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A 5 speed air shift too, that is awesome. Were those pneumocyclic?

Often travelled between Box and Stroud as a Cotswold Chine alumnus! Usually on a Saturday!

People say the Leyland 510 is clattery, but I remember as a child in the 80's going to school, always being pleased when a National turned up at the bus stop. The engines were smooth with no vibration, and the bus rode well, and they were fast. We always got there early with a National. They were so much better than the predecessor busses. Outside they were a bit vocal, but they sounded like they meant business, like a capable mechanical machine.

Absolutely gorgeous

That really does sound good. It was Atlanteans in Liverpool on family visiting, which really got me into the type.

I remember 5545 & 5546 when they were new in national bus green. These two buses had the electronic destination display. Never seemed to work right!

A pity they didn't go ahead with their plans to offer the AEC AV691.

I remember always trying to get an RE or an Atlantean on school days, allowing the boring Olympians and Nationals to pass by, even though it would make me 10 minutes late at least. Something about the intrinsic music of these beasts soothed me and allowed me to complete my maths homework in stale smoky harmonious bouncy peace. When I was 17, I fell in love with a redhead at my bus stop who worked at Waterstones, so this regime soon fell into abeyance. Thereafter, neither Atlantean or Olympian; nor National or RE plying the Great North Road, were here or there.

I love the Leyland engine's growl, simply fantastic!

She is a fine old girl. Spent a lot of time in Newcastle.

I'd love to be a passenger on one of these. From the video alone you can feel its power.

Haven’t driven a mk 1 or 2 since I were at Yorkshire Traction (Barnsley & Sheffield) back in the 90’s 2000’s. Would love to get a chance of a drive once again if anyone knows any owners. Still have my clean psv

Actually that's one of the quietest VRs I've seen, with hardly any squeaks or rattles or creaking from the springs! 😁

9:50 its cool seeing old and new buses together.

I love the sound of a Leyland National use to ride them everyday in the West Midlands with Chase Buses I think Chase Buses were the last company to use Nationals in 2007 😊

Has it got a glass screen behind the cab❓ So much less rattly than perspex on BOC. Totally forgot the signature Bristol brake squeak copied by my Grandma's mynah bird❤❤❤

That sound and gearbox just blows me away. Amazing.

That engine creates one of the sounds of my childhood. The X9 from Blaenrhondda to Pontypridd

wayfarer ticket machine 🤩 that takes me back

Reminiscient of the 2-stroke Detroit Diesel "Screaming Jimmys" but a bit more guttural and staccato, partly due to the multi-speed transmission vs. the GMC buses' hydraulic drive (basically a torque converter used by itself).

I could tell that was Stroud before even reading the description. Grew up in the 70s and 80s with these, Leyland Nationals and Bristol VRs, first with Bristol Omnibus then City of Gloucester/Stroud Valleys/Cheltenham and District before Stagecoach took over in 1993.

So who moved the bucket from under the engine bay

Drove these in service, 729 from Brighton to Tunbridge Wells.. Passenger Fares = £1.99 single, £2.00 return.. Always Full.. Great Days of National Transport.. New Stagecoach Autovomit Buses rattle like never before..

Either your roads are immaculate or that bus doesnt have a single squeaky or rattly panel on it, puts modern buses to shame, amazing oldtimer!

is that a blackpool Swift to the left?

Sounds epic

Am I the only one who thinks these magnificent Bristol RELL single deckers should always be painted in red? Obviously it’s because I grew up with red Ribble liveried ones but that green one in front just looks weird. Great video though and the best bus ever, the only one I’d put on par with it is the Leyland National but hey! Everyone’s mileage varies 🙂

love your enthusiasm running to get driving! Great video many thanks

Nice, that sound take me back

I used to drive JEMIMA all around South Wales whilst in preservation there, particularly at the Barry, Swsnsea and Bleanafon shows. Timeline 2007 to 2010. Loved the growl and the power!

Love The Smoke Screen

Did these things have 510 engines? They have that beautiful ticky whine to them....

So TRY118H Was TRYing to be The loudest! Or was it TRYing to deafen you? Sorry I'll go grab my jacket

Takes me back to school days when Northern got lots of high and low roof ECW and Willowbrook bodied Leyland engined VRs. A better thrash than the United Gardner engined VRs.

Wow that brings it back. Love the soundtrack. I drove a few of these in the early 80s on Eastern Counties Omnibus Company. One I remember was just like this (I think) although that one had no power steering which made the job of turning it around in the rather tight yard at Saxmundham quite hard work!

Such a fantastic sound and great vid. Brings back memories of my childhood in East Kent in the 80s/90s

I know I've commented before, but this film is in my favourites list for when I'm feeling like this. I like listening to things that are familiar, and this engine is so so recognisable. Most vehicles when I was younger I could recognise, but these days most are the same. Sheesh, the smoke though! WTH! Never mind Greta thungberg, even I watch and think, no way!

That is one of the best sounds on a bus I love to hear. The whine and the roar combined together and being driven like a king. I love this video and thanks for posting. I rode many Alexander Y-Type buses on the Bristol RELL chassis in my childhood and East Lancs LAeyland Atlanteans from 1974/1975 which are just as fun hearing those babies growl like a beast on the Motorway.

This is a Leicester registration bus.... Im pretty sure me and my twin brother used to ride this bus, as we used to enjoy the Bristol RE .. 90 and 91 outer circle route . Leicester.

Not bad for a 0600

Playing with the senses a bit riding in a VR that sounds like a National. Did it have the standard pre-selector gears or the Leyland semi-auto box?

That Leyland engine sounds lovely. I just adore that thrash. Kind of sounds like a Dennis Falcon in some ways.

Great engine great bus great video

I'd love to drive one of these. The buses I drive these days are all automatic but I'd like to test myself with gears.

I privately owned a national and my intention was to turn it into a mobile cafe, but the guy i was in partnership with spent all the cash we had on himself and in the end we sold the bus to a refurb company for buses.

Love the sound of this bus

😂😂😂 Music to my ears and a little tear. Loves it when he out exhaust noted the bikes. Absolutely brilliant.

I don't know why you're apologising, the downshifts seem spot on...

Rare to find recordings of any buses. I'm on the lookout for recordings of the Leyland Lynx that have yet to come to light, would you happen to know of any tapes sitting about? Cheers

When I was a lad growing up in Sydney Australia, our local bus company purchased two of the Nationals, so much publicity. Great to ride in, unfortunately they didn't last long, Australian dry weather conditions etc didn't agree with them 😳