AEC Renown

This is one of the many buses present in Heaton Park, Manchester at the Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally in September 1996 organised by the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

It's a 1965 AEC Renown, a former Leigh Corporation bus and entered in the rally by the Greater Manchester Transport Society. The programme of the event says this about the vehicle:

A.E.C. Renown, East Lancs Body, 1965                                                                                                                                           PTC 114C
Leigh 15
Entered by                                                           Greater Manchester Transport Society
The A.E.C. Renown chassis was designed to be of very low height to allow the bus to pass under low bridges, but at the same time, retain the normal seating arrangement rather than the long bench seats traditionally found on the upper saloon of low height buses. By the time the vehicle was withdrawn in 1978, it was one of the last A.E.C. vehicles in the fleet of Greater Manchester Transport.

Many years ago I lived in Leigh, just off Plank Lane in fact, and on my way home from work in Manchester it was one of these buses that took me on my last leg of the journey from Leigh town centre.

Buses at Heaton Park, Manchester

This is a photograph I took at the Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Rally organised by the Greater Manchester Transport Society on 1 September 1996.

Of the seven buses pictured here, five were from the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport, one was in private hands but garaged at that museum, and one belonged to the Mersey & Calder Bus Preservation Group. Not all the buses are listed in the programme of the event, but here are details of these seven buses (from left to right):

PND 460 - a Manchester Corporation 1956 Leyland Titan PD2/12 with MCW Orion body.
The programme says:
Entered by Greater Manchester Transport Society
Former Operator - Manchester Corporation Transport. The operating area of Manchester stretched from the plains of Cheshire to the hilly borders of Yorkshire and basically similar vehicles to this were used throughout.

ROD 765 - a Devon General 1956 AEC Regent Mk5 MD3RV with Metro Cammell H33/26RD body.
The programme says:
Mersey & Calder B.P.G.
Entered by M.Knott, Claremount, Halifax
New to Devon General in 1956, it served in the coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton, Teignmouth and Dawlish until its sale in 1968 to Red Rover of Aylesbury. It is seen today at the end of a thorough external restoration.

PTC 114C - a Leigh Corporation 1965 AEC Renown 3B3RA with East Lancs H41/31F body.
The programme says:
Leigh 15
Entered by Greater Manchester Transport Society
The AEC Renown Chassis was designed to be of very low height to allow the bus to pass under low bridges, but at the same time retain the normal seating arrangement rather than the long bench seats traditionally found on the upper saloon of low height buses. By the time the vehicle was withdrawn in 1978 it was one of the last AEC vehicles in the fleet of Greater Manchester Transport.

JBN 153 - a Bolton Corporation 1956 Leyland Titan PD2/12 with Metro Cammell H34/28R body.
Not listed in the programme, but it's a Greater Manchester Museum of Transport vehicle.

TNA 520 - a Manchester Corporation 1958 Leyland Titan PD2/34 with Burlingham H37/28R body.
Not listed in the programme, but again it's a Greater Manchester Museum of Transport vehicle.

122 JTD - a Lancashire United 1959 Guy Arab IV with Northern Counties H41/32R body.
The programme says:
Lancashire United Transport 27
Entered by Greater Manchester Transport Society
Lancashire United's standard bus for a long time was the Guy Arab chassis with a Gardner engine and Northern Counties bodywork. No. 27 was unusual in having the larger 6LX Gardner engine.

DJP 754 - a Wigan Corporation 1958 Leyland Titan PD2/30 with Northern Counties H33/28R body.
The programme says:
Entered by S Lord, Wardle, Rochdale, Lancs
Former Operator - Wigan. This 'Tin-Front' bus is housed in the Museum of Transport. The style of bus dates back to a BMMO design and later known as 'An Edinburgh Front'.

Note: I'm not absolutely certain about one or two of the descriptions, particularly of the bodywork as I've found some discrepancies in information I've found on different internet sites.