Southdown Fleetline on an Essex quayside

摘要

As we mention in our newly published Britain's Buses Vol.3 on 60 years of rear-engined double-deckers, Southdown was one of the major Leyland customers that chose to shun the Atlantean when it was announced and bought the rival Daimler Fleetline instead when front-engined Leylands were no longer available. David Mitchell encountered one of the survivors of that surprising purchasing decision, former Southdown 383 (TCD 383J), last summer on King Edward Quay in Colchester, alongside the River Colne. Rather thoughtfully in his view, the owner of what now appears to be a caravan - with what looks like air conditioning added to the rear roof dome - has placed small National Bus Company-style Southdown names on the body, even if the colours are far removed from its original apple green and cream.