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VIDEO LECTURE FROM DAVID SHEPPARD ON THE FUTURE OF BUS PRESERVATION

Just posted on Youtube, a very interesting talk from TVGWOT member and life long bus preservationist David Sheppard.

He talks about his personal collection and at great length about the NARTM historical vehicle scoring project. This is a very informative talk and an eye opener for future generations. Please take time to watch

CADSON UPDATE NOVEMBER 2024

Some news on improvements at our base, great thanks to our Landlord, Mr Craggo.

So firstly when members arrive at Cadson. The top gate has been realigned so that vehicles can drive straight through at an angle without having to stop, remove the post and open both gates. Just moving the post out a little and cutting the hedge away will saving some precious time with buses coming in and out.

the lane has had a 2nd top dressing of hardcore and been flattened down. It has also been extended right up to the tarmac road, so no standing mud to open gate. The 2nd gate has been adjusted so the dead bolt opens and closes freely. No more having to lift the gate up to try and line up the bolt!!

Next, the biggest addition. We have an electrically operated roller door being installed, this would have been finished this week just gone but bad weather has hampered the workers, what with it being high up and very heavy.

Today Mr Craggo was on a cherry picker valiantly riveting holes in the barn roof to stop leaks.

LEYLAND PD2 OCO 502 "102" UPDATE
P.C.T.P.G NEEDS YOUR HELP

102's repairs continue with Pete Hearn at his Chepstow classics workshop in Winkleigh. 41 hours labour So far, 6 new tyres, new batteries, all seats fumigated of woodworm and fitted. The collision damage sustained whilst in Milehouse has been straightened out. Repairs to rear suspension. It is hoped to fit a new reliable alternator and replace the old Dynamo,

This has taken a lot of money. Members Alan Sutton and Phil Heseltine have sponsored the work so far.

But we really need you, the members to help sponsoring the rest of the restoration to get this beautiful bus back on the road. It will really make a statement to our fleet at running days with other preservation groups.

If anyone would like to join in the sponsoring please email Treasurer Phil : philipheseltine@btinternet.com

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROAD TRANSPORT MUSEUMS (NARTM) AUTUMN CONFERENCE

Treasurer Philip Heseltine represented PCTPG at the Autumn conference of NARTM. This year held near the transport museum at Wythall just south of Birmingham. The minutes of this will appear in the next edition of the NARTM magazine. In the meantime here are some photos of this fantastic facility for the Midlands

Transport between the hotel at Longbridge and the museum was provided by the museum's 1966 BMMO S17 class with BMMO/Plaxton B52F bodywork. BMMO were the initials that Midland Red used on the buses it very distinctly designed itself between 1945 and 1970.

Transport from the museum to the conference was provided by the remarkable 1931 petrol engined AEC Regent with metro-cammell "piano front" metal framed body. This amazing bus spent 25years in a field in Herefordshire, being used as living accommodation by a retied miner. In 1970 it was rescued by a group of enthusiasts. But not until 2022 was its restoration completed !!

Parked in the sunshine is the immaculately restored BMMO D9 5399 BHA 399C with BMMO H40/32RD bodywork.

802MHW is one of the relatively rare short versions of Bristol Loddeka front entranced Bristol FSF. This one is a former Cheltenham and district one of only 20 built for Western/southern national in 1967. This one based at Taunton for many years.

West Bromwich first rear engined double deckers were Daimiar fleetlines, the first being 101 NEA 101F with "Manchester" style MCW H42/31F bodywork

BMMO S23 UHA856H built in 1970 represents one of the last buses from the Birmingham Midland Motor Omnibus company,

Wythall has many restoration projects, none more so than the very rare Birmingham Morris Imperial nos 527 OC527 lurking in the back of the shed.

Also awaiting restoration are these three former members of the Midland Red fleet HA3501 is one of the first designed by Midland Red and dates from 1925. On the right is 1928 SOS QL with B37F Brush bodywork. In the middle is 1933 SOS rear entrance double decker (REDD) with Metro Cammell H26/26R body

Since 1986 Wythall has housed an important collection of Battery electric road vehicles such as milk floats and bread vans. Also in the museum is the very unusual 36 foot long Daimler Fleetline CRC6-36 of 1968 with a Cummins V6 9.63 litre engine. It can carry 86 passengers with a front and rear staircase and doors at the front and back. The Photo shows the impressive length along the top deck.

