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CTPG appeals to repatriate Bedwas & Machen no.7 The Cardiff Transport Preservation Group (CTPG) has launched an appeal for donations to purchase, repatriate and restore a special 63 year old bus. The 1951 AEC single deck 35-seater known as ‘Bedwas & Machen no 7’ is the last bus to be actually built in Cardiff by the former Bruce Coach Works on Pengam Airfield. This historic vehicle used to operate in the Bedwas & Machen area near Caerphilly up until it was withdrawn in 1971. The CTPG has a 1930s Western Welsh bus depot in Barry and aims to raise £20,000 to return and restore this unique bus, as it currently resides in South Africa. The preservation group has a long shopping list for the Bedwas & Machen 7 Project with £10,000 to purchase the bus, £8,000 to ship it from South Africa and a further £2,000 to fully repaint and restore it to running order. CTPG Chairman Mike Taylor, who is heading up the project, said: “The AEC engine and chassis is in reasonable running order. This is a unique opportunity as the bus has an important historical link to Cardiff. Bedwas & Machen as one of the smallest municipal bus operators in Britain which only had nine vehicles running at any one time. This bus, no.7 is also the only Bruce-bodied single decker still in existance.” Withdrawn by the council in 1971, it was bought for preservation by a John Allan and he took it with him when he
Currently sporting non-authentic sand and cream, the bus will be restored to its original blue and royal ivory livery emigrated to South Africa. It is now at the Sandstone Heritage Foundation, Ficksburg, Free State. Whie the unique survivor is kept under cover, it has been repainted into a non-authentic sand and cream livery. Mike continued: “We intend to restore Bedwas & Machen 7 to the original Blue and Royal Ivory livery it carried throughout its’ working life in South Wales.” Once restored, the bus will take an active part at rallies and shows for future generations to see and ride on. A much newer double decker
of 1968 vintage once owned by Bedwas & Machen UDC, built by Massey Bros. of Wigan has already been restored and was re-launched by the Mayor of Caerphilly County in March last year. The single decker, No 7, will make an attractive pair representing the old Bedwas & Machen fleet.
Mike Taylor is heading the Call for Donations and can be contacted by visiting the group’s website at www.ctpg. co.uk
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Black Country trolley buses on track
The Black Country Museum has hit back at stories published on internet forums which claimed the living museum’s popular trolleybuses have been mothballed due to concerns about the presence of asbestos in the historic vehicles. Laura Wakelin, Director of Communications and Marketing told CBW: “We identified some minor work to do on our trolley buses, which requires the removal of asbestos. We moved quickly to obtain quotes from specialist contractors. It’s now a case of getting the work done. “As soon as that’s complete, the trolley buses will be up and running. There is no exact timescale as yet but we’re aiming to have them operational again in time for the start of the main season at Easter – if not before. “There is certainly no fear of them not running here ever again. The trolleybuses are an important part of the visitor experience. Vintage buses are running but we want the trolleybuses too. We’ve got the UK’s largest trolleybus route.” The current trolley bus fleet includes former Wolverhampton Corporation no.433 and ex Walsall no.862. Awaiting restoration is early Wolverhampton no.78, made by Guy Motors in 1931. Transport events taking place at the Dudley-based museum this year include the Festival of Black Country Vehicles on Sunday, July 27 and on Saturday, September 13, the Centenary of West Bromwich Buses.
RMs to be withdrawn from London’s route 9 TfL plans to withdraw the heritage journeys operated using Routemasters on route 9 from July. However, traditional Routemasters will continue to run on route 15 between Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London. Writing on his blog (http:// leondaniels.blogspot.co.uk), Leon Daniels, MD of Surface Transport said: “Originally RMs operated daily between Aldwych and Royal Albert Hall on route 9 and between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill on route 15. Subsequently route 9 was recast to operate between Trafalgar Square and Kensington High
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Street and when the contracts were relet in 2010, the routes were rewarded to their original operators – First and Stagecoach. Hence when Tower Transit acquired part of First’s London business in 2013, the operation of route 9 transferred to them. “Route 15 has been of most value, helping with the peak hour flow into the West End while carrying tourists out to the Tower. Later in the day, it returns the tourists while again supporting the mainstream 15 during the evening peak. At certain times of the day, an empty bus starting at Tower Hill is a huge blessing when there
are 50 or more visitors patiently waiting at Tower Hill. “Routemasters on route 9 have not been quite so popular and the service has recently been run by the ‘New Routemasters’ in the shape of the New Bus for London. Nowadays, those travelling for leisure purposes tend to choose the new buses. “With continued growth on our network and no new money, we reluctantly have to accept that the subsidy of over £1m for the tourist Routemasters on route 9 would be better spent elsewhere. “The change also eliminates the conflicting arrangement whereby the conductors on traditional
Routemasters serve you at your seat and take cash, whereas the second crew member on the New Routemaster does neither. In addition, the hand-held ticket machines which have long since passed their sell-by date can now be recycled for use on route 15. “This also gives us the opportunity to select vehicles in the best condition, allowing them to continue to perform a useful function on route 15.”
View and respond to the consultation, which closes on March 7, at https:// consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/ route-9/consult_view
Janaury 29, 2014 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19 27/01/2014 19:53