The Leyland TD 1 was introduced in 1929. This model is of the later version with the high roof, which was used by many operators in Great Britain Australia and other countries. Many of the 2352 examples built were in service for over 20 years and this bus set new standards in public transport. The bus is powered by a 6.8 litre, 6 cylinder engine giving 90 b.h.p. at 2000 revs per minute. Seating capacity: 48 or 51 seats.

The Leyland Titan TD1 was built from 1927 to 1931. The body was the first "Lowbridge" double decker and was often copied by other bus builders. The bus was 25 feet long (7.6 meters) and had 48 passenger seats on board. The bus was equipped with a V6 6.8 liter engine and had pneumatic tyres. You could drive at 20 mph with pneumatic tyres instead of 12 mph with solid tyres. From 1929 a TD1 with closed staircase was also built.

The (Y5-5) 1929 Leyland Titan Bus was released in 1989 and was produced until 1991 with a special code 2 release in 1992 for the MICA convention in Chester that year.

There are three Code 1 versions:

* The first issue was with Robin Starch adverts on. No known variants

* Issue 2 was the 'Swan Fountain Pens' model. This one was also issued as part of the framed models set shown in exploded view. A couple of variations on this model - the rear upper seat may have a pillar going half way up or right up to the roof. The front of the cab window section has thick frames at the front where the driver would sit and the thick version is shown here.

* Next issue was the 'Newcastle Brown' beer advert. This version was reworked and the front frame is now thinner. No known variants


There is a release of this bus in the later Matchbox Collectibles range, of which I've shown an example below and I've also shown a couple of nice Code 3 examples in 'Aldershot & District' and other liveries.

Scale: 1:76

Southdown

Ashton-Under-Lyne (Swan Fountpens)

City Of Coventry

Matchbox Collectibles YET02; 1929 Leyland Titan Bus; Glasgow Corporation; George Square; Van Houten's Cocoa

Code 2 Models

MICA Chester 1992 (Y5-C)

Code 3 Models

Aldershot & District; Aldershot Stores; Aldershot

Aldershot & District; Millwards Boots; 28 Woking Stn

Aldershot & District; Watney's Ale; Camberley, Hogs Back

Chatham & District Traction Company

East Kent; Dover

Maidstone & District

Thames Valley; Milwards Boots; Newbury

Thames Valley; Reading