RNU433X Leyland Atlantean AN68C/1R with Northern Counties H47/33D Bodywork
In Service
Chassis No. 8100387 Body No. 2078
433 was delivered on the 17th of September 1981, being registered and entering service on the 1st of October. It was originally destined to be registered ORA433W, but owing to production delays at Northern Counties this registration was surrendered.
The bus was repainted twice during its time with Nottingham, this being in July 1985 and then November 1989. In October 1991 the seating capacity was reduced to H47/32D by replacing the first seat downstairs with a single width frame, creating a wider entrance gangway.
Sold for further use
Withdrawn in December 1998 the bus spent four months in store at Gotham Depot prior to purchase by Wellglade subsidiary Kinchbus of Heanor in March 1999 for operation on school services in the Loughborough area.
New operator - same livery !
Allocated fleet number 680, 433 operated in NCT livery for a further two and a half years until purchase by Paul S. Winson in August 2001. Here it operated for a little under a year prior to purchase by ourselves in July 2002.
Purchased by ourselves !
As can be seen here, at the time of purchase we also cannibalised sister vehicle 432 for all usable spares.
July 2002 Sandtoft Rally
Following its attendance at the Sandtoft Gathering we found that the bus needed its heads skimming along with the timing case gasket replacing. This work was undertaken prior to the Meadowhall Rally in the September and the impending storage prior to restoration.
Into store pending restoration
433 was purchased with the view to returning it to 'as new' condition in a few years time. With this in mind many other Nottingham Atlanteans have been acquired to provide usefull spares over the past years. Some of these including 445 shown here have since been broken up. Others including 435 and Roe body 476 have been returned to service with a friendly local operator with a view to returning to us in future years. At least this way they dont sit and rot like so many other vehicles secured for eventual preservation. We decided to take this approach as 433 stood from September 2002 until April 2007 prior to commencement of restoration, leading to a whole host of silly and irritating problems to deal with.
April 2007 & work commences.
Work started in earnest back in April 2007 with the removal of all outer panels for inspection of the framework.Unfortunately the steel former anchored to the 'T' section framework was found to be rotten throughout the vehicle. This led to all the pillars below the upper deck floor rail being replaced with new sections. Once completed all the inner panels were treated with anti rust coatings and new panels fitted.
All the lower deck window pans have been removed leading to three being replaced due to aluminium corrosion. By August 2007 the bus was starting to look a little healthier with all the between deck panels refitted and the lower saloon structural work completed.
August 2007
What a month ! All remaining panels were replaced, two new entrance steps created from framework upwards, the interior panels at the rear removed and replaced with those from 432 & the nearside roof reskinned to replace those panels that lost their battle with the trees. Unfortunately this proved to be every bay !
More work !
It was then decided to remove the front end to reposition it properly and to replace the wiper assembly with that from 432 as 433's had seen better days. At the same time the framework was treated, a new washer bottle and pump fitted, the horn replaced and the towing link straightened.
Nearly ready for painting
We have replaced the step nosing on the entrance steps, fitted better door brushes, rubbed down the entire vehicle and finally prepared it for its test and subsequent trip to the painters. It was decided to have this vehicle brush painted.
The images above and below show the bus just prior to going to the paintshop. At this stage all the windows were removed. They were refitted with new rubber extrusions once the paint had been applied.
Completed.... almost
This picture shows 433 after it had been painted, and all fleetnames applied. It now awaits refurbishment of the interior, and fitting of a good set of seats.