POPS Buses

LEYLAND OPD2 L466 (NEH466) L466 was the first bus owned by POPS upon foundation in 1977. An OPD2 is the export version of the PD2 Titan normally produced for the home market. It was delivered to PMT as a single decker with Weymann body in 1949. The need for double deckers increased in the mid 1950s, and as the chassis was capable of carrying this type of body it received the Northern Counties body seen today. Withdrawal from service took place in 1972 and 466 became a driver training bus wearing a light blue livery. One of only two OPD2s preserved in the UK (the other is PMT L453), the low bridge body features an offside sunken gangway on the upper deck. 466 is preserved in pre NBC PMT red & cream livery.

LEYLAND ATLANTEAN L9766 (766EVT) This was the second bus to be acquired by POPS. One of the first production Atlanteans, 766 entered service with PMT in 1959 and was secured for preservation 21 years later in 1980. The bus carries a low bridge Weymann body with an unusual layout towards the rear of the upper deck. PMT took 105 of this type with several lasting in service until 1980. Understood to be the second oldest Atlantean in preservation, it is the oldest rear engined double decker to have been formerly owned by the National Bus Company. 766 is preserved in pre NBC PMT red & cream livery.

BRISTOL VR 604 (OEH604M) From the first batch of VRs delivered to PMT in 1974, 604 is a series II with ECW body and Gardner engine. It was built to to the ultra-low height specification required by PMT. Final service days were with Thomas, Rhondda, from whom it was purchased by a private preservationist in 2000. Negotiations for a sale to bring the bus back to The Potteries were concluded by POPS in 2005. In need of much work, extensive restoration was carried out by Reliance Bus Works. 604 is preserved in NBC red livery.

MERCEDES 608D MMM120 (C120VBF) 120 came straight out of service in 1999 and into preservation following a request by PMT to save the vehicle. Besides being an example of the mini bus genre, its significance is that this was the first production (rather than prototype) minibus conversion carried out by PMT Enginerring during the years the company was a private concern. MMM120 is preserved in privatised PMT red & yellow, and carries the Crosville style fleet number in use at the time of withdrawal.

AEC RELIANCE C1043 (AEH143C) A former PMT coach with Plaxton body dating from 1965. C1043 was kindly donated to POPS for restoration, after being held in storage on Anglesey. A long term project, due to the anticipated costs, C1043 is safely stored pending sufficient funding.

POPS BUSES

POTTERIES OMNIBUS PRESERVATION SOCIETY