Transport Museum, Wythall Sunday 1 April 2018 part two.
Posted: 13:23 Monday 2nd April 2018
As the Easter Event was a Bristol bus and coach themed day, I have attempted a few descriptions and apologise in advance if I have given any incorrect information or owner's names as my PSV Circle Preserved Buses book was published in March 2015. Anyway here goes;
First off is Chris Samson's UFM 53F a Bristol RELL6G new to Crosville in 06/68 as no. ERG53 with ECW DP50F bodywork. This dual purpose motor ran very nicely and it is a comfortable bus to ride in. I think Adam and Phil both enjoyed their time at the wheel on a drive around the local countryside! Next up on static display we see the Transport Museum's Wythall based 802 MHW, a Bristol Lodekka FSF6G new to Cheltenham District in 10/61 as no 6037 with ECW H34/26F bodywork. It is seen in the company of DAX 610C a Bristol MW6G new to Red & White in 05/65 as no U765 with ECW B45F bodywork.
The next shot is of Mr Roger Burdett's OTT 43, a Bristol LS6G new in 08/53 to Western National as no 2200 with ECW C39F bodywork. I had a ride on this coach and it was very comfortable; surprised how old it was when checking details for this photo. Note the roof mounted luggage storage pod, and the attractive Royal Blue livery.
Here we see Mr Rob Sly's Bristol Lodekka FS6G 314 PFM in the livery of Carters, Wherstead. This bus has ECW H33/27RD bodywork and was new to Crosville as no DFG33 in 09/60. Apparently it was used as a mobile caravan for many years with a two stroke diesel and lorry 8 speed splitter gearbox! Thankfully it has been restored with a Gardner 6LX engine and Bristol 5 speed overdrive gearbox (and full set of bus seats), so it sounds and runs really nicely. Resplendent in Bristol Greyhound livery is Bristol MW6G BHU 92C, fleet no 2138, which entered service in 02/65 with ECW DP39F bodywork. It is owned by Mr Walker of Wells. A very rare coach indeed came to Wythall from The Isle of Wight Bus Museum in the form of KDL 885F a Bristol RESH6G new to Southern Vectis as no 301 in 02/68 with Duple Commander C45F coachwork. Most Bristol RE carried ECW bodywork and the Gardner power was the 6LX, but I am told this one has a 6LW engine. Can anyone confirm? Whatever, it was immaculately presented and gave a number of fully loaded rides for local enthusiasts. Another attractive bus owned by Mr Walker of Wells is this Bristol LH6L which was new in 01/72 to Bristol Omnibus as fleet no. 353 with ECW B42F bodywork. One website states that this was one of six LH buses built with semi-automatic gearboxes, all subsequent buses had 5 speed sychromesh 'stick' boxes and conventional clutches. It is seen having made a trip round the local area with a full compliment of passengers. 56 GUO is a Bristol MW6G in the attractive Royal Blue livery. It was new in 06/61 to Western National as no. 2267 with ECW C39F bodywork and is currently owned by Mr Roger Burdett. It was a popular choice with enthusiasts and carried a healthy load on each of the trips it made into the local countryside. Finally, a trio of pristine Bristol VRT/SL6G double-deckers with distinctively different bodywork as follows;
FRB 211H entered service in 06/70 as Midland General no. 322 with ECW H39/31F bodywork and has recently been fully restored to immaculate condition by the Transport Museum at Wythall.
OWE 271K entered service in 08/72 as Sheffield no. 271 with East Lancs H43/30F bodywork and was restored to the original livery by owner Mr Phil Ireland.
NOB 413M entered service in 04/74 as WMPTE (West Midlands PTE) 4413 with MCW H43/33F bodywork and the owner Mr Kevin Hill restored it to the original livery as seen in the photos.
First off is Chris Samson's UFM 53F a Bristol RELL6G new to Crosville in 06/68 as no. ERG53 with ECW DP50F bodywork. This dual purpose motor ran very nicely and it is a comfortable bus to ride in. I think Adam and Phil both enjoyed their time at the wheel on a drive around the local countryside! Next up on static display we see the Transport Museum's Wythall based 802 MHW, a Bristol Lodekka FSF6G new to Cheltenham District in 10/61 as no 6037 with ECW H34/26F bodywork. It is seen in the company of DAX 610C a Bristol MW6G new to Red & White in 05/65 as no U765 with ECW B45F bodywork.
The next shot is of Mr Roger Burdett's OTT 43, a Bristol LS6G new in 08/53 to Western National as no 2200 with ECW C39F bodywork. I had a ride on this coach and it was very comfortable; surprised how old it was when checking details for this photo. Note the roof mounted luggage storage pod, and the attractive Royal Blue livery.
Here we see Mr Rob Sly's Bristol Lodekka FS6G 314 PFM in the livery of Carters, Wherstead. This bus has ECW H33/27RD bodywork and was new to Crosville as no DFG33 in 09/60. Apparently it was used as a mobile caravan for many years with a two stroke diesel and lorry 8 speed splitter gearbox! Thankfully it has been restored with a Gardner 6LX engine and Bristol 5 speed overdrive gearbox (and full set of bus seats), so it sounds and runs really nicely. Resplendent in Bristol Greyhound livery is Bristol MW6G BHU 92C, fleet no 2138, which entered service in 02/65 with ECW DP39F bodywork. It is owned by Mr Walker of Wells. A very rare coach indeed came to Wythall from The Isle of Wight Bus Museum in the form of KDL 885F a Bristol RESH6G new to Southern Vectis as no 301 in 02/68 with Duple Commander C45F coachwork. Most Bristol RE carried ECW bodywork and the Gardner power was the 6LX, but I am told this one has a 6LW engine. Can anyone confirm? Whatever, it was immaculately presented and gave a number of fully loaded rides for local enthusiasts. Another attractive bus owned by Mr Walker of Wells is this Bristol LH6L which was new in 01/72 to Bristol Omnibus as fleet no. 353 with ECW B42F bodywork. One website states that this was one of six LH buses built with semi-automatic gearboxes, all subsequent buses had 5 speed sychromesh 'stick' boxes and conventional clutches. It is seen having made a trip round the local area with a full compliment of passengers. 56 GUO is a Bristol MW6G in the attractive Royal Blue livery. It was new in 06/61 to Western National as no. 2267 with ECW C39F bodywork and is currently owned by Mr Roger Burdett. It was a popular choice with enthusiasts and carried a healthy load on each of the trips it made into the local countryside. Finally, a trio of pristine Bristol VRT/SL6G double-deckers with distinctively different bodywork as follows;
FRB 211H entered service in 06/70 as Midland General no. 322 with ECW H39/31F bodywork and has recently been fully restored to immaculate condition by the Transport Museum at Wythall.
OWE 271K entered service in 08/72 as Sheffield no. 271 with East Lancs H43/30F bodywork and was restored to the original livery by owner Mr Phil Ireland.
NOB 413M entered service in 04/74 as WMPTE (West Midlands PTE) 4413 with MCW H43/33F bodywork and the owner Mr Kevin Hill restored it to the original livery as seen in the photos.