CWK205 (2009)

A TALE OF 2 ATLANTEANS.
T.W.MOORE
338 and 339

The first CCT Atlantean, 338, had a starring roll when new on the Willowbrook stand at the 1964 Commercial Motor Show. (see pic. 1.) There was a lot of interest in the bus, it was the first Atlantean with a flat floor, a specification requested by the CCT…..all locally built Daimler Fleetlines had a flat floor in the completed bus, ……but we won’t go into that now.

But 338 as a six year old bus, after a breakdown, stood at the side of Sandy Lane Overhaul Works, out of service for 2 years. During that time it had been raided of spare parts and was looking really sorry for itself, it seemed 338 would never enter service again. Then came Mr Smith, (I am not sure I have the correct name), the newly appointed CCT Overhaul Superintendent who soon made strides to get 338 in service again. It must have cost a lot to prepare 338 for the road again. We might ask. Why was it not repaired sooner it must have cost far more after 2 years than it would have following the breakdown A six year old bus was worth its weight in any fleet. The repairs were worth it for 338 went on in Coventry service until withdrawn in 1980.

339 was the first Atlantean to be withdrawn in 1970, after a sever fire that totally gutted the top deck. I remember photographing the firemen dousing down the burnt out remains of that upper saloon at the top of Beake Ave. (see pic2) From the outside of the bus, the top deck damage is seen, where as the lower deck seems ok, smoke damaged yes, (see pic 3). Surely 339 could have been rebuilt with a new top deck and not scrapped for spares as it was? (Did someone say 1 down 21 to go)


Pictures are rare of 339, so I have included pic 4, taken in Corporation St for you to see.

Later Fleetline 375 suffered a similar fire, destroying the top deck, (see pic 5,) but this bus was rebuilt and returned to service. Were the repairs done at Sandy Lane or Willowbrook does anyone know?

We all might ask. Why 375 was saved and 339 was scrapped?

THE WORKS SUPERINDTENDENT WAS DANNY COX. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF OVERHAULS ,LABOUR COULD NOT BE SPARED TO RECTIFY 338,AND OF COURSE IT BECAME A DONOR FOR OTHER VEHICLES,UNTIL FINALLY WE MANAGED TO PUT IT BACK INTO SERVICE AFTER TWO YEARS,WHEN A RIBBON WAS TIED ACROSS THE EXIT DOOR AS IT WAS TOWED OUT PASSED CHEERING STAFF. WHEN IT WAS FINALLY SCRAPPED, IT STILL HAD MOST OF THE CHROME WHEEL NUTS ON THAT WHERE FITTED FOR THE COMMERCIAL SHOW.

339 WAS BEYOND REPAIR , THE LOWER SALOON APPEARED OK,BUT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TROUBLE THE LEYLANDS WHERE GIVING,I THINK THIS WAS AN EXCUSE TO SCRAP IT.

375 WAS REPAIRED IN SANDY LANE WORKS BECAUSE IT WAS A FLEETLINE,IF IT HAD BEEN AN ATLANTEAN IT WOULD HAVE MET UP WITH 339.

When i was fairly young, my parents took me to London to visit the Commercial Motor Show of 1964, originally to see the first of the new buses for Coventry. We must have spent an hour having a good look around the Leyland Atlantean ordered by the city and i so remember walking along both decks, in what to me was something really futuristic. It was a big treat for me and i could not get over its new style livery. I have not missed a show since, even the ones held at the NEC. But i think my favourite part in the early days was the Demostration park outside, of which i have many photos.

I must correct the pictures above.
Pic 4 is of 375..... showing its burnt out top deck
Pic. 5 is of 339..... a rare pic of the bus. taken in Corporation St. tom

Here's a view of the 1970 Fire victim "CDU 339B", seen when brand new and parked up at the Keresley Works before its entry into service with "CCT" !!!