Sunday 28 December 2014 dawned, bringing with it freezing temperatures and snow on the ground, however we pressed on undeterred as this was to be the start of a day of celebration. Having secured a deal on some parts from Tony Challons and safely stored these out of harm's way with the buses at the farm, we headed off in the direction of Nottingham to meet up with shareholder Calum and friend of the group Matt Barker for a night of feasting and beverages at Peachykeens World Buffet Restaurant.
The purpose of our feasting? 28 December 2014 marks exactly one year since the Ulsterbus 2599 Group was established with a view of preserving the newest surviving Bristol RE, Ulsterbus 2599 (BXI2599). From four unknown and unproven bus enthusiasts turned up at the door of Mike Nash's farm with a wad of the Queen's English and a rough vision, the group has firmly established itself to become well known both here and across the Irish sea through the use of social media, this 'ere blog and the usual enthusiast 'jungle drums'. It has also been deeply satisfying on multiple occasions to hear people tell of their surprise and amazement at how much work and effort has gone into the project during its first year.
And in addition to 2599, a significant survivor herself, the group is now also the custodians of another significant vehicle in the form of Ulsterbus 1321 (RXI3321), the prototype Alexander Q-type Leyland Tiger, purchased by group member Calum Maclennan in November 2014.
I find myself sitting here wondering where the year has gone. Its like I've blinked and missed it! But wow, what an emotional rollercoaster its been. OK, so there were a few downers near the beginning, like losing one of our founding members a fortnight into proceedings, finding the list of jobs required to get 2599 roadworthy increasing in size and cost, and enduring issues with storage, but with help from many circles, deep pockets and the bonds of friendship keeping us together, we're still here, stonger than before and becoming more established as we go on. At this stage, on behalf of the group, some key people we owe thanks to include:
- Our financial contributors Paul Waplington and Calum Maclennan, who like myself have been ploughing hundreds of their hard earned pounds into the project to move it in the right direction, and often questioning our sanity in the process!
- Our engineering team of Gary Crosby, Tim Moss, Nik from Silverdale and Dominic from Hammonds for all of their hard work, time and effort in getting 2599 closer to the road, and for getting 1321 through her first MOT.
- Mr Mike Nash, our purveyour of fine omnibuses, for supplying both buses and going out of his way to accommodate us, despite his recent health problems and other injuries.
- Mr Thomas Jason Mitchell for actually pointing Paul in the direction of Mr Nash and 2599 way back in Winter 2013.
- Mr Tony Challons for supplying us with many useful parts to aid in the restoration of 2599.
- Mr Michael Rogan for his efforts in securing space at the farm where the buses are kept.
- The lads of the Ards Bus Preservation Group in Northern Ireland for their efforts in providing numerous parts/advice/assistance at many stages during the project.
Our facebook page has grown to 158 followers at present and is still expanding, while many more follow progress through this very blog, which at the time this post was published had received 3132 views since we launched back in May! Thank you to you all for your continuing support.
There are still many challenges to face as we move into our next year, and the future. 2599 still has several jobs that need completing, including the alternator, some electrical work and the brake overhaul before she can be submitted for an MOT, while 1321 will need a small defect with the water system checking before a return to the road, and hopefully the 2015 rally circuit. Behind the scenes, and over several beverages (alcoholic in most cases) a rough rally calendar has been drawn up with both buses in mind in the long term, of which more will be revealed at a later stage in the new year.
So once again, a massive shout-out to all our followers and fans, we really do value all you've done for us and the well wishes you've given us. Without you, there would be no group and we'd be going nowhere fast. I leave you now with some snaps from our night of celebrations, which are not for the faint hearted!
And on that note, here's to the future...cheers!
Just a couple of weeks before 1321 had sailed through its MOT, and on its 24th birthday as well! It was now MOT'd, insured, and once it had been taxed was now ready for the road. We already had an idea of what we were working with after the drive back from 'Nash HQ' near Dorking, and she was meeting and exceeding all of our expectations as we went on.
So with the dreaded Ch******s festivities looming ever closer, we felt it fitting that we not only celebrate this but also celebrate 1321's pass by having a little road run and mini 'beer-ex', stopping off for a meal and calling off at a few public houses and getting into the festive spirit among friends. Invites were sent out to local friends of the group (although I was since told that some failed to reach people, for which I apologise - seems your blogmaster suffers from 'fat finger syndrome' when trying to send a blanket text to multiple persons!) Sadly fate intervened, with many people being stuck at work, away on holiday, or engaged in other commitments such as the dreaded Ch******s shopping, however we went ahead and decided to give 1321 the run-out she deserves, and Saturday 20 December dawned cold, damp and miserable.
