Roaming around the Cotswolds

After a long break without any bus action, I enjoyed a day behind the wheel on a grand tour of the Cotswolds last weekend.

Sadly I wasn’t behind the wheel of the Exeter Corporation Guy Arab V at the head of this line of buses (I have driven it before), but more of that later.

The Cotswold Vintage Bus Run was organised jointly by James Eastwood of Troopers Lodge Motor Services (TLMS) and Dave Bickley. Between them they managed to amass 21 buses and coaches plus a recovery truck, a fire engine and several classic cars.

I was accompanied by Mrs Busman John and, as a very early start was required at the Troopers Lodge Garage, we had stayed overnight in nearby Evesham. Just like our previous outing with a Troopers Lodge vehicle, it was pouring with rain as we prepared to leave but the weather improved as the day progressed.

We were allocated Eastern Counties No VR260 (RAH260W), a 1980 Bristol VRT. This is a stalwart of the TLMS fleet, being used frequently on a school contract as well as on private hire duties. I was hoping to be driving one of the older half cabs but I have yet to have a ‘crash box’ driving assessment, so that is a delight still to come.

As seen in the main photo, all the participating vehicles gathered on an industrial estate in Bourton-on-the-water. The vehicles were not carrying passengers but even so, word had spread and there were many camera-toting locals and enthusiasts around, recording the event. I’ve put links to some videos at the end.

We set off in convoy at around 09:40 and burbled through the village. The seemingly endless procession of buses, coaches and classic vehicles drew lots of attention and much waving was exchanged and enjoyed. Despite not having driven a bus since autumn 2023 I felt right at home with the semi-automatic VRT. I’ve driven many of this type before and, compared to buses from previous eras, it was a relatively effortless experience.

I had researched the route previously and was a bit flummoxed when, at a junction just outside Bourton, three of the buses ahead of us turned left instead of right as stated in the directions supplied. I decided to stick with the prescribed route, not wanting to get stuck or lost! We were relieved to catch up with some of the other buses soon afterwards, confirming that I had made the right decision.

The road run route took in 3 counties, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire. I was snapped en-route (right) by Ken Jones. There was a coffee stop just outside Cirencester, a lunch break next to the Cotswold Gliding Club and a further coffee stop in Tewkesbury before reaching journey’s end in Stratford-upon-Avon.

One of the most satisfying parts of the day was travelling in convoy. At one point when we had a clear view ahead we counted 15 classic vehicles. I secretly felt some sympathy for other road users on side roads who were hoping to join the main road, only to have to wait for a gap in the unending traffic. As I joked to Mrs Busman John, you wait all day for a bus and then 15 come along at once!

As we gathered in the coach park in Stratford and swapped stories it became clear that had been another excellent event. Only one bus had to withdraw with electrical problems and neither the recovery truck nor the fire engine were called upon! From our point of view, it was very well organised. The route notes were excellent and easy to follow, our bus performed faultlessly and there was plenty of time to chat with fellow drivers along the way. There was even a shuttle bus laid on to take people to the Jolly Nice Farm Shop at lunch time!

If all goes well, I look forward to more outings with TLMS using some of the older buses in their fleet. There’s even a Lodekka under restoration that I am very excited about. I may be biased, but I think they are wonderful buses! Ding ding, hold tight please!

A few YouTube videos:
3rd Cotswold vintage bus road run
The Cotswolds Vintage Bus Road Run 2024
Troopers Lodge Motor Services day out Bourton on the water to Stratford

BVBG Twilight Run 2023

Last weekend I went back up to Bristol to sample the BVBG Twilight Run and enjoyed some night-time running in two Bristol half cabs.

This is an annual event which, although listed on the BVBG website under ‘events’, is mostly for BVBG members. When I arrived four vehicles were already lined up ready to depart but, as there was at least half an hour before kick off, I joined some other group members in the canteen for tea and biscuits.

Venturing outside later into the gathering gloom, I was glad to see that there were two older vehicles in the line-up so I took a seat on board KLJ749, the Hants & Dorset LL6G that I had conducted on a few weeks previously. As I suspected, the younger group members gravitated towards the Bristol VR and RE that were also taking part. The LL6G was definitely more my era, so I joined several other chaps of a similar vintage as myself!

Our driver was John Hitchings, preservationist, author and rally organiser par excellence! John led the convoy away from the industrial estate and up the ring road to the Warmley junction, turning left and taking us through Kingswood. John H gave us a really superb ride, handling the Bristol 4-speed + overdrive ‘box with ease. One thing that did bother me a little was that the interior lights grew noticeably dimmer as we went along. I think John must have noticed the headlights getting dimmer too because at one point he pulled over into a bus layby and consulted the driver of the Bristol RELL6G following us. I presume that he confirmed that our tail lights were growing dimmer as well so, to minimise the obvious fault in the charging system, John turned off the interior lights to preserve what life was left in the batteries.

BVBG Flowers Hill Open Day

On Sunday October 29th 2023 I went to the Bristol Vintage Bus Group’s Open Day at its Flowers Hill base.

Although some drizzle was forecast later in the day, I decided to be brave and burble up to Bristol in my Morris Minor convertible. However, as you will see from the photos, it did turn out to be quite a lot wetter than I had hoped!

I had expected to be driving at some point but at the last minute I decided it wouldn’t be wise, owing to the fact that I’d had my Covid and ‘flu jabs the day before. Both arms were sore and I’d had a feverish night without much sleep. However, I still turned up in my Tilling winter uniform and my conductor’s gear, hoping to get a turn on the platform.

