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Crosville M52
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Crosville
M52 Registration CFM354 is a Leyland Titan TD5 with teak framed 52 seat
lowbridge body by Eastern Coach Works. The bus was delivered to
Crosville motor Services, Chester, in February 1938 and entered service
at West Kirby Depot. After spending most of the 1940's at Chester
depot, it returned to the Wirral for the remaining years of its 20 year
service. It was sold in 1958 to Contract Bus Services, a company
specialising in the provision of buses for construction site use, and,
in 1962 to a Cardiff scrap dealer.
During the 1960's, the bus was progessively dismantled and cannibilised
but gained a reprieve when it was acquired for preservation by its
present owner, Harold Peers, in January 1972. Since then considerable
mechanical and body restoration was completed to bring it to the
immacualte condition in which it is now presented.
Until May 1946 the bus carried LMS inherited Crimson Lake and Cream
livery, but then received the standard Tilling Green and Cream livery
which the company had begun to adopt. Substantial body rebuilding by
Crosville took place in 1947/1948, including the fitting of large
Tilling indicators at the front for a preiod in the mid 1950's.The bus
ran in an experimental all green livery, the only vehicle believed to
have been treated in the way.
The restoration has attempted to incorporate all body features,
including indicators, which it carried when new. It also displays the
original livery, fleet name and number styles of 1938.
Sadly Dr Harold Peers passed away in 2021. The bus was subsequently
bequeathed to Wirral Transport Museum, along with a quantity of spare
parts.
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