With myself and Gary prising our arses out of our respective beds at some ridiculous hour of day, we ventured to the farm to check 1321 was fit for such a road test, and once Gary had showed me a few things with the bus, he vacated the premises to undertake another driving job, leaving me to perform a walk-round check and wait for the arrival of Paul. Sadly, Calum had had to drop out very last minute from the festivities, but had kindly given us his blessing to take the bus out for a run. Somewhat later than expected, Paul arrived and once we'd topped up the water we left in the direction of Derby, with 1321 giving effortless run up Middlebrook Hill into Selston, along the twisting challenging roads of Jubilee and Pye Bridge to Alfreton, where we decided to bewilder my former work colleagues in the off-licence I previously worked in, before offering a spirited performance along the A38 towards Derby.
We picked up our two invited guests and friends of the group, Chris Gaskin and Geoffery Girling, and set off back along the old road through Little Eaton, stopping to top up the water, in the direction of the Brewers Fayre restaurant in Ripley, where we all enjoyed a meal and a few laughs. From here, we pressed on to the outskirts of the town, where Geoff was invited to take the wheel for a while, from here pressing on along the country lanes of Heage and Openwoodgate back to Kilburn Toll Bar, stopping off on our way back to Derby for photographs in picturesque Coxbench and a festive drink at the Queens Head in Little Eaton, an excellent Derby Tap pub that comes highly recommended.
Calling in at Derby Bus
Station to set down, it was here we bumped into fellow preservationist
and friend of the group Michael Rogan, who had just finished throwing
Sixes Scanias around the Belper region for a day. He didn't need asking
twice when offered to take the hot seat, piloting 1321 from the Bus
Station back to his home depot, Trentbarton's Meadow Road facility.
Saying our goodbyes to Michael, Chris & Geoff here we headed home, stopping off briefly in South Normanton for a special little guest to have a look at 1321. While our leader was busy emptying his bladder, your blogmaster was busy giving his 2yr old Godson George (whom I am slowly corrupting into transport, much to the amusement of his parents whom I have been close friends with for many years) a grand tour of the bus. With time not in our favour, we said our farewells and ventured off in the direction of the farm, before bidding farewell to one another and heading off in the direction of our respective homes.
And the verdict on this adventure? Wow! 1321 is effortless to drive, and gives a spirited performance, only let down on this road test by a water buzzer constantly chiming in the cab, and an issue which will be looked into and rectified as early in the new year as possible.
Our newest group member, since arriving in Nottinghamshire after collection from the purveyour of fine omnibuses himself Mike Nash, had spent most of her time being checked over by our newest mechanical expert Dominic at Hammonds Coaches having numerous issues rectified as laid out in a previous blog post. With much of the work finished the day before and lighter wallets, judgement day was almost upon us...would 1321 pass her MOT?
Now, there was even more significance about the day chosen for this momentous occasion, as some further research into the vehicles history revealed that 1321 had been registered on 5 December 1990, exactly 24 years to the day of test day!! Wouldn't it be great if it passed the MOT on its 24th birthday we thought to ourselves. Well, we were about to find out.
Gary was on hand to deliver 1321 safely from Hammonds Coaches at Bilborough to Yardleys test centre at Sutton Junction, a well renowned MOT test facility within the preserved vehicle scene with owners travelling with their vehicles from all over the country to have their pride and joys tested here. While here, the gang at Yardleys put her through her paces, ensuring that the class 5 MOT standards had been met, and before too long it was time for that all important piece of paper. Had Dominic's efforts and hard work paid off?
Aaand as you'll see from the piece of paper photographed above, she did it...a pass, with flying colours and no advisories! Big grins all round! I still remember being sat with my team in the works canteen somewhere in Pride Park near Derby taking a break from being on the phones and giving out a big cheer as I punched the air when Gary gave me the verdict over the phone (thankfully my colleagues know I am a bit strange and know about my transport interests, and weeks later they still remind me of that moment I found out about 1321's MOT pass and how my one single cheer almost turned the canteen silent!)
The group now had two vehicles in its fold, and even better one of these was now roadworthy and ready to go. Another emotional day in the history of the Ulsterbus 2599 Group, and with this success still fresh in our minds we've all said we cannot wait until the nerve-wracking moment we have to take 2599 to Yardleys. But that, dear friends, will be another major turning point...still plenty to do yet!
At this point your blogmaster had to reconsider how to work the blog, now that there were two very different (yet significant) vehicles under the Ulsterbus 2599 Group banner. It had been decided at an early stage that although 1321 was to be a group vehicle, the group brand was already too well established to rename, so we are here to stay. Anyway, I have digressed again...
