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Douglas Corporation 1914 - 1976

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Public transport in the Isle of Man commenced in 1873 with the opening of the narrow gauge Isle of Man Railway with routes from Douglas to Port Erin and Peel. Three years later, an urban tramway opened for business in Douglas, and control of this passed to Douglas Corporation in 1902, following the liquidation of the operating company. The first buses on the island were a pair of Argus charabancs introduced in 1907 by the Manx Electric Railway, and these linked Bungalow (on the Snaefell Mountain Railway) with the company’s hotel and tea-rooms at Tholt-y-Will.

Seven years later, Douglas Corporation bought its first buses, a Tilling-Stevens and a Straker-Squire, both seating 25. After just six years service, they were replaced by a further four Tilling-Stevens, and from 1922 to 1930 a further 34 buses entered service, including the first double decker in 1922.

The Corporation’s first Leylands were the two 1936 20 seat Park Royal bodied Cubs, and these became known as “Wolsey’s Midgets", J.H.Wolsey being the then general manager of the Corporation’s transport department. Apart from the buses, the horse trams and Douglas Head tramway also came under the local authority’s remit. The latter tramway did not survive the second world war, being closed in 1942. Buses which operated on services inside the borough boundary were exempt from road tax, but a small fleet which worked on routes beyond the edge of Douglas were subject to the full rate, and to distinguish them, such buses carried the letters "EA" (extended area) on the front panels. Thus, in effect, Douglas Corporation ran TWO fleets of buses.

In 1933, the first pair of an eventual fleet of 42 AEC Regents went into service. These were supplemented in 1945 by a trio of AEC powered Daimler utility buses, which were to remain in service until 1970. A varied selection of single deckers were also bought over the years, including Bedford OWB and VAS, AEC Regal and Reliance, Leyland Comet and Cub, and Guy Otter. Some of these buses received outsize destination screens, capable of taking the large scrolls fitted to double deckers, thus giving a distinctive appearance to the vehicles in question.

1968 saw the last ever AEC Regent (one of a pair of Willowbrook bodied Mark 5 buses) to be produced being placed in service, while in 1970, for the first (and last) time secondhand buses were acquired, in the form of eight ex Lancashire United Leyland Tiger Cubs. An unusual purchase in 1974 was a Willowbrook bodied Bedford YRQ, followed by three more in 1975. These were to prove to be the final new Douglas Corporation buses, as on October 1st 1976 the yellow fleet was merged with the red Road Services buses to become Isle of Man National Transport. This move, first suggested in 1966, brought an end to 62 years of Manx municipal bus operation. However Douglas Corporation retained the famous sea-front horse tram route, and happily this still remains as it was.

Fleet history of Douglas Corporation buses

1914

1920

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1933

1934

1935

Douglas Corporation AEC Regent 46 was the sixth such vehicle to be bought, in 1935. It is seen with number 62, new in 1948. 46 was withdrawn in 1963. Photo by R.H.G. Simpson.

1936

1937

1938

1939

1944

1945

Three utility specification Duple bodied Daimlers were added to the Corporation fleet at the end of World War 2. The trio all lasted in service until 1970, possibly the last such buses in service anywhere still in original condition.

1947

1948

1949

Another contrasting pair of Douglas Regents, Mark III number 65 of 1949 and Mark V number 3 of 1964. Note the different arrangements of destination displays, as well as the low level display beside the rear platform of 65. Photo by R.H.G. Simpson.

1950

One of three Douglas Leyland Comets was KMN 518 (fleet number 20, new in 1950. The trio remained in service until 1968. Photo by R.H.G. Simpson.

1951

The first Manx municipal underfloor engined buses were two ex AEC demonstration Regal IV buses. The registration of 31 is now on ex London Transport RF382 which is preserved on the island. Photo by R.H.G. Simpson.

1957

1958

1964

1965

1966

Two Bedford VAS1s were placed in service in 1966. Their registration numbers were similar to a pair of 1944 Bedford OWBs which had been withdrawn in 1957, all four Bedfords also having Duple bodywork. Photo by R.H.G. Simpson.

1968

1970

Eight late 1950s Leyland Tiger Cubs were acquired from Lancashire United Transport in 1970 to allow for increased one person operation of services. A Road Services Titan is visible in the background. Photo by R.H.G. Simpson.

1974

1975

Total fleet = 118 with 16 survivors

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