This photo shows one of the legendary 6-wheeler buses introduced in 1937 on the Portland route.
Because of the difficulties in negotiating Priory Corner, double deck buses could not travel to Tophill.
To assist in dealing with this problem, six single deck buses with 44 passenger capacity were built, using Leyland chassis and bodywork by Beadle.
The Dorset Daily Echo commented that the only drawback was their length and drivers “have to prove themselves expert jugglers at manoeuvring in and out of the frequent traffic jams in Fortuneswell.”
By 1954, when they were withdrawn, each had covered over one million miles.
The writer remembers as a small boy travelling on one to Wyke and watching with interest as the dead insects floated in the light shades where the roof had leaked!
Sadly in 1955 they were moved to Kingsbridge garage where the engines were removed and the rest sold for scrap. One was broken up and the others took on new lives as chicken houses and other farm related uses. One was rumoured to be buried in a disused quarry.
Unfortunately historic vehicle preservation was in the future.
What a pity one or two didn’t survive until then!
