THE SHOWBUS LONDON & HOME COUNTIES BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Red Rover Leyland National
 |
 |
||
132 |
  
 
| ||
Page 1 |
| ||
 Newly arrived from Nottingham was their 721 (FAU721L). It is seen reversing into Red Rover's Middle Garage ready to be prepared for service in Aylesbury. Nottingham's Nationals had originally entered service on free city centre routes in the city in the early days of bus priorities with the 'Lilac Leopards' 'Park & Ride' operated by a fleet of striking Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopards. Nationals were not often found with independent operators and even less so in the dial door 10.3m configuration, indeed Red Rover may have been unique in this respect. The vehicles launched Red Rover's ambitious LINKLINE 9 cross town service, which, with relaxation in route licensing, eventually became an all day operation. Initially they were only allowed to operate until 0900 and from 1630 to 2300 and had to allow competitors United Counties and Oxford-South Midland to run only the southern half of the route between these times - hardly an economic proposition for an enterprising small company. Luckily perseverance and a new Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher saved the day.
|
 When 721 emerged from Middle Garage as 132 it presnted a new Red Rover Nottingham inspired livery. Simply the Nottingham green had been repainted in Red Rover's sunset red and italicised fleetnemes added in red too. The bus is seen opposite the United Counties depot in Buckingham Street on an Elmhust Estate route 14.
|
A posed photo of the new addition to the fleet in Kingsbury Square.
|
 A poor light picture of the bus in early evening on LINKLINE at the Haydon Hill end of the route.
|
 If you thought the light was bad in the above picture then it is worse here! The National is on LINKLINE rounding Kingsbury Square whilst heading to Stoke Mandeville Hospital amidst the festive Christmas lights.
|
|
|
||
132 |
| ||
Page 1 |
| ||