Stagecoach Morecambe Open Day

Stagecoach held an Open Day at their White Lund garage and yard yesterday. This featured not only their own vehicles, but a variety of preserved buses as well. As can be seen from this first image, we train them young in Morecambe to enjoy bus travel. Have a look at the youngster climbing aboard!

Just a small section of the stalls in the garage workshops selling all manner of bus (and railway) memorabilia, photographs, books etc. They were doing a roaring trade at the event which was very well attended.

A preserved Standerwick double deck coach. A Bristol VRLH, with ECW bodywork, new in 1971.

A Leyland Tiger Cub, with Willowbrook bodywork, which was new to the North Western Road Car Company in 1960.

On the left is a Leyland Leopard with Marshall bodywork, which dates from 1966, being delivered new to Ribble Motor Services. On the right is another Rubble vehicle, again a Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard, new in 1965. 

This Leyland Titan PD2/40 with bodywork by Park Royal, was new to Barrow Corporation in 1956. 

Inside the Stagecoach workshops.

This Leyland Olympian was still in service with Stagecoach at its Kendal depot as recently as September of last year. Painted in Cumberland Motor Services livery, it was sold to the Carlisle Bus Group for preservation. 

The highlight of the day for me was a ride on this 1939 (even older than me!), Leyland Titan TD5 with Burlingham-Alexander bodywork. It was a pure delight to take a trip on this  74-year-old bus to Lancaster. 

Another Cumberland Motor Services vehicle was this Bristol MW6G, with ECW bodywork. Delivered new in November 1963 to Cumberland's Whitehaven garage. 

My final bus ride of the day was on this mere youngster. A Leyland Leopard, which was delivered new to Burnley and Pendle Transport in 1979. It is pictured at Morecambe Bus Station.