A former Douglas Corporation transport bus has returned to the Island to become part of the celebrations marking the centenary of Douglas’s motor bus services.

The bus, a rare Leyland Comet, registration KMN 519 and new to the Corporation in 1950, was withdrawn from service in 1968, purchased by builders Parkinsons for staff transport then withdrawn by the company in 1979. That year it was purchased by UK collector Rob Wilson who restored the vehicle in 1991 into full Douglas Corporation livery.

Now part of the collection of the Northwest Vehicle Restoration Trust based on Merseyside the bus arrived in the Island on the Steam Packet sailing from Birkenhead on Sunday March 23rd and was met by the deputy mayor and mayoress of Douglas, Councillor Stan Cain and his wife, Sheila, and Manx Transport Trust chairman Chris Machin.

Deputy mayor and mayoress Councillor Stan Cain and his wife Sheila welcome the bus to Douglas with Manx Manx Transport Trust chairman Chris Machin and director Andy Faragher

During its stay in the island the vehicle will be kept at the bus museum in Jurby and is expected to form part of a cavalcade in the Douglas Carnival on Saturday July 19th.

Municipal bus transport in the Island came to an end on October 1st, 1976 when the buses of Douglas Corporation were absorbed into the newly formed Isle of Man National Transport Limited, along with those of the Isle of Man Road Services company.

(All photos courtesy of Thurstan Denne)