The Leyland National: A Very Unstandard Standard Bus.

[@jonmilligan8069]

Pacers and Nationals were the ‘soundtrack’ of my childhood… So I have a massive soft spot for them. Many a childhood and teenage adventure started on National and/or pacer! Many outlasted what followed them! Brilliant machines! 💪

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jonmilligan8069 I think a lot of us grew up with that soundtrack Jon

[@briankay4713]

Wonderful Jake ... you can never have enough versions of the National !!! Ps i love Pacers too ...being a Manchester resident ...bounced around everywhere on them over the years ....much missed

[@JakeSCOC]

@@briankay4713 Glad you liked it Brian.

[@richardwalker_]

Nice to see my B21 featured. (There’s more details about it on my own channel). Ulsterbus/Citybus had six and Ipswich four, though Ipswich acquired the other six later. The Ipswich four were amongst the last chassis built at the Bristol factory, but are mostly National and registered as Leyland.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@richardwalker_ I will certainly check out your video. It's a fine looking bus Richard.

[@paulgregory1364]

A very fascinating video

[@JakeSCOC]

@@paulgregory1364 Thank you.

[@craigsibley8161]

Excellent video 👍👍👍 Very interesting indeed, all the different varieties of the National... Keep up the good work. 👌

[@JakeSCOC]

@@craigsibley8161 Thanks Craig. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@craigsibley8161]

👍👌

[@The-Silent-Rider]

I do have a soft spot for a National and recently saw Lev 1 on display at the Locomotion museum. We had one in our fleet as a advert for coach holidays and interior fitted out as a mobile display information centre and booking office.

[@JakeSCOC]

They lent themselves to a conversion to an exhibition unit very well - especially when duel doored.

[@unclenolly3207]

I remember fondly travelling on leyland nationals as a child, especially the dual entrance version (love a ‘2 door bus’ 😁). I always had to sit towards the back though otherwise I couldn’t see out of the window!! It was thought that the ‘bendy bus’ was a national with a trailer, but it was a true articulated bus. Obviously, closely related to the national, it was easier to maintain.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@unclenolly3207 I had the same issue when I was little. Couldn't see out the window and wasn't allowed to sit in the smoking bit up the back!

[@johnmontgomery9149]

I know I’m biased but my favourite bus was definitely the Alexander Y Type Leyland Leopard

[@JakeSCOC]

@@johnmontgomery9149 nothing wrong with a Leopard John. Lovely buses and even better sound effects.

[@scottwhitehouse1128]

As a classic truck man I stumbled on your video I really enjoy watching your video I've always been interested in the makes and models of buses

[@JakeSCOC]

@@scottwhitehouse1128 Thanks Scott. Glad you liked the video 👍🏼

[@andrewbeadle9168]

i love the TVS ident music 😀

[@JakeSCOC]

@@andrewbeadle9168 Thanks Andrew. Part of my childhood.

[@islaws4589]

Re: the Airport Bus drawings with doors either side. I work at Manchesterb Airport and we had a small fleet of National 2s in this configuration until around the early 2000s!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@islaws4589 very nice.

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

Hi Jake, great video. Dad always love's the sound of a National. He had a soft spot for LN7 the LCBS infobus. Which he would take for unofficial test drives at HH/GR open days and having a lucas spad key in his pocket helped matters.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jadeboswell-rz2ly Hi Jade. I loved the NPD batch of London Country Nationals too. We had a few of them in East Kent land on the Dover docks contracts.

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

@@JakeSCOC Dad just said that the only problem with LN's and early SNB's was complaints from passengers getting hot water drops on there head's when sitting In right back seat, which is one reasons that leyland revised the heater matrix. Dads glad hear you enjoyed them, HH called them (nipped(7) as in the bud.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jadeboswell-rz2ly The older ones used to roll too as I don't think they had dampers on the suspension. A rolling National and vynal seating could have interesting results...

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

@@JakeSCOC oh that's got dad going. Something about chucking buses around corners. Pedestals and air bags and he's gone to at look at some manuals.

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

We've calmed dad down with pint of ale, ho ho. But he's found paperwork from NBC which he says "was the first re-engined National". Which went through nbc garages as a trail vehicle and was fitted with the Gardener 6hxlb by Eastern Counties(DPW781T/LG781) and the front mk2 radiator.

[@michaelkeen5010]

Only just warming to the National, because back around 1973 Nationals replaced my beloved AEC Reliances on the 7 route from Herne Bay, a sad time indeed.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@michaelkeen5010 Totally understandable Michael

[@craigryan3069]

As someone who had to suffer 141/2/3/44 as my daily rail journey to work, I REALLY hate them! They were a lousy replacement for the superior comfort & ride of the older DMUs. I did enjoy the LN2 though!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@craigryan3069 I can see that on a daily basis they could be a bit of a bind. And nothing really compares to a proper comfy seat. But as I only saw them on occasional trips to the north I guess it was the novelty factor for me.

[@deanrampling9532]

Had them many years ago at Bexleyheath bus garage when bexleybus. Great drive in the dry, but in the wet and cornering, the back end was inclined to overtake the front end and driver 🤣🤣

[@JakeSCOC]

@@deanrampling9532 They were a bit alarming eh Dean? Coupled to the non centering steering....

[@NextSound170]

LOL! I like this

[@JakeSCOC]

@@NextSound170 Thanks

[@stephenrandall3551]

I used to drive a Green Line RF coach and they were the same. You had no chance of stopping them in the wet.

[@garrymartin6474]

Many happy memories travelling on the Nationals however the Class141 less so , I recall a journey from Sheffield to York (not that far really) that was probably the most uncomfortable I have experienced on any train ever .

