EFE Rail E40602

Leyland Atlantean Open Top Ribble 927GTA

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 They initially carried Devon General branding under NBC ownership, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset.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 927GTA (formerly ‘Sir Martin Frobisher’) in its circa 1986 condition as Ribble Motor Services fleet number 1927. 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 the distinctive Ribble white, red and grey striped livery, and carries excursion service 02 blinds.

• 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 model of a Leyland Atlantean Open Top bus represents the British Rail Blue (TOPS) period. The bus in question is registration 927GTA, formerly known as 'Sir Martin Frobisher', and was originally part of Devon General's 'Sea Dogs' fleet.

The 'Sea Dogs' were a fleet of nine Leyland Atlanteans built in 1961 for Devon General, with each bus seating 75 passengers. They operated in the Torbay area, primarily on routes serving Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Babbacombe, and Kingswear, and were a familiar sight on these routes for over 20 years.

The buses were built as convertibles, allowing them to operate without their tops during the low season. In 1971, Devon General became part of the National Bus Company, and the 'Sea Dogs' were repainted and converted to one-man operation. They were later withdrawn from service in 1982 and found new use in various locations, including London, Lancashire, and Glasgow.

The EFE Rail model of 927GTA depicts the bus in its circa 1986 condition as Ribble Motor Services fleet number 1927. The model features new and refreshed tooling, including panel lines and mirrors on the lower deck, and new upper deck and seating tooling with metal handrails and lowered route blinds. The model is finished in the distinctive Ribble livery of white, red, and grey stripes and carries excursion service 02 blinds.