1844/5/7/9 The Original ones..

[DOC37V]

Does anyone know when did WMPTE convert Nationals 6844/5/7/9 to B22DL layouts from the original specs?

thanks in advance!

[Isle of Stroma]

1984.

[Bob]

Anyone know when and why 3 of the national 2s ended up dual door standee buses, at wolverhampton?  Also did the mk2s keep their 0.680/L11 engines when put back into service or did theh getreengined like the mk 1s

[Tony]

Anyone know when and why 3 of the national 2s ended up dual door standee buses, at wolverhampton?  Also did the mk2s keep their 0.680/L11 engines when put back into service or did theh getreengined like the mk 1s

They were converted for a shuttle service around the ICC area when that first opened 1017 was also done

[Bob]

Which was 1017 tony a mk2 or an aol-t? They ended up on the centrebus in the end in wolves didnt they? Were they the last or amongst the last nationals in use?  Were they ever re engined?

[Tony]

Which was 1017 tony a mk2 or an aol-t? They ended up on the centrebus in the end in wolves didnt they? Were they the last or amongst the last nationals in use?  Were they ever re engined?

1017 was the last mark 1 (AOL 17T), yes they were re-engined

[Bob]

I remember in the 90s a few mk2s were reinstated,  dont think they were refurbished though, were they re engined as well?

[Tony]

I remember in the 90s a few mk2s were reinstated,  dont think they were refurbished though, were they re engined as well?

The only Mark 2s not fitted with DAFs were 1048-1051, four of the short ones. These were reinstated at Wolverhampton with the bench seats over the front wheelarch removed to reduce the seating so that they could be classed as 'minibuses' under the rules on drivers wages. 1052 was also reseated but did have a DAF engine

[Bob]

Ahhh. The DP ones which were pressed back into service a lot later were re tooled with volvos werent they, I remember walsall having a load of them.  I thought it was nuts how they spent all that money only to withdraw them a couple of years later! Very comfortable buses too ( the dp ones). WMT must have had loads of inactive nationals sat in reserve for years then they suddenly appeared again back in service.  I loved the mid 90s then sadly swathes of crap b6s came.....

[Tony]

Ahhh. The DP ones which were pressed back into service a lot later were re tooled with volvos werent they, I remember walsall having a load of them.  I thought it was nuts how they spent all that money only to withdraw them a couple of years later! Very comfortable buses too ( the dp ones). WMT must have had loads of inactive nationals sat in reserve for years then they suddenly appeared again back in service.  I loved the mid 90s then sadly swathes of crap b6s came.....

Apart from 1820 which was the only DP fitted with a DAF, lacked the power of the Volvos which were superb to drive until you tried to stop them. PTF 745L an ex Ribble National that turned up at Perry Barr, usually on the 52 route with a Volvo engine, acceleration of a Lynx, but braking power of a football rolling down a 1 in 1 hill!

[Bob]

I know I couldnt believe they had L reg buses running in 1997 when the last buses of the same vintage were withdrawn in 1986! The 90s were great especially when walsall got fleetlines again and they were regulars on the cannnock routes ( that were still considered important then!!). When ypu look at what we had then ( deckers nationalsmetros etc) to now with just loads of darts eeverywhere.... they were great days!

[winston]

Which was 1017 tony a mk2 or an aol-t? They ended up on the centrebus in the end in wolves didnt they? Were they the last or amongst the last nationals in use?  Were they ever re engined?

1017 was the last mark 1 (AOL 17T), yes they were re-engined

1017 saw out its days at Travel Yourbus as a backup vehicle for on the B'ham Airport - Rail Station shuttle

[winston]

I remember in the 90s a few mk2s were reinstated,  dont think they were refurbished though, were they re engined as well?

A number were re-instated at Metrowest after DY & HL closed

[winston]

Ahhh. The DP ones which were pressed back into service a lot later were re tooled with volvos werent they, I remember walsall having a load of them.  I thought it was nuts how they spent all that money only to withdraw them a couple of years later! Very comfortable buses too ( the dp ones). WMT must have had loads of inactive nationals sat in reserve for years then they suddenly appeared again back in service.  I loved the mid 90s then sadly swathes of crap b6s came.....

They were withdrawn from WMT/TWM but the majority were transferred to NX owned Highland Country buses and used for further service in Scotland, I think some National 2's ended up there as well and were then followed by numerous Leyland Lynx

[lynx1103]

I visited Highland Country in 2001 Fort William/Inverness/Aviemore depots
There was a large batch of Leyland Nationals

1020 1021 1030 1032 1043 1045 comes to mind plus around 35 Leyland lynx
Acquired in 2001 numbered from 501-538