Madrid
Back in the 1950’s, 50 imported double-decker buses followed route 5 in Madrid
Jun 6, 2014 - 7:12 AM
The abandoned British Leyland double-decker bus in Madrid
Back in the 1950’s, 50 imported double-decker buses followed route 5 in Madrid
Jun 6, 2014 - 7:12 AM
When the Leyland model OPDS, arrived it was the most modern thing the Madrileños had seen on wheels. The style of London was running through the streets of the capital, bringing style to a Madrid dominated by Franco.
The buses gave 12 year of hard use, and had been heavy work for the drivers with nothing as modern as assisted steering. Some humorous reports from the time said the steering wheel was so large you needed four arms to turn it.
The buses were phased out of use from 1969 and the majority of them were scrapped, according to the current spokesman of the EMT, the Madrid Municipal Transport Company, who is a fan of the British bus.
Others were sold to individuals or companies who used them to draw attention to their businesses.
Now one lies forgotten, with the registration number M-177384, after nearly 60 years, the paintwork has been bleached by the sun, and has fallen in places, as the vehicle stands abandoned in forgotten wasteland near the A-2 road.
Miguel Ángel Flores, who is now the main accused the Arena case, where five overcrowded dancers were killed in the Madrid venue, had used the bus in a promotion some years ago, and then in the midst of debt, he abandoned the bus next to the road to Barcelona, which used to the parking area for the Arena club.
The chauffer was not paid and said, ‘Sell the bus and then you can pay me’.
The owner of the bus is a company linked to Flores called Macumba S.L. and it still shows evidence of being used to promote a discotheque.
The 8 ton vehicle is painted inside with disco colours, there are spotlights and small loudspeakers on the roof, and some of the seats are missing, all of them upstairs.
Photo - EMT
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The buses gave 12 year of hard use, and had been heavy work for the drivers with nothing as modern as assisted steering. Some humorous reports from the time said the steering wheel was so large you needed four arms to turn it.
The buses were phased out of use from 1969 and the majority of them were scrapped, according to the current spokesman of the EMT, the Madrid Municipal Transport Company, who is a fan of the British bus.
Others were sold to individuals or companies who used them to draw attention to their businesses.
Now one lies forgotten, with the registration number M-177384, after nearly 60 years, the paintwork has been bleached by the sun, and has fallen in places, as the vehicle stands abandoned in forgotten wasteland near the A-2 road.
Miguel Ángel Flores, who is now the main accused the Arena case, where five overcrowded dancers were killed in the Madrid venue, had used the bus in a promotion some years ago, and then in the midst of debt, he abandoned the bus next to the road to Barcelona, which used to the parking area for the Arena club.
The chauffer was not paid and said, ‘Sell the bus and then you can pay me’.
The owner of the bus is a company linked to Flores called Macumba S.L. and it still shows evidence of being used to promote a discotheque.
Photo Pablo Herraiz - El Mundo
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The 8 ton vehicle is painted inside with disco colours, there are spotlights and small loudspeakers on the roof, and some of the seats are missing, all of them upstairs.
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