Brighton Corporation:
BUSES
The Leyland `Titan` PD2 with Weymann bodywork became the choice the Corporation fleet requirements, taking delivery of 20 rear-entrance examples in 1958/59 followed by 30 forward-entrance examples between 1961 and 1964. It was the latter that paved the way for one-man operation, narrowly beating Great Yarmouth Transport in 1966 to be the first operator to operate one-man double deckers. Pictured above left, is no. 27 (27 CCD), dating from 1963, at the Old Steine, c.1976, whilst no. 5 (5005 CD) is seen, devoid of fleetnames and adverts, shortly after being sold, in 1977.
After the last deliveries of Leyland Titans, (5 PD3s in 1968) the next intake were seven Leyland Panther Cubs, the first single deckers in the fleet. The first three were bodied by Strachan, the remaining four by Marshall. In keeping with many of new generation of rear-engine single deckers built in the late sixties, these vehicles were never very successful, the hilly terrain of Brighton contributing to overheating and engine failure, and by 1975 all seven had been withdrawn and sold. In fact no. 40 had been out of service for over a year prior to withdrawl. These Panther Cubs were the last vehicles to be delivered in red and cream livery, no. 40 being the first vehicle in the blue and white livery. In these views are no. 37 (with Strachan bodywork) and nearside and offside views of no. 41(Marshall bodywork). All three views are taken in the Old Steine, c.1968.
