Manchester 1001 Outside Heaton Park

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 2 Sep 2012

Manchester Corporation 1001 (HVM 901F), a Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 with Park Royal bodywork, is waiting outside the Middleton Road gates at Heaton Park. The preserved bus is operating a heritage bus service running between the park and the Museum of Transport on Boyle Street, in connection with the 2012 Trans Lancs Rally. 1001 was the first bus to carry the new design of bodywork (known as “Mancunian”) and was the first ever purpose-built, dual door, one-man operated, double deck bus in the United Kingdom. When first delivered, in 1968, these buses looked spectacular, and caused quite a stir with their “reversed” livery, white and red instead of the usual red and cream of Manchester Corporation. Since being withdrawn in 1981, it has been preserved at the Museum of Transport http://www.gmts.co.uk/explore/vehicles/profiles/1001.html . The Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally is organised by Greater Manchester Transport Society. It is their annual rally which traditionally takes place on the first Sunday in September and finishes at Heaton Park. It the largest event of its kind held in the North of England. Each year, it attracts over two hundred vehicles of all types from the ever-popular buses to the smaller groups of classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, vans, fire engines, and army trucks.

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