Express Duple-icate.
For decades throughout the last century, Britain's industrial manufacturing regions had their traditional holiday fortnight shut down or 'Wakes weeks'. Accompanying this was herculean efforts by transport providers, both rail and road based to take the populous away on their hols. The coming of the private car, an increase in foreign travel and the loss of said industry saw the need collapse as the 20th century drew to a close.
For bus operators, everything which was capable of making the intended journey was mobilised and usually given a spruce up. Here in Stoke on Trent, long lines of Double Deckers - semi 'Lowbridge' Atlanteans or pedestrian Daimler Fleetlines with re-painted wheels set off for Blackpool or North Wales with cases stacked at the rear of the lower deck.
By the end of the 1980s when the above picture was taken of a nearly new Duple 300 bodied Leyland Tiger belonging to Ralph Bullock of Cheadle (Cheshire) business was on the wane. The very tidy looking coach seated service bus is seen at a refreshment halt midway through it's journey to Pwllheli. If memory serves me correctly, it was captured at 'The Leprechaun', a popular stop at the English / Welsh border town of Queensferry. The establishment also provided sandwiches for the driver and a 50p gift.
The coach in the picture is a Duple Goldliner bodied Leyland Tiger belonging to Bostock's of Congleton.
Express Duple-icate.
For decades throughout the last century, Britain's industrial manufacturing regions had their traditional holiday fortnight shut down or 'Wakes weeks'. Accompanying this was herculean efforts by transport providers, both rail and road based to take the populous away on their hols. The coming of the private car, an increase in foreign travel and the loss of said industry saw the need collapse as the 20th century drew to a close.
For bus operators, everything which was capable of making the intended journey was mobilised and usually given a spruce up. Here in Stoke on Trent, long lines of Double Deckers - semi 'Lowbridge' Atlanteans or pedestrian Daimler Fleetlines with re-painted wheels set off for Blackpool or North Wales with cases stacked at the rear of the lower deck.
By the end of the 1980s when the above picture was taken of a nearly new Duple 300 bodied Leyland Tiger belonging to Ralph Bullock of Cheadle (Cheshire) business was on the wane. The very tidy looking coach seated service bus is seen at a refreshment halt midway through it's journey to Pwllheli. If memory serves me correctly, it was captured at 'The Leprechaun', a popular stop at the English / Welsh border town of Queensferry. The establishment also provided sandwiches for the driver and a 50p gift.
The coach in the picture is a Duple Goldliner bodied Leyland Tiger belonging to Bostock's of Congleton.