New To: Nottingham City Transport

Chassis: Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2 L40453

Body: Metro Cammell H45/31F

Status: Awaiting Restoration

History

Delivered in October 1965 as part of a batch of 40 similar buses, 452 is fitted with a Metro Cammell Double Deck body, seating a total of 76 passengers, 45 upstairs and 31 downstairs. 452 only had a front entrance and exit unlike most of the later Atlanteans which were dual door.  Subsequently, 452 was rebuilt by Seddon in February 1971 (rebuild no.RB848) to a H45/27D layout meaning it has only 72 seats but is dual door.

452 represents an early version of what is known as the “Nottingham Standard” design, which gave Nottingham’s buses a distinctive look for many years. The Nottingham Standard included many features such as, an angled destination allowing it to be viewed easier, higher internal ceilings, curved windscreens and a standardisation of parts between different vehicles for ease of maintenance.

The bus operated for over 15 years in Nottingham. In March 1981, with the imminent arrival of the latest batch of Leyland AN68’s, it was renumbered 52 and operated for its final months as a driver trainer.

Withdrawn in May 1981 and stored at Parliament Street depot, it passed to Smiths of Alcester, near Stratford on the 15th of May 1981 for £650+Vat, with it being collected on 29th of May 1981. By September 1985 the vehicle had passed to the Home Office for use with the Fire Service at their Moreton In Marsh training college. For over a decade the bus remained a runner, being driven onto the training ground when required and garaged undercover at other times. Despite its use, the majority of the structure remained undamaged so the decision was taken to acquire the vehicle for preservation.

Since acquisition we have managed to rebuild the entire roof structure where required. All lower saloon panels have been removed to enable the replacement of the steel floor rail and side structure bar along both sides of the vehicle. To enable this work to be carried out it has been necessary to remove the lower saloon flooring. Whilst replacing much of the steel structure we have also rebuilt the vehicle to its original front entrance layout.

Relevance To The Collection

452 is the earliest surviving example of the Nottingham Standard