Doom & Gloom

As previously noted, the grim reaper had arrived during 1980 for the 7 Leyland Atlanteans awaiting rebuild at the rear of Newton Rd. (Nos.895/902/3/10/4/7/22).


The following year he returned for Devon General’s remaining serviceable Atlanteans. That year saw the withdrawal of Nos.873/5-9/83-88 from the first batch, 898-901/5/6/8/11/2/6 from the second batch and 923/4 from the third. The majority were stored awaiting disposal on the site of the former power station at Newton Abbot with others lined up on land adjacent to Exeter Airport. In 1982 Nos.872/4/80/2/3/96/7/904/18/9/21 joined them. This meant that at de-regulation on Jan 1st 1983 there were 6 vehicles still in service, one of which, No.881, was 24 years old and still in poppy red, albeit pretty faded! The others were Nos. 907/9/13/15/20, all in green. All were withdrawn during that year with the exception of No.920, which, after re-registration to ADV435A, continued in service with Red Bus of North Devon until 1986, when it donated its engine to keep sea-dog No.925 on the road. Very few vehicles are known to have given further service to subsequent operators. No.874 saw further service with Juliet’s Coaches of Avonmouth and was broken up at Thorntons of Barnsley in 1990. No.882 was reported to have been seen in France during the mid-eighties whilst under the ownership of a night club. This has yet to be substantiated. No.885 was purchased, along with No.911, by Earnside of Glenfarg in Scotland. Both ran for them between April '81 and Sep' 82. No.885 then passed to Tofthill Farm in Glencarse, Perthshire where it was used for ferrying fruit pickers to and from work. Whilst under that ownership it was re-registered WTS715A and very quickly degenerated into a decrepit state. It was advertised for sale as late as 2002.

And so to preservation. Unfortunately the news is not good. Of the 47 vehicles across 3 batches only one of these Atlanteans is currently in active preservation. It is Roe bodied No.913, one of the second batch dating from 1960 and is currently owned by Terry Bennett. It has been restored into its original livery of red and ivory. No.872, of the 1959 delivery, is currently undergoing restoration. At this time it is in the safe hands of Warwick Hulme, owner and restorer of “sea-dog” No.931. No members of the third batch survive. I understand that an attempt was made to secure No.920 for preservation but it sustained damage during its removal from Red Bus in North Devon and was scrapped. Further batches of Atlanteans were purchased by Devon General in the mid to late 60s and I will be looking at these in future posts.