After the 1952 all Leyland PD2/10s, Portsmouth bought no more new buses until 1956 when they succumbed to the attractions of the Metro Cammell Orion by taking delivery of 25 Leyland PD2/12 with Metro Cammell H30/26R bodies numbered 83-107, LRV975-999.
They were much better looking than many Orions helped by the livery application, all that lining and half drop windows. They were all reseated H33/26R in the 1960s and were withdrawn in the early 1970s with the exception of 7 of the batch which were rebult to open-top between 1970 and 1972 which extended their lives somewhat.
84, LRV976, was photographed by Roger's friend Jim Whiteway on Commercial Road in February 1956, the month that it entered service. Portsmouth started converting it to a driver tuition vehicle in 1972, but never completed the work. When was the last time that you saw a policeman on routine point duty?
Photo taken by Jim Whiteway (the late Roger Janes Collection), February 1956, Commercial Road (nr Lake Rd), Portsmouth
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