A step in the right direction...03/05/14

As we left April behind and marched into the early days of May, there was a positive feeling amongst the group. Gary had done a full inspection earlier in the week and declared that 2599 wasn't a total basket case, his words giving us all hope that our efforts were not for nothing, and that the project can (and will) succeed (not that your blogmaster has any doubts, it is going to happen!). Saturday 3 May dawned bright and sunny, and while I had to go to work, Paul and Tim paid a visit to Langar to do a bit of work on the bus.

Tim did some initial work into looking at the charging problem on the alternator, before pressing on with the biggest task of the day, refitting our reconditioned manifold back to the bus. This was a big moment, as this now meant that the bus was now mobile once again, after spending several months inactive and unmovable at the storage site. Once fitted, the newly recharged batteries were refitted and connected, time now for the moment of truth.

I remember being on shift, which was unusually quiet for a Saturday afternoon, with many punters taking advantage of the decent weather and the local beer gardens, when I received a phone call from a very excited Paul, whose first words were "listen to this", before I could hear the roar of a Gardner 6LX. Smiles all round!! I am informed 2599 started first time, on the button, and after the air pressure had been built up, Paul had taken her around the storage site for a couple of laps, which Tim videoed. A fantastic moment for all concerned in the project, finally we were making huge leaps in the right direction. The next step was to make the final arrangements to move the bus from the storage site to her new permanent home at Watnall, both with the people concerned, and to the bus, such as tying loose panels back on for the move and to obtain the necessary trade plates to move her.

Cue Michael Rogan...