60 years of Liverpools Leyland Atlanteans. L501 Tour

Commemorating 60 years of Liverpools iconic Leyland Atlantean Buses. From the early 1960s Liverpool introduced hundreds of Leyland atlantean buses replacing the earlier half cab back loaders. This tour with one of the first batch of these buses takes us over some of the early routes.

[@dufushead]

60 years I'm amazed, I always thought of them as being modern ! Lovely bus and wonderful film. My how Liverpool has changed. Looked like a right motley crew having a fun day out, wish I'd been there !! thanks for sharing MW.

[@Merseywail]

They are a modern looking bus even now. Must have been space age back in the 60s. It was a great day with great company.

[@minimaxi802]

60 years ago when the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and Cilla Black were starting their musical careers.L501 501KD is not the first Liverpool Atlantean,it is the second, L500 500KD was the first. This was a big batch of 200 up to L699.

[@Merseywail]

I did mention that the first Liverpool Atlantean was the experimental E2. Whilst I did say that the first of the fleet entered service on the 4th Feb. I didn't say 501 was the first. Technically it's the 3rd. The first Atlantean on Merseyside is of course Wallasey no1

[@marksinthehouse1968]

The one bus I would love to have a drive is the Atlantean in the London area we had the AN class of London country good old NBC that style of body was used right up until the last Atlantean’s were delivered in 82/83 innit ,superb looking bus for the time 😊

[@Merseywail]

The Liverpool style of Atlantean was much better than the standard met cam of the time . It went through various versions through the years but the peaked front & rear was always a Liverpool feature. Apart from a few exceptions

[@seansands424]

They had these modern buses while in Stroud we still had the haft cabs single decker buses at the time

[@FannyLerouxTime]

I think I rode on one like this a few years back at a restoration charity in burscough when they had an open day. It's amazing how times have changed with the busses.

[@Merseywail]

You almost certainly will have done. They have a regular open day in July. This year's is being held on 30th July. This year also sees the return of the popular ”Beer & Buses” Day on 15 April running vintage buses round the Burscough & Ormskirk area & pubs

[@aliksahnda]

I remember spending a week in Liverpool in 1986 and seeing these buses (or types very like them) in profusion at the bus station by the Pierhead. Even though the design is "minimalist" this is a beautifully restored and preserved vehicle and the type must linger in the memories of many locals of a certain age.

[@Merseywail]

The atlantean buses had a long association with merseyside. The very first production Atlantean in municipal service entered service "over the water" in Wallasey in December 1958

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Hi There my name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris I was wondering, why couldn't you Rebuild a nice fresh shiny Scania N113, Gardner LG1200, Gardner 6LXCT, Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1’s and Repaint them to a Grey Green Colour's just like the original Scania Grey Green's which were in the East London bus route's such as 125, 141, 210, 20, 173, 179, 167, 313 and also the bus route 103, if you guys would like to Rebuild about 172 of Those Scania N113, Gardner LG1200, Gardner 6LXCT, Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1 Buses Pretty Please could you Repaint them in the Exact Grey Green Bus Colour’s and put them on those London Bus Routes witch are the 341, N41, 34, 123, N29, 149, 221, N73, 121, 86, 30, 262, 147, 396, 41, 56 and N26 for all of us because it would be a Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Interesting Buses to see them Repainted to a Grey Green Colour's and I'am a Big Fan of all of those Scania N113, Gardner LG1200, Gardner 6LXCT, Gardner 6LXC and Volvo TD102KF 3 speed Voith DIWA Northern Counties Palatine 1 Buses Please?

[@Merseywail]

Am sorry, but as I have said in previous comments you have made on my channel I am just a transport enthusiast. I do not own or even drive any preserved vehicles, nor do I have the finances to fund what you want. I suggest you approach bus preservationists & ask them, or better still try to find & buy the bus you want & restore it to your own specification

[@clivebroadhead4381]

Why do London buses have two doors and the ones in Liverpool only one. Is congestion a more important issue in London?

[@Merseywail]

@clivebroadhead4381 liverpool did have a period of two door buses but it was relatively short lived. London has higher passenger numbers so the dule door arrangement is supposed to help passenger flow. Though it's at the expense of seating capacity

[@temphold1]

that lad at 8:25 putting his head down so he isn't seen or hates Stagecoach. Full marks lad, hilarious...hahaha. Great video, thank you for compiling and posting.

