A ride on Merseyside PTE "Jumbo" Leyland Atlantean XKC831K at NWVRT Running Day 12th November 2022

Here we have a ride out on a Merseyside PTE Alexander AL-type bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR2/1, XKC831K, as part of the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust Running Day on Saturday 12th November 2022.

This bus was commonly known as a "Jumbo" Atlantean because of the longer 33ft long chassis, as opposed to the standard 30ft PDR1/1 that most Atlantean buying operators bought at the time. The extra length allowed 80 seats in a dual-door body, which was no doubt very useful in a large city like Liverpool.

XKC831K started life with Merseyside PTE in November 1971 as fleet number 1204. It spent 12 years with the company, being sold in November 1983 to Isle of Man Transport, where it was reregistered to MAN3460 and given fleet number 71. It was sold for non-PCV use in April 1992 to Andreas Racing Association in Jurby, also on the Isle of Man. After a couple more changes of ownership, it was eventually sold for preservation, and is now a resident of the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust (NWVRT) in Kirkby, Merseyside. It has since been restored in the the one man operation version of Liverpool City Transport livery, which was normally worn by the Leyland Panthers in the fleet at the time. A couple of LCT Atlanteans were painted in this reversed livery, but as far as I know, neither actually ran in service as such. Regardless of the reasons, 1204 looks superb painted as it is, and all credit to those involved in the restoration.

XKC831K is relatively unusual for a PDR type Atlantean in being fitted with power steering and a spring parking brake, neither of which were standard fit items at the time as far as I know. It also has the larger 11.1 litre 680 engine, as opposed to the 9.8 litre 600 that most earlier PDR Atlanteans were fitted with. It certainly sounds well, with only a slight growling from something on the nearside of the engine bay making itself heard a few times during the video. Considering how well loaded it was, it pulls really really well too. The end clip shows it leaving Prescot Railway Station, which is on an uphill gradient, and it pulled up the hill in 3rd. So it definitely seems to have a healthy engine.

I've driven a fair few Atlanteans in service as a driver, but never a PDR type. John Cherry of the NWVRT is behind the wheel for the majority of this video. The PDR's have a slightly different sound to the later AN68's, so I'm pleased I made the effort to go on this one. The initial clip of it pulling away sounds epic, I could still hear it long after I could see it, just fantastic!