Tours (Isle of Man) Coach Photographs

During the boom years of mass tourism the Island enjoyed many dozens of coach operators, ranging from sizable fleets including Corkills, Downwards (Highlander), Hamills, Manintourist and Shimmins through to the owner-driver with one coach. Since the 1960's and largely due to the move from the traditional British holiday towards foreign packages gathered momentum, the Island's coaching industry has undergone wholescale and dramatic changes. Following prolonged reduction which affected the number of operators and their fleet sizes, the Summerhill based operations of Tours (Isle of Man) emerged as the Islands premier coach fleet. No longer can rows of coaches be seen parading along Douglas Promenades waiting for emerging holidaymakers ready to embark on the traditional full and half day tours. Tours (Isle of Man) reacted to these dramatic changes and undertook a wide range of work which, whilst covering the traditional Island tours, also encompassed private hire and off-Island package holidays where coaches could be seen throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. It also diversified into contract work and registered its network of Express coach services before the state run Isle of Man Transport finally managed to get its act together and unveil their express bus routes. Towards the latter part of 2003 ownership of the company passed to Protours who introduced a new fleetname, livery and invested in newer stock. Below are a selection of photographs depicting some of the vehicles in service shortly before the operation changed hands.

2 (F111 MAN ex-C155 UDD). 53-seat Bedford YNV Venturer with Plaxton Paramount body seen at Axnfell. (Photo Richard Dodge)

4 (MAN 111D ex-WWE 130Y,GIL 2528,JBT 244Y). 49-seat Bedford YNT with Plaxton Paramount body seen at Summerhill depot, Douglas. (Photo Richard Dodge)

8 (MAN 111L ex-CMN 106, ABC 360Y). 53-seat Bedford YNT with Plaxton Paramount body acquired with the Port Erin Hotels (Coachmann) business. Seen at Summerhill depot, prior to lettering being applied. (Photo Richard Dodge)

18 (O111 MAN ex H451 FPA). 18-seat Ceatano Optimo bodied Toyota seen at Summerhill depot. (Photo Richard Dodge)

32 (L111 MAN ex-WSV 374,C767 USG). Rare 32-seat Van Hool bodied ACE Puma seen outside Golf Links Hotel, Langness. (Photo Richard Dodge)

47 (BMN 111 ex-F768 XNH). 47-seat LAG Panoramic seen in the company of two Duple bodied DAF's at Douglas Sea Terminal shortly after repaint into yellow livery, but prior to lettering addition. (Photo Richard Dodge)

50 (PMN 111 ex-B179 UNW). 50-seat Van Hool bodied DAF seen at Heysham harbour. (Photo Richard Dodge)

53 (MAN 111J ex-NWG 989X). Plaxton Supreme V 53-seat bodywork adorns this Bedford YNT seen at Summerhill depot. (Photo Richard Dodge)

53 (MAN 111J ex-NWG 989X). Plaxton Supreme V 53-seat bodywork adorns this Bedford YNT seen at Summerhill depot. (Photo Richard Dodge)

4L (EMN 4L ex-N135 YEF). 16-seat Ford Iveco with Leicester Carriage Builders bodywork conversion seen at Summerhill depot. Rear wheelchair lift is fitted. (Photo Richard Dodge)

Representing the auxillary fleet is Bedford 1110 MN, which has spent most of its working life on the Ground Handling Service, which has been a part of the company's operation for many years. It is seen at Summerhill depot, with Duple bodied Bedford YRQ 46 (MAN 4777) behind. The coach was awiting scrapping. (Photo Richard Dodge)

Following the change of ownership to Protours, a number of older coaches were withdrawn and disposed of in conjunction with the fleet upgrading programme. The first coach to arrive is this new 35-seat BMC which was also the first to carry the new base white livery. Registered BMN 111C, it is captured at Summerhill depot alongside Plaxton bodied Bedford 7, whose registration it has taken. The Bedford was withdrawn and has subsequently left the fleet. (Photos Richard Dodge)