The Scania Metropolitan double deckers were introduced in April 1974 with a small batch of 8 vehicles, this increased to 68 up to 1977 when the single door versions were delivered. The Scania vehicles had proved a big hit in the city, drivers liked them and with full air suspension they gave a comfy ride to the passengers. Move on 19 years and 1993 marked the end of Metropolitan operation in Leicester, initially New Years’s Eve was earmarked but this was brought forward to Christmas Eve. Here in celebration of the forthcoming 25 years anniversary of the withdrawal of the Scania Metropolitans here are some photos of their last day’s with Leicester City Bus.
(Photo copyrights Richard Worman)
Richard Worman observations on the last day’s of Leicester Citybus Scania Metropolitans, December 1993.
Approaching the end several vehicles fell by the wayside, 154 came off the road on 14/12, 177 came off the road on 20/12 and 178 on 21/12.
The below is not definative list of what buses were out, these are the ones I had in the last few days, the actual trips I had in brackets. Other vehicles may well have been out on the days shown.
Vehicles out 22/12/93
168 route 16,18 Goodwoods and Braunstones. ( 10.58 x 16 SSR to CC)
155 route 2, 12A Braunstone X Roads and Park Rise. ( 11.30 2 CC to BXR, 12.02 BXR to CC)
291 route 29 Oadby. ( 12.48 29 CC to ODY, 13.16 29 ODY to CC)
174 route 16, 18 Goodwoods and Braunstones ( 14.16 18 CC – Cort Cres – CC) ( 16.48 18 CC – SSR)
176 route 12 Park Rise ( 15.30 12 CC to Park Rise, 15.50 12 Park Rise to CC)
Vehicles out 23/12/93
174 route 16, 18 Goodwoods and Braunstone ( 10.16 16 SSR to CC) ( 17.18 18 CC to SSR)
306 route 38, 17 Eyres Monsall and Nether Hall ( 11.50 38 CC to EM, 12.20 38 EM to CC)
155 route 38, 17 Eyres Monsall and Nether Hall ( 12.51 38 CC to EM, 13.17 38 EM to CC)
291 route 38, 17 Eyres Monsall and Nether Hall ( 14.01 38 CC to EM, 14.27 38 EM to CC) ( 15.26 38 BHG to CC) ( 19.24 17 CC to NHR, 19.48 17C NHR to CC)
176 route 38, 17 Eyres Monsall and Nether Hall ( 14.53 17 CC to BHG)
168 route 21 Rushey Mead, Evington ( 16.05 21 CC to RM )
161 route 21 Rushey Mead, Evington ( 16.35 21 RM to CC)
Vehicles out 24/12/93 The Last Day of Operation
291 route 21 Rushey Mead, Evington ( 08.24 21 CC to RM) ( 10.24 21 CC to RM, 10.49 RM to CC) ( 15.17 21 CC to RM, 15.46 RM to CC)
161 route 22 Rushey Mead, Evington ( 08.36 22 RM to CC) ( 12.50 22 CC to EV, 13.16 22 EV to CC)
155 route 1, 12 Braunstone X Roads, Park Rise ( 09.13 1 CC to BXR, 09.48 1 BXR to CC) ( 16.58 12 CC to Park Rise, 17.20 Park Rise to CC via Sunnngdale Road, Wembley Road)
306 route 57, 25, 37/37A Mowmacre Hill, Saffron Cross Roads ( 11.40 57 CC to MMH, 12.15 57 MMH to CC) ( 14.31 25 Rutland St to SXR, 14.56 25 SXR to CC)
168 route 22, Rushey Mead, Evington (13.50 22 CC to EV, 14.16 22 EV to Granby St)
174 route 29
176 route 16 Goodwoods, Braunstone. 176 Was the last Metro to leave the CC on the 17.58 to Goodwood route 16, I did it to the terminus and then walked home as the service finished at 18.00. Everthing was then private back to APR.
