This is the first of a series of images requested by Andrew Tucker, who is currently working on the restoration of OJF 191 with fellow members of the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust. No decision has yet been taken on livery from the three prototypically correct choices. There is an excellent history of this vehicle on the Trust's website (
www.ltht.org.uk), from which the following summary details are presented.
OJF 191-4 (fleet numbers 191-4) were 1956 Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/1s with 44 seat Weymann Hermes bus bodies. Purchased to replace time-expired 1936 Leyland Tiger TS7s on the 13-mile 'Outer Circle' service, they were first new buses delivered to LCT since the tram replacement fleet of 1948-50. They were initially painted in an attractive 'half and half' crimson and cream livery with the legend 'OUTER CIRCLE ' on the exterior cove panels (as per the Corgi 1/50 scale model).
In 1964, the four original vehicles and a fifth, later addition were repainted into the style depicted here to match the recently delivered AEC Reliances that displaced them from the Outer Circle service. Redeployed to the Inner Circle Service, they later saw further duties on Leicester's first Park & Ride scheme. The final, predominantly cream, livery (depicted on the accompanying image) was applied in 1968, when the Tiger Cubs were in their twilight years and deployed on miscellaneous duties; all five were withdrawn in December 1969 (21-Jul-13).
See additional Leicester City Buses in this set:
www.flickr.com/photos/northernblue109/sets/72157626294650...
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