Northern National Restoration Group

Northern National Restoration Group a local bus group helping locals Welcome to the Northern National Restoration Group. Our group was founded in 2006 by a group of bus enthusiasts.

Since then, the group has grown into what it is today, with five vehicles, over 10 working members and a large operating facility. Our shared interest is in preserving the transport heritage of the North East of England. Our fleet have previously worked all over the region in the service of Go North East and its predecessors. We aim to exhibit a wide range of immaculately restored vehicles from th

e recent past while educating and demonstrating a wide range of skills and knowledge across the relevant areas. The NNRG currently own five vehicles: Leyland National Mk2s 4681 / UPT681V and 4710 / FTN710W; Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renowns 4855 / R855 PRG and 4898 / V988 ETN; and Scania L94UB/Wright Eclipse Solar 5217 / NK54 NVN. All these vehicles have played a significant part in the North East bus history. The group also has a wide range of friends within the preservation community, some of whom share our facility. You can learn more about our vehicles and our friends by visiting the vehicles page. All the buses are maintained and either being, or have been, restored by members throughout the year. During the rally season a variety of our vehicles are exhibited at rallies across the North East to help represent its transport heritage. As always, the NNRG are keen to hear from people who would like to join us. We are based in a former National Coal Board facility in Philadelphia, Houghton-le-Spring, just off the A1(M) and A19. We are a registered charity (registration number 1193235), and we rely on the generosity of our members and visitors to help fund the restoration and maintenance of our vehicles. If you believe you can help us fundraise, please visit our charity section for more information on how to do so.

Today marks six years since our dear friend Steve Foster was taken from us far too soon.Everyone at the Northern Nationa...
11/06/2026

Today marks six years since our dear friend Steve Foster was taken from us far too soon.

Everyone at the Northern National Restoration Group still feels the loss of Steve. He was a genuine friend, a familiar face, and someone whose enthusiasm, humour and passion brightened every event he attended.

Steve was a regular participant in our annual road runs, often bringing one or even both of his buses along to join the convoy. One of our fondest memories with Steve was the memorable 2015 North East National Road Run, organised by Ian Robinson. Joined by the Workington Transport Trust and their National REV 01, it was a fantastic day celebrating the vehicles and friendships that bring our preservation community together. Steve proudly brought YFY 4M along, It was a day filled with laughter, friendship and unforgettable memories—exactly the sort of day Steve loved.

Many of us spoke to Steve regularly. Whether times were good or difficult, he was always there with a listening ear, a story to tell, or a joke that would leave everyone laughing. His sense of humour was legendary and often outrageous, but that was Steve—completely unique and unapologetically himself. He had a way of bringing people together and making every gathering that little bit better simply by being there.

Six years may have passed, but the memories remain as strong as ever. Steve’s contribution to the preservation community, and more importantly the friendships he built within it, will never be forgotten.

Today we think it’s only right to pause and remember a man who meant so much to so many.

Rest easy, Steve. You were taken from our lives far too early, but you will always remain a part of the Northern National Restoration Group family, and you will never be forgotten. ❤️🚌

Northern National Restoration Group are pleased to be attending the Father’s Day Rally at Locomotion Shildon on Sunday 2...
28/05/2026

Northern National Restoration Group are pleased to be attending the Father’s Day Rally at Locomotion Shildon on Sunday 21st June.

Why not come along and visit us to see our fantastic Scania L94 5217 on display and have a chat with the team about what we do to help preserve the transport heritage of the North East.

We will also have information available about becoming a member and supporting the group, so feel free to pop over and find out more!

15/05/2026

Great to see 3633 running, we couldn’t of found her a better home. Give the guys a follow to keep up with 3633!

We are currently exploring the possibility of securing storage in Spennymoor suitable for buses, including double deck v...
01/05/2026

We are currently exploring the possibility of securing storage in Spennymoor suitable for buses, including double deck vehicles due to the available height.

