News 2015

6 th September - 29 th November 2015

Ex Royal Blue Bristol LS 1291 MOD978 , came back to Bristol on Thursday 26th November after spending two years at Winkleigh. Whilst in Devon, the coach has been completely rewired, had the rear suspension rebuilt with new springs, the chassis cleaned and painted, and the front bodywork reconstructed, as well as being fitted with six new tyres.

The trip back via Crediton, Exeter, M5, to Portishead for an overnight stop, and then on to the Keynsham store was the first time this coach has been on the road since the end of 1977, some 38 years ago.

Much work still remains to be done, but hopefully faster progress can be made over the next couple of years.

Ready to leave Winkleigh on a damp Thursday morning.  Photo: John Grigg

Coffee stop at Taunton Deane Services.  Photo: John Grigg

Overnight stop in the boatyard at Portishead.  Photo: John Grigg

Safely back in the shed alongside the Puffin (PFN865).  Photo: John Grigg

On Sunday 25 th October the group's annual autumn running day took place.

The buses line up in the autumn sun ready for action.  Photo: Ken Jones

Visitor 675COD out on a trip.  Photo: Ken Jones

1 st - 6 th September 2015

On Sunday 6 th September GHT154 went to Bewdley to take part in the Severn Valley Railway's rally, and RM1363 took the rather shorter journey to Tetbury to take part in the annual classic car show there.

GHT154 at Bewdley.  Photo: Ken Jones

RM1363 and Stagecoach's RML2657 at the Tetbury classic car show

10 th - 31 st August 2015

RM1363 participated in the Talyllyn Railway's 150 th anniversary celebrations over the weekend of 29 th to 31 st August, providing free rides between Aberygnolwyn and Minffordd, and Tywyn and Fairbourne.

R M1363 at Abergynolwyn.  Photo: David Mitchell

30 th July - 9 th August 2015

The annual BVBG and Avon Valley Railway rally took place at Brislington Park and Ride site on Sunday 9 th August.  There was a very good turn-out of visiting buses, and large numbers of visiting members of the public who were able to enjoy vintage bus rides throughout the day.

All the group's buses and all the group's men (and women of course) were on duty too.

Lodekka FHU59D pulls onto the bus stop to take passengers for a trip to the city centre and back, ably driven by member Nick Sommer

Conductor Peter Davey issues a penny ha'penny single bell-punch ticket.

View more photos of the event.

30 th March - 29 th July 2015

On 12 th July the Group's open-top LDL, VDV753 attended the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

VDV753 at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.  Photo: Ken Jones

Over the weekend of 20 th and 21 st June, OTT98 and EMW284 took part in the annual Royal Blue run.

OTT98 on the Royal Blue run, photo: Ken Jones

EMW284 takes a break.  Photo: Ken Jones

On 20 th June, several of our buses took part in an event at Castle Coombe racecourse.

GHT154 takes a spin on the racetrack.  Photo: Rob Leighfield

The buses were well loaded with passengers enjoying the rides.  Photo: Rob Leighfield

23 rd February - 29 th March 2015

The Group's spring mini-running day took place on a very windy Sunday 29 th March.  Many of the Group's buses were in action along with visiting buses from other preservation groups. L503VHU appeared publicly for the first time after repaint in CityLine livery, and the Group's new Bristol LDL open-topper, VDV753 , was also on show.

L503VHU newly-repainted in CityLine livery

New arrival VDV753 manoeuvres at Flowers Hill

The Group's buses in the rain at the start of the day.  Photo: Richard Leaman

The schedule of rallies and events has been updated.

19 th January - 22 nd February 2015

The list of rallies and events the group will be attending this year has now been loaded on the events page.  Details of which buses will be going to which rallies will be added as soon as they are available.

MOD978 has had new curved glass quarterlight windows fitted for the first time since 1977.  The engine is now in good condition and the next jobs are to refit the wheels and front panels.

15 th December - 18 th January 2015

The Group is pleased to announce that it has taken delivery of Dennis Dart L503VHU , a "City Dart" bus new to CityLine.  The bus is currently in First Group colours and has been kindly donated by First, but will in due course be repainted into City Dart red, blue and yellow livery.  

A decision has also been taken to repaint J858FTC in the Badgerline livery that it originally wore when new to service in Weston-Super-Mare.

24 th November - 14 th December 2014

RM1363 has now passed its MOT and is back in action.

25 th August - 23 rd November 2014

Apologies for the lack of updates to the website in the last few months.  There have been technical issues with the website and this has only been overcome by using new software and redesigning the site.  We hope you like the new look, which will gradually be applied to all the pages in the site.  Meanwhile, many of the links will take you to old-style pages.

The replacement fuel pump for RM1363 has now been fitted and the bus is ready for MOT.