Birmingham standard GUY ARAB 2976 JOJ 976 from 1953 is bathed in evening sunlight

SAT 21ST SEPT TVGWOT KINGSBRIDGE RUNNING DAY

We attended the annual bus running day in Kingsbridge with group vehicles Leyland Atlantean TTT171X and Dennis Dart K105 SFJ.

With our runs out not until the afternoon, our crews and members were able to be treated to the eagerly anticipated return to Devon of ex PCT Farringdon bodied Leyland PD2 GJY 612. Having been owned and restored in Hampshire. Brought by David Jory, this was its 1st public outing. It ran the Churchstow circular fist out followed by Slapton village.

171 was next out on a trip to Slapton village. Unfortunately this was 171 only trip as on returning to Kingsbridge bus station the fuel pump failed right in the entrance to the station. Luckily with the slight slope we were able to roll it out of the way of other buses. Yet again we were indebted to Pete Hearn, who was on running maintenance duties. He got enough life into pump to get us up to the Tally-Ho depot and out the way. The problem is that the fuel pump has worn out which then causes it to get hot and seize. Later on having cooled down, an attempt to move 171 up to Loddiswell TVGWOT base for repairs ended at Kingsbridge Hospital. Pete then towing 171 the rest of the way. We have in our spares fortunately included several pumps which will be fitted at Loddiswell.

SAT 21ST SEPT

Just a late reminder. We are attending TVGWOT annual Kingsbridge running day tomorrow. We have entered group vehicles Leyland Atlantean 171 and Dennis Dart 105. Plus Dave Jory's newly acquired Bristol VR ex Plymouth Laira allocated XDV 608S 1128. Also the exciting first running of P.C.T PD2 397.

Members wishing to come along. Leaving Cadson at 07.30 Picking up Milehouse 8.20, Royal Parade P&R stop 8.30. Let Ian Byrne know - ianbyrne131@gmail.com if you wish to join us.

Today we spent getting vehicles ready for kingsbridge tomorrow

AUGUST 2024 ....... SO, NOT JUST ONE LEYLAND PD2, BUT NOW TWO OF THEM !!!!

FARRINGDON BODIED LEYLAND TITAN PD2 GJY 612 BETTER KNOWN 397

With 102 already secured back in our group. Up pops 397 ex PCT training bus from the 1970s to 90s. Purchased by David Jory from Duncan Richardson,who, at the Mid Hants railway had done an amazing job at its full restoration. Again a top notch upholstery job done with original moquette.

Delivered new to Plymouth corporation in 1953. It was one of those lucky vehicles to survive due to a 2nd life as a training bus with PCT. When finally withdrawn in the late 80s, it spent sometime as a trainer vehicle with a private company and then fell out of use in North Somerset (these details will get filled out when I get them.) Duncan then brought her in 2010 and spent several years restoring it to fantastic condition. He felt the time was right to sell her on, but it had to go to where it belonged. So the next chapter in this great vehicle's life is now back home. Though it will be based at Winkleigh, I'm sure we will have some great days out partnered with 102

FRI 9TH AUG LEYLAND TITAN PD2 OCO 502 ON THE MOVE

With a slot available with Chepstow classics, Winkleigh. Pete Hearn arrived to tow 102 from the Tram shed at Milehouse to Winkleigh for mechanical work which is needed to return it to the road. We are indebted to Richard Stevens for gifting 102 to the group and this fantastic opportunity to have a real piece of PCT history. We are also very grateful to group member Alan Sutton who is sponsoring its upkeep. It first entered preservation 1973, funnily enough at Winkeigh with the 373 preservation group. Over the years it had passed from owner to owner, at one point ending up in Kent before our group returned it to Colebrook. Citybus then took it on and spent a great deal of time restoring all the bodywork. New flooring and a complete repaint inside and out. A fantastic job on reupholstering all the seats in brand new original patterned moquette.

SAT 3RD AUG MORNING TRIP OUT WITH NDR 509J

With all 3 owners of 9 together, we had the chance to take 9 out for a run into Plymouth and to Yelverton.

At last the opportunity to fulfil the vision I had when we first brought 9 to Plymouth 11 years ago. To stop outside Pearl assurance house. I always had a strong memory of the famous Pearl assurance adverts on old PDR1s parked up or withdrawn on the tip at Milehouse.

The usual stop in Yelverton for the very tasty Bacon rolls at the Larder, and the chance to use the original Sunday working route boards for 57 Dartmoor link to Burrator.

