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PLYMOUTH TRANSPORT INTEREST GROUP 1980's
CITY TOUR 1986: LEYLAND ATLANTEAN 132 "ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL"
PCTIG ran a number of city tours during the 1980s and the winter of 1986 was no exception. Without a bus of our own, 89 CJY299
was unroadworthy and in store at Milehouse. PCTIG relied on hiring pct vehicles from Milehouse.
1986 was of course the last year before deregulation of local bus services on 26th October and as with all other local municipal bus operations, Plymouth Citybus would be set up as a arms length limited company of Plymouth City Council as of 26th October
The first PCTIG trip of the year dawned bright and sunny and was a "City tour" using Leyland Atlantean AN68 132 STK132T "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" following some of Plymouth "Countrybus" services at the following locations.
morning at Mayflower steps, circular route 54 on the road between Cornwood and Lee moor Even on a Sunday Lee moor had a bus service
132 with blinds set to 58, meets the actual 58
heading for Cornwood, 134 "Robert Falcon Scott"
Not long to wait as 58/59 would pass each other at Lee moor. East Lancs AN68 140 VJY 140V on 59 heading towards Shaugh Bridge, Bickleigh and city centre. PCTIG member mingle with lee moor local inhabitants
We return to Plymouth via the short lived route 63 Plymouth to Milton combe via Cadover bridge
VOLKSWAGEN MICROBUS "CITY TOUR"
The second trip of the year on the 28th March and this time PCTIG took advantage of the recent arrival to PCT in Sept 1985 of one of three Volkswagen LT31D with Devon conversion C12C Bodywork. The original plan was to use these "microbus" to initiate a sevice between Plympton St. Maurice and Woodford via Plympton Ridgeway, but this never happened.
The three buses 16 - 18 C916 DFJ etc were never to carry their allotted fleet numbers, eventually being numbered 86-88 carrying on from the large fleet of Dodge minibuses delivered in 1986 to initiate the minibus revolution starting 26th October.
the Volkswagens were painted in the "Cityshuttle" livery introduced in early 1985 on the fleet of four Dodge S56 minibuses which introduced the experimental C1 route around parts of Mutley and Mannamead with Cornwall st and New George st. Remember the pedestrianisation of the city centre didn't commence until the following year. Of course the current 30/31 is the latest incarnation of this route. The Volkswagens were occasionally untilised on the C1 fitted with ticket machine and coin vault.
The diminutive size of the microbus even dwarfed by the standard Dodge meant this trip would go to places never before seen by a PCT bus!
18 is seen parked next to 46 B346VTA
So where is this I hear you ask? The destination blind isn't a clue. We are actually in the lane leading to Warleigh point with the disused Tamerton Foliot station in the background.
So with muddy wheels, only thing to do is to give them a wash below Lopwell dam
Next stop, Milton Combe village and met with WN 50 Mercedes B37AAF "Dartmoor pony" WN had taken over PCT 55/56 route in1984 and was their first minibus
On the way to Burrator we stop at the old Trathens depot in Dousland. Seen here 4 ex lothian Atlantean PDR2s and in the background PCT PD2 69 MCO 669 that was subject to a preservation project. It is thought to still survive as a mobile home
Even further off the beaten track, 18 finds itself at Sheepstor village
heading back towards Plymouth via Moorgate
the next train to arrive at Burrator halt is a rail replacement service. Not the usual location to pose
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Under the railway bridge at Plymbridge halt, long before the Plym valley railway reached there
No longer is the abillity to drive over Plymbridge