Leyland Atlantean '1958–86

Leyland Atlantean was first produced in 1958, the first rear-engined bus model of Leyland, it production was ceased in 1984. In early 1970s, Atlantean were found in Hong Kong as a result of the introduction by KMB and CMB. All of them are second-hand buses and the model is PDR1/1. CMB acquired those second-hand Atlantean to meet the dramatic increase in demand after the commencing of the cross-harbour tunnel while KMB deployed the Atlantean on New Territories routes to provide double decker bus service on these regions. All of them were withdrawn at early 1980s.

In 1993, City Bus was tendered 26 routes used to operate by CMB successfully. City Bus ordered 200 buses for the expansion of networks and 101 of them, are Leyland Atlantean acquired from Singapore Bus Service, now known as SBS Transit. The model this time is AN68, the latest model among the Atlantean family. All of them fitted with Walter Alexander bodyworks but 99 of them are L-type bodies while the remaining 2 fitted with R-type bodies. The two Atlantean with R-type bodies had never used in passenger services, one of them was as training bus while the other, as parts reserve. City Bus carried refurbishment works on those fitted with L-type bodies Atlantean and the frontal design was changed into R-style except 628 and 660, which both of them used in driver training. The mechanical specification was remain unchanged.

City Bus deployed those refurbished Atlantean on Southern district routes like 48, 72, 72B, 98, etc and Western district 5-series routes. As all of the Atlantean were 12-13 years old when they joined into City Bus, a nickname of "Old Mrs Wong" was resulted. They were soon replaced by other brand new air-conditioned buses after 1-2 years service as City Bus aimed at to provide fully air-conditioned service. Some Atlantean were assigned on Stanley route after 14 more routes acquired from CMB in 1995.

City Bus planned to withdraw all remaining Atlantean in 1997, however, it can only achieve this goal by the early in 1998. Within this period, those Atlantean mainly deployed on 5A and only seen on weekdays. To avoid the overlapped of fleet number after more Volvo Olympian 12m entered service, A-prefix was added before the fleet number of the Atlantean.

About 50 Atlanteans had shipped to South Africa after their withdrawal from service, but unfortunately, they were never re-entered service there until being scrapped. Some of the withdrawn Atlantean used as training in City Bus and one of the Atlantean, A633 (FS7534) now was preserved at Tung Chung depot.

https://www.qbusfile.com/an68/an68.htm