Keeping on the theme of old 1970's traction, let's move from the bouncy Bakerloo to a luscious loud London Leyland, and the unmistakable sound of the 1970s stable that is, the Leyland National with SNB448.
New in 1979, SNB448 comprises an order of 83 YPL***T plate Nationals ordered by the National Bus Company owned London Country, these SNBs were part of the "Series B" type built without the roof pod to house the heating systems. SNB448 was allocated new to Hemel Hempstead (HH), passing to Addlestone (WY) for most of its service life, where in 1986 it then became London Country South West, and London & Country in 1989. 1994 saw it move from Staines (ST) before returning back to Addlestone, with a final garage transfer to Leatherhead (LH), then back to Addlestone until withdrawal in 1997, where it was then purchased by West Midlands independent operator Chase Coaches as their 22, then with a final buyout by Arriva in 2007 SNB448 was subsequently withdrawn from active service and soon bought for preservation.
SNB448 was in attendance at Amersham & District's magnificent event held at Beaconsfield to part celebrate 20 years of Carousel buses route A40, a signature route of theirs which ran from High Wycombe to Heathrow Airport, which is now replaced by Chiltern Hundred route 102. SNB448 was in action recreating route 363 to High Wycombe via Penn, Hazelmere & Totteridge.
SNB448 is powered by the usual Leyland O.510 engine coupled to a 5-speed Leyland semi-automatic gearbox. Whiny, clacking, loud as a National should be, so I hope you all enjoy!
24 авг 2023