When I arrived most of the group’s collection of buses and coaches had been extracted from their garages and positioned outside. This event is based at the Flowers Hill industrial estate where the BVBG is based and is usually held on a Sunday when most of the local businesses are closed. Even so, the space available for parking and manoevering the buses is quite restricted and I watched as an older member of the group gingerly reversed a green decker out of the garage and into position on static display. Seen above on the far right, this was Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company (BT&CC) No C4044 (LAE13), an unusual ECW-bodied Leyland PD1 dating from 1948. Apparently this was its first outdoor appearance in public for many years and is still under restoration.

Visiting buses and coaches continued to arrive and I was intrigued to watch some complicated shunting take place to enable them to be displayed correctly. From about mid-morning onwards there were regular departures, buses giving free rides on a variety of local routes. One of the visiting buses, Bristol Omnibus Company (BOC) No C8320 (UHY360), seemed to be going in and out like a cuckoo clock. Now owned by the Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection, it’s a 1955 Bristol KSW6B, one of many Bristol Ks and KSWs that BOC ordered for city and country work throughout its territory. This is a bus type that I’m very fond of so I took a ride as soon as I could. It was skilfully driven down to the Centre and back and was a delightful ride. It looked right, sounded right and even smelled right!

Bristol Lodekka driving assessment with BVBG

The boot was on the other foot recently, when I went out on a Bristol Lodekka for a driving assessment with the Bristol Vintage Bus Group (BVBG) which I joined recently.

In my previous employment with Bakers Dolphin I was accustomed to being the assessor not the candidate, but this time I had to satisfy the BVBG assessor before they let me loose on any of the group’s other buses. Having proclaimed that I was proficient with a constant mesh gearbox, I had to prove it!

At the beginning of a week of clear September skies and sky-high temperatures, I arrived to find most of the group enjoying a teabreak in their canteen. The assessor was located and we walked around to another shed where the bus we were to use was kept. Imagine my delight when I was reunited with an old friend, in the form of ex-Western National No 1936 (VDV753), one of two early Bristol LDL6Gs that operated for much of their service lives in Cornwall (by then as open toppers). Conducting on these two Lodekkas formed part of my transition from armchair enthusiast to active participant in the heritage bus world.

Back to the present day – before we could go anywhere, we had to find the driver’s seat. The seats on the bus have recently been completely retrimmed and the driver’s seat had just been finished but not yet refitted. I waited while another group member bolted it into position. I expected the owner of No 1936 to jump up onto the newly upholstered seat and drive the bus out of the shed but this honour fell to me. Having started up the Gardner 6LW and built up air, I gingerly edged out of the shed, conscious of several pair of eyes following my progress.

Does this bus go to Southampton?

Mrs Busman John and I took on a last minute wedding duty to Royal Leamington Spa recently with an ex-Southampton AEC Regent V, where a passer by had his hopes dashed.

My plans to go up to Troopers Lodge Motor Services (Cotswold Vintage Bus Hire) to help move buses around in preparation for the Cotswold Vintage Bus Rally were abruptly changed when Mrs Busman John and I were asked if we would like to take an AEC Regent V out on a wedding duty a day early instead. I could see no reason why not, so replied ‘yes please’. One of the most pleasing aspects of vintage bus hire, especially if the event is a wedding, is the chance to be part of someone’s special day. Those involved will usually have spent money, time and effort in planning the day and we have always enjoyed playing a small part in ensuring that everyone has a great time, as well as being driven safely and smoothly to their destination.

I do have a driving assessment coming up with TLMS to prove my competence with a constant mesh gearbox but the management seemed happy to send us out without even having met us. Our reputation as a competent crew had preceded us, perhaps!

The weather on the Friday was frightful, with rain forecast for most of the morning. The heavens opened with a vengeance shortly after we arrived so I was happy (if more than a little damp) to sit in the cab when my walkaround checks were done. This was a 2-bus job and I was to follow Angus, who was to drive Exeter Corporation No 75 (JFJ875), a 1950 Daimler CVD6. It turns out that he and I have been at several bus events together without realising it!

With Mrs Busman John safely installed on the rear platform, Angus (together with his Conductor Pete) and I headed off to our pickup point at Blackwell Grange. The rain began to ease off as I got to grips with the Regent V, not having driven it before. The throaty roar from the AEC AV590 6-cylinder diesel engine beside me complimented the musical notes coming from the 4-speed synchromesh gearbox. I was immediately transported back to my childhood in Exmouth, where similar Regent V buses were plentiful.

This photo was taken by my late father in 1972 in Littleham (a suburb of Exmouth) and shows Devon General 517 (CTT517C), one of a batch of 6 AEC Regent V buses with Willowbrook double deck body new in 1965. I was fortunate enough to drive sister vehicle CTT518C in 2015. You can read about it here.

Back to the present day, both buses had been clean and shiny when they left the TLMS garage at Bourton-on-the-Hill. Sadly, due to the heavy rain and the fact that we needed to drive along some narrow and very muddy country lanes en-route to the venue, both buses carried the evidence on arrival! This photo shows Southampton No 366 and Exeter No 75 just before wedding guests were welcomed on board. Everybody seemed to prefer the Regent and we departed with a virtually full load, with only the 4 ushers on the Exeter Daimler!