Fleet Data - RRM 148M

FLEET INFORMATION - RRM 148M SOLD for preservation September 2004

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Vehicle Registration Number - RRM 148M

Original Registration Number - As Above

Year Built - 1973

Date Of Registration - 9th May 1974

Chassis Make - Leyland

Type - National 1151/1R/2308

Engine - Leyland 510 turbocharged 8.2 litre rated at 200 bhp @ 2,200 rpm

Gearbox - 5 Speed Pneumocyclic Semi-Automatic

Body - Leyland

Seating Capacity - 51

Owners -

1973 - Oct 1977 Leyland National Co Ltd

Oct 1977- Jan 1984 West Midlands Police

Jan 1984 M.Harrison (Dealer), Staffs

Jan 1984 - Feb 1992 Suffolk County Council

Feb 1992 -July 1994 Preservation, Norwich

July 94 - August 2002 Mr T Moore, Norwich

August 2002 - Date Mr M J Wootten, Chesham

MORE ABOUT THE LEYLAND NATIONAL AND THE UNIQUE SUBURBAN EXPRESS DEMONSTRATOR ......

The Leyland National was one of the most significant buses of the last Century. Unlike any bus seen before it, the National was designed like an aircraft and built like a car by use of mass production methods.

The Leyland National was the result of a joint venture by the National Bus Company (NBC) and Leyland Bus – hence the name Leyland National. The aim was to produce a revolutionary single deck bus for use in National Bus Company fleets and beyond. A massive factory in Workington was constructed to make the bus with annual production of 2000 units per year expected.

Mechanically the Leyland National was advanced. Air suspension was standard as was power steering, semi-automatic gearbox and turbo-charged engine. The body design was modern and strong with a robust and spacious interior.

An obvious choice of engine would have been the 0.680 unit, but Leyland decided to develop a new engine resulting in the 510. This engine was unusual in having a non-detachable cylinder head.

The Leyland National Suburban Express demonstrator was built in 1973 and remained unique in being the only flat-floored Leyland National produced (all others had two floor levels). The bus was exhibited unregistered at the Scottish Motor Show in Glasgow during November 1973, and at the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court in early 1974 registered RRM148M. At this time it was fitted with 46 Chapman coach seats trimmed in and orange/brown moquette, and had a full-length carpet, colour unknown.

Demonstrations were given to many Scottish operators, and others, between June 1974 and March 1975 when the coach seating and carpet was replaced with 51 blue bus seats to standard Leyland National design. The bus was later shipped to Eire for extended loan to Coras Iompair Eireann (CIE) in the Dublin area. The demonstration livery of cream and brown was retained throughout the demonstration period and it returned to the Leyland National Co. at Workington in May 1977.

West Midlands police purchased the bus in October 1977 via ADT, Measham, and it was used for training and personnel duties including the transport of officers to the Miners Strike, operating in all over white. It passed to Malcolm Harrison (dealer) in Staffordshire in 1983.

Suffolk County Council acquired the bus in January 1984 as its noP218, and Eastern Counties in Norwich prepared it for its new life as a school bus. The work included repainting into the school bus livery of orange/white. In 1991, it was renumbered to 248, and towards the end of its life it was used to operate local rural bus services near Ipswich that were not found attractive by established operators. The bus was withdrawn in December 1991, and stored at a local disused airfield.

In February 1992, this unique bus was saved for preservation thanks to the understanding help of council officials. Preservation work commenced in July 1994, when the bus passed to Mr T Moore of Norwich.

Exterior restoration was carried out over the winter of 1995/1996, with the Leyland 100 event in June 1996 being a fitting rally debut. Work included extensive repanelling, and removal of the windows prior to painting back to original Leyland demonstration livery. Many awards have since been won, past successes including the Concours trophy at the Southampton Bus Rally, the top award at the Norwich rally, class winner at Sandtoft, and a Doyen award at Showbus.

Michael Wootten purchased RRM 148M for continued preservation in August 2002. The vehicle is no longer used in daily service, but often returns from retirement to attend various events and shows. Recent awards include the Leyland National Anniversary Trophy at Showbus 2002.

Leyland National Leyland National Badge