1142 (NNB 547H)

Most of the Mancunians were built by Park Royal or Roe, and all looked identical. There were two batches built by Metro Cammell, 1201-1220 and 2151-2210, but these stuck so closely to the Park Royal design that it was difficult to distinguish a difference.

However, within the 492 Mancunians built, there were 24 Experimental vehicles bodied by East Lancs Coach Builders Ltd. These were built as a result of a survey carried out on improvements passengers thought could be made to the Mancunian, and all these improvements were incorporated in the 24 Experimental vehicles produced in the batch 1131-1154. Not only did these vehicles exhibit all these improvements but East Lancs did not stick to the standard design that Park Royal and Metro Cammell had observed, but exhibited their own design features, which made these vehicles look very different, and quite an anomaly within the Mancunian ranks.

On Saturday, 20th September 1969, when one of these East Lancs vehicles, 1133, was displayed in Piccadilly next to a conventional Mancunian, 2090, the public were invited aboard to compare the two vehicles, and in particular, the improvements that were incorporated into 1133, which was one of the batch of these East Lancs variants, and was one that was even more specialised and different because of this batch of 24 East Lancs built vehicles, 12 were to have just a single door at the front, and not dual-doors, which was the main distinguishing feature of the Mancunians.

Mancunians being the first purpose-built, one-man operated, double deck vehicles in the United Kingdom, did have dual doors as an integral feature, and were the first double deck vehicles to exhibit this concept. So, whereas Standard 7206 which was to follow, is rare in the Standards series by being one of only 48 dual door variants amongst approximately 2,000 production vehicles with a single door the opposite situation is true with the Mancunians, because this design by its definition and purpose, was dual door and one-man operated.

Thus, of the 492 Mancunians built, just 12 were created with a single door, they being the anomaly. So, in this case, the batch 1131-1142 were not only distinguished by their unusual looking East Lancs bodies, they also had only a single door, rather than the dual door configuration which was the distinguishing feature of the Mancunian batch. The remainder of the East Lancs batch of 24 vehicles, whilst still exhibiting their particular different design features, were of the dual door configuration (1143-1154).

On the 20th September 1969, when East Lancs single door Mancunian 1133, was being compared with the conventional Mancunian 2090, a document was issued to everyone who came on to the vehicle headed 'Your New Buses - Manchester City Transport'. This document indicated that 2,670 questionnaires were completed, and after these had been analysed, the suggestions had been incorporated in the East Lancs vehicle on display, 1133. The main improvements being:

1.   Forward ascending staircase.

2.   No back to back seats in the lower saloon, and seating re-spaced for increased comfort.

3    Additional windows (improved ventilation).

4.   Improved heating arrangements.

5.   Improved luggage accommodation in position and size.

6.   Bus-stopping sign to indicate the driver has received the warning to stop at the next Bus Stop.

7.   Maximum handgrips to assist progress down the saloon.

8.   Large rear window and a raised driving position to give the driver a better view of the road.

These vehicles, along with other Mancunians, were taken out of service in the early 1980's and at that time it was assumed that they had all been sent for scrap. Except for 1001 the first Mancunian that was preserved for the Greater Manchester PTE, if any Mancunian, other than 1001, could have been preserved, an East Lancs variant would have been the one to pursue because of its particular anomaly and unique status.

However, in 1987, The SELNEC Preservation Society discovered that one sole surviving example of the East Lancs Mancunian still existed. This was, in fact vehicle 1142 (NNB 547H) the last of the single-door variants. It was being used as a Mobile Canteen/Operations Centre by Bannerdown Gliding Club at the RAF Base at Hullavington.

Negotiations took place over a number of years and eventually, The SELNEC Preservation Society, was able to obtain an exchange vehicle, 7277, being an ex-SELNEC/GMT Northern Counties bodied Fleetline Standard. Over five days including a weekend between 24th - 28th January 1990, they effected an exchange, which meant converting 7277 to a Mobile Canteen/Operations Centre for the Gliding Club, by making a number of conversions to the bus, and moving over the canteen equipment from 1142, thus releasing it for preservation.

The Club looked after 1142 for a while until the SELNEC Preservation Society obtained storage premises in Leigh, Greater Manchester and the on 16th August 1992, 1142 was driven back to Manchester after an absence of 10 years. When time and resources allow 1142 is to be returned to its original livery of white and red and fully restored to represent the most striking variation in design of the Mancunian ever produced.

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