With Calum's Tiger having joined the group's toybox a week or two previously, it had been sent away to Hammonds Coaches at Bilborough for mobile mechanic Dominic to perform a pre-MOT inspection. The original plan had been to have her MOT'd on Friday 28 November, however Dominic had found issues that needed rectifying so the test was put back a week. We were already aware of an air leak on the doors as we brought 1321 back from Surrey, and this was one of the first problems to be rectified. Upon closer inspection, Dominic's expert eye had identified the following tasks:
- A new pedestal would need to be fitted to the air bag
- An air tank strap would also need fitting
- There was some welding work required around the rear end, inc. the boot area
- The washer pump needed replacing
- A new fire extinguisher would be needed to bring 1321 into line with modern fire safety requirements (touch wood, this last item will just be a necessary ornament on display and will never need to be used!!!)
So with Gary splitting his time between both buses, Dominic was left to rectify the above tasks, and over the course of just over a week, the welding had been done, the new fire extinguisher had arrived and been fitted, the air bag pedestal and air strap fitted, and washer pump replaced. New wiper blades were also fitted to 1321's windscreen, as the old ones had seen better days. Tasks complete, and the kitty around £500 lighter than before (money well spent though), 1321 was almost ready for its moment in the spotlight.
The question on everyone's mind now was would 1321 pass its first MOT since 2009?? Test day was almost upon us...
With the move of 1321 up to Nottinghamshire having taken up most of the previous week, the group had been most active in one way or another. To allow us to work on both vehicles simultaneously, Gary was splitting his time between odd jobs on the Tiger and 2599, while we had sought the expert services of Calum's good friend Dominic, a mobile mechanic with Hammonds Coaches of Bilborough, to crack on with a few tasks that needed doing on 1321 to prepare her for her first MOT since 2009. We were buzzing with confidence!
Our attention in this post will return to the star of our show once again - 2599. With work on the battery box almost complete, we were just waiting on suitable materials arriving to finish off and refit the interior floor trap, so Gary turned his attention to another job on the list. Since becoming 2599's custodians back in December 2013, we had had to tie down the rear inspection panels using cable ties due to the plastic hinges being broken and unable to support the weight of the panel. So Paul and Gary set about rectifying this matter.
Now Gary has many years of expertise under his belt, both maintaining buses and operating them, and in this time has accumulated a large supply of parts, including stainless steel piano hinges from 1970's Duple products, which came in most handy for this task. So these were used to replace the broken plastic hinges on the rear inspection panels, and upon completion of the work the panel will now support its own weight and will stay open when instructed, instead of having to be tied open or tied to the bodywork. All that remains to do is to find a smaller piece of steel to fit to the oil filler cap, before overhauling the budget locks. All in all, a small task, but yet another one ticked off the list of jobs to do to get 2599 closer to its first MOT in several years.
After assisting Gary most of the day before moving his Duple Dominant III-bodied Leyland Leopard EXI6301 - which he previously operated under the 'Transit Express' banner around Nottingham during the late 90's/early 2000's and originally new to Excelsior of Dinnington as KWG131W - from Hearsons Coaches at Nuthall to its new home at the farm with 2599, your blogmaster's alarm began to blink at some unholy hour of Sunday 23 November, and under the cover of darkness, the next chapter of the group's history began to take shape.
Behind the scenes our purveyor of fine omnibuses, Mr Mike Nash himself, had informed us of a significant vehicle in his collection that was potentially for sale. After a group visit to Surrey to view the vehicle in question earlier in the year, plans were put into place to join the group fold, and this is where our story begins.
With daybreak several hours away and darkness still blanketing the East Midlands, we set off in 'Starship Kuga' to pick up the newest toy in the collection. Picking Gary up from middle of the tramworks hell that is Chilwell, and grabbing Calum from Clifton, we put the power down and aside from a quick stop to water the porcelain and consume coffee (we've said before, bus enthusiasts are mostly powered by coffee, or beer), we arrived at 'Nash HQ' near Dorking not long after daylight had risen over the Surrey where we set eyes upon the group's newest member...
Introducing 1321, a 1990 Ulsterbus Leyland Tiger donning the prototype Alexander Q-type body, and registered RXI3321, this was Calum's new toy, and would now join fellow Ulsterbus 2599 in preservation in Nottingham as a second group vehicle. With our friend Mr Nash unfortunately absent with a serious hand injury, the necessary walk-round checks were performed, trade plates affixed, and customary photographs taken before we set off for the long journey back to Nottinghamshire. Our first stop on the return leg was to be the local Esso petroleum-dispensing establishment in Dorking to fill up with the necessary propulsion fluids (diesel for 1321, and more coffee for the move party!)
