Leyland National 50 Bus Rally
4710 alongside CHH 210T at Workington in 2014 as part of the Built-in Workington event.
2022 marks 50 years of National production at Leyland's Lillyhall facility in West Cumbria. The Leyland National is an integrally constructed British step-floor single-decker bus that was manufactured in large quantities between 1972 and 1985; it was the product of a joint project between two nationalised entities – the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a bespoke factory at the Lillyhall Industrial Estate in Workington. As a consequence of legislation preventing the use of step-entrance buses on normal public bus routes, no Nationals remain in service. Over 100 Leyland Nationals have been preserved and although the Workington factory has long since closed, part of the building now forms a Stobart Group facility.
To celebrate 50 years of Leyland National, many events are being held up and down the country. Over the weekend of Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May, our friends at the Workington Transport Heritage Trust will be celebrating with an event at Whitehaven. Over the weekend there will be as many as 40 Nationals exhibited in addition to other vehicle types at Whitehaven Harbour. Enjoy free buses to the Park & Ride site at Lakes College, shuttles to the factory site, as well as local tours on a selection of immaculately restored Nationals.
As part of these celebrations, the Northern National Restoration Group are proud to announce that our very own Leyland National Mk2 4710 / FTN 710W will be making the trip over the North Pennines for the event. 4710 was new in 1981 to the Northern General Transport Company at Philadelphia Depot in Tyne and Wear. She was produced at the Lillyhall factory and embarked on a career with Northern and its descendants until withdrawal in 2006. She has been in our collection since 2013.
During 4710's working life, she was allocated to many areas of the company including the Wear Buses fleet and later the OK Travel unit at Philadelphia, at Deptford for Wear Buses when it first opened, and later at Sunderland Road as a training vehicle. The Northern National Restoration Group has owned 4710 for almost 10 years, and she has undergone extensive restoration with us. We are looking forward to making our first return visit to Workington since the Built-in Workington event in 2015.