Leyland National WHH 556S
| Chassis: 05034 | Type 11351A/1R | Configuration: B52F |
This vehicle is currently on the road
WHH 556S on arrival on 23 May
This Leyland National has had an unusual history – it seems to be a bit of a survivor. It was new in 1978 as a dual door vehicle with only 21 seats – the rear section capacity only. The remainder was filled with electrical test equipment. It was initially a research vehicle for Leyland Vehicles and Lucas and was equipped with a new simplified multiplex wiring system using 3 wires to form a ring main behind the cove panels. A central control unit was fitted in the cab. Impulses were passed through the wiring from a Lucas main control unit to receiver units which would then activate the function required by the driver.It was claimed that the advantages were a saving in initial costs, simplified maintenance and ability to self-diagnose faults in both the electrical system and the engine by use of a plug-in mini computer. The bus was coded REV-01 by Leyland and carried this prominently on both sides.
This bus in original condition (pic: unknown)
REV-01 later received a prototype installation of the new Leyland Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which was developed jointly with Torotrak Development Limited of Leyland. Torotrak are still in business today selling their Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) gearbox Other unusual features of this bus were that it had two heaters in the roof pod rather than the usual one and also in addition to the 2 rows of heater ducts either side of the internal cove panelling there were an additional 2 rows either sides of the internal lighting. These features are still there today and it is a very warm vehicle.
The CVT gearbox was unusual in that for most of the time the engine revs remained constant, even when speed reduced to less than 5mph, before dropping to idling speed. In this early test period the gearbox still became hot at times, including when stage service simulation (stopping every 400 metres or so) was tried.The vehicles was sold to Torotrak in 1/88, no doubt for further development. It remained there, as far as is known, until 12/95 when it was sold to Pearson, Preston, for conversion to a caravan. It is not known what condition it was in by then. Presumably all the test equipment had been removed by this time. It is not known when the standard gearbox was fitted, but it is unlikely that Torotrak would sell it for further use with an experimental gearbox installed. However, what could have seen the start of a major decline in its fortunes was reversed when, in 9/96, only a few months later, it was sold to Hoffman and Webster at Preesall, Lancashire. It is thought that it was converted to single door and reseated to B52F whilst owned by this operator. It was also re-registered DIL 4942, but not until 2/98. It remained with Hoffman and Webster until 9/99, when it passed to neighbouring operator Hampson of Fleetwood. It did not stay there long, though.
By 3/00 it was owned by Harrison of Alfreton in Derbyshire, who, as far as is known, did not use it for service and may have had ideas of conversion too. It was at this time that Dave Ratcliffe of Bigrigg, who owned former Cumberland Leyland National 352 (GRM 352L) was looking for a source of spares to rebuild it. He learned of this vehicle in Derbyshire and decided to buy it for parts in July 2001. However, on examination it was found to be in too good a condition to scrap and it was placed in service, being re-registered back to its original registration in the December following. The registration DIL 4942 was retained by Dave for his own use. Dave painted it in his dark and light blue livery with black window surrounds.
WHH was mainly used on schools contracts and was based at Rowrah with Dave’s other vehicles. What started as a loan to Barry Pickthall for schools use eventually, in 12/04, became a sale. Barry repainted into his colour scheme which effectively replaced the light blue with yellow.
