Thamesdown 158, Penhill, Swindon, 1976
In late 1973, Swindon Corporation took delivery of ten Metro-Cammell-Weymann (MCW) bodied Fleetlines. These buses would be the last bus purchases before the operator became Thamesdown Transport. This came about as a consequence of the 1972 Local Government Reorganisation Act, enacted in April 1974.
In appearance, the ten buses closely resembled the numerous MCW-bodied Fleetlines being delivered to West Midlands PTE at that time, although the ten (156-165) were finished to a Swindon Corporation specification.
It may well have been that the order was 'tacked' on to the back of existing WMPTE orders then in production to bring down costs? That is speculation on my part, but was something that frequently happened within the industry. Cardiff Corporation had also ordered similar MCW bodied Fleetlines for delivery in 1971 & 1972.
The image shows Thamesdown 158 on Penhill Drive, North Swindon in 1976 following the Thamesdown changeover. The bus is working the No14 cross-town service to 'Lawn' via Swindon, an area to the South of the town.
Following withdrawal of these buses in the 1980s, some were sold on for further service with independent operators. Of these, 165 was converted to open-top for use along Scarborough seafront during the 1990s.
Today, I don't think any of these ten buses survive, other than the running chassis of 156, which is on display at the Transport Museum Wythall.
24th April 1976.
Scanned from the original 35mm slide.
Thamesdown 158, Penhill, Swindon, 1976
In late 1973, Swindon Corporation took delivery of ten Metro-Cammell-Weymann (MCW) bodied Fleetlines. These buses would be the last bus purchases before the operator became Thamesdown Transport. This came about as a consequence of the 1972 Local Government Reorganisation Act, enacted in April 1974.
In appearance, the ten buses closely resembled the numerous MCW-bodied Fleetlines being delivered to West Midlands PTE at that time, although the ten (156-165) were finished to a Swindon Corporation specification.
It may well have been that the order was 'tacked' on to the back of existing WMPTE orders then in production to bring down costs? That is speculation on my part, but was something that frequently happened within the industry. Cardiff Corporation had also ordered similar MCW bodied Fleetlines for delivery in 1971 & 1972.
The image shows Thamesdown 158 on Penhill Drive, North Swindon in 1976 following the Thamesdown changeover. The bus is working the No14 cross-town service to 'Lawn' via Swindon, an area to the South of the town.
Following withdrawal of these buses in the 1980s, some were sold on for further service with independent operators. Of these, 165 was converted to open-top for use along Scarborough seafront during the 1990s.
Today, I don't think any of these ten buses survive, other than the running chassis of 156, which is on display at the Transport Museum Wythall.
24th April 1976.
Scanned from the original 35mm slide.