The Leyland Lion in Amberley Museum and other locations
The bus, one of several owned by The Southdown Omnibus Trust, has been resident at Amberley Museum for decades. The bus saw the light of day and offered rides around Amberley Museum during their twice-yearly bus days.
It remains in working order thanks to the skills and dedication of a team of volunteers. Amberley Museum currently has opportunities for volunteer bus drivers, bus maintenance and bus restoration. More details can be found on the website: www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
This particular bus was given to The Southdown Omnibus Trust by Michael Plunkett when the trust was formed. New to Sunderland Corporation as Fleet No 2 in May 1929, the bus was one of twelve ‘Lions’ purchased as replacements for trams. Sold in 1934 to a dealer in Hull, the bus was moved onto Jersey for service with Tantivy Motors and re-registered as J.9008.
The bus survived the German occupation of the island, reportedly being one of only four buses licensed for service by the end of the war and the only one still running on Petrol. During this time the seating capacity was increased to 35.
In 1946 the bus was acquired with the stage services of Tantivy by Jersey Motor Transport, becoming their No 46.
Withdrawn by 1959 the bus was purchased for preservation by Michael Plunkett and returned to the UK where the body was restored to its original specification before appearing on the rally scene in the late 1960s.
The bus was subsequently driven from its home in the South of England back to the North East on two occasions to partake in anniversary celebrations of the transport departments of both Sunderland and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Working historical and regionally significant transport
Alan Lambert, Chairman of the Southdown Omnibus Trust said: “Michael Plunkett had the foresight over 60 years ago to acquire and preserve BR7132 and then to restore it to original condition. Thanks to him the bus is a time capsule of how people travelled in a time well before car ownership was commonplace.
“The time the bus spent on the Channel Island of Jersey means it also has a tangible link to one of the most turbulent periods of the 20th century.”
Paul Jarman, Assistant Director (Design, Transport and Industry) at Beamish Museum said: “The arrival of Sunderland Corporation No.2 to join the collection at Beamish is a significant moment for the museum – adding a local corporation bus to the fleet, where it will sit alongside other north east buses and trams in what is now one of the biggest collections of working historical and regionally significant transport in the UK.
“We are humbled that the Southdown Omnibus Trust, and Michael Plunkett, have placed the bus into our care and we look forward to studying the bus and introducing it into the fleet”