[@JakeSCOC]

@@garrymartin6474 it's a shame they didn't fit them with two axle bogeys at each end of the carriages. I think it would have improved the ride a bit.

[@lucythemoggy1970]

those articulated nationals still exist in a north devon bus dealers/ storers, and a rally was held there yearly, don't know if it still happens. In a place called winkleigh, these 2 artics are in a state of disrepair and have been for many years.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@lucythemoggy1970 Thanks for the update. They would be a massive restoration job I would think.

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Awesome video as always these were my school bus 😂

[@JakeSCOC]

@@LadySophieofHougunManor7325 Thank you. I'm glad you liked it and it brought back some good memories. I also went to school on Nationals but at primary school had to sit in the forward section with the higher window line. Needless to say young Jake couldn't see out the window and wasn't impressed!

[@TheWacoKid1963]

What where the Northern General rebuilds? the only alterations I can think of were the removal of the centre door and the side lights/indicators been replace with a different type and an access hole for the ease of use of a tow bar

[@JakeSCOC]

@@TheWacoKid1963 So Northern played a key part in the development of the phase 2 National. They moved the batteries to the front and made the pod small to aid weight distribution. They also modified the electrics too. I'm sure they did a few more other modifications too.

[@TheWacoKid1963]

@@JakeSCOC Oops I forgot about MCN 840L 🤣

[@marksinthehouse1968]

Yes I too like the class 142 and marmite 😂,wasn’t the class 155/153 based on national parts ie the panels and leyland built an experimental coach using a mk1 under frame ,it was used on the London midland. We had some nationals at the brook but I never got to drive them 😢,my favourite is the national 2 seen new on the red arrow they looked superb. Funny how even then leyland would’nt 😊paint the front doors yellow and LT had to get it done before they entered service and they used straub moquette instead of the then standard yellow ,orange brown ,black cloth ,really enjoyed that Jake thank you All the best Mark 😊😊

[@JakeSCOC]

@@marksinthehouse1968 Hi Mark. Glad you liked it. Yes, you're right about the carriage. In fact, if I recall, it used to house a model railway at the East Kent Light Railway in Shepherds Well near Dover. It's now disappeared so I hope it's being given some love somewhere. I actually like the Straub moquette. When clean it's so bright and fresh looking - although it seemed to wear quickly. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel. Jake 👍🏼

[@jerry2357]

I remember riding in the Leyland National rebodied Mk 1 carriage, and it really wasn't very good. The seats were not as good as standard railway seats, and the ride wasn't good compared with a BR Mk 2 coach. I always thought that the class 155s were not as good as the 156s. The conversion of some of them to class 153 single units made them worse (especially if one turned up on the Doncaster - Lincoln service when the Lincoln Christmas Market was on, and consequently it was packed like a tin of sardines).

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jerry2357 When I saw the carriage it was seat less and being used to house a model railway.

[@PaddyWV]

Anyone else sit in a modern bus at the bus station thinking what noises a National would be making as you pull out? (....and sometimes quietly making them to yourself) Just me then! 😢

[@JakeSCOC]

@@PaddyWV 😂 I sit in the bus station wondering why everything looks and sounds the same now.

[@PaddyWV]

@@JakeSCOC I'm trying to learn any differences, but it's tricky!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@PaddyWV They all look and sound the same!

[@PaddyWV]

@@JakeSCOC Are there fewer bus builders now? Fleets seem to be either Alexander Dennis or Wright bus. Optare barely seems to get a look in for fleets, as when Wilts and Dorset and Eastbourne bus used them.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@PaddyWV There is much less manufacturers than there was. Although historically, most manufacturers were under the Leyland umbrella hence MCW ending up building the Metrobus and Dennis introducing the Dominator. Now there's ADL which includes Plaxton, Dennis and Alexander. Optare are still going as are Wright who are now owned by JCB.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

The most famous thing about the National to me? Clack....Clack...Clack..Clack.ClackClackClackClack..Brumm.... They weren't nicknamed the "ClackClacks" for nothing!

[@JakeSCOC]

@@robertwilloughby8050 That and the smoke screen!

[@russb2286]

Class 142/3's. Lasted longer than the first generation dmu's they replaced.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@russb2286 Very true. Nice to see them now on preserved railings too.

[@jerry2357]

The Alexander-bodied Pacers (classes 143 and 144) were always a cut above the class 142s, in my opinion.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jerry2357 They were a little more pleasing to the eye.

[@jerry2357]

@@JakeSCOC They were better finished, too. I rode on a 144 on Saturday at the KWVR, it still looks good.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jerry2357 I was hoping to get there last week when I was up there but we were so busy - despite being a holiday! Went on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway instead.

[@jerry2357]

@@JakeSCOC On the KWVR, for a couple of weeks only DMUs are running, between Keighley and Haworth only, while they replace an underbridge at Haworth. I was there on Saturday to watch the new prefabricated span being lifted into place by a BIG crane.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@jerry2357 I thought they were keeping it now?

[@WOLFIE-96B-UK]

I never liked driving them, especially in the wet! The Bristol RE was a much better bus all round in my opinion.

[@JakeSCOC]

@@WOLFIE-96B-UK Between the two the RE is my favourite too.

[@NextSound170]

Ambitious but rubbish according to Jeremy Clarkson on British engineering. However. These have more character than say a “modern” bus. Please do the MCW Metrobus as a historical video. A bus that paved the way for my interest into buses

[@JakeSCOC]

@@NextSound170 Aww he's anti bus isn't he? Yes the Metrobus was meant to be this episode but I got distracted by the National I'm afraid. The Metrobus is in the pipeline and is the reason I've done the Metro Scania and the Metropolitan.