1963 LEYLAND PD3A/1
GUIDE FRIDAY "KIERY" 264 ERY
OWNED BY GUIDE FRIDAY (On loan to AMRTM)
| BODY: | PARK ROYAL 74 SEATS. 41 UPPER, 33 LOWER |
| CONVERTED TO OPEN TOP | |
| ENGINE: | LEYLAND 0600 9.8LITRES DIESEL |
| TRANSMISSION: | SYNCHROMESH |
Kiery began life as Leicester City Transport’s 264. During the ten year period 1958-67, the Leyland PD3 was Leicester’s major type of double-deck chassis purchased. Early examples sporting the ‘Midland Red’ style of front end, with later examples like ‘Kiery’ receiving the St. Helens style. Various coachbuilders built the bodywork on these buses, including Willowbrook, East Lancs and Metro-Cammell, as well as Park Royal.
Leicester 264 was withdrawn from service in November 1977, and passed to Guide Friday in the following January as their first double decker. Conversion to open top was done by Willowbrook. Kiery then entered service at Stratford in April. For the next 21 years Kiery ran in Stratford and Warwick, and from 1997, in Oxford.
From September 1999 retirement beckoned, but Kiery is still owned by Guide Friday, although she will normally be seen at Aston Manor Road Transport Museum, and is regularly used by both organisations, usually providing a popular service for Museum running days.
All photos copyright AMRTM
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