Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R

This vehicle was new as Greater Glasgow PTE LA1204, entering service from Larkfield depot in October 1977. It was part of the last batch of Atlanteans before the improved high-drive cab position was introduced (LA1251 up), and at this stage the attractive, but inherently weak, panoramic-windowed bodywork style was continued as the major body defects had not really come to light. GGPTE became Strathclyde PTE in December 1980, and the bus moved to Gartcraig garage in September 1982, then to Knightswood in December that year, to Ibrox the following August, back to Gartcraig in May 1984, then to Parkhead at the end of August 1986.

Strathclyde Buses Ltd. took over services at deregulation in October 1986, but LA1204 remained at Parkhead. It moved to the GCT low cost unit in September 1996 (officially renumbered GLA1204) for just one month before October withdrawal, although it remained in the reserve fleet until 19½ years old, being sold in April 1997.

Most Atlanteans withdrawn by FirstBus-owned SBL at this time were scrapped, but LA1204 was sold to Glasgow City Council, for whom it was fitted out as an exhibition centre, receiving an overall yellow paint scheme (including vinyls on the windows), and lettering for the Council’s “Fit For Life” campaign.

After five years based at the cleansing depot at Polmadie, mostly in the open air, the bus was donated to the Glasgow Bus Museum in November 2002. As the GBM charity was wound up, the bus was privately purchased in January 2004 and is still stored at Bridgeton Bus Garage, now under the control of the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.

Full restoration work to the outside of the bus and repairs to the vehicle structure are now complete with the exterior of the bus restored to Strathclyde’s Buses orange and black livery. After its work as an exhibition centre, restoration of the interior required considerable work and this is still underway although it is now back in use, and the remaining restoration is down to small finishing touches to be completed over the next year.