THURSDAY 25TH JULY
NDR 509J NOW WITH ADDED PEARL

Atlantean PDR2 NDR 509J today received a pair of reproduction 1970s adverts. We've had them in storage for sometime, waiting for an opportunity to have them fitted professionally. A big thankyou to David Shultz of First bus South west for stopping by after work to fit them. Being 5 metres long it wasn't the easiest thing to do, but we got there. It was found that some of the upright panel beading was very fractionally off vertical and so was throwing the adverts off line. But with some master carving, hiding the lines inside the beading, the adverts sat straight.

Also big thanks to Darren Adams for designing and printing the adverts from our photo collection. Especially the Pearl assurance which looks perfect to the originals seen all over Britain from 1950s to 1970s.

The Harding's advert was for one of the brothers of the more locally well known Charles Harding furniture store on Mutley Plain. This one was based in the old Drakes Circus shopping centre. A little known fact : Fairway furniture is a continuation from the Harding legacy

SAT 15TH JUNE PLYMOUTH MOTOR SHOW STATIC DISPLAY

We attended the Plymouth motor show with Leyland Atlantean TTT 171X as static display, alongside Tom Pearce's Volvo B58 and a very nice period Bedford flat bed truck. We attracted some good attention throughout the day. Also being able to get back to Cadson in evening sunlight was a bonus

SUN 14TH APRIL M53 HOD PLYMOUTH TOUR

Ian Bryne's Volvo B6 M53 HOD made a welcome return to Plymouth's roads. We had a test run around some of its old routes. 24 to Mount Gould and Greenbank, 25 Barbican and west Hoe, 18 Millbridge, 46 city circular via St Budeaux, Pemros Rd, Ernesettle and the 61 West Park

APRIL 2024 IMPROVEMENTS AT CADSON

It was with great surprise when we arrived to do some work that the access lane to Cadson has been hardcored all the way from the entrance gate down to the barn entrance by our landlord. Plus drainage has been improved to clear lane of standing water.

SUN 31ST MARCH PLYMOUTH BUS CLUB 50th ANNIVERSARY SOUTH HAMS TOUR

P.C.T.P.G members were invited to attend the recreation of an original "Plymouth Bus Club" tour from Sunday 31st March 1974 around the villages and routes of the South Hams.

Organised by PCB members David Burch and Mervyn Kendall through TVGWT at Loddiswell, who also put the original tour together. The tour pretty much ran to the same time as 50 years before.

We took our members to Loddiswell with NDR 509J to join the trip leaving at 10am. The vehicle for todays trip was Bristol SUS 672 COD fleet number 600, with a total of 20 members of the 2 preservation groups onboard. The only thing missing was the original tour vehicle which was a Bristol SUL dual-purpose coach 317 EDV fleet number 1207. Based at Western National Laira depot. Though remarkably TVGWT had acquired one of the original fleet number plates "1207" so part of the bus did do the tour!!

Originally the tour started at Plymouth Bretonside and travelled out along the A379 to Modbury where we started the 2024 tour.

The first recreation stop was California cross just north of Modbury. The windswept tree had apparently only been chopped down a couple of years ago. The stump can still be seen in front of the California pub.

The next stop was Loddiswell Station on the old Kingsbridge branch. In the original photo it is Mr and Mrs (Paul) Burch senior

Travelling on into Kingsbridge and out to the Start point area of the South Hams, stopping at the tiny village of Beeson before turning at Beesands. Here it wasn't possible to get to the original photo shot.

Carrying on around the incredibly narrow and tight turned Start Peninsular we got to the village of East Portlemouth, opposite side of the river to Salcombe. Here the 3 original participants of the 1974 trip posed for a photo, L to R Mervyn Kendall. David Burch (holding 1207 fleet plate) and Philip Heseltine. Also the slip board painted by Paul Burch which used to accompany PBC tours if not using club owned PD1 89

Heading back into Kingsbridge and then onto Salcombe for an Ice cream stop. The next stop was South Milton

where a photo was taken outside a former coach depot. Passing Inner hope the next stop was Thurlestone. Then onto a very steep and tight hamlet of Buckland and down into Bantham beach where we were allowed to turn around in the private beach car park

APRIL 2ND VOLVO B6 M53 HOD RETURNS

Today Ian Bryne brought 53 back to our Cadson base from having an overhaul at Winkleigh. Also successfully passed M.O.T at Guscotts. It will be out for a members morning tour on Sun 14th April, departing Royal Parade at 10.30 returning by 13.00