This page created 8th December 2001, updated 12th June 2009. by Ian Smith. Best on 800*600.

The ex-Southdown Queen Mary PD3s: LS 1-3

In 1975 London Country was still having rolling-stock problems, due to unreliability of its new AN Atlanteans, but could not afford to buy extra new buses. Several elderly Leyland PD3 Titans were made available by Southdown, and after a trial three were bought by London Country to operate from Godstone garage, mainly on the 409, but also on the 411. Unusually they were not repainted into London Country livery, but retained their old Southdown apple green and cream, even though they were operating into their old territory. London Country did give them fleetnames, in corporate NBC style, and classified them LS (Leyland Southdown).

They trundled back and forth along the busy North Downs routes from Croydon to Forest Row and Reigate for a year and a bit until more new Atlanteans arrived to usurp them in summer 1976.

Although not one of LS1-3, ex-Southdowm 424 gives a flavour of the type. It was at Godstone Green, spending a day on the 409 during the East Grinstead Running Day. The crew put LS4 flyers inside the windows by the door.

Individual bus histories

These histories are incomplete. They are based mainly on data kindly supplied to me by R.Cains.

LS  1  6949 CD   1958    new to Southdown Motor Services #949, H69F
                 2/75 RG bought by London Country: to store at Reigate
                 4/75 GD change store (Godstone)
                      GD trainer
              17/7/75 GD into service on 409, 411
                 8/76 GD withdrawn into store
                      GY change store (Grays)
                 1/77 GY in store, withdrawn 
                 2/77    sold to Lister PVS (Bolton)

LS  2  6933 CD   1958    new to Southdown Motor Services #933, H69F
                 3/75    bought by London Country
                      RG trainer (Reigate)
              31/7/75 GD into service on 409, 411
                 5/76 GD in use on 409
                 8/76    withdrawn into store
                 1/77 GY in store, withdrawn
                 2/77    sold to Lister PVS (Bolton)

LS  3  6935 CD   1958    new to Southdown Motor Services #935, H69F
                 3/75    bought by London Country
                      RG trainer (Reigate)
              12/8/75 GD into service on 409, 411
                 7/76    withdrawn into store
                 1/77 GY in store, withdrawn
                 2/77    sold to Lister PVS (Bolton)

LS 1   6949 CD  HeyLB2 p38   1975 GD on 411 to West Croydon
                LCtryB p26        GD on 409 to Dormansland		
                MinLC p63   c1976 GD on 409 to Dormansland		

LS 2   6933 CD  LB&TA p44         GD on 409 to E.Grinstead
                LCJG p47    5/76  GD on 409 to Lingfield, West Croydon		
                HeyLB3 p11  1976  GD on 409 to West Croydon, Coulsdon Rd
                LT6395p49         GD on 411 to Purley, Caterham

LS 3   6935 CD  LCBCP p60         GD on 409 to Forest Row, Godstone