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NEXT EVENT SUN 3ED DEC P.V.R SANTA SPECIAL SHUTTLE. NDR 509J (waiting on times but 1st trip from Royal parade Park and Ride should 11.15 am)
SAT 18TH NOV TTT 171X CHILDREN IN NEED "MORRIS DAY" TAVISTOCK
FROM CHAIRMAN LAURENCE MAYHEW
Its rare that two hobbies are able to compliment each other so seamlessly, to me this seemed an opportunity not to be missed.
Saturday 18th November saw Morris dancers from all over the west flock to Tavistock Bedford sq to take part in the Children in need "national day of Morris". Our side the Boscastle Border Morris were booked to attend for the first time, with around 30 of us in attendance. It seemed almost too greater opportunity too miss to use a bus convey everyone so they could enjoy the day fully and arrive in style, rather than separately in cars.
TTT 171X was given the honours to journey to the north coast to collect my fellow dancers, musicians and groupees! The reaction was fantastic! I think we often forget when we see and ride them regularly what a novelty it is for many people, with some commenting that this was their first bus journey in 40yrs (not far of from when 171 was new). It was a bit of a blustery and damp morning, making progress along the ecposed north coast roads was a little hairy but 171 performed excellently. We then made rather an impression arriving in style at Bedford Sq where we all piled off wearing our "tatters" to begin the day.
The journey back was made with very high spirits after a excellent day was had. Where 16 "sides" attended, dancing for 6 hours through the day and some huge mass dances involving over 100 dancers. Much singing and laughter was had on the way back, with a joyous atmosphere onboard, a perfect way to end the day.
The event managed to raise just under £2000 for "children in need" which was a brilliant result, and we had much fun doing it. Lovely to have the vehicles out into the winter and being enjoyed by so many new faces!! I think they think I'm a little less bonkers for my hobby, now they've experienced it!!
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Youtube clip with Boscastle border Morris at the beginning and their musicians performing
SUN 29TH OCT TWILIGHT CITY TOUR & FISH 'N CHIPS
With the clocks going back an hour. We had an atmospheric twilight run on a few old routes around Plymouth.
Originally booked for PDR2 NDR 509J, we got her ready and washed down only to find on departure from Cadson that the near side indicators had stopped working. With no time to find the problem, we quickly got AN68 TTT 171X ready and with Dave Jenkins at the wheel we made it into Plymouth only 20mins late at 15.10.
The first route was the old P.C.T number 22 to Plympton Merrafield Rise. Originally the first experimental one man route from 1968 using the first batch of JJY xxxG PDR2s, fitted with various self service autofare ticket machines. Now impossible to navigate the full circuit of Amados drive due to parking, we turned at the rise instead.
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We then headed down to Coypool and the Plym Valley Railway for a comfort break. Moving on to the route 8 around Laira and Efford Manifold Gardens. Followed by 28/29 Eggbuckland Culver way and Fort Austin Shallowford Rd. Returning to the Barbican and great fish n' chips. It was also a very unusually high spring tide, with the Mayflower steps actually under water and the sea flooding out onto the cobbled pier. Dropping people off through Plymouth we headed back to Cadson in some very heavy downpours for 19.30
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MON 2ND OCT AN OLD FRIEND ARRIVES BACK
Some exciting news today. Leyland Atlantean FJY 914E 214 has joined our collection. Brought by Phil Heseltine, it has been stored at Winkleigh until as such time we had space bring it back. Collected from Pete Hearn at Chepstow classics, who had given it an overhaul. Though not without a bit of trouble on the return journey. The spring inside the compressor safety valve snapped and so lost all air (Just an unlucky malfunction due to not being used for a few years). Luckily we had only reached Sampford Courtney not far from Winkleigh. So a quick call to Pete and a replacement valve fitted we were on our way again back to Cadson.
SAT 16TH SEPT KINGSBRIDGE RUNNING DAY
We attended the annual TVGWOT running day in Kingsbridge with 283. We were afforded plenty of time off duties this year, only having an early departure to Modbury via California cross and the Afternoon west coastal run to Salcombe, RAF Hope cove, Bolberry Down, Inner Hope, Thurlestone. 5000 passenger journeys were undertaken over all the routes this year, which was very good considering the wet weather.
