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EFE Rail E40601

Leyland Atlantean Open Top Western National NBC 926 926GTA

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation

Manufacturer description

The well-known bus operator, Devon General, began operating regular open top bus tours of the Torbay area in the summer of 1955 using vehicles converted from conventional double deckers. However, in 1961 these were replaced by a fleet of nine specially built Leyland Atlanteans with Metro-Cammell bodies, each seating 75 passengers.

The nine were named after historical naval and maritime figures such as Sir Francis Drake  and Sir John Hawkins, and soon earned the nickname ‘Sea Dogs’; a term Devon General even adopted for its marketing. In their distinctive cream and red livery, they became a familiar sight on the 12A-12D routes serving Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Babbacombe and Kingswear, and carried generations of holidaymakers for the next 20 years. They were built as convertibles, with detachable roofs, meaning that they could operate as normal double deckers during the low season.

In January 1971 Devon General became part of the Western National Omnibus Company (itself part of the National Bus Company), and during the next two years the Sea Dogs were repainted into NBC poppy red and white, and also converted to one-man operation. They initially carried Devon General branding under NBC ownership, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset.

Withdrawal commenced in 1982, and the Sea Dogs went their separate ways, finding use in places including London, Lancashire, East Yorkshire and Glasgow.

Our model depicts registration 926GTA ‘Sir Francis Drake’ in its post-1973 condition as fleet number 926. It comprises an amalgamation of all-new and refreshed tooling, with the enhanced lower deck tooling benefiting from the addition of panel lines and mirrors for the first time. The upper deck and seating are entirely new tooling, with metal handrails around the top edge and lowered route blind typical of the type after conversion to one-man operation. The model is finished in NBC Poppy Red and White with Western National branding, operating on service 514 to Penzance. It also features period advertising on the original-style rear engine bustle, and separately fitted destination banner boards on the body sides.

• Colours/details of final model may vary from illustration
• Authentically detailed die-cast model from EFE Road
• Complementary to OO scale model railways (1:76 scale)

Catalogue listing

The EFE Rail Leyland Atlantean Open Top model represents a bus that was part of the Sea Dogs fleet operated by Devon General in the 1960s. The real-life vehicles, nine in total, were named after historical naval and maritime figures and featured a distinctive cream and red livery.

In 1961, Devon General replaced its open top double decker buses with the Leyland Atlanteans, each seating 75 passengers. The buses were built with detachable roofs, allowing them to operate as normal double deckers during the off-season.

The Sea Dogs, as they became known, carried holidaymakers on routes serving Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, and other areas in Devon and beyond for over 20 years. In 1971, Devon General became part of the Western National Omnibus Company, and the Sea Dogs were repainted and converted to one-man operation.

Our model depicts registration 926GTA, 'Sir Francis Drake', in its post-1973 condition. It features all-new and refreshed tooling, including enhanced panel lines, mirrors, and metal handrails on the upper deck. The model is finished in NBC Poppy Red and White with Western National branding, complete with period advertising on the rear engine bustle and separately fitted destination boards.