|
Background Over the years Western National and
its predecessor Royal Blue contributed many vehicles to National Express
services. The 1980's saw a dramatic increases in passenger
journeys thanks to the 1980 Transport Act that deregulated coach
services. Until then the staple product on National Express
work had been Duple or Plaxton bodied Leopards that were sound vehicles
but not ideal for motorway cruising. Enter the Leyland
Tiger in 1980, a chassis designed to compete with the Volvo B10M and
significantly more powerful than the Leopard. Western
National favoured Plaxton bodies, both 3200 (normal height) and 3500
(high) models. In March 1985 a batch of four Plaxton bodied
Tigers was delivered numbered 2217-2220 (B194-197BAF).
Starting on frontline National Express routes they went on to serve for
nearly 20 years and could regularly be seen on big days out on Summer
Saturdays.
Photo Facts
[2] Initially the BAFs found homes on the 730 (Midlands
and North East to Cornwall) and 806 (Aberdeen to Plymouth) routes.
In May 1986, 2218 (B195BAF) is seen in Taunton bus
station heading for Plymouth having left Aberdeen the night before.
[10] When new in April 1985, 2219 (B196BAF)
is seen in Reading bus station en route to Porthleven. Note
that some of the BAF's carried Cornwall Coachways fleetnames and some
carried Western National. [3] On the
Plymouth to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne service, 2220 (B197BAF)
is seen in Leicester bus station in December 1985. [4]
The Plymouth service left Aberdeen at 19h00 and was the final express
service of the day to Glasgow. Waiting to head for the
stance is 2218 (B195BAF) in October 1987.
[5] Although all four BAF's were delivered as normal
National Express vehicles, in mid-life some were painted into Rapide
livery. Most Rapide services concentrated on London, but
Western National operated the 531 from Plymouth to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
(which still exists today). 2220 (B197BAF)
is seen leaving Digbeth Coach Station heading north on the 531 in
January 1988. [6] Also in Rapide livery but
on normal service 300 from Bristol to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is
2218 (B195BAF) seen in Leeds in October 1989. [1]
Latterly as would be expected the BAFs were relegated to duplicate
duties or Saturday-only routes. The 725 service ran (and
still does as the 315) from Eastbourne to Helston. A BAF, by
now in Western National coach livery, is seen on the M27 duplicating the
service in August 1993. [7] August 1993
also sees 2219 (B196BAF), smartly turned out in Western
National coach livery complete with Badgerline Badger, duplicating the
service from Westward Ho! to Liverpool. [8]
Western National bought Grenville Motors in 1998 in whose livery
2220 (B197BAF) is seen in Samuelsons Garage in London having
arrived as a duplicate on the 504 service from Penzance in February
1989. [9] One of the final sightings of a
BAF on National Express duties was 2220 (B197BAF), seen
on the 329 Saturday only service leaving Bristol for Newquay in August
2001. |