(06 Apr 2022, 12:10 pm)Malarkey wrote To celebrate the joint 50 year anniversaries of the Leyland National and the Lillyhall factory we are organising a unique FREE EVENT, LN50, to take place in Whitehaven on the Bank Holiday weekend of 30th April to 1st May, 2022. We anticipate a large selection of vehicles to be either on display along the historic harbour side or running free services round the town and further afield. This will include one of the largest gatherings of Leyland Nationals since the factory closed, comprising vehicles from the earliest to the latest, with a few one-off surprises, and our own collection. There will be other Leyland types too, from Atlanteans to Olympians, a selection of historic, preserved Cumberland vehicles and an emphasis of buses from the major groupings at the time of the Leyland National’s heyday - in particular from the National Bus Company and the PTEs that ran services in the our major conurbations.

https://www.facebook.com/events/whitehaven-harbour/leyland-national-50/350059303199712/

(06 Apr 2022, 4:18 pm)Train8261 wrote Wait hang on there hasn't been a thread about this. I'm surprised this is being done now since it's been talked about since late last year. I heard about it in October

(01 May 2022, 7:47 am)Clifton Hignett III wrote Having being on leave over the past few weeks, I was handed back my passport and received permission from the offices of our Dear Leaders to travel back to the United Kingdom for the purposes of leisure and merriment. Upon landing at the Carlisle and Lakes Airport, I noticed a flyer advertising this event and decided to pop along and sample what was on offer.

I think this was my first time in Whitehaven - although I have passed through the town on train. It is a congested, narrow, and hilly place with housing stock that wouldn't look out of place in a depressing film or television drama set in the 1980s. While the town seems to contain its fair share of amenities, it comes across as run down, or at least that's the impression I was left with.

Upon arrival I saw an Olympian being directed onto the harbour before having to do a convoluted three-point turn whilst cars were inexplicably attempted to squeeze by either side of the vehicle without being prevented from doing so by the stewards. I also saw the same vehicle attempting a similar manoeuvre into a tight car-park near Tesco where buses were parked between runs. There were also complaints about how drivers were getting lost, or taking too much time, on runs going around the town because they were unfamiliar with the area, which suggests the some of the logistics of the event could have been better prepared or organised.

All that aside, the buses on display were in top condition and there was a chance to ride various types buses around the town centre, in addition to other destinations such as the Park and Ride site, and the former Leyland factory at Lillyhall. I found the latter a bit underwhelming, in all honesty. While I appreciate it may have been the birthplace on many of the vehicles on display today, the site itself is mostly derelict and looks like an abandoned wasteland littered with empty industrial units. Possibly not the best destination to bring casual attendees of the event although, as I understand, it is due to be demolished soon so, perhaps, it was the last chance to see the former shell of the Leyland production line.

Criticisms aside, it was a decent day out and a relief from the daily pressures of life in downtown Pyongyang.