Liverpool Corporation E1

E1 stands on Derby Square in the city centre

HISTORY

E1 is one of three experimental large capacity double deck buses that Liverpool Corporation hired or purchased for evaluation in 1959. Extensive observations were carried out on these vehicles; AEC Regent V (E1), Leyland Atlantean (E2), and AEC Bridgemaster (E3), and much valuable operating information was gained. In addition, notices in each vehicle invited opinions from passengers which were divided regarding the relative merits of each vehicle but all were appreciative of the many improvements especially the introduction of saloon heating for the first time on Liverpool’s double deck buses! Similar observations were also collated from members of the operating staff. Unfortunately for AEC it was not one of its types of chassis that was finally chosen as the future standard Liverpool bus.

E1, the Regent V arrived in August 1959. Bodied by Park Royal to a similar design to a similar design to those delivered to the East Kent Road Car Co Ltd with a distinctive full width cab and forward entrance door which made it easy for the driver to supervise the loading and unloading of passengers if the conductor was not on the platform. Mechanically it has an AEC AV590 engine and air brakes similar to E3 but E1 was supplied with semi-automatic transmission as was E2.

As with the other evaluation buses, E1 worked out of most of the Corporation’s garages to gain as much feed back as possible starting at Speke in August before moving on to Prince Alfred Road (December), Edge Lane (January), Walton (February), Litherland (July). On completion of the evaluation, E1 was allocated to Garston where it found a regular niche operating on route 88 (Garston circular).

Shortly after passing to the MPTE, E1 was re-allocated to Edge Lane, relegated to peak hour extras until transferred into the reserve fleet in October 1973. After a brief spell in the driving school between January and February 1974 E1 was finally withdrawn in March 1974 after a respectable 15 years service.

Unusually for a Liverpool Bus, E1 was sold for further service to T. Hollis an independent operator in Queensferry who also collected interesting old vehicles. After a short period with a dancing group in Ellesmere Port , E1 was acquired for preservation by a member of the Mersey & Calder Bus Preservation Group in the early 1980’s. In the mid 1990’s the M&C BPG took up the opportunity to purchase a 50% share in the vehicle, before passing to the Merseyside Transport Trust on its formation in 1999.

E1 has been cosmetically restored back to its 1959 livery of dark green with two cream bands, similar to the Trust’s other Liverpool Corporation AEC Regent V no. A267. The pair made their debut on the rally scene at the 1998 AEC rally in Nottingham and since then E1 has attended a number of local events.

E1 seen part way thriough is restoration