Wigan Album

Foden bus with gardner 180 without turbo.
Good engine but slow and smokey, be interesting if running today with emissions so high, a dirty diesel engine.

THE BUS is a S20 Foden about 1956 the engine is either 5LW
112 BHP or a 6LW 120 BHP Warrington Corp ran this model for
many years the transport manager went to school with me they
didn't put turbos on in them days D.C.

The model of the bus is a S18 not S20 my mistake sorry
about that D. C.

Must be 1957 or earlier. The last trolleybuses ran in 57 after their withdrawal was postponed in 56 due to the Suez Crisis.

Derick starter motors weren't invented at that time, it was the old starting crank handle.

Leyland busses were the best by far. Wigan Corporation the best in the North West.
LUT ran Guy busses mainly, Foden made mainly trucks.

Foden built chassis for busses but mainly trucks.
The engine and chassis then went to the chosen coach builders ie Northern Counties. This bus from around the 1940s it could have a Foden 2-stroke or Gardner engine, the Gardner 6LW 102hp option proved to be the popular choice.
The gearbox was crash box and the chassis PVD. The body looks very much like Massey brothers, Wigan and has 56 seats. Derrick is correct.

Garry starter motors for engines was out a little before 1900s. Gun powder, a spring and the crank-handle were used in the early years.

Lancashire United only had five Foden PVD double decker buses, 447-451, NTC243-247, new in 1951. They were in service for 15 years until 1966 and had operated from all three LUT depots at Hindley, Atherton, and Swinton. This one 451, was on the long 320 Wigan to Liverpool route. Warrington Corporation had the most Foden PVDs with 15. Chester was also another operator.

If engine stop you had no brakes

I remember this Foden as it was there when I started as a conductor in 1965 and was still there when I became a driver in 1967 but never had the pleasure of driving it.