Busworld Photography: PMT Mercedes L608D Minibus in Hanley

BUSWORLD PHOTOGRAPHY

I AM CHRISTOPHER LEACH THE ARTIST. I started this blog so that I can share with everyone my vast collection of transport photographs showing a personal and nostalgic view of the industry with images that span some 45 years taking in the U.K and some of Europe. I have no darkroom and so rather than being the perfectionist after tidying them up I upload the images warts and all, and even those that won't scan squarely or are scratched. In a way it adds age and character. You are all free to download these for your personal use but please remember I still own them and you are not just free to use them without prior permission for any knd of publishing. Click on images to enlarge them and if you want to see more leave your comments or visit my website for the mother-site with galleries including those Buses & Girls: PICTUREWORLD

Sunday 19 June 2011

PMT Mercedes L608D Minibus in Hanley

In the Eighties the bus industry didn't really know where it was going. The National Bus Company had been broken up and sold off and with not much money about companies were pensive at what the future might bring. A bit like cracking an egg for an easy rewarding meal operators saw the minibus as a cheap easy way to create a new friendly image and build passenger numbers. Of the minibuses the Mercedes 608 like the Bedford OB of earlier times was a trusted and faithful workhorse that saw it through these hard times as Deregulation signalled the battles and uncertainty ahead. PMT in the Potteries was more ambitious than most and as well as looking at expansion it starting building bodywork in it's workshops on not just smaller vehicles like C128VRE but larger Leyland Swift midi-buses too.