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Wigan Corporation Transport

10 Comments

Wigan 20
Wigan 20
Photo: Ray Smyth
Views: 3,285
Item #: 31845
This bus is seen earlier on this page when it was
brand new. After service with Wigan Corporation,
it was sent to Malta for further service, and spent many years there. It is now back somewhere
near to Wigan, and is being restored to original
condition by very keen transport enthusiasts.
Picture by Geoff Meek.

Comment by: Veronica on 25th January 2020 at 23:26

What a poor state the old bus is in - it's a far cry from what it was. It must have been treated really badly. I'm not surprised though they don't seem to care for their transport abroad. I have never been to Malta but have heard that they drive old British buses over there. Perhaps the roads are not up to scratch and it's hot and dusty. They must be devoted people that restore old buses like this one just for the satisfaction. I hope they successfully bring it back to 'life' again.

Comment by: walt(north yorks) on 26th January 2020 at 08:09

Ray, don't know about Orrell Post it looks more like the Last Post - poor thing. Having been to Malta many times I'm not surprised its in a poor state, so are the roads in Malta and it is warm and dusty as well. The drivers all drive like they are on their last trip before the shift ends. However, over recent years and since they joined EU their buses have improved and the service is now run by Arriva using bendy-buses, double deckers are not liked on Malta, too many low wires and height restrictions etc. Most of the old buses have been scrapped now but it wasn't uncommon to see vehicles from the 50s and 60s still working for a living just a few years ago. Many vehicles including trucks were sent there at the end of their UK life to be refurbished and put back into use as they are right hand drive vehicles. like us, Maltese drive on the left but its not unknown to see them driving in the shade whichever side of the road that is on. Hope to see a picture of this old girl again when she's fully restored. Thanks Ray.

Comment by: walt(north yorks) on 26th January 2020 at 08:21

Only if you have been to Malta will you believe this little comment. Back in the early 1990s I saw a Malta bus at the side of the road with its front nearside wheel jacked up and a chap was welding the steering but ---- there were passengers still on the bus waiting patiently for it to continue its journey and that's no lie Ray.

Comment by: Pw on 26th January 2020 at 16:04

I went to Malta about 30 years ago and went on one of the old buses/coaches and we were going up a hill.The road was narrow and coming down the hill was mobile crane.Neither the bus driver or the crane driver would give way and a right barney took place.Someone came and sorted it out and the bus driver backed up about ten yards to a little side track and the crane went past.Both drivers pipped their horns and waved to each other liked nothing had happened.The locals on the bus never batted an eyelid like it occurred everyday.

Comment by: DerekB on 26th January 2020 at 16:11

Until relatively recently many of the Maltese buses had had local bodywork built onto ex British military truck and cab chassis, retaining cab badges long forgotten here such as Albion and Commer. When Malta joined the EU these buses were immediately deemed not to conform to EU regulations and had, for the most part, to be scrapped and, as a earlier correspondent has said, replaced by a modern fleet. Many of the old type buses had a miniature shrine next to the driver with crosses and religious artefacts, which was reassuring given the way Maltese bus drivers behaved, one particular aspect being that they didn't do roundabouts, so to speak.

Comment by: Philip G. on 26th January 2020 at 16:39

I haven't been to Malta, Walt, yet I believe your little story. And only at Leigh Tech' during the mid-sixties could you have seen an elderly gentleman lift one of his legs onto a stool so as to have his donned brace repaired. I'd cleaned, re-aligned, and then earthed-up the offending part in preparation for the other lad's effort, who by that time, had been hovering nervously over ourselves, with a charged electrode in his hand. The gentleman smiled ceaselessly throughout.

Comment by: Ray Smyth on 27th January 2020 at 13:15

I have seen many pictures of buses in Malta in their bright
red and yellow, so I was surprised to see this pale green
and white livery on the former Wigan bus. I have discovered
that it was owned by The Ministry Of Public Works in Malta.

Comment by: Walt(northyorks) on 27th January 2020 at 16:27

Ray, previous to the red and yellow colour scheme of the buses they were all green and cream, the change came about late 90s - early 2000s. Whilst the transport dept ran the service all of their buses were owned and driven by small companies or in some cases the drivers themselves.

Comment by: Ray Smyth on 29th January 2020 at 18:05

I have heard that this former Wigan Corporation bus is being
restored by the Wigan Transport Trust.

Comment by: Aidy burrows on 28th December 2020 at 19:34

Yes it is being restored by the Wigan transport trust as we speak

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