Leyland Lynx

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Leyland Lynx
Halton Lynx 01.jpg
Halton Transport Leyland Lynx in Liverpool
Overview
Manufacturer Leyland Bus
Production1986–1992
Assembly Workington, Cumbria, England
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor type Step entrance
Powertrain
Engine Leyland TL11
Gardner 6HLXCT
Cummins L10
Volvo THD102KF
Capacity29 to 52 seated
Transmission Leyland Hydracyclic semi-automatic
ZF Ecomat automatic
Dimensions
Length11.0–12.0 metres (36.1–39.4 ft)
Width2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)
Height3.2 metres (10 ft)
Chronology
Predecessor Leyland National
Successor Volvo B10B

The Leyland Lynx is a step-entrance integral single-deck bus manufactured by Leyland Bus in Workington, England between 1986 and 1992. After the takeover by Volvo, it was succeeded by the Volvo B10B.

Contents

Design

Cardiff Bus Leyland Lynx at Cardiff Central bus station in June 2002 Cardiff Bus bus 253 (G253 EUH), 24 June 2002.jpg
Cardiff Bus Leyland Lynx at Cardiff Central bus station in June 2002
Preston Bus Leyland Lynx during a heritage event in Morecambe in May 2013 Preston Bus, Rotala 31215 G215KRN (8854004740).jpg
Preston Bus Leyland Lynx during a heritage event in Morecambe in May 2013
Rear of three First Eastern National Lynxes in March 2003 First Eastern National buses 1428 (F428 MJN), 1407 (F407 LTW) & 1426 (F426 MJN), 30 March 2003.jpg
Rear of three First Eastern National 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, British Leyland had previously used it for a truck chassis between 1936 and 1940, and again between 1968 and 1979. [3] The Lynx name has since been revived by Ashok Leyland for use on a midibus. [4]

Production vehicles began to enter service in 1986, the majority were bodied by Leyland Bus 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. A plan for offering this bus with a single-piece flat windscreen was considered, but was not carried out. A common feature, therefore, is that the Lynx has two separate windscreens and has the driver's windscreen raked back, resembling 1950s single-decker buses and the Wright Handybus.

Engines offered were the Leyland TL11, Gardner 6HLXCT and Cummins L10, [5] while the Lynx II was also available with the Volvo THD102KF.

Lynx II

In 1990, the updated Lynx Mark II version was introduced. It could be recognised easily by its protruding front dash/grille panel, whilst 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] [7]

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 of Belfast, including the first prototype. [7] [9] Northern Counties also catalogued bodies for the Lynx but none were built. [10]

Operators

The type saw service all over the United Kingdom, with the largest fleet owned by West Midlands Travel. A total of 258 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] [13] They were gradually withdrawn from 2000 onwards, with the last three withdrawn from passenger service in March 2009, although 10 remained in the driver training fleet until March 2010.

Another significant operator of Leyland Lynxes were Caldaire Group companies West Riding and Yorkshire Woollen. The companies purchased 129 Mk1 and Mk2 Lynxes new or second-hand until late 1991, replacing former National Bus Company vehicles as part of a yearly fleet replacement programme. [14] [15] Other Caldaire Group operators who purchased Leyland Lynxes included Tees & District and United Automobile Services, [16] [17] while elsewhere in the North East of England, Cleveland Transit, Busways Travel Services and Go-Ahead Northern also took delivery of Lynxes. [18] [19] [20]

Other operators of Leyland Lynxes included municipally owned operators Lothian Regional Transport, who in 1991, took delivery of twelve Lynxes uniquely built with dual doors, [21] Isle of Man Transport, who took delivery of two Lynxes in 1989, [22] and Nottingham City Transport. [23] Lynxes were also ordered by former municipals and National Bus Company subsidiaries such as Brighton Transport, [24] Boro'line Maidstone [25] and Merthyr Tydfil Transport. [26] [27] The AJS Group also purchased Lynxes for its Harrogate & District and Keighley & District operations. [28] [29]

The last two Lynxes to roll off the production line entered service with Halton Transport in August 1992. The Lynx was the core of Halton Transport's fleet for over 10 years; the company was the first municipal operator to order Lynxes and took delivery of the first Mk2 Lynx in 1990, [30] with the operator owning a total of 36 Lynxes at the end of production. [13] In later life at Halton, they were used on a number of school contracts and the occasional regular service. In October 2010, all of Halton's remaining Lynxes were sold, the last Lynx produced going 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. [31] [32]

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. [33] 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.

