EFE Leyland Atlantean Open Top Round London Sightseeing 933GTA 1:76 Diecast

EFE Road is delighted to unveil the first five of its long-awaited new 1:76 scale diecast Leyland Atlantean ‘Sea Dog’ open top double decker buses as part of Bachmann Europe Plc’s Spring 2025 British Railway Announcements.

The ‘Sea Dog’ project was first announced in the summer of 2018, but owing to a number of mitigating factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the gestation period for the models was longer than originally anticipated.

The full-size ‘Sea Dogs’ were built for the well-known operator, Devon General, which had begun running regular open top bus tours of the Torbay area in the summer of 1955. However, in 1961 Devon General introduced a fleet of nine specially built Leyland Atlanteans with Metro-Cammell bodies, each seating 75 passengers. Each was named after an historical naval or maritime figure, including Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, which quickly earned them the nickname ‘Sea Dogs’.

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.

In January 1971 Devon General became part of the Western National Omnibus Company (itself part of the National Bus Company), and during the next two years the Sea Dogs were repainted into NBC poppy red and white, and also converted to one-man operation. They initially carried Devon General branding under NBC ownership, but this was later superseded by Western National and other NBC liveries as their duties took them further afield into Cornwall and Dorset. Withdrawal commenced in 1982, and the Sea Dogs went their separate ways, finding use in places including London, Lancashire, East Yorkshire and Glasgow.

The five new EFE Road models represent examples of the ‘Sea Dogs’ during various stages of their post-Devon General careers, and include two of the liveries first announced back in 2019. The models feature several options including the original high route blinds or the lower positioned blinds followed conversion to one-man operation on the newly tooled upper decks, two patterns of rear engine bustle, and wing mirrors for the first time on an EFE Leyland Atlantean.

The new models are:
E40601 – Leyland Atlantean Open Top Western National NBC 926 926GTA
E40602 – Leyland Atlantean Open Top Ribble 1927 927GTA
E40603 – Leyland Atlantean Open Top First Glasgow 39989 ABV669A
E40801 – Leyland Atlantean Open Top Round London Sightseeing 933GTA
E40803 – Leyland Atlantean Open Top Red Bus NBC 925 925GTA

EFE Road spokesman, Gary Boyd-Hope, said: “It is a great pleasure to finally bring the first of the ‘Sea Dogs’ to market after such a long time, and we thank collectors for their patience. The models make a very welcome addition to the expanding EFE Road range, offering striking colour schemes and geographical interest beyond their original West Country stamping ground, and help capture the joy of holidays gone by.”