To mark 50 years of bus nationalisation on the Isle of Man, on Saturday, August 1st, a spectacular selection of vehicles set off at 12:30 from Sea Cliff Road, travelling as far as the War Memorial on Harris Promenade, with a display of vehicles on the walkway next to the War Memorial.
ABOVE & BELOW: General view of buses lined up by the war memorial.
ABOVE: HMN 787 was the first of four Leyland Tiger PS1s finally delivered to the Isle of Man in April 1948.
ABOVE: These PS1s featured Eastern Coachworks bodies and all remained in service until 1967. Having spent some time as a mess room inside Port Erin Bus Garage (now the Railway Museum), an unhappy spell during the early days of National Transport (see below) and a period in the UK, No.34 is now with the Manx Transport Trust.
FLASHBACK TO 1982: Isle of Man Road Services Leyland PS1 awaiting restoration in the 'Boat Shed'', Douglas steam railway station. Note radiator sans tubes. [Photo E.Cowley.
MANN-TRAM No.37 reported: "Ex Road Services No 34...such has been the care with which [this and other] vehicles have been looked after since the M.E.R. Board takeover, that one N.T. employee busied himself for a long time dismantling radiators and the like for their tubes etc, which he then loaded into a National Transport van and took to a scrap merchant to sell on his own behalf. The employee was eventually dealt with according to due process of law, but the PS1 saloon, amongst others, suffered badly."
ABOVE: The Rightech RB6 came to the Island to coincide with the Manx Heritage Transport Festival. Rightech is the new electric vehicle mobility brand from Wrightbus. The electric buses are manufactured in collaboration with the Chinese producer King Long, with Wrightbus overseeing the specification and fitting of key components in the UK.
ABOVE: ...whilst here, the bus will not be in use on public routes.
ABOVE: The bus can accommodate up to 22 people, including 12 seated passengers and one wheelchair space.
ABOVE: Both the passenger area and the driver’s cabin are air-conditioned.
ABOVE: It also features electric heating.
ABOVE: Also on display was this Dennis Dart SLF… the last one left on the Island of 25 purchased in 1997 for the Island's still-born 'New Bus Notwork’ (BELOW)
ABOVE: New Darts lined up at Douglas Railway Station, awaiting the implementation of the New Bus Network which didn't happen.
ABOVE: Several were to have a relatively short life on the Isle of Man and their coke-bottle 'Easyrider' branding was to be even more short-lived.
ABOVE: No 25 (DMN 25R) was withdrawn from service in November 2011, passing direct to the Jurby Transport Museum and has been returned to Easyrider livery. In August 2024 passed its PSV test and as such is available for tours.
ABOVE: The Dart SLFs were the first low-floor buses in service on the Island and all bar No.25 went on to see further service in the UK and further afield.
ABOVE: PG53 YCT is a DAF DB250LF, East Lancs Myllennium Lowlander formerly GMN 616E, new 2003. It is now preserved in the UK and came to the Island for the festival.
ABOVE: Seen here at Jurby, August 2nd 2026
ABOVE LEFT: Leyland PD3A/1 - with MCW 'Orion' bodywork...
ABOVE: The driver - seated next to the engine - took advantage of the opening windscreen on this warm August day.
ABOVE: In cold weather, passengers on the top deck would have just this solitary SMITHS heater for comfort, a result of the 'poverty' specification for these buses requested by the impoverished IoM Road Services…
ABOVE: ... also evident by the fitting of just one Auster Vent in the front upper deck windows giving a uniquely lop-sided appearance from new. Seen here at Port Erin whilst still in service back in the 1980s, wearing National Transport colours. The bus was withdrawn in 1983. After a period in preservation in the UK it was sold back to Isle of Man Transport in 2005 before moving to Jurby Transport Museum in 2010.
ABOVE: Mercedes-Benz eCitaro is a demonstrator which is being trialled on loan.
ABOVE: Interior of the eCitaro - similar to the diesel version in this case with grey/green seats.
ABOVE: Seen here at Jurby on Sunday 2nd August…
ABOVE: The blue livery features a tartan stripe over the windows…
ABOVE: ...featuring 'contravision'
ABOVE: On Douglas Head during a tour on the day, 410 LMN A.E.C Regent V 2D2RA - Douglas Corporation No.15, famously the last A.E.C double-deck chassis built.
ABOVE: VIDEO Climbing Glassworks Hill.
ABOVE: Leyland Comet CPO1 is now the last of three delivered to Douglas Corporation Transport in 1950.
ABOVE: It carries the name of Cyril Frank Wolsey 1896 – 1968 DCTD general manager from 1933 to 1961.
ABOVE: Wright StreetDeck Ultroliner No. 315 MAN 41H and No. 316 have been named… W T Lambden was General Manager of the Isle of Man Railway Company/Isle of Man Road Services later Isle of Man Transport between 1965 - and 1977 whilst Wilson Gibb (known as Rupert) was Douglas Corporation General Manager from 1973 - 1993.