Leyland Atlantean 9022

This Weymann bodied Atlantean is of the ‘Lowbridge’ type and was formerly operated by the Trent Bus Service in England. It was imported by Jim Hill, bus operator and dealer in September 1975. At the time, Australian exchange rates were very favourable, import tariffs were reasonable and the restrictive Australian Design Rules had not been introduced. In the mid 1970's it was possible to import a second-hand double deck bus at a price much lower than the cost of purchasing a new vehicle.

Around this period, the State government widened the net to embrace a greater number of school children in the school transport scheme. Private bus operators found large capacity double deck buses coped very well, and in many instances eliminated the need for the purchase of a second vehicle.

The bus is a 73-seat low height vehicle with an unusual seating configuration to enable a height of under 4 metres to be achieved. At the rear of the upper deck of the bus, four across seating is installed and the gangway is sunken into the lower deck only in the rear section.

In older ‘lowbridge’ double deckers, the entire upper deck had to be laid out in this fashion. The Atlantean benefited from a low overall chassis height and so full length four across seating was avoided. It is one of four Leyland Atlanteans, formerly with the Trent Motor Traction Co. Ltd of Derby, England that were landed in September 1975. The chassis is of the PDR1/1 type and its registration in the UK was SRC.373, Fleet No. 615.

The vehicle was purchased in 1981 by Kirklands of Lismore in northern NSW for school use. The bus was allocated fleet No. 54 and registered MO 9022. The Company eventually operated 13 ex UK and 18 ex Sydney Atlanteans on its services during the 1970s and 1980s. Bus 9022 was purchased from Kirklands by members of the Association in 1989 and was donated to the Sydney Bus Museum on 16 February 2008. After undergoing repairs and restoration work it was relaunched to the public at the Museum’s BusFest event on 23 November 2025.

Specifications:

Engine: Six-cylinder Leyland 0.600 diesel engine of 9.8 litres displacement, bore 4.8", stroke 5.5", 125 B.H.P. @ 1800 R.P.M.

Transmission: 4 speed air operated electro-pneumocyclic incorporating angle drive.

Brakes: Air operated foot brake and mechanical hand brake on rear wheels.

Body: Weymann in Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom.

Status:

On static display at Leichhardt