Scania L94, 5217, returns

Our March Open Day kickstarted an action packed calendar for the charity in 2024. With over 400 visitors across the day it was definitely one of our busiest home events to record.

A wide range of activities from bus rides, to depot activities, raffles, and much more made it a very eventful day from start to finish.

It's no secret that the Northern National Restoration Group vehicles are all dedicated to the late Chris Moyes OBE DL, one of the founders of the Go Ahead Group after the buyout of the National Bus Companies.

At 10.30am a wide range of people, from all over the UK gathered to witness Scania L94UB NK54NVN, 5217, purchased by the group in 2019, named after Chris Moyes OBE DL..

The group purchased 5217 back in 2019 when she became available for Restoration from Go North East, the vehicle had so much history related around the late Chris Moyes it felt wrong not to do so.

Chris Moyes had joined the National Bus Company NBC in 1971 as a management trainee, where he worked for many years until the privatisation of the National Bus Company in 1987. With this Chris moved with other managers and founded what is known today as Go Ahead Group. He became Deputy Cheif Executive in 1999 and Cheif Executive in 2024. Where he remained until standing down in May of 2006.

During the funeral at Durham Cathedral, Go North East dedicated Scania L94UB, NK54NVN, 5217 to the late Chris Moyes. This was dedicated all the way through service life until the withdrawal from mainline service.

As a charity we thank Chris Moyes for helping sow the seeds of our charity and we felt it was only right to rename 5217 in memory.

5217 overhaul has been no easy overhaul, with the breakout of COVID in early 2020 work ground to a halt for many years with the effects of COVID regulations and much more.

Work started in late 2022 early 2023 and after a long year, we finally sent 5217 to a local company for spray painting in to her new livery.

She made an unexpected arrival at the NNRG Open day in October 2023 however, March 2024 was the month we officially unrevealed the tribute to Chris Moyes.

5217 will head to Whitehaven in May, 4 & 5, for Leyland 52, an event celebrating what happened after the Leyland National. We hope to promote the North East historic transport heritage as well as engage with local community groups and organisations.

You can see 5217 this year at other rallies such as Durham, Tyne Tees Run, Home Events and other opportunities.