regentlad
Sent from Birmingham
In 1953 the first part of Edinburgh's tram withdrawals was underway. Edinburgh Corporation were engaged in a trial - that of a Leyland bus and it's suitability for serving the city, a sense of urgency pervaded given the Corporation's decision to scrap trams in favour of buses.
FOF 298, new in 1939, a Leyland TD7c with 52 seat body had already made its mark on Birmingham's front line tram conversions at Roseberry Street garage. It arrived at Gorgie depot, given fleet colours and number 185 and sent on services 3, 4 and 33. A very traditional advert was added ! It was the forerunner of future Wilson gear transmissions - in particular Leyland Atlanteans that would come much later to Edinburgh. But in the immediate future an order was placed for 300 Leyland PD2/20's so ending Edinburgh's long association with Daimler.
A Guy and a Leyland wait in the background as the 'Comet' makes a turn at Stenhouse terminus screened for 'Inch' . Both the Stenhouse and Inch housing areas were the initiative of the renowned City Architect Ebeneezer (Ben) MacRae. In 1954 the bus was returned to Leyland for further research but the 33 route lives on, albeit now extended considerably to serve Wester Hailes and Sheriffhall. Gorgie, a converted tram depot situated beyond Westfield Road, finally closed in 1957 by which time nearby garages at Longstone and Tollcross had taken over the work.
Sent from Birmingham
In 1953 the first part of Edinburgh's tram withdrawals was underway. Edinburgh Corporation were engaged in a trial - that of a Leyland bus and it's suitability for serving the city, a sense of urgency pervaded given the Corporation's decision to scrap trams in favour of buses.
FOF 298, new in 1939, a Leyland TD7c with 52 seat body had already made its mark on Birmingham's front line tram conversions at Roseberry Street garage. It arrived at Gorgie depot, given fleet colours and number 185 and sent on services 3, 4 and 33. A very traditional advert was added ! It was the forerunner of future Wilson gear transmissions - in particular Leyland Atlanteans that would come much later to Edinburgh. But in the immediate future an order was placed for 300 Leyland PD2/20's so ending Edinburgh's long association with Daimler.
A Guy and a Leyland wait in the background as the 'Comet' makes a turn at Stenhouse terminus screened for 'Inch' . Both the Stenhouse and Inch housing areas were the initiative of the renowned City Architect Ebeneezer (Ben) MacRae. In 1954 the bus was returned to Leyland for further research but the 33 route lives on, albeit now extended considerably to serve Wester Hailes and Sheriffhall. Gorgie, a converted tram depot situated beyond Westfield Road, finally closed in 1957 by which time nearby garages at Longstone and Tollcross had taken over the work.