LA1443 IN PRESERVATION

LA1443 (UGB196W) was one of the last 99 Atlanteans and one of only 10 actually delivered to Strathclyde PTE. This batch of Atlanteans differed significantly from previous buses. They reverted to the short bay window configuration and featured a new destination arrangement with space for intermediate and ultimate destination blinds, though as a result of Union action only the ultimate destinations would be used and most of the buses were quickly rebuilt with this blind in the centre. Inside, the buses sported orange checked moquette with a different colour scheme throughout. Patterned honeycomb and walnut laminates were used and the result was a much cosier and luxurious feeling bus. These last buses were also fitted with fully automatic transmissions which varied from bus to bus - some being ferociously jerky! LA1440-1449 were initially to be registered UGB193-202W but in the end only three buses went into service as such, the remaining vehicles being licensed after August 1981 and thus wearing CUS-X registrations. LA1443 operated from Knightswood, Possilpark and Parkhead garages during its service life and will be restored in a condition reflecting perhaps a year or two in service. It will be restored in the 'PTE3' livery it was delivered in - very few LAs being so delivered.

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UGB 196W is pictured at George Square still in it's original livery. Although only three years old, the bus had already acquired a revised destination arrangement and lost its grill and PAYE sign. It also now has black wheels and Spafax plastic mirrors (Ian Budd)

LA1443 in Strathclyde's Buses livery in the 1990s. By now the whole front has been replaced by a home-made one. (James Copeland)

One of few Atlanteans to receive the dull First Glasgow red livery, the bus was to remain in service like this for only 8 months before withdrawl. (James Copeland)

Again in George Square and nearly 20 years on, LA1443 was hired from preservation to assist with festivities associated with the UEFA Champions League Final. (Billy Nicol)


LA1443 was purchased from preservationist Michael Roulston in July 2003. It was at the time stored in the by then disused Possilpark Depot before making it's way to Bus World at Hillington. Initially parts were acquired from LA1442 and LA1221 which had also been preserved but were now being broken up. LA1442 provided some useful parts including laminate from the walls which had been replaced at some time with plain black. Unfortunately the price for this was high with 18 months of sciatica to follow! At the point of purchase, a roll of original spec moquette was included to ensure the interior could be properly restored. A further roll was bought later as one proved to be insufficient. These pictures were taken just after purchase in a gloomy Possilpark Depot.
(Mark Budd)


MAY 2006
Since purchase, most of the parts required to finish the bus have been sourced, excluding those which will be re-manufactured. These have come from a wide variety of sources but every attention to detail has been paid.

When LA1443 was moved to Hillington it was allowed to run out of diesel. Then it was parked against a wall which meant the bonnet couldn't be opened! The air tanks then couldn't be charged because the Suzy connector at the front was corroded and without air pressure the bus could not be moved because the safety brake was pushed on. The front panel was removed and a brand new connector fitted. This allowed us to pull the bus forward and prime the engine with diesel. After fitting brand new batteries, the bus eventually started. It would not however engage any gear above 2nd and this was found to be caused by some vandalism. Someone had cut the air lines to the gearbox which had at some time been replaced with plastic tubing. This was temporarily repaired although original metal ones have now been sourced and await fitting. Mechanical problems identified are limited to leaks in the PAS system, the gearbox and recently the coolant system, although this is suspected to be a loose hose clip.

Meanwhile, the interior of the bus has been stripped of seats and work is underway stripping every frame back to bare metal and recoating them in the original buff colour. Every seat has been re-upholstered with a full set of walnut effect laminate seatbacks being acquired in the process. An original driver's seat has also been trimmed and the anti-vandal fibreglass seats in the rear upper deck have all been removed and original replacements trimmed. The upper deck has now been thoroughly cleaned with a replacement periscope mirror being chrome cleaned and fitted, a new destination box door being put together using the original and that from LA1442 with brand new chromed caps being fitted. These have also been fitted to the fibreglass heater cover in the lower deck which was taken from LA1442. A few upper deck windows require to be replaced, some with new rubber before seat refitting can begin although the full width back seat has already been fitted. The upper deck strip lights were removed, cleaned and the reflectors repainted white. Original plastic gaskets have also been fitted.

An original style front panel (from Grampian NRS311W) was sourced through FirstBus - thanks to Liam McLafferty for arranging this for us.

During 2005, LA1443 was granted a place in the GVVT collection at Bridgeton Bus Garage where the restoration is being completed.
(Sean Moriarty)



JULY 2006
Work has continued on the upper deck of the bus with the necessary off side windows replaced or re-rubbered. The fitting of restored seats has thus begun. Some used ribbed Treadmaster has been carefully removed from a Newcastle Olympian from the Magicbus fleet to replace a section which was missing from the lower deck. The displaced section of plain lino will then hopefully be used to patch a poor repair upstairs before all the seats are fitted - assuming it will come up in one piece.

AUGUST 2006
All of the restored upper deck off-side seats have now been fitted and most of the near-side are ready to go in with just windows swaps holding this up. The lino patch is fine although it would be nice to someday re-lino the whole bus as this is now letting it down. That said, I don't want to have to ask people to take off their shoes before coming aboard - it is a bus after all!
A new flasher unit has the indicators working once more although a poor repair to the wiper arm fixing will see this needing to be replaced as the weld has broken. Suitable parts have yet to be located.
(Mark Budd, Sean Moriarty)
Another photograph of LA1443 in service was found at Lathalmond this year. I do not have the copyright holder's details but if it is yours, please get in touch. The bus is newer than the previous photos I have and still has its PAYE sign fitted.

OCTOBER 2006
It was decided to give the bus it's first wash as it may be in red livery for a while longer and as this is now historic in itself it should at least be cleaned up a bit! Washing a double decker shouldn't be under estimated!

Fleet number plates for this bus have been made alongside those for LA927 and look as near to perfect as I could have hoped for. I have also removed the paint from the wiper arms to reveal the original stainless steel. I had managed to source brand new silver wiper blade fittings and these have been temporarily fitted to the bus. I had removed the spindle from the wiper assembly of an ex-Newcastle Atlantean of similar vintage but it turned out to be much longer than the broken one I had and would not fit correctly. Instead the old part has been welded and the wipers now function once more. Additionally a large LEYLAND badge has been secured for the bonnet, this having been removed from an Edinburgh Atlantean way back in the early 1980s. These were apparently removed because the painters did not like having to paint around them!


DECEMBER 2006
The remaining windows on the near side of the upper deck have now been removed but it is too cold to easily fit the replacements just now. 2 small sections of black laminate around the windows had been broken and these have now been replaced although this involved removing some of the securing strips for the headlining.


FEBRUARY 2007
The steering wheel has been removed and powder coated. A brand new plastic centre boss will be fitted but the wheel will not be secured until the cab area has been finished as the driver's seat will need to be removed and this is easier when the wheel is out. A set of 4 original spec road wheels has been found, the inner two rears being unseen and so not needing replaced.

Most preservationists ignore this detail which I find extraordinary as they are a big and noticable feature. To me doing something correctly is not something you can criticise - do it wrong though and you should not be surprised when it is commented on or noticed. I find it unbelievable and unacceptable how much criticism I have to put up with simply because I am putting in the effort to restore the correct and original features on my buses - perpetrators, you know who you are and it's time to stop!!!