One of the few remaining Isle of Man Leyland Nationals, long withdrawn 24 (MAN 24H) has moved to a site opposite an Island scrapyard, its service days clearly over. One of a batch of seven delivered to the erstwhile Isle of Man Road Services in 1976, and the last new buses added to that fleet prior to nationalisation later the same year, after withdrawal the bus initially found new use as an airside transfer bus at Ronaldsway International Airport - the remains of the flashing warning light is still visible above the front dome. Later acquired for preservation, the National gradually fell into disuse and was subsequently stripped for spare parts, with the remains being dispatched back to Ronaldsway where it was 'transformed' into a mock plane for use in a fire rescue exercise. Once again on the move, the National seems one step closer to final scrapping.
ABOVE: 24 pictured during happier times at Laxey August 2003. (Beside is similar vehicle 30, now the Island's computer bus.)
ABOVE: By October 2011, 24 was at Ronaldsway in use for firefighter training.
ABOVE: Interior shot October 2011 showing temporary aircraft seats used as part of the airport fire fighter training.
ABOVE: Rear view of 24 as it is April 2015 - The engine and gearbox are to be saved for spares.
ABOVE: An internal view of National 24 April 2015.
We would like to hear your views. If you have any comments or further information on this story, please email the Manx Electric Railway Society at enquiries@mers.org.im
Hi
Your article about MAN 24H is great - I am the current and probably the last owner of this bus - the main purpose of acquiring this vehicle, is to provide much needed spare parts for our other Leyland national (BYW 434V).
It is anticipated that MAN 24H (body shell) will be scrapped in the near future, the axles - engine and gearbox stored as spares.
Hopefully BYW 434V will soon be through the manx road test as a motorhome, but non the less a Leyland national
Regards
Dave Callister
ABOVE: BYW 434V seen at Summerhill 'top shed' (formerly the Douglas base of TOURS (Isle of Man)) in August 2014