The Irish Adventure: Part 2 26/04/14

 So we were actually here. It still seemed surreal, but after much uncertainty about whether the trip would actually go ahead, here we were, Paul Waplington, Paul Gaunt and myself, in Northern Ireland, all sat around the breakfast table in The Gregory tucking into an Ulster Fry. And at this stage in proceedings, little did we know what lay ahead.

While sat around the table, Paul W seemed unusually pre-occupied with his phone, and after a couple of quick phone calls and several texts, Paul G and I were told to finish our breakfasts as we had a taxi waiting to take us into Central Belfast. We were duly deposited at Donegal Square, and Paul W just told us that our 'surprise' was yet to arrive, so we stood around photographing some of the local Northern Ireland bus scene. We had been here for around 15 minutes when the sky blue and white of an Ulsterbus Wright-bodied Volvo B10BLE - 2823 (CCZ8823) - broke up the sea of pink and white 'Metro' vehicles and added a little colour to a dull and drizzly morning, and as I pointed my camera at it, I could see the driver gesturing to us to come over to where he would be pulling in. Turning to Paul W, his grin got wider and it turned out that he had arranged for us to travel to Cultra for the rally on this vehicle. It was here where we met another member of the Ulsterbus 2599 Group facebook group, Andy Lawless, and thanks must go to him for transporting us to/from Belfast for the rally.

We set off, and apart from a quick stop on the Newtownards Road for breakfast for the Ulsterbus lads, we arrived at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra in ample time to witness the arrival of the exhibits for the Irish Transport Trust rally. Stood around the entrance area photographing the flow of arrivals, ranging from exhibits as old as Northern Ireland Road Transport Board Leyland PS1's to a brand new Ulsterbus Irizar i6 touring coach with Bristol RE's, Leyland Leopard and Tigers thrown in along the way, I can only speak for myself that I was in awe at the vast array of different and interesting exhibits on display that you would not otherwise see at a rally back on English shores.

After a wander around and further photographs, and bidding farewell to Paul G who decided to head off into Central Belfast to look at the modern bus scene for a while, Paul W introducing me to Robert Nogues from the Ards Bus Preservation Group, finally allowing us to be introduced in person to one of a number of people who has helped so much in moving 2599's restoration in the right direction. We stood and chatted, and the subject of missing brackets for Paul's quick-change dispenser came up. Robert took the dispenser away, and after messing about with a screwdriver for a few moments, had fitted the missing brackets required! We also took this chance to have a look around Robert's own vehicle, Citybus Bristol RE 2446 (WOI2446), restored to early 1990's condition complete with distinctive 'skybreaker' advertising panels along the roofline. It was at this stage we met another facebook group member, Ben Simpson, who had played a major part in 2446's restoration before Robert acquired the bus.

We wandered some more and took even more photos, and before long it was time to join a bus for the 40 mile road run around the Bangor coast road, for which the dull grey skies had lifted and we were treated to glorious sunshine. I elected to join Robert and the gang for the trip on 2446, and I must say my grin got wider and wider. Upon our return, the opportunity to meet further members of the group's facebook page in person arose, including Richard Shannon, Phil McAlinney, David Clarke and Nathan Mann to name but a few we had the pleasure of meeting.

During the afternoon, I left the others and paid a visit into the museum itself, which boasted an interesting variety of bus, tram and train-related exhibits, as well as an extensive section on shipping and the history of the ill-fated 'Titanic' cruiseliner (although your blogmaster openly admits to having a very limited knowledge of ships and cruiseliners!). Afterwards, I returned to the others at the rally site, where Paul W was offered the opportunity to drive Citybus 2446 - he didn't need asking twice! Sat just behind the doors on the nearside, I can still remember now Paul's grin getting wider everytime he pressed the accelerator!

Our little excursion in 2446 took us to Bangor BusCentre, where after light refreshments and a comfort break, the security guards shouted us over to have a look around the adjoining Ulsterbus depot - something that would rarely happen here on English soil!! While photographing the more modern Ulsterbus scene here, Robert was most delighted when the current Ulsterbus 2446, Wright Solar-bodied Scania L94 (GXI446) arrived, and after talking to its driver, we agreed to pose both 2446's together in the bus station for photographs, something Robert had wanted to do for three years. After this, we all rejoined the older, more superior Citybus 2446 to return to Cultra, and after further talks with Robert, Ben, Phil and Richard, where arrangements were made to come and visit the collection of vehicles the group owned, we gathered for the closing awards ceremony, and we were delighted to hear both Robert and Phil of the Ards group had won trophies for their vehicles (2446 in Robert's case, and Ulsterbus Leyland Leopard 129 (RUI129) in Phil's case). From here, we said our goodbyes, and regrouped with Andy Lawless for the return to Central Belfast on board 2823.
 

And that was not to be the end of it all. Having said our goodbyes to our enthusiast friends, we were simply blown away by the kindess and hospitality of our non-enthusiasts friends upon our return to the hotel. The owner's son, James, made us most welcome and prepared the dining room for us all to enjoy the Domino's pizza banquet we had brought with us on the way back, and later on we were welcomed in by Jimmy and his wife Alison for a few drinks, and where we also manged to get talking and become friends with several other guests, including a lovely young lady called Maria from Dublin and her friend (whose name escapes me now), a mother and daughter on holiday from the United States, and a young man called Alex who was over in Northern Ireland from Canada with his work.

We settled down for the night, and into the wee small hours,letting the alcohol flow once again (for most), reflecting on a fantastic day I have struggled to sum up in words, with many memories to cheirsh and a whole host of new friends both within and outwith the bus enthusiast fraternity. If any of you see this, it was a pleasure to meet you all, and I only hope we can repeat the experience someday...