In the City of Portsmouth Preserved Transport Depot, Wicor, Portchester, Hampshire, is yet another amazing restoration project, this one being a 1935 Leyland TD4 Open Top Double Decker Bus, again being restored by a group of very dedicated, and doubtless talented, volunteers. This is one of 4 vehicles converted to open top by Portsmouth Corporation in the early 1950's and ran in service until 1971. It is pretty rare too, there are a small number of others; one vehicle is in a museum and unlikely to run again. One is with a North of England Preservation group and deteriorating. One has just been donated to CPPTD but it is fitted with a roof so that this one is likely to be the only survivor running in open top form
The restoration of this vehicle was started in Yeovil some years ago but being unable to complete it the ownership was passed to the CPPTD. The vehicle lay idle in a complete kit of parts and was used as a store. In August 2021 a group of members lead by |Bob Chalmers, of Warminster in Wiltshire, took it on as a project. And what a project! Hats off to the restorers of double deckers, not only twice the passenger carrying capacity but twice as much work when it comes to restoration. But the team have made terrific progress; the vehicle has been cleared of the stores, upper deck has been painted and new flooring laid and seat frames refitted. The vehicle is being totally rewired. The lower saloon has had a new ceiling fitted and painted along with new lighting. The side panels are being covered in new leather cloth and new flooring is being laid. The cab has been painted, driver’s seat recovered steering wheel etc stove enamelled. Next steps will see finishing the fitting out the lower saloon, finishing the rewiring, getting the vehicle running and finishing the outside panelling before it can all be painted.
This is a rare example of a Leyland Titan TD4 with an English Electric Body which is already attracting much interest from enthusiasts. It will be a valuable addition to the Bus Preservation Movement and as a result is a worthy recipient of a Restoration Award.