Portsmouth Corporation Buses in Preservation:

The story starts at the beginning of 2005. we became aware that Leyland Atlantean 135 (UOR321T), that had been used for small duties at the airport since leaving Isle of Man Transport in 1998, would be getting scrapped, as a clean up of the site where it was stored, was being undertaken. Andy was told that if he wanted the bus, he could have it at no charge as the vehicle was valued as scrap. He asked me if I would be willing to help with a restoration of the vehicle, with a sharing of the costs.

After having the vehicle towed from the airport (as the starter motor was seized), to farmland in Colby in the south of the island, work began on assessing the condition of the vehicle and what was needed to restore it.

Heavy corrosion was evident on the chassis and after learning and locating two other surviving former Portsmouth Atlanteans 134 (UOR320T) and 144 (UOR330T) in the north of the island in Kirk Michael; we thought that if we could acquire one of these from their current owner, this might be a better restoration prospect. 134 and 144 after leaving Isle of Man Transport use, were acquired in 2000 by a local heavy haulage contractor for use for spare parts for gear boxes for his vehicle or possible conversion into mobile homes. Thankfully none of this had taken place and the vehicles were untouched since their arrival, albeit slightly corroded. Contact was made with the owner and an offer of £400 made for 134, which was in slightly better condition than her sister 144. For that he said we could take both buses of his hands as he was selling up the site on which they were stored.

Arrangements were then made for the storage of 134 in a government owned hangar in the Jurby in the north of the island, where restoration could begin. After getting 134 started for the first time in 5 years (a bit of a struggle I can tell you), we made preparations for getting 134 towed to Jurby. We then pondered what to do about 144. Several plans were thought of and then our friends John and his dad Richard Davis, offered to take it on as a restoration project, as their own Leopard project was nearing completion. This was then agreed and it also meant that we could drive both buses to Jurby as John worked at a garage and he could get the necessary trade plates. 144 was then started (much easier this time) and arrangements made to have her stored at Jurby also.

By this time a decision had been made to use 135 as a source of useful spare parts for both vehicles and once her engine had finally been started using a reconditioned starter motor, she was driven on trade plates to Jurby. There 135 was heavily stripped of panels, seats, windows and many other parts that could be useful for the restoration of the other two. 135 was then finally towed under power to her final storage place at a barn at Ballaugh. There are no plans to scrap what still remains and there is an idea that sometime in the future, what is left can be converted into a single deck Atlantean.

Meanwhile 134 and 144 have been moved to the hangar at Jurby, where restoration work has begun on 134. The plan is to restore and repaint the chassis and the engine and then start working upwards on the bodywork.

We hope to repaint 134 into Isle of Man Road services livery, whilst Richard and John intend on painting 144 into Douglas Corporation livery.

CPPTD is a constituent of the Working Omnibus Museum Project Ltd, a registed educational charity no. 10204111.