The Rear Engine Arrives

The rear-engined double decker appeared in 1960, when an early production Daimler Fleetline and a Leyland Atlantean, both with identical Metro-Cammell bodies, entered the fleet for comparative trials.  The Atlantean came out on top, though many said this was a foregone conclusion given the large numbers of Leylands already operated, whilst the last Daimlers had gone some years previously.  In consequence, three further Metro-Cammell bodied Atlanteans arrived in early 1961, and two more, with Park Royal bodies came in 1963.

In 1962, rather unusually, four BMMO C5 coaches were purchased from Midland Red, initially to help out in the summer season until the arrival of new coaches.  These never materialised however, and the BMMOs survived for several years, with two being converted to buses in later life.

The arrival of the Atlanteans had by no means put an end to the intake of front-engined double deckers, and 1964 saw two AEC Routemasters (with Leyland engines) enter service, while in 1968, no less than six Leyland PD2/47s were purchased.  They were an unusual mixture, with four being bodied by Northern Counties - two front entrance and two rear entrance - and the other two by Park Royal, with one front and one rear entrance!  Also delivered in late 1968 was Eldorado's one and only PD3, a front entrance Park Royal bodied PD3/11.

In 1967, the only other substantial operator in the area, Enterprise Motor Services, became a wholly owned subsidiary.  Eleven buses passed to Eldorado, and most were soon repainted red and cream, but later in the year it was decided to retain the Enterprise name and livery for those buses running from the former Enterprise depot.  Most of these original blue and cream vehicles were rather elderly, and were disposed of in the following two years, but a 1965 Titan and a pair of 1966 Alexander bodied Atlanteans led long lives with Eldorado.  One of these was converted to open-top in later life, and went on to provide a total of 31 years service.  With the withdrawal of the blue and cream vehicles, the policy of keeping vehicles at the Enterprise depot in blue and cream was changed to a policy of keeping one vehicle in Enterprise's blue and cream.

Unusual Purchases

Returning to the main Eldorado fleet, two very unusual vehicles entered service in 1967.  Eldorado had purchased further BMMO C5s, intended to be used for spares, to keep the four C5s already operated, in running order.  Instead, two Leyland Tiger Cub chassis were bought, and Eldorado built their own dual-purpose bodywork on them, mostly using parts from the "spare" C5s. Although Eldorado has since done rebuilds in its workshops, this was the last time they built anything from scratch.  For the record, the genuine C5s were withdrawn between 1969 and 1972.

A return to more "normal" purchases (though with hindsight, "normal" might not be the best description), came when the C5s were followed by three Leyland Panthers, two bodied by Park Royal and one by MCW, and a pair of Plaxton bodied Leopards.  Unlike some operators, Eldorado persevered with its Panthers, and managed to get 13 year's service out of the Park Royal bodied ones, and 15 from the MCW bodied one.  Surprisingly, both the Leopards survive to this day.  The first is now preserved, and the second was cut down and fitted with a crane, to make a recovery vehicle, and is still in use today.  Incidentally, the crane was taken from the previous recovery vehicle, which was also an ex-fleet vehicle, in this case one of the Titan PD2s, with bodywork made up mainly from one of the Duple bodied Tigers.

Rear-engined Variety!

A batch of Northern Counties bodied Atlanteans was ordered, with delivery starting in 1968 and extending over the next three years. Three of the five were conventional single-entrance, one had coach seats and was finished by Plaxton, and the fifth was dual door - the first of this layout which was to be in vogue for several years.  Regrettably this vehicle was to survive less than two years before it was destroyed in a depot fire in 1972.  Although other vehicles were damaged in the fire, this was the only write-off.   Less usual vehicles were a two-door ECW bodied Bristol RELL in Enterprise livery and a Bristol VRT also with ECW body, demonstrating Eldorado's willingness to experiment with other makes, despite its apparent loyalty to the Leyland marque.  It is notable, however that both Bristols had Leyland engines!

The first 10-metre double deckers arrived in late 1971, a pair of dual door Roe bodied Atlantean PDR2/1s being followed by a third with one door and 85 seats. These were accompanied by a more normal 9m Atlantean, but unusually with ECW bodywork.
 

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