Western S.M.T. AD1544, MSD 408, is a 1959 Leyland Titan PD3/3 with Walter Alexander 67 seat, lowbridge bodywork and a Leyland O.600 engine.
When new it was allocated to Cumnock depot as fleet number CD1544 until 1972. From then till the end of its working life it was allocated to Ayr depot becoming fleet number AD1544. A private preservationist from Lancashire bought the bus straight out of service from Western in 1978. The bus was worked on for about two years and was last taxed in 1980. It then spent the best part of 25 years in storage in Lancashire before returning home. Whilst in Lancashire very minimal restoration work was done, so the bus had the benefit of being in straight out of service condition other than having several bits missing. It was in fact repainted in 1977 by Western and still has a 1977 Ayr depot destination screen on board! The paintwork is in fantastic condition, so it may be possible, with the help of some T-Cut and a coat of varnish to leave the original paintwork intact.
The plan in the short term is to retain the bus in its out of service condition, as of 1978 as AD1544 and not to restore to concourse condition. Over the following years progress to an “as new” condition may take place, but one step at a time.
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- Registration
- MSD 408
- Chassis type
- Leyland Titan PD3/3
- Chassis number
- 590195
- Body type and seating
- Alexander L35/32RD
- Body number
- 5781
- Date new
- July 1959
- Original operator
- Western SMT (D1544)