Driving Dee Decker Tours ex-Sydney Atlantean 1056

My first Atlantean drive for over 20 years was of this ex-Sydney example, 1056, with the lightest steering I've ever encountered on an 'old' Leyland, by a wide margin!
As can be seen, the bus has been in 'party bus' mode for some time now, hence the red leather dashboard, rebuilt windscreens and much improved driving seat & position.
Responsive to drive, with a very nice Westinghouse air gear change (a favourite unit of mine - I love these boxes!) - it was a joy to be most kindly given the Atlantean to drive by Darryl at Dee Decker Tours, where Phil Mackay and I were given the warmest of welcomes. Thank you Dee Decker Tours and good on you!

[@johnmcmanus129]

God I grew up in Dublin riding on these class of decker, they were known as the bone shakers, :D instilled my love of big vehicles and probably why I wound up driving buses myself, lovely video :)

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Thank you :)

[@rongeremy6970]

Great shifting there,,, very nice great sound.👍👍👍 I restore the pneumatic gear shifters off these old buses, great fun.. how do you go for getting parts for them,,????

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Great comment, thanks Ron - try UK specialists in parts like Ray Trigg (online)?

[@rongeremy6970]

@@johng.lidstone2236 thanks for the heads up,👍

[@XxABLExX-cg6zi]

what a bus...

[@johng.lidstone2236]

It was the lightest Leyland I've ever driven. A beaut of a bus.

[@nutsnproud6932]

Proper driver. Well done mate!

[@johng.lidstone2236]

hey thank you for that :) much appreciated.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Steering wheel looks straight out of the 1930s. The two spoke version looks smarter and a bit more modern.

[@nww69]

This guy seems to have some english training on how to use the correct steering wheel technique , no hands cross over or using spokes like the other vid with young guy driving.

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Thank you for your comments. That guy is me :) I passed my PSV driving test in June 1977 and have driven similar buses in the UK, but not for 20 years until this day. The young guy isn't as young as he looks and was/is a driver with Sydney Buses.

[@rongeremy6970]

@@johng.lidstone2236 how do you go getting parts for the gear shifters ?? I restore them ,, great vid,,

[@johng.lidstone2236]

Phil's drive of this has hit 56,000 views whereas mine has barely scraped 8,000 so I reckon it's his boyish looks rather than steering wheel 'driving school' techniques lol

[@petea2485]

Theres nothing wrong with crossing your hands when steering. Done it for 35 years without an accident caused by doing it. Load of tripe

[@Fung哥]

hi

[@lollopollo9006]

WHAT A BUS...

[@johng.lidstone2236]

It was surprisingly lovely to drive. Steering light as a feather - for a Leyland, remarkable.