Oldham Corporation Leyland 'Atlantean' bus
In the 1960s, the law was changed to allow a double deck bus to be operated by just one person, the driver, who would also collect fares. The law specified some needs for buses to be operated in this way - such as passenger doors with no open platform, and a means for the driver to see the upper saloon without leaving their seat.
This photo of an Oldham Leyland 'Atlantean' bus shows how this was done - with a periscope and a convex mirror in the offside front corner of the bus. The wasn't perfect and didn't deter what became an epidemic of vandalism in the 1970s with ripped seats, graffiti and even arson.
If you look closely at the poster at top left you'll see another innovation that was associated with one-man buses (and they were all men, at that time). This was the farebox, with the coins dropped by the passenger into a transparent box next to the driver who would, once he was happy that the correct amount was in the box, permit the passenger to enter. But some drivers soon found ways to make sure money didn't all enter the box, either by adjusting the slot so that some money fell outside the locked cashbox, or by offering change for a fare that then went into the pocket instead of the box; and also passengers, without the need for a ticket, could get past the driver without paying and then there was no way for an inspector to tell who had or hadn't paid their fare.
Another sign of the sixties is the 'box' pattern laminate finish: bus operators were becoming more interested in buses being attractive to ride on and Oldham used this finish instead of a plain colour.
If you'd like to know more about the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester and its collection of vintage buses, go to www.gmts.co.uk.
Oldham Corporation Leyland 'Atlantean' bus
In the 1960s, the law was changed to allow a double deck bus to be operated by just one person, the driver, who would also collect fares. The law specified some needs for buses to be operated in this way - such as passenger doors with no open platform, and a means for the driver to see the upper saloon without leaving their seat.
This photo of an Oldham Leyland 'Atlantean' bus shows how this was done - with a periscope and a convex mirror in the offside front corner of the bus. The wasn't perfect and didn't deter what became an epidemic of vandalism in the 1970s with ripped seats, graffiti and even arson.
If you look closely at the poster at top left you'll see another innovation that was associated with one-man buses (and they were all men, at that time). This was the farebox, with the coins dropped by the passenger into a transparent box next to the driver who would, once he was happy that the correct amount was in the box, permit the passenger to enter. But some drivers soon found ways to make sure money didn't all enter the box, either by adjusting the slot so that some money fell outside the locked cashbox, or by offering change for a fare that then went into the pocket instead of the box; and also passengers, without the need for a ticket, could get past the driver without paying and then there was no way for an inspector to tell who had or hadn't paid their fare.
Another sign of the sixties is the 'box' pattern laminate finish: bus operators were becoming more interested in buses being attractive to ride on and Oldham used this finish instead of a plain colour.
If you'd like to know more about the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester and its collection of vintage buses, go to www.gmts.co.uk.