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Where better to start the Leyland Fleet series than Wigan Corporation? In 1927 Wigan Corporation purchased its first Leylands, and from 1929 onwards no other make was purchased other than six utility buses during World War Two. The book has a record of over four hundred Leyland buses operated by this Lancashire town, whose municipal bus operation was taken over by Greater Manchester PTE in 1974.
With 48 glossy pages, the book contains many previously unseen and unpublished photographs, drawing extensively both on the BCVM archive and the wealth of knowledge and material within The Leyland Society itself. Written by Ron Phillips, The Leyland Buses of Wigan Corporation tells the story both of the history of this much admired munipal undertaking and the development of the Leyland buses that it bought. |
| Chapter titles include - Wigan Corporation Tramways, Early Buses, The First Leylands, Replacing the Trams, Diesel versus Petrol, Fleet Expansion, The Wartim Period, 75 Replacement Buses, Royal Tigers and Tiger Cubs, The Central Depot, Front Entrance Double Deckers, The Panther Cubs, Rear Engined Double Deckers, The Panthers and a Summary of Leyland Bus Orders. | |
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The bus fleet in the seaside town of Southport was renowned for its smart appearance and special beach bus service. The Leyland Buses of Southport Corporation by Ron Phillips tells the story of the bus fleet, mainly Leyland, including a small number of locally built Vulcan buses as well as four-wheel drive Bedford beach buses, until it was absorbed by Merseyside PTE in 1974.
Chapter headings include: Southport Corporation Tramways, Replacing the Trams, The Southport Livery, Ladies Only, The Air Raid Precautions Bus,
Toastracks, Sea Cars & Runabouts, The "Farington" Leylands, The Open-toppers, One Man Operation & The Corporation's Depots.
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This publication is now available. The Leyland Buses of Leigh Corporation not only chronicles the municipal bus fleet but also the Leigh-Bolton trolleybus service of South Lancashire Transport Company which used a fleet of special Leyland-built trolleybuses. Leigh Corporation began bus operation in 1920, and most vehicles purchased were Leylands. The fleet size was doubled in the early years of the Second World War to serve a large Royal Ordnance Factory. An unusual reason for the operation of low-height double deckers was the low height of the depot in Holden Road, and abandonment of the SLT trolleybuses forced Leigh to become the operator of Dennis Lolines, although it was also the last municipal purchaser of Leyland Lowbridge buses. The book is well illustrated and contains a map and fleet list. |
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The above books cost only £7.95 including postage, or £6 including postage for members, another good reason to join the Leyland Society today. For an order form, click here. |
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Leyland's first fire engine was supplied in 1909 to the City of Dublin. Production of fire engines continued until 1930 when Leyland paused to consider whether or not to continue building expensive machines usually tailored to the requirements of individual Chief Fire Officers.
The decision was to continue with a new series of machines based on the Leyland Tigress and Leyland Cub chassis - the FT and FK series,
built between 1930 and 1942. All fire engines produced by Leyland in this period are described and listed in this 64 page, fully illustrated book by Neil D. Steele.
which also explains in detail many features of fire engine design and operation.
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Ribble Double Deck Coaches. This new 48 page illustrated publication in the "Fleet Series" tells the story of the double deck coaches of various style operated by Ribble Motor Services. First the "White Ladies", Titan PD1 chassis with Burlingham or East Lancs lowbridge double deck bodies, which were used on medium distance express services. Next, and somewhat avant garde, were the Atlantean "Gay Hostess" coaches for motorway services, and the Series II "White Ladies", all based on the PDR1/1 chassis which the Ribble company came to reject for ordinary service work. Finally, there were the Leyland-engined Bristol VRLL double deck motorway service coaches, which the manufacturer rejected, and which had quite a short service life. The book, which is well illustrated with pictures of which many are previously unpublished, tells the story of these vehicles with Ribble and after sale, and contains much information taken from both Ribble and Leyland Motors records. |
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This book will be published in April 2008 The book tells the story of the Leylands purchased by The B.C.N Joint Committee, which was a stalwart customer for chassis and bodywork built in Lancashire. Despite some major problems encountered in the 1930's and the difficult terrain and traffic patterns, the mainly Leyland municipal fleet served the three towns well. Click on the covers for large versions. |
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For an order form, click here.
Email enquiries regarding the Society to - Editor@leylandsociety.co.uk Unless otherwise stated, all content is © The Leyland Society Ltd - a company limited by guarantee. Registered office: 'Valley Forge', 213 Castle Hill Road, Totternhoe, Dunstable, Beds, LU6 2DA. Registered in England No. 4653772. |