6045 (YFY 4M)

Leyland National - New to Southport in January 1974

This bus was new to Southport Corporation in January 1974 as their number 4, one of a batch of eight two-doored 46-seat Mk1 Nationals painted in the Corporation's attractive red and cream.  In April that year number 4, along with the rest of Southport's fleet, passed to the Merseyside PTE, eventually gaining their Verona green and Jonquil livery.  In May 1980, number 4 was renumbered to 6045 to fit the PTE's system and later that year the centre door was removed and consequently the seating capacity raised to 49.

6045 was amongst the four of that batch that passed to Merseybus in 1986, but saw very little use.  In April 1988 it was used as a test bed for the then new maroon Merseybus livery but, following the launch, it was never used in service and remained parked up until 1991 when it was sold to Yorkshire Terrier of Sheffield.  It was withdrawn in September 1996 when it was purchased for preservation back on Merseyside and returned to its original colours.

After about ten years, it passed to an owner from the North-East where it gained first a green and cream livery and thence was painted into National Welsh NBC colours.  Subsequently it passed to an owner from Kent who modified that to represent an NBC-era East Kent vehicle.

It was purchased for further preservation by its current owner in June 2022 and returned home, being placed on long-term loan to the Merseyside Transport Trust.

(Article updated 01/08/2022)