The Leyland Experimental Vehicle (LEV)

The forerunner of all those nasty railbuses was the Leyland Experimental Vehicle, a joint venture between Leyland and BR  to combine the worst features of rail and bus. Here are some pictures of the various early railbuses with links.

The railbuses were powered by 200bhp 6-cylinder Leyland TL11 diesel engines, with fully automatic SCG  gearboxes and a Gmeinder final drive unit driving one axle.

There were five single car railbuses built for trials on BR. Amazingly, they have all survived - look here for information and pictures.

Click on the picture for a bigger image- all photos are BR official unless otherwise indicated

First trials non-powered

The first LEV was un-powered and is shown here in the sidings at the RTC around 1978

RTC

Another shot of LEV1 at RTC

J A Lower

Inspection on the main line

As part of the preliminary trials it was ride tested on the WCML and is pictured here between two test cars at an unknown location

Carlisle north end

At Carlisle probably on the same day

Somewhere in England

LEV1 pictured at an unknown depot whilst on trial. Now known as the BR Leyland Motors experimental railbus and numbered RDB975874

LEV1 in service

After extensive tests it eventually entered passenger service in East Anglia and is pictured passing through Ipswich station.

M J Collins

East Anglia

Pictured here near Woodbridge on the line to Saxmundham in early 1980 on test.

G R Mortimer

LEV 1

After trials in passenger service it was sent to the USA  in early 1980 - note the grills over the windscreen which were fitted for use in the States.It travelled widely before returning to Derby works in 1986.

Ready for the USA

Pictured in the C&W Works prior to departing for USA c1980

Waiting for the freight

LEV1 awaits the passage of a freight train whilst on trial in the USA in late 1980

In the States

Somewhere in the US of A - it eventually returned to the UK in 1986 and is now to be found undergoing restoration at the North Norfolk Railway - on loan from the NRM.
Old Dalby A view of the Wickham version of the railbus (known as LEV2) at the Old Dalby test track - pictured on the straight between the Covered Way and Grimston.  Note the destination on the blind - 'Bus stn'.

This finished up in the USA - look here and here for more info and pictures.

R3 new The next version was known as R3 (or Rb3) and is shown here when new in the C&W works at Derby
R3 railbus R3 pictured at the Control Centre at the Old Dalby test track  

Alan Rimmer

R3 again In service at an unknown location - this eventually finished up in Northern Ireland

Unknown

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