Leyland National Mk.1 Long 2 Door Crosville Motor Services WFM801K. Crosville SNL801 on Chester local service C40 to Upton.

Chassis no 102 was the second production Leyland National delivered in May 1972 in a variation of the outgoing Tilling Green livery. Briefly in service with reg number UFM801K, it was re-registered WFM801K after the licensing office in Chester found UFM801K had already been issued to a private car.

The name ‘Crosville’ was derived from the founders’ names George Crosland-Taylor and Georges Ville based in Chester. Bus operation began in 1909 serving Cheshire, expanding into Liverpool and North & Mid-Wales from the late 1920s. Ownership passed to the LMS railway in 1929 and merged with Tilling and British Automobile Traction (T&BAT) in 1930 when Crosville Motor Services was formed. Under the Transport Act 1968 Crosville vehicles and operations passed to the National Bus Company.

More than 360 Leyland Nationals were ordered by Crosville between 1972 and 1983. WFM801K was the first of twenty-four 2-door Nationals received in 1972. Deliveries from 1973 until 1979 were all single-door, comprising 11.3m dual purpose semi-coaches, 11.3m buses, and 10.3m B Series buses. The last fifteen Leyland Nationals delivered to Crosville reverted to dual-door layout and were 11.6m Mk 2 type supplied between 1981 and 1983.

After withdrawal by Crosville WFM801K saw further service airside at Gatwick Airport as GH485. Acquired in 1994 by GM Buses South, numbered 265 and converted to single door, subsequently passing to Stagecoach Manchester in 1997.

WFM801K was restored to as-new condition around 2005, including reinstating the centre doors, and is privately preserved.

Thanks to Robbie Forster (Dorset Model Buses) for assistance.

• Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)