SUN 3RD SEPT
DEVON GENERAL REMEMBERED, NEWTON ABBOT
We took group vehicle East Lancs Leyland Atlantean TTT 171X to the Devon General Society running day in Newton Abbot. A chance to park up at Stagecoach's Racecourse ground depot and enjoy riding around on other peoples vehicles.
A very well turned collection from Devon General omnibus Trust as ever. With ETT 995 "light 6" which is a pre war 1937 AEC Regent chassis rebuilt with 1953 Saunders - Roe body. NTT 661, 1952 AEC Weyman Regent 3, MTT 640 Leyland Titan Lowbridge, 503 RUO Regent 5 newly restored, VDV 817 Regent 5, XTA 839 Albion Nimbus, VDV 798 AEC Reliance. Leyland Atlantean PDR1s "sea dog" 925 Admiral Blake and 932 Earl Howe.
Running to Lawes Bridge (Torbay Hospital) Bovey Tracey, Denbury, Ideford, Stoke- in- Teignhead, Hennock, Daccombe, Bishopsteignton. Of course with the fine weather the 2 Atlanteans were in great demand running down the estuary to Teignmouth.
SAT 2ND SEPT 2023
LOCAL NEWS : DARTMOUTH DEPOT CLOSURE
Today saw the last day of operations from Stagecoach Dartmouth outstation. A very sad day after 93 years of serving the people of Dartmouth and surrounding area. Service 90 and 92 will now be run from Newton abbot depot, service 91 Park and Ride and the 93 / 3 from Plymouth.
The first company was the Dartmouth and District company which started out in 1929, running a service to Dittisham. They ran until 21st April 1934 when Western National took over operations, running from Mayor's Ave, now the Marks and Spencers store site. Its car park was the yard. (some white parking lines are still just visible on the perimeter wall.) This continued until 1986 when the land was sold for redevelopment.
W.N moved up to the edge of Townstal at Little Cotton farm. A very much more basic set up with Porta cabins and a fuel tank. Later on being Badgerline and then First Western National. This site was vacated in 2018, again for redevelopment of the new housing estate.
A brief stay in the back of the Park and Ride site followed At one point the school bus being the supervisor's office before it went out in service at 07.30 each morning!!
The next stop was a little further out at Venn Lane near Norton Park. Very rough and exposed, and when the storms hit from the English channel there was no protection from the gale force winds. 2021 saw the final move back the Park and Ride site, but now with improved facilities of a large Porta cabin and security fencing. But costs have proved to much especially from having to use the local petrol station for fuel.
Western National Mayor's avenue W.N & First's Little Cotton Farm Stagecoach's Venn Lane
Venn Lane could be Picturesque Stagecoach's Park and Ride Site
The last day
LATEST NEWS 2023
OUR NEXT GROUP TRIP WILL BE TO THE D.G EVENT IN NEWTON ABBOT, USING AN ATLANTEAN FROM OUR FLEET
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LEAVING CADSON FARM 07.45
MILEHOUSE OPP DEPOT 08.20
RAILWAY STATION 08.25
ROYAL PARADE A14 08.30
COYPOOL 08.40
NEWTON ABBOT 10.00
leaving after event 16.00
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SUN 13TH AUG
We held our 1st working party at Cadson farm, to tidy up the barn, start to put together a work shop and a members rest area. Work also on access lane to fill in some potholes before they become larger and possible problem. Much work to do and things to buy!!
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SAT 29TH JULY MEMBERS BACON BUTTY SOCIAL AND P.V.R VISIT
We had a Saturday morning group trip out to Yelverton from Coypool using newly acquired group vehicle Leyland Atlantean 171 TTT171X. Stopping at Knighton tea rooms, Yelverton airfield en route.
