17-Jul-2008, 12:53 AM
Alan:
Both Foden and Leyland are part of the PACCAR group, which also includes DAF as well as its bigger US trucks under the Peterbilt and Kenworth names. About two years ago, PACCAR announced the closure of the Foden plant in Cheshire and said they would combine production at Leyland. I don't know if they ever did. Leyland always seemed to be the outsider in the group. Whenever you saw a collage of all the brand names, Foden and DAF were there, but not leyland. Never could find out why.
The central R&D facility for the PACCAR group is about 14 miles from where we live.
Don't forget the other local truck maker, Atkinson, based in Walton-le-Dale, just on the Walton side of the river. Are they still in business?
Since none of the US bus makers do double-deckers, Dennis is definitley the double-decker of choice in the North American market. BC Transit in Victoria has quite a large fleet of them, and Community transit in Everett will be getting a batch of 24 over the next 18 months or so.
Incidentally, PACCAR is an acronym for the original name of the company - Pacific Car and Foundry. Originally, they made iron castings and rail cars. It's officially pronounced Pack-Car.
Frank
Both Foden and Leyland are part of the PACCAR group, which also includes DAF as well as its bigger US trucks under the Peterbilt and Kenworth names. About two years ago, PACCAR announced the closure of the Foden plant in Cheshire and said they would combine production at Leyland. I don't know if they ever did. Leyland always seemed to be the outsider in the group. Whenever you saw a collage of all the brand names, Foden and DAF were there, but not leyland. Never could find out why.
The central R&D facility for the PACCAR group is about 14 miles from where we live.
Don't forget the other local truck maker, Atkinson, based in Walton-le-Dale, just on the Walton side of the river. Are they still in business?
Since none of the US bus makers do double-deckers, Dennis is definitley the double-decker of choice in the North American market. BC Transit in Victoria has quite a large fleet of them, and Community transit in Everett will be getting a batch of 24 over the next 18 months or so.
Incidentally, PACCAR is an acronym for the original name of the company - Pacific Car and Foundry. Originally, they made iron castings and rail cars. It's officially pronounced Pack-Car.
Frank
Frank Damp (wife Eileen, nee Nixon)
Leyland resident 1941-1965, emigrated to the US in 1968,
retired to Anacortes, Washington State, USA in 1999.
Leyland resident 1941-1965, emigrated to the US in 1968,
retired to Anacortes, Washington State, USA in 1999.