Cornwall Bus Preservation Society (incorporating Western National Preservation Group)

Well here we are in October, dark evenings and the clocks about to change and make it even worse!

Today we took 'Royal Blue' Bristol LHBristol Commercial Vehicles Light Horizontal engined single-decker bus chassis LH at 30' (9.1m); nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and 1982 1318Royal Blue; BDV 318L | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 1318 | CBPG (BDV 318LRoyal Blue; BDV 318L | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 1318 | CBPG) and Bristol LHSBristol LH chassis range introduced in spring 1968, 3 variants: LHS at 26' (7.9m); 1254Former Western National Bristol LHS 1254 (VOD 124K), one of six purchased for Mousehole - Penzance route; acquired privately by Steve and Paul towards the end of 2017 (VOD 124KFormer Western National Bristol LHS 1254 (VOD 124K), one of six purchased for Mousehole - Penzance route; acquired privately by Steve and Paul towards the end of 2017) to their winter storage in south east Cornwall after both vehicles have performed extremely well attending many events over the last seven months. Work then commenced on the former Harvey's of Mousehole Albion Nimbus, relining the brakes.

On 25 August 2019, we took both vehicles to Plymouth for the new City Bus Rally held at the at Milehouse bus depot. The LHS was on static display while the LH did several trips around the City with full loads of enthusiasts.

In September we managed to take six of our vehicles to the annual Kingsbridge Running DayFree vintage bus services on coast and country routes in South Devon usually held in September held this year in lovely weather with hundreds of people attending. As well as the LH and LHS we took the Dennis Dart 401Badgers and Flags Pointer Dart L401 VCV | Dennis Pointer Dart | Fleet No. 401 | CBPG (L401 VCVBadgers and Flags Pointer Dart L401 VCV | Dennis Pointer Dart | Fleet No. 401 | CBPG), Mercedes VarioMercedes-Benz Vario (model designation W670) is a heavy van manufactured by Mercedes-Benz 52529529 became 52529 in national numbering system, fitted with 27 seats and soon received her current livery; S529 RWP | Mercedes Vario | Fleet No. 52529 | CBPG (S529 RWP), VR 1226November 2009, CBPG took over ownership of Bristol VR 38873(LFJ 873W) from Western National Preservation Group. Originally numbered 1226, she was the last new Bristol VR bought by Western National in 1981 LFJ 873W | Bristol VR | Fleet No. 38873 (ex 1226) (LFJ 873WNovember 2009, CBPG took over ownership of Bristol VR 38873(LFJ 873W) from Western National Preservation Group. Originally numbered 1226, she was the last new Bristol VR bought by Western National in 1981 LFJ 873W | Bristol VR | Fleet No. 38873 (ex 1226)) and newly acquired by the group, VR 1121(VDV 121S). This former Cornwall based vehicle has been owned by John Barley for many years and he has lovingly looked after the bus so that it is shown in first class condition wherever it goes. We are very pleased that John has donated the bus to CBPSCornwall Bus Preservation Society - formed by a group of bus and coach enthusiasts who are involved in maintaining, restoring and preserving a number of buses which saw operational service in Cornwall that have been bought, donated or even loaned to members of the group for continued preservation. All six vehicles performed well and carried many passengers including some dogs!

The last big event of the year was the annual Beer, Buses and Walks event held on the Isle of Wight in mid October. We took the LH and LHS again with sixteen members joining us for the four days. A great time was had by all with both vehicles being called on to do extra trips due to some vehicles suffering break downs.

We are still on the look out for covered storage for our fleet in the west Cornwall so please let us know if anything found that will help us.

Although 'friends' membership runs from January to December, we don't mind when anyone joins up. For £3 a month (£36 a year) you can be part of CBPS.

If you would like to become a 'friend' of the CBPS, please contact us (details on the site). We look forward to hearing from you.