Some very tasty Bacon butties eaten from the Larder Delicatessen, it was back to the Plym Valley Railway who were running their heritage class 101 DMU. We then took her out around Plympton Chaddlewood, over to the new town of Sherford and back through Merrifield to the P.V.R again. The last 2 shots were back at Cadson, showing the lovely rural setting we have
JULY 8TH
We managed to retrieve another of our collection today back to our new base at Cadson.
Big thankyou to Bryan of Booms recovery for collecting 158, and for testing the access to the yard. It is a big relief to know that a tow truck with a suspended tow can get all the way down and reverse back into the barn.,if we ever need a recovery.
24TH JUNE CADSON FARM MOVE
We finally moved the last of our stuff out of Burrington way today, end of another era. It will take quite awhile to get everything sorted, up and running. A hot and dusty day, but big thanks to Laurence, Dan, Phil, Trevor, Nick and Ed.
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Firstly P.C.T.P.G committee would like to apologise for the lack of action and information the last few months. Due to the slow legal formalities and not wanting to be disappointed. But now we can get back on track
Since January, our senior committee members have been in talks with the landowner of Cadson Estate, Callington and various solicitors.
We have today finally signed off on a tenancy agreement to rent a large barn which will comfortably accommodate our entire collection.
We can now get back to what we all want, restoration of, and running of Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group vehicles. This starts on 1st July with the Rame beer and buses.
After this event we will be able to get down to making the barn our home. We can start the Sunday working parties to get a workshop together and sorting out all the parts we have collected since the days of Colebrook!!
JUNE 2023 TTT 171X
We can also announce that the group has purchased East Lancs Leyland Atlantean TTT 171X and joins 105, 283 and 7552 as a group wide owned bus. It is at the moment with Chepstow classics in Winkleigh to have some remedial work done to make it fit again. These include full set of new tyres, brake linings and some welding to the entrance doorstep. It should be able to make its return at the Rame beer and Buses event.
SUMMER 2023 LEYALAND ATLANTEAN TTT 168X
Having had its electrical issues fixed at Burrington way, we have had 168 booked into Car to Coach with Grant. It has started to look very tired and weathered recently and with new undercover facilities for the group. It is having some body work tidying up at the moment . It will then have a full repaint.
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MAY 2ND FAREWELL TO ATLANTEAN TTT 162X
Having had to be moved out of Burrington way. 162 has been at Chepstow classics, Winkleigh to have an assessment as whether it would be a viable restoration project. It was found to be pretty rotten from top to bottom, with obvious separation of the staircase from body and the platform from the wheel arches, which in turn were broken away from the chassis, as well as mechanical faults. It has been decided that the best thing for it would be to use it for parts to keep the other Atlanteans on the road and dispose of it to cover the costs of the survey. The upper deck seats have been saved to be used on the top deck of open topper 158 when it gets its turn for overhaul.
DENNIS DART K105 SFJ
Great news, on Thursday 2nd Feb Dennis Dart 105 successfully passed M.O.T at Milehouse. Having being laid up for a few years and as part of our move out of Burrington way, the group purchased 105 from Bobby Darch. Rodger Mathews, Nick Palfrey, and Laurence Mayhew seen below washing off several years of grime. It was given an initial test to see what would be needed and then moved to Peter Hearn at Chepstow services in Winkleigh for repairs.
On our last day of moving buses out of Burrington way, NDR 509J had starting electrical problems. Once jump started it was clear that it wasn't a obvious fix, so the decision was made to take it to Winkleigh, stopping at Sourton services for fuel that day to leave for repairs and bring back 105, instead of following the other vehicles to the temporary home near Fraddon, Cornwall.
DART 105 APPEAL
Do you fancy getting a bus back to its former glory?
The hard work has been done already and K105 SFJ is back on the road with our group. But it needs a lot of elbow grease cleaning, detailing, touching up paintwork and we thought it would be a good idea to bring members together getting her looking the best to go out and represent Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group at public shows. This obviously will happen after we move into our new home and really start our old working parties properly in earnest again
In the meantime, Philip (Treasurer) has found this picture in the collection. the puzzle is when and why?
