Southdown 1231 (LCD 231F) at Rochdale - Aug 1973

Saturday 27 May 1973 - By now the National white coach livery was also appearing on Southdown coaches. 1231 (LCD 231F), a Plaxton Panorama bodied Leyland Leopard new in 1968, stands in the morning sunshine on the Rochdale Corporation Transport parking ground before working the day south service back home to Portsmouth and Southsea. This was one of the through joint Yelloway/Associated Motorways services from the North-West to the South Coast established for the summer 1967 season and this working was initially covered by Royal Blue. After the first or second season it was assigned to Southdown. The coach had worked north on the previous day from Portsmouth/Southsea to Rochdale technically on the through direct service but, because this was late season when bookings were getting lighter on the through Friday service northbound, it had also been gainfully employed in the carriage of passengers on the Associated Motorways Portsmouth-Cheltenham service and then on the Yelloway Cheltenham-Rochdale service.