilst 178 to 199 had 74 seat dual-
door bodywork. Although the later had been ordered by Oldham in 1968, they were actually
delivered during 1969 to 1971 with 188-199 being delivered in the Selnec
livery.
Atlanteans 121-130 were painted into the livery of Maroon and White, while the batch up to 187 were in the later livery
of pommard and cream.
When delivered in December 1967, 163 operated on the 98 service Waterhead-Oldham-Hollinwood-Manchester,
but was soon employed on the 25/26 service Oldham-Holts Estate,
when the service was converted to one man operation on the 8th June 1969.
These buses were also used on other services, with the 4/5/6/ (4)Chadderton Hall
Park-Oldham-Sholver (5) Strinesdale (6) Grains Bar being the most
used, as well as the O and T, Hollinwood-Hollins-Oldham-Lees (O) -Grotton(T)
which changed to 27/28,29 in April 1969
163 was repainted into the SELNEC (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire); Sunglow Orange and White livery
during December 1971, but applied with Southern division fleet name branding,
it also was numbered 5163. Unfortunately not a lot is known about
163,during its days, although it was one of the batch of buses which carried
workers on a short working "No. 4" route to the now demolished Elk
mill in Royton, which had been the last mule spinning mill to be built in
Lancashire
When GMT (Greater Manchester Transport) took over in 1974, changes took place. The upper deck front ventilators were
removed and different route numbers (of Bolton pattern) were installed. At the same time fibre glass surrounds were
fitted to the wheelarches, as was extra ventilation to the nearside engine cowl. A two way storno radio and a
clippercard machine completed the transformation. Finally in 1981, the bus was put through
its annual overhaul by mistake, during this time it had all new body pillars fitted, a
rewire, new engine and gearbox, new windows, before being suddenly withdrawn
in September.
It had been noticed by Jimmy Anderson, who was employed as a steam cleaner at Oldham, whose wife ran the local dancing
troupe "The Darrenettes", and as their old vehicle had proved
expensive to maintain, it was seen that 5163 could be the better vehicle
to run, and after negotiations with GMT, the vehicle was purchased, minus the
usual tyres and batteries, although these was acquired through various
sources, and room was found within Oldham depot. It travelled many miles with the troupe
including the Isle of Man and was regularly seen in the Oldham area
especially at weekends, although many people was stunned in 1987 when it was
repainted into Maroon and White, it would have been Pommard exempt for the
dislike of the colour by Jimmy!
Before this happened, new Sheffeld type
fibre glass fronts was made, (which was the last made at Oldham) and fitted by
the apprentice school at Hyde Road, though during its time there, one of the
nearside trafficator lenses got broken, so Manchester style lenses was fitted, although
these were quickly removed during the first days of preservation.
Click here for a fleet list of all the Oldham Atlanteans.
Click here for other Oldham Atlanteans known to survive.
Click here for more pictures of 163, both in service and in preservation
