Cornwall Bus Preservation Society (incorporating Western National Preservation Group)

Here we are nearly half way through the year and we are preparing to attend quite a few events this summer culminating with the visit to the Isle of Wight in October.

The annual Royal Blue Coach Run takes place this month starting on Friday 21 June in Birmingham so this required a full safety check to be carried out on Bristol RELHRear-engined single-decker bus or single-decker coach chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles 1962 until 1982; widely considered most successful of first generation rear-engined single-decker buses; available in low (for bus) or high (for coach) versions; eventually totalled five variants: RELL and RELH (long), RESL and RESH (short), and REMH (maximum length) 14601969 Bristol RELH6G with ECW C45F coachwork; New to Southern National March 1969, transferred to Western National, remained in service until May 1981 when became part of BaMMOTT collection at Wythall. Purchased by WHOTT May 2005 OTA 632G | Bristol RELH | Fleet No. 1460 (OTA 632G1969 Bristol RELH6G with ECW C45F coachwork; New to Southern National March 1969, transferred to Western National, remained in service until May 1981 when became part of BaMMOTT collection at Wythall. Purchased by WHOTT May 2005 OTA 632G | Bristol RELH | Fleet No. 1460) Royal Blue coach by Steve and Derek so that she could attend the three day event.This has been done and she's ready to go.

I can also report that work has commenced on our next project for this year. Steve has managed to remove the blocked radiator from Bristol LHSBristol LH chassis range introduced in spring 1968, 3 variants: LHS at 26' (7.9m); 12551255 was last operational vehicle of this type with Western National and ended her service where began at Penzance depot. One of 6 vehicles bodied by Marshall (1250 - 1255 VOD 120K - VOD 125K) delivered February 1972 to operate between Penzance and Mousehole replacing the Bristol SUS's VOD 125K | Bristol LHS Marshall B33F | Fleet No. 1255 | CBPG (VOD 125KDelivered February 1972 to operate between Penzance and Mousehole replacing Bristol SUS's. 1255 was last operational vehicle of type with Western National and ended her service where began at Penzance depot VOD 125K | Bristol LHS Marshall B33F | Fleet No. 1255 | CBPG) and the good news is that it may be servicable after lots of flushing out. We hope to sort out flooring and body panel issues with the vehicle which will then necessitate a repaint.

At our recent meeting, we discussed events happening this year that we would be trying to attend and what vehicles we could use. First up this month is the Cornwall Coastal Commercial Run on Sunday 30 June 2019 which commences from the fair field at Summercourt around 10am. We are thinking of taking LH 1318Royal Blue; BDV 318L | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 1318 | CBPG (BDV 318LRoyal Blue; BDV 318L | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 1318 | CBPG), LHS 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), VRT 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)/38873 November 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 Royal Blue coach 1460 (OTA 632G). This line up is subject to these vehicles being operational on the day. Contact us if you are 'friend' and would like to go!

The Events section on this site will carry details of what we are hoping to attend in 2019 and our Facebook site will also have information on it too.

We are still on the look out for covered storage for our fleet in the west Cornwall area however, this has to be offered requiring only a 'peppercorn rent' as the funds are needed to keep the vehcles on the roads! If you know of anything, please get in touch!

Although 'friends' membership runs from January to December, I don't mind when anyone joins up. For £3 a month (£36 a year), we will be able to continue doing jobs like this.

If you would like to become a 'friend' of the 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, please contact us (details on the site). Thank you.