The History

The National Bus Company in England and Wales was formed in 1968 as a state controlled company, the equivalent south of the border to the Scottish Bus Group. In conjunction with the British Leyland company a standard design of single decker specifically designed for driver only operation was created. This vehicle, the “Leyland National”, was of modular design with a steel framed chassisless body and steel exterior panels, all held together by “Avdelock” rivets. The saloon floor was on two levels, the turbocharged Leyland engine being at the rear, and drove the rear axle through a semi-automatic gearbox. Nationals had air suspension and power steering as standard. A new factory was established in Cumberland to assemble these vehicles, and between 1972 to 1985 over 7000 Nationals were produced for UK operators and for export.

The National was not without its technical problems and did not sell particularly well in Scotland. That said, Nationals could be bought more quickly than other models, Aberdeen Corporation purchasing three in 1973 to hasten the conversion of the network to driver only operation. Grampian Regional Transport bought a further 19 in 1976, including GRT 74, but all had been sold off by the end of 1983. GRT 74 was withdrawn in 1982, re-entering service with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive in 1983, whence it went to the Isle of Man Transport Board, then to an operator in Kirkcaldy, and finally to an operator in Anglesey in 1993. The bus came into the care of the Trust in 2000.