The Merseyside Transport Trust

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Preserving Merseyside's bus heritage

Old photos - John Salmon

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All photographs on this page are copyright John Salmon 1978.

The lost film - As a sixteen-year-old, John Salmon took these old black and white pictures and attempted to develop the film himself. Unfortunately, it was under-exposed so the pictures were never printed and the film was stored away in an old box for over thirty years until it was rediscovered. Technology that wasn't around in 1978 has enabled the pictures to be extracted, although the quality isn't very good.

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A visit to the Pier Head in 1978 produced these shots of L509 (509 KD), which was destined to become the last of the LCPT Atlanteans to remain in service, (until 1981), and 1429 (EKD 429L), the front seat cushion of which looks decidedly dodgy!

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Back on ground level at the Pier Head, this view shows eleven Atlanteans, varying in age from 13 years to brand new, and one Metropolitan tucked away in the far corner.

Traffic marshal Eric Gaydou can be seen walking away from the camera, his huge white plastic armbands being the nearest thing at the time to "hi-viz".

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Green Lane Graveyard - by 1978 large numbers of Leyland Panthers were parked up. A few were to reappear with centre doors blocked off, but all those in these pictures had already carried their last passengers in Liverpool. Most were scrapped, but a few survived with other operators.

Above left: 1045 (FKF 924F) is first in a line of twelve Panthers.
Above right: 1078 (RKA 957G) and three others await their fate.
Left: Scania 4009 (CKD 409L) and Panther 1106 (RKA 985G) at Green Lane.

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The Central Bus Station (CBS) was probably the least passenger-friendly bus station on the planet. Basically it was a windswept roadway under a multi-storey car park. A few park benches were placed against the walls, the toilets were upstairs in the car park, there were no pedestrian crossings and when more than eight buses were present, double parking was necessary.

Above left: two Atlanteans on service 26 do their best to park.

Above right: a rear view of 1310 (DKC 310L) on the 26 (Sheil Road Circular)

Right: One of the 1650 batch of Atlanteans approaches from Paradise Street. Note the "Farebox" stickers on the front.

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Leyland Panther 1053

(FKF 932G) speeds past Calderstones Park on Menlove Avenue, with Garston driver Charlie Kelly at the wheel.

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Above left: two Atlanteans and a Panther waiting at the Speke (Eastern Avenue) terminus. The Panther is on newly introduced service 84 to Garston Station, connecting with trains on the newly re-opened Garston Line. Garston Station has since been closed again and trains on this line now call at Liverpool South Parkway Interchange.

Above right: Atlantean 1321 (DKC 321L) descends towards Dale Street on the Churchill Way South flyover, having just worked from Longview via Old Swan and Prescot Road on service 10D. This bus had previously carried an all-over advertisement, which had necessitated the movement of the fleet number plate from its usual location.