[@Merseywail]

Yes he's an arriva driver so doesn't want to glance at the enemy lol

[@motormouser]

Boy,this bring back some memories! I used the 79's mostly as i lived in Lee Park,with the other route being the 66 to Garston. Happy days!

[@Merseywail]

I was a good day retracing former routes, in a classic Liverpool Atlantean

[@davidmills4292]

Sitting at the back of the lower deck in the middle of winter was pure joy but sheer in in the height of summer best bus ever

[@Merseywail]

I wel remember trying to get on back seat in winter, very cosy! Summer I usually headed upstairs.

[@Andrewjg_89]

That green bus does look really nice. Quite like that green double decker bus.

[@Merseywail]

It was certainly gleaming, having had a good clean & polish for it's "birthday” bash

[@Ted010]

The LCPT Atlanteans were an outstanding bus in terms of what was available all those years ago. The official introduction was in early 1963, but in December 1962, they were introduced on the 86/87 routes but were quickly withdrawn with problems with the brakes in the very cold weather at the time. The problem was quickly sorted at Edge Lane.

[@Merseywail]

The Atlantean had it's issues at first but were to be ironed out. In terms of sales they were far more successful than a certain red bus that was only sold to two operators yet owners think they are the best thing since sliced bread

[@seansands424]

They looked so modern while us in the southwest still had haft cab single decker's from the 40s

[@duncan649]

Back in those wonderful days that we were privileged to have witnessed, bus travel was an occasion to savour. This magnificent bus has real poise and elegance. I remember travelling on the Edinburgh Atlanteans rattling over the cobbles of the old city. Nowadays they are just boxes on wheels.

[@Merseywail]

@@duncan649 liverpool switched over the Atlantean in a big way. It was a popular make

[@solutionfinance-zv9mu]

🔥🔥🔥

[@joerhorton]

Brings back memories of buying a saveaway ticket in the early 80's and then going on various trips/routes as much as I could for that day! My Bus was the 12c!

[@Merseywail]

Think we all did that. Am more north end so my saveaway days always started with Ribble routes 57 or 58

[@merseydave1]

Being born in 1965 and living on the Childwall Valley Estate opposite the new Lidl (Corrie & betting shop now gone) I must have got on that 79 bus numerous times.

[@Merseywail]

You could well been on that particular now Preserved bus as well

[@1171karl]

2:06 🤣

[@Merseywail]

Good timing by Terry Morris

[@GsCConcrete123]

Liverpools Leyland Atlanteans. L501 Tour 😁😁😁😁 all ways so good. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Merseywail]

They were a common sight growing up in Liverpool in 60s & 70s

[@seansands424]

Liverpool buses were way more modern than the London buses@@Merseywail

[@Merseywail]

@@seansands424 London was reluctant to move away from the back loading Routemasters. When they did get rear engine buses they had numerous problems with them. Though funny enough when they were sold on they gave their new owners years of reliable service.

[@seansands424]

@@Merseywail Liverpool had a version of open beck buses not Routemasters another make as well as the rear engine buses

[@Merseywail]

@@seansands424 yes they had various types of half cab open platform buses, Leyland, Daimler or, AEC being the main chassis manufacturers. Bodies were also varied, with some made /finished at Edge Lane.

[@TonyCarter-tj5cb]

When I was about 5 or 6 (1966/67)I was with my mate on an Atlantean bus from Belle vale/ Netherley and when it got to Picton Road/Dunstan street the driver opened the door before the stop and I jumped off and ended up with my foot under one of the wheels.The buses serial number was L730.Does anyone know what happened to all the mid 60,s Atlanteans or where I might get a pic of this bus ?

[@Merseywail]

@@TonyCarter-tj5cb ouch. A picture of it will probably be in someone's collection. The transport collectors fair they have at Manchester is a good bet to find one

[@TonyCarter-tj5cb]

@@Merseywail thanks mate 👍🏻

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

I used Atlantean buses between East Grinstead and Crawley.

[@Merseywail]

Would they have been London Country buses,? i don't know a lot about that location. Liverpool became a big user of the Atlantean, though a few fleetlines & Bristol VRs did enter the fleet