At this stage, we are simply gauging interest to see who may be interested in using the space. This could be ideal for preservation groups and private owners needing secure storage.

If this is something you would be interested in, please send us a message for more information or to register your interest.

Great to be able to keep up to date with 3633’s progress! Make sure to give the guys at The Black Country Bus Preservati...
28/04/2026

Great to be able to keep up to date with 3633’s progress! Make sure to give the guys at The Black Country Bus Preservation Group a follow to keep up to date with its journey

We’re currently updating our website and would love to include a few words from the people who support what we do 🙌If yo...
15/04/2026

We’re currently updating our website and would love to include a few words from the people who support what we do 🙌

If you’ve had a positive experience with Northern National Restoration Group or believe in our work, we’d really appreciate a short quote or testimonial we can feature.

It doesn’t have to be long—just a sentence or two about your experience, the impact you’ve seen, or why you support us.

Feel free to comment below or send us a message directly. Your support helps us continue making a difference!😀

Thank you!

After a lot of discussion behind the scenes, we’re excited to reveal that Northern National Restoration Group will be mo...
01/04/2026

After a lot of discussion behind the scenes, we’re excited to reveal that Northern National Restoration Group will be moving away from traditional heritage liveries… and into a bold new modern direction 👀

Here’s a first look at one of our vehicles 4898 in a completely new all-over blue livery, complete with updated branding and a fresh identity for the group !!

🚍 We Want Your Ideas for 2026! 🚍At Northern National Restoration Group, we’re starting to plan some events and activitie...
14/03/2026

🚍 We Want Your Ideas for 2026! 🚍

At Northern National Restoration Group, we’re starting to plan some events and activities for this year – and we’d love to hear what you would like to see!

Would you be interested in things like:
🚌 A heritage road run
🍟 A fish & chip run
🎉 or something completely different?

Drop your ideas in the comments below and let us know what events you’d enjoy coming along to this year!

❓ We’d also like to do a Q&A video soon, so if you have any questions about the group, our buses, restoration work, or our future plans, pop them in the comments too and we’ll either reply or answer them in a video.

Your support and ideas really help shape what we do, and we’d love to get as many people involved as possible this year.

👇 Comment your ideas and questions below!

13/03/2026

🚨 Potential Possibility: Bus & Vehicle Storage – Gateshead / Team Valley! 🚨
We’re exploring a potential possibility for secure storage for buses and large vehicles in the Gateshead / Team Valley area.
✅ Unit would be CCTV monitored in house
✅ 24/7 access to your vehicle
✅ Social nights & gatherings
✅ Doors are high enough for double deckers
✅ Advice on hand 24/7

📍 Location: Gateshead / Team Valley area

💬 Interested? Get in touch today via messenger or email [email protected]

Please note we are exploring this opportunity and are gauging interest before we explore this any further

We’re delighted to shine a spotlight on NK54 NUU – 5201, which is making fantastic progress! 👏This vehicle is proudly ow...
13/02/2026

We’re delighted to shine a spotlight on NK54 NUU – 5201, which is making fantastic progress! 👏

This vehicle is proudly owned by a very good friend of ours, and it’s always brilliant to see the dedication and hard work going into preserving it. The progress being made really is something special.

To keep up with its journey and see the latest updates, photos and restoration milestones, make sure you head over and follow its dedicated page.

It’s dedicated preservationists like this who keep our transport heritage alive — investing their time, effort and passion to ensure these vehicles are safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. 🚍💙

They say good things come to those who wait.

Well after about 4 years of ownership 5201 has finally got some colour back on it and received the “TWENTY ONE 24 hour service” brand that I’ve wanted for so long.

I’m so honoured to have amazing people around me who have helped make this possible, so a massive thank you from me to them people!!

5201 is still away getting its pre MOT work complete which will hopefully be finished in the near future. This will allow us to add the final stickers to the rest of the bus before sharing more photos of it.

Thank you to those who have stuck around through this journey 😊

Address

Houghton Le Spring

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