452 ETO 452C
New To: - Nottingham City Transport
Chassis: - Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2 L40453
Body: - Metro Cammell H45/31F
History
452 was new in October 1965 as part of a batch of 40 similar buses, It was built with 45 seats upstairs and 31 in the lower saloon and a front entrance. Subsequently, it was rebuilt by Seddon in February 1971 (rebuild no.RB848) to a 72 seater entrance / separate exit layout H45/27D, in line with new buses entering the fleet.
452 represents and early version of what is known as the “Nottingham Standard” design, which gave Nottingham’s buses a distinctive look for many years. Features included an angled destination making it easier to see, higher internal ceilings, curved upper deck front windows and windscreens, and a standardisation of parts between different vehicles for ease of maintenance.
The bus operated for over 15 years in Nottingham. In March 1981 with the imminent arrival of the new Leyland AN68's it was renumbered 52 and operated for its final months primarily as a driver trainer.
Withdrawn in May 1981 and stored at Parliament Street depot it passed to Smiths of Alcester, near Stratford on 15th of May 1981 for £650+Vat, being collected on 29th of May 1981.
By September 1985 the vehicle had passed to the Home Office for use with the Fire Service at their Moreton In Marsh training college. For over a decade the bus remained a runner, being driven onto the training ground when required and garaged undercover at other times. Despite this the majority of the structure remained undamaged so the decision was taken by others to acquire the vehicle for preservation.
The bus was made ready to make its journey back to Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre at Ruddington.
Little work was carried out there, and after many attempts the bus was acquired by Notts and Derby Heritage Transport Group, the forerunner of NHVC, in 2006.
Since acquisition we have to date managed to rebuild the entire roof structure where required, which involved fitting new roof sticks as the original ones were buckled. All lower saloon panels have been removed to enable the replacement of the steel floor rail and side structure bar along both sides of the vehicle. To enable this intensive work to be carried out it has been necessary to remove the lower saloon flooring. Along with replacing much of the steel structure we have also rebuilt the vehicle to its original front entrance layout.
This has been quite a mammoth task owing to the quality of the conversion carried out by Seddon in the 1970's.
The internal lower saloon floor has been removed and the chassis cleaned up with a needle gun, treated and painted. Work has also commenced to mock up the original staircase layout with a view to accurately fabricating a replacement. Before this is done the entire body wiring loom needs to be reworked and repositioned owing to the changes made over 40 years ago when the conversion to one man operation was carried out.
The bus has taken a back seat in the restoration queue, but remains undercover awaiting its turn.
Relevance to Collection
452 is the earliest surviving example of the Nottingham 'Standard'.
Chassis: - Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2 L40453
Body: - Metro Cammell H45/31F
History
452 was new in October 1965 as part of a batch of 40 similar buses, It was built with 45 seats upstairs and 31 in the lower saloon and a front entrance. Subsequently, it was rebuilt by Seddon in February 1971 (rebuild no.RB848) to a 72 seater entrance / separate exit layout H45/27D, in line with new buses entering the fleet.
452 represents and early version of what is known as the “Nottingham Standard” design, which gave Nottingham’s buses a distinctive look for many years. Features included an angled destination making it easier to see, higher internal ceilings, curved upper deck front windows and windscreens, and a standardisation of parts between different vehicles for ease of maintenance.
The bus operated for over 15 years in Nottingham. In March 1981 with the imminent arrival of the new Leyland AN68's it was renumbered 52 and operated for its final months primarily as a driver trainer.
Withdrawn in May 1981 and stored at Parliament Street depot it passed to Smiths of Alcester, near Stratford on 15th of May 1981 for £650+Vat, being collected on 29th of May 1981.
By September 1985 the vehicle had passed to the Home Office for use with the Fire Service at their Moreton In Marsh training college. For over a decade the bus remained a runner, being driven onto the training ground when required and garaged undercover at other times. Despite this the majority of the structure remained undamaged so the decision was taken by others to acquire the vehicle for preservation.
The bus was made ready to make its journey back to Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre at Ruddington.
Little work was carried out there, and after many attempts the bus was acquired by Notts and Derby Heritage Transport Group, the forerunner of NHVC, in 2006.
Since acquisition we have to date managed to rebuild the entire roof structure where required, which involved fitting new roof sticks as the original ones were buckled. All lower saloon panels have been removed to enable the replacement of the steel floor rail and side structure bar along both sides of the vehicle. To enable this intensive work to be carried out it has been necessary to remove the lower saloon flooring. Along with replacing much of the steel structure we have also rebuilt the vehicle to its original front entrance layout.
This has been quite a mammoth task owing to the quality of the conversion carried out by Seddon in the 1970's.
The internal lower saloon floor has been removed and the chassis cleaned up with a needle gun, treated and painted. Work has also commenced to mock up the original staircase layout with a view to accurately fabricating a replacement. Before this is done the entire body wiring loom needs to be reworked and repositioned owing to the changes made over 40 years ago when the conversion to one man operation was carried out.
The bus has taken a back seat in the restoration queue, but remains undercover awaiting its turn.
Relevance to Collection
452 is the earliest surviving example of the Nottingham 'Standard'.