Leyland National 658

[AdamH]

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?

[MattW]

https://flic.kr/p/VqAWWv

https://flic.kr/p/WxybJ4

[AdamH]

I'm guessing you didn't take those yourself! Nicely Googled

[MattW]

It's the only reason i appear to have any intelligence at all

[TimBrown]

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?

A few shots of 658 at the Transport Museum, Wythall Monday 28 August 2017.

28 August 2017 Wythall 136.jpg

28 August 2017 Wythall 137.jpg

28 August 2017 Wythall 138.jpg

28 August 2017 Wythall 159.jpg

28 August 2017 Wythall 156.jpg

[AdamH]

Thank you Tim.

[MattW]

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!

[AdamH]

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.

[MattW]

I phoned Worcester garage from a nearby phone box

Showing your age now

[chason]

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.