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Cardiff collection boosted with Dart & a tow truck A 1995 Alexander Dash-bodied Dennis Dart & an ERF tow truck have been preserved at the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group’s Barry Bus Depot A traditional livery with a twist adorns one of the latest additions to The Bus Depot, Barry heritage bus collection. Late in September the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group (CTPG) did a deal acquiring two additional vehicles to its expanding collection of classic and historic buses. The preservationists based at a 1930’s former Western Welsh bus garage in Barry saw the arrival of a 32 year old tow truck, a big ERF machine suitable for towing buses, and an 18 year old former service bus, both from Cardiff Bus. CTPG Chairman Mike Taylor said:“Cardiff Bus had no further use of their tow truck as the operator subcontracts tow work. It had been kept as a stand by for three years and we did a deal to buy it and a former service bus. The tow truck represents part of an ancillary fleet which any large bus company used to have. New in 1981, it was purchased by Cardiff Bus in 1983. It was originally painted in the Orange livery with a white band to match the bus fleet of the time. Of late Cardiff Bus repainted it into their turquoisegreen, cream and orange pencil line livery adopted for buses in the 1990s. Now this livery on the bus fleet has been superseded by the current Ray Stenning-devised bright regency green and orange front livery so we have decided to keep the 1990s livery on our tow truck. It will also be a long time
Cardiff Bus T023 (N23OBO), an Alexander Dash-bodied Dennis Dart is seen when relatively new at the June 1997 Barry Rally. CTPG collection
The 1981-built ERF ex Cardiff Bus 073 NUT344W inside the The Bus Depot, Barry on November 2 sporting an adapted livery. Tudor Thomas before we preserve a bus in that livery as it’s almost ‘too modern’ but for younger enthusiasts it has its rightful place. Following a group discussion between Mike Taylor and Bob Sparks, a CTPG member who used
to drive and work the tow truck during his former days working for Cardiff Bus, it has been decided to put the CTPG name on truck – promoting the heritage vehicle group in a style not too dissimilar to how it used to look when
working for the bus company. The ERF tow truck is added to the collection of preserved vehicles and will not be used for reward or as a general towing vehicle. The preservation group said it still intends to use commercial contractors for heritage bus movements on the road. Mike continued: “The bus is a Dennis Dart single deck Cardiff Bus with 41-seat Alexander Dash body. This 1995-registered bus compliments our collection as an example of one of the more recent step-entrance type vehicles, now soon to be phased-out of public service. It currently wears a Ray Stenning-designed training bus livery, so we think that must be a first of his in preservation. We intend in a few years’ time to restore it to an ‘as delivered’ condition, in orange white and brown”. The preservation group told CBW it thinks it is important to have a few of the 1990s vehicles to allow all generations of the public to realise and appreciate how bus travel changes, as vehicles like this will soon not be in public service and the heritage movement is about preserving pieces of local transport history.
The Cardiff Transport Preservation Group was founded in 1992 by a small group of bus enthusiasts. Today it can claim a membership of over 120. Vehicle restoration occurs at the Bus Depot in Broad Street, Barry. (Registered Charity No. 1063157). For more information visit the group’s website at: www.ctpg.co.uk
Central Buses’ RML2411 in service Central Buses will be turning back the years and operating a special vintage bus service on its route 92 between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield on Saturday, November 30. The bus is a 1966-built London Routemaster RML2411 which has been fully restored to its former glory. The bus will be operating on all journeys with the exception of the 1410 journey from Sutton and 1440 from Lichfield. Normal fares apply and concessionary passes will be valid as usual. Geoff Cross, Managing Director of Central Buses told CBW: “’The
Routemaster catches people’s attention wherever it goes – we have had a phenomenal amount of interest from enthusiasts and the general public ever since we acquired the vehicle. While it earns its corn on wedding and private hire work, we occasionally enjoy being able to roll back the years and give the general public in the West Midlands the opportunity to ride a national classic.’’
For more details, visit www.centralbuses.com or call Central Buses on 0121 356 3487.
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The Routemaster will certainly turns heads on route 92 www.coachandbusweek.com
18/11/2013 20:33