EFE Rail E40701

Leyland Atlantean Open Top East Yorkshire NBC 904 932GTA

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

Prototype Era
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation

Manufacturer description

Leyland Atlantean Open Top East Yorkshire NBC 904 932GTA

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 own 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. 

Upon nationalisation in 1969 Devon General became part of the new National Bus Company (NBC) but was amalgamated with the Western National Omnibus Company (itself part of the NBC) two years later. Under NBC the Sea Dogs were repainted into a poppy red and white livery, and also converted to one-man operation. They initially carried Devon General branding, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset. Gradually their names disappeared too.

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 932GTA (originally ‘Earl Howe’) in its circa 1984 condition as working for East Yorkshire NBC in the Bridlington area. It is finished in NBC’s striking white and blue ‘venetian blind’ livery, complete with East Yorkshire branding, fleet number 904 and the name ‘Belvedere Star’. The front blind carries a service 100 to Bridlington destination.

Like our 2025 ‘Sea Dogs’, the model comprises an amalgamation of new and refreshed tooling, with the enhanced lower deck benefiting from the addition of panel lines and mirrors. The upper deck is fitted with metal handrails around the top edge and has the original high position front route blind, while at the back that later style of engine bustle is fitted; the first time this combination has featured on an EFE Road ‘Sea Dog’.

• 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

EFE Rail Leyland Atlantean Open‑Top East Yorkshire NBC 904 932GTA is a die‑cast model produced by EFE Road. The manufacturer's part number is E40701 and the model represents the British Rail sectorisation era.

The vehicle depicted is a Leyland Atlantean built in 1961 with a Metro‑Cammell open‑top body for Devon General. Nine of these “Sea Dogs” were originally named after naval figures and operated on the 12A‑12D routes around Torbay. Following nationalisation in 1969 the buses passed to the National Bus Company, were repainted in NBC red and white liveries and later operated for Western National, Cornwall and Dorset before being withdrawn from service from 1982.

The model shows registration 932GTA (originally named “Earl Howe”) in its circa 1984 condition while working for East Yorkshire NBC in the Bridlington area. It carries the NBC white and blue “venetian blind” livery, East Yorkshire branding, fleet number 904 and the name “Belvedere Star”, with a front blind indicating service 100 to Bridlington.

Construction combines new and refreshed tooling. The lower deck features added panel lines and mirrors; the upper deck includes metal handrails around the top edge, the original high‑position front route blind and a later‑style rear engine bustle – a first for an EFE “Sea Dog”. The model is supplied in OO scale (1:76) as an authentically detailed die‑cast die‑cast model.

Colours and details of the finished model may vary from the illustration, but it is intended as a complementary piece for OO‑scale model railways.