Buses, coaches, & lorries

Ray Smyth:
I don’t know which of the 3 Liverpool depots that Leyland PD3 1974 was from, Aintree, Bootle,
or Skelhorne Street. It wasn’t a popular machine because it was a Halfcab, which prevents
the driver being able to chat to his conductor and passengers.

In 1964 & 1965, Ribble Wigan depot received 5 new Albion Lowlanders, 1851,1852,1853.1854,& 1861.
During the 1970s, several more Albions of the original 16 were transferred to Wigan, and also Fleet No.
1968, the Albion Motors demonstrator from the early 1960s, which was a Halfcab, and just like 1974,
it was not popular with most buscrews.

An advantage of the full width cabs, PD3s, Atlanteans, and Albions, the conductor could pass the driver
a cup of coffee from his flask whilst on the move. :slight_smile: :wink:

Ray Smyth.

Funnily enough, i do not remember half cabs ever being particularly disliked with Birmingham crews. True a number of drivers at Selly Oak liked the Leyland Olympics ,i suspect as it gave them a chance to ‘chat up’ the customers,as they would be called these days.
Though a fan of the Birmingham standard, i must admit that the Albion Lowlander as a rugged purposeful look about it.