09/05/2025
LEYLAND NATIONAL 54
2-3 May, 2026 - Whitehaven
Our Leyland National events follow a theme loosely based on what was happening in the bus industry 50 years ago, especially with respect to the locally built Leyland National.
Next year there will be two themes - the second will be covered by a future post. However, the main theme relates to the year 1976, perhaps best known for the extended heatwave that gripped the country and resulted in drought, hosepipe bans, fires and more. Some of the key events in the bus industry included:
- First Alexander T-type coaches entering service
- Deliveries of Foden NC and Volvo Ailsa, including the Van Hool McArdle bodied examples to South Yorkshire PTE
- NBC Trialing the Ailsa and Metropolitan against the Bristol VR
- Adoption of the iconic blue and white 'Scottish' saltire livery on the M-type motorway coaches of the SBG
- Minor update to NBC livery and logo on buses
- Duple Dominant II
- delivery issues, especially related to Leyland resulting in buses being loaned from other operators to fill gaps, e.g. at Tyne & Wear PTE
and ...
- Leyland National Mk1 phase 2: redistribution of weight with batteries moved forward, brake and engine compartment updates, and passenger enhancements to interiors including a better seat rake. Most notable on these later Mk1s is the shorter roof pod
- SuperNational
- Airport Nationals - unusual half-cab variant!
and ... the theme of LN54: Clash of the Titans
The Leyland B15 prototype entered service in London and was displayed at the 1976 Commercial Motor Show before going into production in 1977, when the name Leyland Titan was adopted. This highly advanced double decker was perhaps over-engineered for mainstream operators, having been developed in connection with London Transport for use in the capital.
