PBC 113G
Chassis: Leyland Atlantean PDR1A/1
Chassis Number: 803390
Body: Park Royal B56143
Seating Capacity: H43/31F
New: April 1969
Withdrawn: May 1983
1969-1983: Life with Leicester City Transport
The 1968 order for further Leyland PD3A/12s with Eastern Coach Works bodies was substituted by one for 20 Leyland Atlanteans. The bodywork order was split between Eastern Coach Works and Park Royal. Deliveries were made spanning a period from December 1968 to April 1969. The buses were equipped with the larger Leyland 0680 engine. No. 113 was converted to one man operation during February 1971 and like the other Park Royal bodied Leyland Atlanteans it carried offside illuminated advertisement panels. Loaned to Grimsby – Cleethorpes Transport on 30 December 1982, it returned to Leicester just a few weeks later although it never re-entered service. For many years right up to its withdrawal from service with Leicester City Transport, 113 carried an offside advert for local Land Rover & British Leyland car dealership Sturgess of Leicester.
1983-1996: After service with Leicester City Transport
Purchased in December 1983 by West Wales Motors Ltd of Tycroes along with sister bus 115, it was put into service in LCT cream and maroon livery. By June 1984 it had been withdrawn following a road accident. West Wales Motors sold out to D Coaches of Morriston in the late summer of 1984 and 113 passed to D Coaches with business. D Coaches went on to repair and reinstate PBC 113G and the bus continued to work in the Swansea area until withdrawn in December 1995. In March 1996 the Leyland Atlantean was bought at auction by the British Bus Preservation Group, but by April 1996, PBC 113G had travelled up the M4 from Swansea to its new home at the premises of Classic Coaches of High Wycombe. Unfortunately 113 did not see a return to service but was used as a store shed for the next three years.
1999-Date: In preservation
After another change of ownership and a move to The Transport Museum, Wythall, 113 was acquired by The Leicester Corporation Bus owners group and another move saw the bus return to Leicestershire for further storage, with the hope that full restoration of the vehicle would commence at some point. By 2008, 113 became part of The Leicester Transport Heritage Trust’s collection, but with other projects requiring manpower and funds the Atlantean is currently stored safely undercover awaiting restoration to begin. 113 will represent a vehicle type that first introduced double deck one man operation into the Leicester City Transport fleet. The Trust would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to get involved or help support the long term restoration of this bus.
