Striking Atlanteans for Oldham
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by Derek Moses
AT a time when London Transport is about to place into service some rather " ordinary-looking " Atlantean double-deckers for experimental service, it is perhaps a little ironical that Oldham Corporation should also be introducing its first Atlanteans—with striking, goodlooking coachwork, and from the same "stable "! The newOldham buses arc further proof, surely, that the unadorned, square-box, rear-engined double-decker is definitely on the way out.
The new Oldham design is. itself, angular in conception, hut not box-like, and to me seems the best compromise to date for those wishing to retain practical windscreens and front upper saloon windows with decidedly good and modern looks. Basis of the buses is the Atlantean PDR 1/1 chassis, the 10 vehicles having 77-seat bodies built in the Chas. H. Roe works of the Park Royal Group. A twostep entrance is employed, as on . the Liverpool and London Atlanteans, with the second step at the entrance to the lower saloon. The department claims from observations that loading and unloading is very fast, and any slowing down by the introduction of the second step is more than compensated by the additional circulating space which includes space for the conductor to stand out of the way of passenger flow.
Other good peints from the new buses are an "extended " spiral staircase for safety—the two seats lost in the upper saloon are compensated by transverse seating over the wheel arch in the lower-a single seat over the front nearside wheel arch with luggage space alongside, and screened engine compartments for good looks. The modern decor and standard fittings already employed on recent Oldham buses are again found on the new Atlanteans. I cannot refrain from the comment that if LTB's new buses had been like this, and painted in a. similar livery, their impact would have been much stronger!
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