We pressed on, stopping at Cobham services to water the porcelain once more, take on more fluids and for Paul to be relieved of driving duties for a while, at which point Calum took the wheel of his pride and joy for the first time for a spirited run along the M25/M40/M42 to our next stop at Warwick Services. During this leg of the journey, some general housekeeping was undertaken with the excess seat bases stowed in the overhead luggage racks moved to occupy the rear seat after Gary was nearly decapitated by one such item. At this point, your blogmaster decided to retire to the rear of the vehicle and lie down across two of the seats for some much needed sleep, suffering somewhat from the after-effects of sleep deprivation due to visiting some of Derby's finest drinking establishments the night before.
At Warwick Services, more photographs were taken and another driver change performed, with Gary now taking the hot seat. We pressed on again along the M42/M1 to Leicester Forest East, where Paul relieved Gary of duty with 1321, and set off with Calum for the yard of Silverdale Coaches in Nottingham, Gary and I following in 'Starship Kuga'. Safely at Nottingham, another of our mechanical experts Nik had a quick look at 1321 before we came to undertake the final leg of our journey to the farm. It was at this point that disaster struck...not with our newest group member, but with 'Starship Kuga' in a twist of irony!
As Paul and I came to start the car, it appeared to no longer wish to start, and after much persuasion and little success a phone call was made for the AA to attend the scene. Paul duly dispatched us with 1321 to Hearsons Coaches for Gary to pick up his minibus to act as our replacement support vehicle for the short journey from there to the farm. With Calum driving 1321, and Gary following in the minibus, we made the final leg of the journey to the farm with little incident, where she was parked in her new home across the front of the caravan overlooking 2599. We'd done it - the Tiger had landed, and aside from an air leak blowing away on the doors had performed well.
It was this point that Paul joined us, with a wounded 'Starship Kuga' to inform us that I, bizarrely, was the cause of the mechanical malfunction that had affected our support car! It appears, somehow, after leaving Leicester Forest East, I had managed to sever a wire in the footwell that had interfered with the computer systems and central locking to cause the whole car's electrical system to throw a tantrum! Oops (sorry leader!)
Technical malfunctions aside, Calum's new toy had joined the fold as the latest Ulsterbus 2599 Group member, and a new chapter in the group's history had begun...
And as we move ever closer to 2599's one year anniversary in the hands of the 2599 Group, progress had tailed off a little with Gary having numerous commitments including raising money for the Poppy Appeal and performing tours of WW1 battlefields, and Tim galavanting around the world chasing Diesel-Electric locomotives when not attending the day job or getting his hands dirty with other projects he is involved with. Meanwhile, our leader Paul was still pounding the tarmac of Britain's motorways week in, week out, Calum would occasionally pause for breath while freelancing for several coach companies, and your blogmaster was in the process of changing jobs again to work in a phone-based Customer Service role for a major communications company. Oh dear, it appears I have digressed...
Enough of my rambling, back to the star of our show - 2599! Our last visit in late-October had seen Paul and Gary between them tidy the battery box up a little more, and today's visit saw even further progress in this department. After much discussion, it had been decided to make a small change to the design of the compartment to reduce time and make access quicker and easier, rather than having to dismantle half of the interior every time! Gary and Robin set about cutting away the heavily corroded central divider, no longer required as part of the design change, and eventually it is planned to build a small jockey box next to the new battery position to house a jack and a wheel brace.
The next task was to drill holes into the new steelwork for the seat mounting holes, and rivet the top of the battery box to the new steelwork, before Gary and Robin finally set about screwing the aisle floorboard to the new stiffening plates, and coating the new and existing steelwork in rust-proofing silver paint. All that remains now is to fit a new section of floorboard, which will conceal the work beneath to the average person.
With our technical experts working hard, we set Paul to work mashing the brews (Gary's minibus comes equipped for every scenario, including a kettle and a grille) before we sat down in the caravan not to relax and supervise progress, but to catalogue and archive every item of sales stock we had accumulated, including much of the stock donated by retired Trent driver John Murfin a few weeks previously. With a thorough list of descriptions, clothing sizes and other such necessities recorded in writing, your blogmaster will one day eventually get round to posting photographs and advertising said items for sale in a bid to raise much needed funds to put back into the pot for 2599's restoration. A full post of what is available will be made available here, on the group's facebook page, and maybe even my own personal facebook page in due course...
