These buses used to rule London. Never has there been a make and mode used by multiple London bus compainies like these were. This one even has the original London Transport seating still.
As I drove the Nationals for Chase for 2 years until they ceased service I can tell you that gear Change was horrendous 😂 we had a full automatic conversion done on one of the Nationals. The worst Driving Automatic I’ve ever drove lol
One thing I find fascinating about these particular Leyland Olympians is that it's the exact same length body as on the Euro 2 Olympian / Alexander RL's. Very impressive for I guess then a 22-year-old bus :)!
I worked since 1961 for the real BartoN Transport Ltd, Chilwell Notts, right up to the dispicable trent take over in 1989 , so the right time to be with the Leyland Leopard, and before that AEC and Bedfords and older Leyland vehicles, also haulage lorrys,,,,doing running repairs/ breakdown and recovery local and distance /emergency PSV driving and overtime coach driving,,a good job and good pay good owners, and a feeling they were all Our buses,,,,Now it think what a job bus enthusiasts could only dream of this,,,,the Leopard evolved from the Leyland Tiger we only had 3 of the just before my time at Bartons ,, The late Leopards were as perfect as a bus/coach could be,,and not too complicated like the throw away rubbish of today,, I could see trouble ahead with the later Tiger but we lost one in a fire and trent flogged the last 4,,Bill Redfern badge number EE 45170,,,,,,
To drive one is to love one. Great old buses and I was fortunate enough to drive for a company that had 3 ex Johnsons VR's. most other drivers hated them...... sad lot. Still more VR time for Gazzy boy!
This one has a high speed back axle since it accelerates fairly slow. Sometimes they won't change into 4th gear till nearly flat so the driver takes the foot of the throttle so it will.
This one A757NNA was one of GMTs Atlanteans, originally 8757, and renumbered 4757 and was put at the Northenden depot, and moved to Stockport when it closed down.
these never missed a beat. they just soldiered on and on. not the fastest or slowest of buses. but a hugely reliable machine. gardners you cant beat them.
Great footage! I filmed East Lancs Dart L504CPB on the X5 along the A5 / M54 around the same time but took that video down cos it was pitch black dark and couldn't see anything lol... A few months later in June 09 I went on the X5 on slightly newer Versa YJ09MKO, fare was 10p cheaper!
+慧能陳 should make it better on fuel economy with 4 gears. in the uk some of our volvo olympians have cummins L10's in them 3 speed voith but with a high speed diff 62mph no problem. not as fast as these but does the job
I remember when bexleybus first started operating. Brought a splash of colour to a red and green area. Very dark on the inside cos of the orange/brown seats and the black interior panels. Altho the coach seated olympians were the best. Shame the whole operation only lasted a few years.... but having bexleybus was great for us enthusiasts
