Leyland National 658
Leyland National 658
I may be a bit slow off the mark here, but I understand ex-Evesham depot Leyland National 658 is now restored and back on the road... Anyone got any photos?
Re: Leyland National 658
I'm guessing you didn't take those yourself! Nicely Googled
Re: Leyland National 658
It's the only reason i appear to have any intelligence at all
Re: Leyland National 658
Thank you Tim.
Re: Leyland National 658
She looks fantastic. Always reminds me of growing up in Barnards Green, seeing them swinging off up Avenue Road with the cooling fan whirring. Awesome!
Re: Leyland National 658
I still remember the first time I drove 658 in service...
I had broken down near Gloucester on the old 372 service to Worcester with a full seated load of passengers. I phoned Worcester garage from a nearby phone box and was told they only had a minibus available (20-seat Mercedes L608D in those days). I told them this was not suitable and I would need a Lance or a Coach. They said they would see what they could do...
Quite some time had passed when I spotted a National on the horizon being chased by a large cloud of smoke. This was quite a surprise (not the smoke bit) as at the time Worcester didn't operate any of them. The vehicle had been sent out from Evesham depot to me and it was 658.
It had been quite some time since I had last driven a National and I quite enjoyed it. I even volunteered to drive it back to Evesham depot after work, but that job had already been given to an engineer.
Some time later, a few Nationals returned to Worcester depot but 658 always remained at Evesham. I got to drive it again once or twice when I worked at Evesham depot on loan, and I even got to drive it in service at Worcester once when it came over for a service and/or MOT.
I had broken down near Gloucester on the old 372 service to Worcester with a full seated load of passengers. I phoned Worcester garage from a nearby phone box and was told they only had a minibus available (20-seat Mercedes L608D in those days). I told them this was not suitable and I would need a Lance or a Coach. They said they would see what they could do...
Quite some time had passed when I spotted a National on the horizon being chased by a large cloud of smoke. This was quite a surprise (not the smoke bit) as at the time Worcester didn't operate any of them. The vehicle had been sent out from Evesham depot to me and it was 658.
It had been quite some time since I had last driven a National and I quite enjoyed it. I even volunteered to drive it back to Evesham depot after work, but that job had already been given to an engineer.
Some time later, a few Nationals returned to Worcester depot but 658 always remained at Evesham. I got to drive it again once or twice when I worked at Evesham depot on loan, and I even got to drive it in service at Worcester once when it came over for a service and/or MOT.
Re: Leyland National 658
Looks superb and, although Nationals were not my favourite buses to travel in, very glad it has been preserved, as they did play a significant part in bus development and in their era were to be found all over the country but none looked smarter than in Midland Red West livery. Looking at 658 today, I can't say that the design looks at all dated either.
An interesting story too from Adam.
An interesting story too from Adam.
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