Second Time Around!
(Or More!!)
Derby City Transport acquired a total of twelve used Fleetlines. The first was in 1976 following the Blue Bus fire. Together with three elderly Leyland Atlanteans from (although not new to) Oxford an equally elderly Alexander bodied Fleetline appeared in the shape of YJA 20 which was purchased from Greater Manchester Transport and numbered 58 by Derby.These were lowbridge vehicles. The next batch of acquisitions came in 1980 with nine former London Transport DMS class vehicles. These came via Ensign, the dealers who modified them to single door layout. These were numbered 250 (JGU 283K), 253 - 5 (MLK 440 - 2L), 256 (MLK 463L), and 257 - 9 (MLK 465 - 7L). 250 collided with a low bridge and received the front upper deck panels from a withdrawn 'Jumbo' 242 (CRC 242J) during 1984. Three further former London DMS arrived in 1986 purchased from Thamesdown Transport (Swindon). These were numbered 247 - 249 (OJD 182, 188, 195R respectively). The following year saw a pair arrive from West Midlands Transport and these were numbered 267 and 268 (JOV 607/11P respectively).
258 (MLK 466L) is seen at the Henley Green terminus of service 20. Fleet numbers were applied to the front of these vehicles to avoid confusion on the depot fuelling lane as the numbers on the registration plate did not correspond to the fleet number. Note the standard DMS 'barrel' windscreen has been replaced with flat screens. One reason for this was a large blind spot caused by the original layout which was unpopular with the drivers.
Less than a week into deregulation and 248 (OJD 188R) was pressed into service wearing its Thamesdown livery. A painted advert from Swindon is nearly concealed by a hastily applied East Midlands Electricity advert! This scene is in Derby Market Place on 31/10/86.
267 (JOV 607P) was one of a pair of vehicles acquired from West Midlands Transport. It was placed into service with only the lower section painted in Derby colours and with a yard brush at that!