Leyland National SNB 103

Service History

When London Country was formed in 1970, it inherited a significant number of crew-operated vehicles, mainly double deckers of the RT and Routemaster families. The RTs dated from the 1950s and a number of other vehicles in the initial London Country fleet also dated from this era, notably the RF class. The company was thus faced with the dual priorities of eliminating crew operation and modernising the fleet. London Country was an enthusiastic early user of the Leyland National. After an initial batch of 23 dual-door buses to the 11.3 metre length, a further 47 appeared to the same length but single-doored. Many of these were initially used on GREEN LINE services, coded as "LNC", despite the basic "bus" interiors. In the latter part of 1973, London Country opted to standardise on the 10.3 metre single door National for subsequent deliveries. At that time, much investment was being made in the GREEN LINE fleet. 90 AEC Reliance "RPs" and 21 AEC Swift "SMAs" had already entered service and had been followed by the LNCs mentioned above. The first batch of 10.3 metre Nationals consisted of 45 vehicles also intended for GREEN LINE use, to be classified as "SNCs". The National was still only available with a "bus" interior, but a small concession to comfort was that the green leather-cloth bus seats were re-trimmed in a blue-green moquette, as used on the RPs, SMAs and various London Transport buses and underground trains at that time. Exterior livery for this batch of SNCs was the "dual-purpose" scheme of white upper half and NBC Green lower half. In the end, a "Suburban Coach" variant of the National was developed that was far more suited to GREEN LINE work - see the history of SNC 168. In amongst this plan, there was a slight change of direction. Five vehicles from this batch of 45 SNCs were selected to become "buses" and they were destined for St Albans Garage where they became the first SNBs in the London Country fleet. ("SNB" stood for "Short National Bus"). These were SNB 98, 103, 113, 114 and 115. SNB 103 was registered UPE 203M; this was a Surrey registration, a consequence of London Country's head office being in Reigate. She was built to the early National specification, with batteries stored in a crate at the rear and with a brushed aluminium finish to the interior fittings such as seat rails, luggage pan and grab poles. A distinctive feature was the glass screen either side of the gangway at the step up into the rear portion. Livery was unrelieved NBC green, with silver wheels and white bumpers. The fleet name featured the NBC "arrow-head" symbol in white. Although built with green leather-cloth seats, it is believed that SNB 103 was re-trimmed in the blue-green moquette. Delivered in March 1974, SNB 103 went to Dorking in April for a few weeks, but then moved to St Albans with the other SNBs listed above to officially convert route 313 (St Albans - Enfield) to the type from 4th May. The SNBs also appeared on other single deck routes from SA as necessary, even operating Green Line routes! Apart from a few weeks at Hemel Hempstead Garage in August / September 1975, SNB 103 was at SA continuously until February 1981. In April, she transferred to the "Northern Works" at Garston Garage, emerging overhauled in August and transferring to Chelsham. I recall similar vehicles in service in the St Albans area, and distinctive features included the re-working of the rear end, to eliminate the elaborate pressed metal boot lid by substituting a flat one, and the relocation of the number plate to the offside corner of the rear roof dome. The boot lid then became available as advertising space. The distinctive "fishtail" exhaust tailpipe that exited part of the way along under the bottom edge of the offside engine flap was substituted with a simplified stainless steel exhaust that exited under the rear bumper. Livery was typically all over NBC green with the then-popular black bumpers. Internally, I recall that the aluminium finish on the luggage rack at the front was painted black, no doubt to make the interior more closely resemble more recent SNB deliveries. A nice idea, but the paint soon chipped and the whole lot would look untidy! She spent the mid 1980s wandering round other garages south of the river, Swanley, Addlestone and Staines before withdrawal in March 1987 and sale to Gatwick Engineering, the company that emerged after deregulation from the London Country overhaul works at Crawley. At some point thereafter, SNB 103 was transformed from a normal run-of-the-mill National into one of Stansted Airport's "airside" vehicles, with centre doors added and the seating converted to a "perimeter" layout. Livery was, I believe, yellow, topped off with a flashing light on the roof! After this, a further transformation took place; SNB 103 transferred to St John Ambulance for conversion to a mobile First Aid unit, based in the Ealing area. These vehicles seem to have been intended for use at larger public events, indeed for several years I recall there being a similar National present at the Amersham Running Day. The front section of the bus featured kitchen-type cupboards either side of the central gangway, while the rear section was partitioned-off with a full height wooden partition; I suspect the rear was either a private treatment room or staff mess room. The livery was all over white with a central "high visibility" stripe.

Purchase for Preservation

As I recall, it must have been at some point in 2001 or 2002 when SNB 103 was mentioned in conversation. I immediately identified her as a St Albans vehicle from that batch of five SNBs. Reference to my records showed that I had ridden in her at some point, and I do recall riding in the rear section of these buses behind the glass partitions. In my library of London Country books, I have a copy of "London Country Buses - A Colour Portfolio", and the front cover features - yes - SNB 103, photographed when still fairly young, heading away from St Albans Garage. After SNB 103 was no longer required for First Aid duties, she had passed to my friend, bus dealer Mike Nash, who made a deal too good to refuse. So it was that one night in November 2003, Rob Knight and I went to Mike's yard armed with a tool box and some batteries. I had only heard reports of SNB 103's condition, and had only seen her from a distance in Mike's yard. It was obviously dark when we got there, but we were able to get a good idea of her condition. Although the batteries normally live at the back in Nationals of this vintage, on SNB 103 the battery leads were inside the saloon; we fitted the new batteries but had to wedge them in place with a tool box and a briefcase! There seems to be a problem with the starting circuit as a local starter switch is located in a small cabinet at the rear, again inside. The interior, although converted for First Aid use, does show plenty of evidence of original panelling and fixtures; one of the first jobs when we start work will be to carefully strip out the cable trunking and cupboards, to see what we find underneath. The journey from Mike's yard was uneventful, SNB 103 being pleasant to drive, if rather cold, cruising comfortably at 50 mph or so. With the batteries not being fully secured, I was not able to investigate the handling characteristics of this early vehicle without anti-roll bars. For the time being, SNB 103 is stored awaiting work to commence.

Allocation History (courtesy of LOTS)

New 3/74 - RGu 4/74 - DS 5/74 - SA 8/75 - HH 9/75 - SA 2/81 - SAu 4/81 - NW 8/81 O/H - CM 9/83 - SJ 4/85 - WY 10/86 - ST 3/87 - STw Sold to Gatwick Engineering

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