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Photo - 1985-86
"I
think I can put a rough date on the photo of Atlantean 608. The
Daily Record advert on the side of the bus puts the date at around 1985 or
early 1986.
Look carefully and you can just make out an old Edinburgh
'portcullis-style' stop flag in the background. These were phased out
from late-1986 when a new design was introduced."
New in 1979
"No
608 was one of a batch of 43 Atlanteans delivered in 1979. No 595
from this batch is preserved.
This batch introduced a number of modifications, the most obvious ones
being opening windows upstairs, which were absent on earlier batches, and
improved ventilation downstairs.
Back to back seating over the rear wheel arches also featured, while
externally, the most obvious differences from earlier models were an
improved front screen layout, a revised dash panel, and squared-off light
units at the front, sides and rear."
Withdrawn in 1999
"Apart from No 583, which was converted to open-top layout in 1986
following a low-bridge accident at Newcraighall (fortunately without any
injuries) the rest of the batch remained in service until 1996 and 1997,
when they were withdrawn following the arrival of new Olympians.
Problems with the bodywork on these Olympians led to 608 and sister 602
being returned to service during 1998 as cover for them. They were
finally withdrawn in 1999.
Sold
"No
602 was sold for further service while 608 was sold to a French youth
club. However, on its delivery run, 608 was involved in an accident on
the M1 near Sheffield, and sustained serious damage.
As
a result, the bus never reached France and was, instead, subsequently
scrapped at one of the many breakers’ yards in the Sheffield area.
It
actually featured in footage, in its accident-damaged state, on the BBC
series Traffic Cops about the South Yorkshire traffic police a few years
ago.
Steven Oliver,
Duns, Borders, Scotland: April 14, 2008 |
