Leyland Lynx

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Leyland Lynx
Halton Lynx 01.jpg
Halton Transport Leyland Lynx in Liverpool
Overview
Manufacturer Leyland
Production 1986-92
Body and chassis
Doors 1-2
Floor type Step entrance
Powertrain
Engine Leyland TL11
Gardner 6HLXCT
Cummins L10
Volvo THD102KF
Transmission Leyland Hydracyclic semi-automatic
ZF Ecomat automatic
Dimensions
Length 12 metres
Chronology
Predecessor Leyland National
Successor Volvo B10B

The Leyland Lynx was a single-decker bus manufactured by Leyland between 1986 and 1992.

Background

File:Cardiff Bus bus 253 (G253 EUH), 24 June 2002.jpg
Cardiff Bus Leyland Lynx at Cardiff Central bus station in June 2002
File:Preston Bus, Rotala 31215 G215KRN (8854004740).jpg
Preserved Preston Bus Leyland Lynx in Morecambe in May 2013
File:First Eastern National buses 1428 (F428 MJN), 1407 (F407 LTW) & 1426 (F426 MJN), 30 March 2003.jpg
Rear of three First Eastern Counties Lynxes in March 2003

The Leyland Lynx (B60) was designed in 1984 as a replacement for the ageing Leyland National, being unveiled at the 1985 International Bus & Coach Exhibition at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre.[1][2] Although the B60 was the first bus to carry the Lynx brand, Leyland had previously used it on truck chassis between 1936 and 1940, and again between 1968 and 1979.[3][4] The Lynx name has since been revived by Ashok Leyland for use on a midibus.[5]

History

Production vehicles began to enter service in 1986, the majority were bodied by Leyland at its Workington factory where the underframe was produced. All have a step entrance, Leyland offered the option of a floor with a step in the middle or one that gently ramped from aft of the front platform to the rear.

In 1990, the updated Lynx Mark II version was introduced. It could be recognised easily by its protruding front dash/grille panel, which on the original design was flat. Additionally a select few of the 140 vehicles produced featured Volvo engines, which drastically reduced performance in pursuit of more environmentally friendly engines.[6]

The Mark II was also available as a bus underframe for other coachbuilders to body.[7][8] Although the large majority of Lynxes carried the Leyland body, seven chassis were bodied by Alexander with N-type bodywork for Citybus (Belfast), including the first prototype. Northern Counties also catalogued bodies for the Lynx but none were built.[9] [10]

The type saw service all over the United Kingdom, with the largest fleet owned by West Midlands Travel. A total of 256 were purchased including six demonstrators delivered early in 1986 equipped with Gardner engines and semi-automatic Leyland Hydracyclic gearboxes (which were later converted to ZF automatic).[11][12] They were gradually withdrawn from 2000, with the last three withdrawn from passenger service in March 2009, although 10 remained in the driver training fleet until March 2010.

The last two Lynxes to roll off the production line entered service with Halton Transport in August 1992.[13] The Lynx was the core of Halton Transports fleet for over 10 years. In later life at Halton they where used on a number of school contracts and the occasional regular service.[14] In October 2010, all of Halton's remaining Lynxes were sold, the last Lynx produced went into preservation, with the penultimate Lynx used to donate spares.

Following the takeover of Leyland by Volvo in March 1988, the Lynx was superseded by the Volvo B10B in 1992.[15] Total production of Lynxes was approximately 1,060 vehicles, including six prototypes (one of which was not bodied) and several development vehicles. About 140 of the total were Lynx Mark IIs.[16][17]

Exports

A small number of Lynxes were exported as demonstrators, but no sales ever resulted.

In 1984 a framed chassis was sent to Australia. After being completed by JW Bolton in Perth, it operated for Transperth, ACTION and Hornibrook Bus Lines before being sold to Lever Coachlines in 1987.[18][19] In 1989, two were bodied by Pressed Metal Corporation as demonstrators for the State Transit Authority, but the trial never occurred and they were sold to John J Hill, Wollongong.[20]

In 1988, Singapore Bus Service took delivery of an Alexander PS type bodied Lynx.[21] Conversely one Leyland Tiger received a Lynx-style Leyland body for export to New Zealand, initially being operated by Newmans Coach Lines and later Go Bus Transport.[22]

In 1990, three of the order being built for West Midlands Travel were sent to Australia as demonstrators.[23] Two operated with ACTION, while the third was demonstrated to the State Transport Authority and State Transit Authority, before all three were sold to Southtrans.[24][25]

Preservation

Several Lynxes have now entered preservation, with some requiring extensive rebuilds to bring them back to original condition due to body corrosion, as well as reversing modifications made by operators during their history. One such example is the removal of all of the patterned body skirts, combined with the replacement of the square wheel arches with non-patterned round ones. Both of these modifications were made to make it easier to replace such parts in the event of an accident.

In Australia, the JW Bolton bodied demonstrator has been preserved by the Sydney Bus Museum.[18][26]

Preston Bus still operates one of the Leyland Lynx's delivered new to the company on schools and limited service work. It is thought to be the only Lynx still operating for its original owner; G215KRN.

References

  1. ↑ Leyland's Lynx Commercial Motor 6 October 1984
  2. ↑ Wraps Come Off New Models Commercial Motor 7 September 1985
  3. ↑ Leyland Lynx Country Bus
  4. ↑ New Lynx and Bilson from Leyland Commercial Motor 6 September 1968
  5. ↑ Lynx Ashok Leyland
  6. ↑ Clean Lynx debuts Commercial Motor 10 November 1988
  7. ↑ Leyland Lynx in the frame Commercial Motor 10 May 1990
  8. ↑ Spolit for Choice Commercial Motor 20 December 1990
  9. ↑ NC bodies for Lynx 11] Commercial Motor 17 January 1991
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Leyland coup Commercial Motor 26 January 1989
  12. ↑ Smith is challenged Commercial Motor 11 October 1990
  13. ↑ The Lynx Effect AR Online
  14. ↑ Halton Transport - Bus Fleetlist
  15. ↑ Geneva launch for Volvo citybus Commercial Motor 19 December 1991
  16. ↑ Leyland Lynx Mk 1 Bus Lists on the Web
  17. ↑ Leyland Lynx Mk 2 Bus Lists on the Web
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Evaluation Buses ACT Bus Wiki 7 April 2012
  19. ↑ Deane's Buslines - Queanbeyan & South Pambula Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  20. ↑ John J Hill Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  21. ↑ Leyland Lynx Photographs Anthony's Bus Homepage
  22. ↑ Leyland Tiger TRCTL11 Buses & Coaches Omnibus Society
  23. ↑ "Buses" FleetLine issue 175 February 1990 page 25
  24. ↑ Southtrans Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  25. ↑ Wide Bay Transit Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  26. ↑ BUS 671 ACT Bus Wiki

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

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