22 is a Leyland
National 2 which was new to the SYPTE’s Doncaster Depot. It was new in December
1980. It entered service in an all over cream livery, being diverted from a
National Bus Company order.
22 was
transferred to Halfway after only a short period, because, having no heating
pods on the roof, they were capable of passing under the low railway bridge
near Shireoaks on the route to Worksop.
In 1986, SYT
converted the vehicle to B22DL layout, with a lift fitted to the near
side of the vehicle to enable the carrying of wheel chairs.
It continued
in service in Sheffield and received Mainline livery (it was part of a dedicated
school bus unit at Halfway), before being sold onto Isle Coaches. Here, the
vehicle was substantially rebuilt, with the wheel chair lift being removed and
any bodywork issues rectified before the vehicle was placed into service in
2000. Isle Coaches used the bus on the 399 service between Doncaster and
Scunthorpe for two years, before selling the vehicle on to Easyway Travel,
Denaby Main, where it was used on school contracts.
After a
period out of use, it was sold for preservation in 2006 and placed in storage,
although various parts had been obtained for its eventual restoration. After
almost 10 years in storage, in was then sold on to the present owner who has
fully restored the vehicle to the immaculate condition that you see it today.
Owner - Mr S.Barker
