Photo © Alan R Hall. Please do not re-post without permission.

In October 1966, Great Yarmouth sold two Leyland-bodied PD2/1s to Weardale Motor Services for £300 each. These were 62 (EX6562), new in November 1949, and 68 (EX6568), new in April 1950.
They were utilised, predominantly, on Scholars and Works Contracts and, because they had cost so little, it wasn’t considered worthwhile to repaint them into company livery; consequently, they retained Great Yarmouth blue throughout their sojourn in Weadale. If necessary, they could be used on service, too, and, whilst under normal circumstances they required a conductor/tress, on Saturdays, if the single-deck fleet was required elsewhere, like any of the ‘deckers, they could be used OMO on the upper dale (Stanhope to Cowshill) service.
On these occasions, the top deck was roped off and the driver took the fares before departure from either terminus. Passengers both boarding and alighting in between termini paid their fare to the driver in his cab; on those buses which had one (this pair didn’t), the transaction could take place through the bulkhead window!
Coming back down the dale, they could pay on arrival at Stanhope.

This wintry shot is of EX6562 outside Stanhope depot. Both were withdrawn at the end of the 1968/9 school year (i.e. July 1969).

Photo taken by Alan Hall, 1968/9, Shittlehopeburn Depot, Stanhope

©1968-2026 Alan R Hall All Rights Reserved.
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