47 years of bus photography
Leyland Nationals
13th April 2004

Their turbo-charged Leyland 0.510 engines, the clouds of clinging black smoke, roof pods, and an apparently unfinished interior (there was nothing stylish about the interior of the body) made the Leyland national an unloved machine in the eyes of many.
The policy of destroying other makes in favour of a ubiquitous, over-engineered machine was equally unpopular.
And then there were the engineers: in winter they had to stand in pits full of freezing water with blow torches trying to warm up the underside piping to get the fuel moving round their charges.
But the buses have lasted - and lasted and lasted.
The early ones suffered from serious body rot from road salting in winter, there was some experimental rebodying by East Lancs, and DAF, Volvo and Gardner engines have replaced the turbo units.
They have won an enthusiastic following. Here's a pictorial tribute to the species that killed the Leopard, the RE, the Sabre, Merlin, Roadliner and Worldmaster - and eventually laid Leyland wide open to a concerted attack by Volvo.

<-- Index | Showing 1-16 of 16 pictures | Index -->

640x421
054.997C_781.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
640x429
054.998C_781.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 Bygone, Maidstone
Bygone, Maidstone
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Bygone__Maidstone.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 Cheltenham District 3525 (BHY 999V) and City of Gloucester ex-Cheltenham District 1433 (JHU 874L).
Cheltenham District 3525 (BHY 999V) and City of Gloucester ex-Cheltenham District 1433 (JHU 874L).
640x391
054.686C_481.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
Crosville SNB 876
Crosville SNB 876
640x421
054.1074C_690.jpg
0000-00-00 00:00:00
 Gloucester G1426 (JHU 867L)
Gloucester G1426 (JHU 867L)
640x421
054.100_190.jpg
1979-09-25 00:00:00
 Leyland Vehicles' experimental B-type Leyland National WFR 392V after it was sold to Ribble for service use
Leyland Vehicles' experimental B-type Leyland National WFR 392V after it was sold to Ribble for service use
640x421
054.755C_528.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 National Welsh N 1529 (GHB 688N) and LR1733 (GTX 757W) sporting the Wyedean colours
National Welsh N 1529 (GHB 688N) and LR1733 (GTX 757W) sporting the Wyedean colours
640x421
054.503C_367.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
National Welsh N1526 (GHB 685N) and N1622 (SKG 926S)
National Welsh N1526 (GHB 685N) and N1622 (SKG 926S)
640x407
054.600C_459.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 Provincial 1 (A301 KJT) with an Iveco/Beulas Starider, 4227 RU
Provincial 1 (A301 KJT) with an Iveco/Beulas Starider, 4227 RU
640x480
179.0076J.JPG
2008-02-18 14:36:00
 South Wales Transport Leyland Nationals waiting to vent their exhausts...
South Wales Transport Leyland Nationals waiting to vent their exhausts...
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020.524Cvar_348.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 Swindon & District 3514 (AAE 658V)
Swindon & District 3514 (AAE 658V)
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054.472C_312.jpg
1983-04-30 00:00:00
Swindon & District 3514 (AAE 658V)
Swindon & District 3514 (AAE 658V)
640x414
054.471C_312.jpg
1983-04-30 00:00:00
 Thamesway 1501 (TJN 502R)
Thamesway 1501 (TJN 502R)
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054.1035Cvar_799.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 Thamesway PEV 698R
Thamesway PEV 698R
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054.1036Cvar_799.jpg
1999-11-30 00:00:00
 The prototype Leyland National B-type, chassis 04818, was delivered to Ribble but later went to Cumberland. Here that vehicle, GCW 461S, is seen alongside a Northumbria coach - LRG 414T - and a Cumberland long-wheelbase Leyland Olympian
The prototype Leyland National B-type, chassis 04818, was delivered to Ribble but later went to Cumberland. Here that vehicle, GCW 461S, is seen alongside a Northumbria coach - LRG 414T - and a Cumberland long-wheelbase Leyland Olympian
640x420
064.957C_737.jpg
1990-04-30 00:00:00
© 1998-2009 Alan O. Watkins - All copyrights rest with the Author
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