The Leyland National bus was built in Workington, Cumbria, between 1972 and 1985, this project being a collaboration between British Leyland and the National Bus Company. It was a successful venture, with thousands built, and also exported to many countries around the world, including Australia, the Netherlands, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and the largest export shipment, 450 buses to Venezuela! Very few remain in service in the UK, but over 100 are preserved. Another interesting fact, and a railway one, is that the bus body design, and components, were adapted to be used in the British Rail Class 141, 142 and 155 diesel multiple units. Kit contains pre-coloured parts and transfers; requires glue and detail painting to complete.

RAILWAY OF THE MONTH
Neu Birkenfeld
A third life for a narrow gauge layout: the Spijkspoor model railway club from The Netherlands have ‘recycled’ their German HOe layout.

PLAN OF THE MONTH
Le Locle to Les Brenets
Metre gauge to the French border – Alan Pike explores a self-contained Swiss local line which might make an interesting model.

EDITOR'S PICK
Free kit with this issue!
A short introduction to the Auhagen HO accessory kits presented free with this issue.

PLUS
PRODUCT REVIEWS
BOOK and VIDEO REVIEWS
NEWS
EXHIBITION DIARY

The Leyland National bus was built in Workington, Cumbria, between 1972 and 1985, this project being a collaboration between British Leyland and the National Bus Company. It was a successful venture, with thousands built, and also exported to many countries around the world, including Australia, the Netherlands, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and the largest export shipment, 450 buses to Venezuela! Very few remain in service in the UK, but over 100 are preserved. Another interesting fact, and a railway one, is that the bus body design, and components, were adapted to be used in the British Rail Class 141, 142 and 155 diesel multiple units. Kit contains pre-coloured parts and transfers; requires glue and detail painting to complete.

The Leyland National bus was built in Workington, Cumbria, between 1972 and 1985, this project being a collaboration between British Leyland and the National Bus Company. It was a successful venture, with thousands built, and also exported to many countries around the world, including Australia, the Netherlands, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and the largest export shipment, 450 buses to Venezuela! Very few remain in service in the UK, but over 100 are preserved. Another interesting fact, and a railway one, is that the bus body design, and components, were adapted to be used in the British Rail Class 141, 142 and 155 diesel multiple units. Kit contains pre-coloured parts and transfers; requires glue and detail painting to complete.

The Leyland Olympian entered service with the National Bus Company (N.B.C.) in 1981, as a replacement for the Bristol VRT. Shortly after this, Olympians entered service with many provincial operators. London Transport ordered its' first batch in 1984.

Initial batches of the Olympian featured a Leyland chassis, powered by a Gardner 6 LXB engine with an Eastern Carriage Works (E.C.W.) body. Later batches used a Leyland built body and those produced more recently had an Optare built body. Outwardly these three bodies are basically identical and this kit is based on this type of Olympian.

They were exported to Greece, Hong Kong, the USA, Canada and Singapore. Kit contains pre-coloured parts and transfers; requires glue and detail painting to complete.

These delightful ready to run coaches are based on those used on the Glyn Valley Tramway. This plain green vehicle is ideal for a modeller who wishes to create their own imaginary narrow gauge line, or for those wishing to adapt them to suit another prototype. A matching open sided coach (Ref. GR-520UR) and enclosed coach (Ref. GR-500UR) are available; all three vehicles are also produced in plain green (Ref GR-500UG, GR-520UG, & GR-530UG).

These delightful ready to run coaches are based on those used on the Glyn Valley Tramway. This plain green vehicle is ideal for a modeller who wishes to create their own imaginary narrow gauge line, or for those wishing to adapt them to suit another prototype. A matching open sided coach (Ref. GR-520UG) and enclosed coach (Ref. GR-500UG) are available; all three vehicles are also produced in plain red (Ref GR-500UR, GR-520UR, & GR-530UR).

These delightful ready to run coaches are based on those used on the Glyn Valley Tramway. This plain red vehicle is ideal for a modeller who wishes to create their own imaginary narrow gauge line, or for those wishing to adapt them to suit another prototype. A matching enclosed coach (Ref. GR-500UR) and a brake coach (Ref. GR-530UR) are available; all three vehicles are also produced in plain green (Ref GR-500UG, GR-520UG, & GR-530UG).

These delightful ready to run coaches are based on those used on the Glyn Valley Tramway. This plain green vehicle is ideal for a modeller who wishes to create their own imaginary narrow gauge line, or for those wishing to adapt them to suit another prototype. A matching enclosed coach (Ref. GR-500UG) and a brake coach (Ref. GR-530UG) are available; all three vehicles are also produced in plain red (Ref GR-500UR, GR-520UR, & GR-530UR).

These delightful ready to run coaches are based on those used on the Glyn Valley Tramway. This plain red vehicle is ideal for a modeller who wishes to create their own imaginary narrow gauge line, or for those wishing to adapt them to suit another prototype. A matching open sided coach (Ref. GR-520UR) and a brake coach (Ref. GR-530UR) are available; all three vehicles are also produced in plain green (Ref GR-500UG, GR-520UG, & GR-530UG).

These delightful ready to run coaches are based on those used on the Glyn Valley Tramway. This plain green vehicle is ideal for a modeller who wishes to create their own imaginary narrow gauge line, or for those wishing to adapt them to suit another prototype. A matching open sided coach (Ref. GR-520UG) and a brake coach (Ref. GR-530UG) are available; all three vehicles are also produced in plain red (Ref GR-500UR, GR-520UR, & GR-530UR).

Swiss railways have a special attraction for many enthusiasts, even if they do not model continental railways. The intense network of lines, volume of traffic, and seemingly endless variety of companies and liveries complements the incredibly attractive Alpine scenery so often associated with the railways of this land-locked country.

Comprising 124 perfect-bound pages, this softback book has a wide selection of articles, featuring layouts, modelling articles and prototype inspiration. Metre gauge railways are a well known feature of this country, so the articles on the routes of the MIB, Furka Oberalp and Rhatische Bahn will come as no surprise!