In 1988, Singapore Bus Service took delivery of an Walter Alexander bodied Leyland Lynx. Originally serving feeder bus routes in Ang Mo Kio, it eventually ended up on employee bus services between Ang Mo Kio Bus Depot and Yishun. It was involved in an accident in August 2001 and had its original Lynx-style front replaced with an Alexander PS type style. It was eventually withdrawn and scrapped in 2005.[ citation needed ] 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. [34]

In 1990, three of the order being built for West Midlands Travel were sent to Australia as demonstrators. [35] 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.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ "Leyland's Lynx". Commercial Motor . Vol. 160, no. 4089. Sutton: Transport Press. 6 October 1984. p. 22. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Millier, Noel (7 September 1985). "Wraps come off new models". Commercial Motor. Vol. 162, no. 4137. Sutton: Transport Press. pp. 35–38. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "New Lynx and Bilson from Leyland". Commercial Motor. Vol. 128, no. 3286. London: Temple Press. 6 September 1968. pp. 46–48. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Lynx". Chennai: Ashok Leyland. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "TL11 to be dropped". Commercial Motor. Vol. 165, no. 4210. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 28 February 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Clean Lynx debuts". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4294. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 10 November 1988. p. 14. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "Leyland Lynx in the frame". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4368. 10 May 1990. p. 28. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Lynx: Spoilt for choice". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4400. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 20 December 1990. p. 11. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Jack, Doug (January 1994). Beyond Reality: Leyland Bus, The Twilight Years. Glossop: Venture Publications. pp. 108–109. ISBN   1 898432 02 3.
  10. ↑ "NC bodies for Lynx II". Commercial Motor. Vol. 173, no. 4403. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 17 January 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Leyland's coup". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4303. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 26 January 1989. p. 15. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Smith is challenged". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4390. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 11 October 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Lynx at end of line". Coach & Bus Week . No. 26. Peterborough: Emap. 15 August 1992. p. 14.
  14. ↑ "100th Lynx delivered, 29 on order". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 94. Spalding. 1 March 1991. p. 16.
  15. ↑ "Lynx cost savings". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4364. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 12 April 1990. p. 29. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Caldaire is the leading bus buyer". Coachmart. No. 647. Peterborough: Emap. 11 July 1991. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "United tries Lynxes and Deltas". Commercial Motor. Vol. 171, no. 4357. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 22 February 1990. p. 21. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Cleveland takes on 10 Lynxes". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4315. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 20 April 1989. p. 19. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Workers buy Busways". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4318. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 11 May 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Lynxes go North". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4310. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 16 March 1989. p. 21. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "Lothian goes for Lynx". Coachmart. No. 639. Peterborough: Emap. 16 May 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  22. ↑ Morris, Stephen (October 1993). "Isle of Man Transport". Buses . Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 13–17.
  23. ↑ "Fleets opt for Lynx". Commercial Motor. Vol. 168, no. 4278. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 14 July 1988. p. 15. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  24. ↑ Cordrey, Tanya (23 February 1989). "Seaside success". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4307. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  25. ↑ Clements, Michael (4 February 1988). "Boro'line breaks new ground". Commercial Motor. Vol. 168, no. 4257. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. pp. 40–41. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  26. ↑ "£8 million Celtic order boost for Leyland Bus". Commercial Motor. Vol. 165, no. 4209. Sutton: Transport Press. 21 February 1987. p. 18. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  27. ↑ "Merthyr Tydfil catches Lynx". Commercial Motor. Vol. 165, no. 4215. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 4 April 1987. p. 21. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  28. ↑ "Harrogate has full-sized six". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4316. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 27 April 1989. p. 20. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  29. ↑ "H&D goes shopping for buses". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4364. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 12 April 1990. p. 29. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  30. ↑ "Leyland Bus reveals new-look Lynx". Coachmart . No. 618. Peterborough: Emap. 13 December 1990. p. 9. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  31. ↑ "Volvo to close Workington". Commercial Motor. Vol. 174, no. 4450. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 12 December 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  32. ↑ "Geneva launch for Volvo citybus". Commercial Motor. Vol. 174, no. 4452. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 19 December 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Evaluation Buses". ACT Bus Wiki. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  34. ↑ "Leyland Tiger TRCTL11 Buses & Coaches". Omnibus Society NZ. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  35. ↑ "Buses". Fleetline . No. 175. Sydney: Transport Enthusiasts Society of South Australia. February 1990. p. 25.

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