No. 334 is typical example of Blackpool’s 64 strong fleet of East Lancashire bodied Leyland Atlanteans acquired between 1977 and 1984. No. 334 itself arrived in June 1980, replacing 12 year old PD3s such as 529. It entered service the following month in an attractive livery of off-white with green roof, upper deck window surrounds, narrow band above lower deck windows and broad band on lower deck panels. It retained this style until June 1988 when it was painted into the post-deregulation scheme of cream with green roof, window surrounds and skirt. Another repaint followed in January 1991 and a further in June 1994 by which time the style had been revised to feature matt black window surrounds.

Atlantean withdrawals began in 1989 and by 1994, Nos. 301-321 had been sold, although three (Nos. 310/335/342 were sold for scrap after fire damage). Blackpool then purchased neighbouring Fylde Transport and the new subsidiary included many vehicles much older than the Blackpool Atlanteans. Replacement of these took priority and it was to be 2002 before any more of the East Lancs Atlanteans were sold. Several were used by Fylde before it was subsumed into the Blackpool operation in June 1996.

No. 334 had a brief period of storage during May and June 1995 but was repainted in the revised livery (cream, green skirt and roof level stripe, black window surrounds). It was transferred to Fylde in April 1996 but did not receive the blue livery as this was shortly to be abandoned. It continued to run from Squires Gate depot in the main until it closed in April 1999.

Extensive restoration work started in May 2006 involving a complete repanelling and a full repaint was completed in August 2007. It returned to use in October as a full PCV and has undertaken some work for our Classic Bus Lancashire fleet.