A VISIT TO LOCOMOTION
FTN 710W - Leyland National MK2 seen at Locomotion
Today, Monday 17th July 2023 the Northern National Restoration Group visited Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon where they took part in a filming episode for ‘Curator with a camera’
The episode of curator with a camera was based around the 142 pacer and about how the development from Leyland National Bus to the 141 and finally the 142 developed over history.
The group took Leyland National FTN710W too the museum where she was filmed by a team of people alongside the Archive curator of the National Railway Museum. The group was introduced to many people at the museum and we definitely look forward to working with them again in the future!
The Leyland National is an integrally-constructed British step-floor single-decker bus manufactured in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries – the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall Industrial Estate, Workington.
The British Rail Class 141 was the first production model of the Pacer diesel multiple unit (DMU) railbus. During the 1980s, British Rail (BR) was interested in replacing its first generation diesel multiple units, particularly in the use of railbuses to service its lightly used branch lines. It was decided to develop such a vehicle with a high level of commonality with the widely used Leyland National bus, leading to its modular design serving as the basis for the design. Several single and two-car prototypes were constructed and evaluated, before an order was placed with British Leyland for 20 two-car Class 141 units during 1984.
The British Rail Class 142 Pacer were diesel multiple units built for British Rail (BR) from 1985 to 1987. The class was built with a high level of commonality with the widely-used Leyland Nationalbus. They are part of the Pacer family of railbuses. The last set was withdrawn from service in 2020.
The 142 was built as a stop gap to modernise the railway system they were cheap to run and maintain and this fact no doubt saved many branch lines quite possibly the Bishop Auckland to Darlington line. They suffered problems on the Cornish branch lines due to not having bogies the curves been to tight for them.
After been withdrawn a lot of 142s were used for alternative arrangements such as Kirk Merrington School which now has a 142 in the car park used as a library and car park. The Pacer is a train which has definitely helped a lot of people over the years. The cheep running on the train has probably helped a wide range of preserved railways keep going after Covid times.
Ian mentions One of the most lively runs he had was from Scarborough to Hull via the Yorkshire Coast, jointed track and high line speeds 75mph gave a very lively ride. He also remembers the original door, ‘I remember passing a HST at Birtley on the ECML and I thought the doors were going to blow open’.
FTN 710W with other Leyland Nationals - Lillyhall 2022
The 141 and 142 are in preservation today and are a symbol of great railway engineering as well as the many Leyland Nationals which are still in existence. In 2022 Workington Transport Trust held an event to celebrate 50 years of the Leyland National and its success over the past 50 years in Workington, the location many were built.
Leyland National 2, FTN 710W, 4710 started her working life at Bensham Works after delivery in 1981., 42 years ago this year. Whilst at Bensham works 4710 was fitted with the omo gear and destination blind. All ready for the road, the next phase was when she was allocated to Philadelphia Depot of National Bus Company subsidiary Northern General Transport.
FTN710W, 4710 as well as many other Leyland National’s arrived to replace the last manual drive Leyland Leopards and Bristol REs. 4710 worked some of the long-distance services that Philadelphia Depot had at the time. She also did service 194 with the PTE liveried National 2's. 4710 also ran the Miners specials in the dead of night to and from the many North Sea pits down the County Durham coast. A blind which 4710 still carries today.
FTN710W was purchased in 2013 and underwent a major restoration project over 13 weeks before arriving unexpectedly at the Metro-Centre Rally in 2013. FTN710W has been the pride of the NNRG fleet for many years, as our oldest operational vehicle we take great care of her. From weddings to proms and bus shows we have done alsorts with the old girl and over recent years taken her back home to Workington, not once but twice! In 2014, for Built in Workington and in 2022 when we celebrated 50 years of Leyland with Workington Transport Trust.
This year, 2023, FTN710W carries a special and emotional tribute to her fellow depot Philadelphia, which was demolished in 2022. The white bumper which is on the front is a tribute to the depot, the staff and the vehicles. You may wonder why a white bumper is a tribute not long after the NBC Northern fleet had been bought by the management after deregulation of the National Bus Company in 1986 the fleet was repainted extremely quickly. But with a huge fleet of buses it did take a while. At Philly Depot the Fleet Engineer was called Brian Smith. Brian was something of a maverick and liked his fleet to stand out.
To this end he instructed the Coachbuilders to paint the front bumpers of the Philly allocation white. No matter what they were, he wanted the front bumper white. While the repaint program was in full swing with many buses getting painted by the depot staff, no matter what trade they were in.
2023 will see group owned 4710 carry the white bumper as a tribute to Philadelphia Dept, and 4710, to mark 10 years of her in the NNRG ownership.We look forward to seeing you at the rallies we attend this year.