Passing through Seaburn in the spring of 1979, TWPTE, Metrobus 419 was just two months old at the time of this photo.
Tyne & Wear PTE never took a liking to the Metrobus, unlike regional counterpart Northern General who purchased a considerable number between 1980 and 1986. Instead, TWPTE ordered just five examples for evaluation in 1979 (415-419). No further examples were purchased, although a handful of MCW Metroliner coaches were bought new in 1984.
In 1979, the PTE were operating a large fleet of MCW Metropolitans, the forerunner to the Metrobus. Over time, the Metropolitans became plagued with structural corrosion issues, and this may have been partly why the Metrobus did not find favour?
TWPTE's dabble with the Metrobus was short lived, all five passing to London Buses in 1988. Here they became M1481-M1485, becoming the last Metrobuses to be acquired by London Transport before the privatisation of London Buses.
On withdrawal by London Buses in c1998, all but 419 were converted by Ensigns to partial open top configuration, and were used on site-seeing work until their demise. 419 met its end after being destroyed by fire one evening while working out of Potters Bar garage for London Buses.
Photos on flickr reveal that exiled 416 was still extant in Belgium in 2019.
Photo: May 1979.
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