Wigan Album

This one looks like it's crying.

Yes it's been "battered"

This is the bus i'd hail. Its got the look of a grungy Hot Rod.

Gw I think its a recycled tank used in the Western Desert .. waste not want not......it could be an ancestor of Thomas Tank!

Another good one Eddie.When Icollected reg nOs JP 5000 came in about 1946 as the war ended, So this one is around 1949

VB I don'nt think this was one,but there was re-cycled coaches after the war, Santus motor bodies were next to the drill hall in Crompton St and they refurbished a number of battered coaches which had been commandeered for the war effort

Ab you sound like an expert I shall take your word for it! but it still has a sad face!

This coach reminds me of a clowns face, tear drops for eyes, snub nose, and a big smile on the bottom grill.

I'm left wondering about the origins of this word ' Santus ', did it originate in the Wigan area? What does it mean? Does it have it's roots in Greek or Latin, or is it simply a made up word?....Surely someone must know.

Mint balls!

O.k....Right....Definitely of Greek origin then.

According to bus memobillia on google Santus Motor Bodies built bus bodies for Wigan Corporation and were part of the sweet family Thomas Santus died in 1939 and they were taken over either by Northern Counties or Massey Bros

This was A Santus bodied Leyland PD1 about 1954 when pic was taken.

This is a Leyland Tiger PS1 new in 950 to a company called Moorfield.

Moorfield is variously identified at Pemberton or Wigan, and had no new vehicles after the early 1950s.. It presumably ceased trading at about this time, or was maybe taken over by Unsworth.

There are historic mentions of many small coach operators in the South Lancashire area in the 40s,50s and 60s, other than the acknowledged "biggies" ( Smiths, Webster, Liptrot ( x2),Unsworths, Walls etc ), most of whom are only recorded with the odd second hand disposals from big operators.