Blogs

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 once again supported the St Buryan Vintage Rally on Saturday and Sunday, 27 & 28 July 2013. Our 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) operated the shuttle service on both days working between the village and the showground while Bristol VRT 1147Bristol VR AFJ 749T 1147/38749(AFJ 749TBristol VR AFJ 749T 1147) was on 'static display'. Also present was '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) displayed proudly by new owner Lee Shephard. On Saturday, 'Royal Blue' 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) also attended and was displayed on the showground. All vehicles generated a lot of interest. Read more

Round 2...... 

After discovering a minor whoopsie on the original replacement with the release bearing being the wrong way round, we had to take the gearbox back out, put this right and then try again. Everything was going well, but unfortunately (as most bus preservationists will know) this was not to be case. We now have a problem with the slave pack which has given us a rock hard pedal. Oh joys..... yet another job to do! Anyone would think this bus doesn't want to come back on the road! Read more

 After some very kind assistance from our friendly farmer and his tractor, 716Bristol LH 6L with 45 seat ECW bodywork was one of 10 new medium sized buses delivered to Western National in the summer of 1968 MUO 328F | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 716 | CBPG(MUO 328FBristol LH 6L with 45 seat ECW bodywork was one of 10 new medium sized buses delivered to Western National in the summer of 1968 MUO 328F | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 716 | CBPG) was moved inside the shed where today. three of us managed to remove the very worn out clutch assembly from the bus without so much as a spot of blood anywhere to be seen! This was followed by a quick bite on a Twix (other brands are available but we didn't have any of them), we cursed and grunted and soon had 'the box' fitted back in. However, time was against us and we will have to return and finish off another day. We will keep you updated on our progress.

After a good look over by Steve, a 'small' list of 15 jobs appeared to get 716Bristol LH 6L with 45 seat ECW bodywork was one of 10 new medium sized buses delivered to Western National in the summer of 1968 MUO 328F | Bristol LH | Fleet No. 716 | CBPG through her MOTMinistry of Transport test this year.Work has started on that list with Steve, Paul and I setting to work on Tuesday and getting a few jobs crossed off. Work continued yesterday with Paul and I attempted to tackle a water pump change which was successful until the point we found the replacement was leaking water! With the old one re-fitted, back to the shed was the next plan until the clutch decided to give up en-route which left 716 needing to be towed back until that can be replaced. Read more

On 11 February 2012 we decided to move a couple of former 'Tally Ho' 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's and get the former Western National Dennis Dart out of the shed she was stored in and move her to another that was more accessable for us which houses the 1966 Bristol MW. Both LH's required the booster pack to get them started so the whole move took some time but once there was space, the Dart started up with no trouble and I drove her to the other shed and reversed her in. Stored here, we will be able to move her to Cornwall without too much trouble. 

Having a couple of spare hours this afternoon and needing to get out of the house, I finished off the replacement of 1147Bristol VR AFJ 749T 1147's top deck double seats. We've just got the 3 single seats and the front bench to do and it'll be complete!

As we drift closer towards winter 2011, you must make a note for 2012 to remind yourself and fellow enthusiasts that - 'I must not miss the Penzance and Kingsbridge Running Days next year as they are getting better and better!' Well, I am slightly biased as I am lucky enough to be involved with both events but I really do think these two running days are a bit special and offer so much for us enthusiasts. Read more

At one stage we thought we were going to miss this event because the RE is poorly,  but thanks to 'friend' Steve loaning us his Marshall bodied 1972 '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 coach, five of us made the trip and a very good day was enjoyed by all.  Read more

I'm pleased to report that LeylandLeyland Bus was a British bus manufacturer. It emerged from the Rover Group (formerly British Leyland) as a management buyout of the bus business. It was subsequently acquired by Volvo Buses in 1988 and the name finally disappeared in 1993 OlympianLeyland Olympian was a 2-axle and 3-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production 34754Former Western National 'Bristol' Leyland Olympian, A754 VAF in Barbie 2 livery and displaying fleet number 34754; This represents a very important 'save' for the CBPG as is last vehicle from initial batch of 8 first introduced in Plymouth in November 1983 to come out of service in Cornwall A754 VAF | Leyland Olympian | Fleet No. 34754 (ex 1807/1754) | CBPG(A754 VAFFormer Western National 'Bristol' Leyland Olympian, A754 VAF in Barbie 2 livery and displaying fleet number 34754; This represents a very important 'save' for the CBPG as is last vehicle from initial batch of 8 first introduced in Plymouth in November 1983 to come out of service in Cornwall A754 VAF | Leyland Olympian | Fleet No. 34754 (ex 1807/1754) | CBPG) passed her MOTMinistry of Transport test last week without so much as 'an advisory' from the test station. She will now be in service at the Running DayEach year in April CBPG holds an Annual Running Day with free bus trips around West Cornwall - check our Events for more information on Sunday 17 April 2011 with approximately 21 other vehicles. Tell your friends, bring your cameras and if you have any influence at all, arrange for fine weather please!

Work started on Sunday in preparation for the running day with the OlympianLeyland Olympian was a 2-axle and 3-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production being prepared for MOTMinistry of Transport test and the VarioMercedes-Benz Vario (model designation W670) is a heavy van manufactured by Mercedes-Benz being bought in for some maintenance. Read more