Blackpool 362
Our second Blackpool Atlantean, 362, was new in 1983 and is numerically the last bus seated example. Having purchased five batches of ten, Blackpool switched to smaller batches from 1982 when four arrived, followed by eight in 1983 (nos.355-362) and a pair of coach seated vehicles in 1984 (363/364). 362 was the last of its batch to arrive on 24 August 1983 and was nearly the shortest lived. On 1 October 1986 a blaze in the depot yard destroyed sisters 310, 335 and 342. 362 was alongside and was moved by staff before the fire could spread. Minor damage was sustained but repaired quickly – its sisters were scrapped.
Its first repaint was completed in February 1987 and emerged as the last to be painted in the original style – the next repaints were 316 and 366 into the new post deregulation livery of rich cream with green roof, skirt and window surrounds. Not surprisingly it also ended up as one of the last to carry the old livery when in April 1989 it became one of an unprecedented five Leyland Atlanteans to receive identical black and grey advertising liveries for Mackesons Stout. The new livery was applied to the front and just over a year later a new advertising livery for Bonanza Family Restaurant was painted which lasted until April 1991 when 362 finally received the standard fleet livery.
It was regularly used on conductor operated services for many years – generally buses used on the 14 ( Blackpool and Fleetwood) and 22/22A (Cleveleys – Lytham) did not carry Wayfarer ticket machines – though it was only a small job to refit one. Once again 362 was a late recipient of a revised livery, gaining black window surrounds introduced two years earlier in September 1994 just two months before a new livery was introduced of cream with green skirt and roof band. This was applied to 362 in April 1996 and again in September 1999 – its last repaint. After the takeover of Fylde and the introduction of a revised network in 1994 362 was a still a common sight on the 14 and 22 service groups once many older Atlanteans had moved to Squires Gate Depot.
The 'Metro' network introduced in April 2001 saw 362 as an unallocated spare bus regularly appearing on the 11 and 14 – though many of its batch was dedicated to the latter. The arrival of new Dennis Tridents saw its service use diminish, though during the summer regular appearances were made on the 1 and 20. By 2004, the focus was very much on schools work and the cessation of several school contracts at the end of the summer term in 2006 saw it withdrawn in mid July leaving just the two 1984 coach seated Atlanteans 363/4 in use.
October 28/29 saw a special farewell event organised by Blackpool Transport, coinciding with an LTT depot open day, witnessed nos. 358, 360-2 reinstated for the weekend and used with 363/4 on service 20 on the Saturday and services 6 and 20 on the Sunday. 362 ran on service 20 (Marton Mere - Blackpool Zoo) on both days, concluding its service life with the 1800 Marton Mere to Tower working on Sunday 29 October 2006, from where it ran back to Rigby Road for the last time. It joined the then LTT collection soon after, but moved into private ownership in 2013 with Martin Gurr and Gary Conn. Body overhaul and repaint took place in 2014, with the bus regaining its 1991 livery. It later passed to Matt Lodge for further preservation and was purchased by FTT in August 2025. It is currently on loan to the North West Museum of Road Transport in St Helens.
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