Leeds 574/874
- 574 CNW
- Daimler CVG6
- Roe body
- Engine details
- Gearbox details
574 (574 CNW)
This vehicle is part of the Aire Valley Transport Group, and its owner has agreed that it can be displayed on our website due to the vehicle's importance.
574 CNW was delivered to Leeds City Transport in 1962 as one of a batch of six vehicles which were unusual at the time for LCT as they were Daimler CVG6 with front entrance 70 seat bodywork by Charles H Roe.
Up to this date Leeds had always ordered rear entrance bodywork, believing, like London Transport, that backloaders were quicker loading than some of the high seating capacity rear engined vehicles that were by this time available on the market. These vehicles were, however, bought with a specific purpose in mind, in that they were put to use on the Leeds - Bradford service to complement the AEC Regent Vs used by Bradford Corporation. This they continued to do until the route was given over to rear engined double deckers once LCT had become convinced of the latter's superiority as they could be single manned.
They were then used on other routes, still conductor operated. After the formation of the West Yorkshire PTE in 1974, they were drafted in to other areas and, by withdrawal, were the only vehicles from the former constituents of the PTE to have operated in all four areas of the PTE. Upon withdrawal 574 CNW, along with its sister 572, were converted into exhibition buses for West Yorkshire County Council, serving to publicise a wide variety of services.
574 was last used as a "Peace Bus". Upon the establishment of the West Yorkshire Transport Museum project. both vehicles were presented to the museum, where 572 continued in use as an exhibition bus, whilst 574 was despatched to Thornbury Works for restoration as a bus. This work was not fully completed as de-regulation led to the closure of the works before the job could be completed. 574 then stayed with the project until purchased by David Crowther of Classic Coaches, where it stayed until this business went into administration.It then passed to the ownership of Malcolm King,a former LCT employee, before being purchased by Warren McClintock.
ownership has now passed to Greg Lawson who is hoping to finish the restoration of the vehicle over the coming winter and place her into service in 2011.