Picture of the month archive.
JANUARY 2009 . The first picture of the month, Eastonways OJD396R speeds along Manston Road Ramsgate during 1994.
.MARCH 2009. A Bristol VR one this month and what better one to start with than 7681. Here she is back in August 2008 at a rather damp Minnis Bay on the Isle 0f Thanet road run celebrating the return of Paul Houselander's Bristol VR / Willowbrook open top 'The Pride Of Thanet' (0977 - RVB977S). It was here that I'd driven her in her final weeks of service with Stagecoach on service 9 and took some pictures in virtually the same location-but much better weather!
APRIL 2009: DMS115 is one of the latest of the type to enter preservation. Now owned by Stuart Boxall and Bob Mcleod, this former playbus now has a secure future. My thanks to Stu Boxall for the picture.
MAY 2009: A Bristol VR one then this month. FDL677V heads to The Needles Battery in an overcast October day in 1995 on the Isle of Wight.This bus is now with ohnson Brothers of Hodthorpe, one of the last major operators of the type
JUNE 2009: A DMS one -well most of DMS anyway! DMS2172 was involved in a fire at Catford garage in September 1980. It lay disused for over a year before being stripped to a bare chassis and shortened in 1982. In this form it was used as a mechanical trainer before being sold to Paddington Technical College. She is now in the care of LBPT at Cobham and is seen here last year at their excellent rear engined event.
JULY 2009: When 7681 met CHiPs! Actually these guys were Arizona Highway Patrol officers. Despite what it seems they hadn't just pulled us over but were standing next to us in the main ring at the Preston Steam Rally. Ever wondered what it's like to live on a bus? Well we took 7681 along to the rally which is held on a site near Wingham- about halfway between Sandwich and Canterbury in Kent. We arrived on the Saturday morning and stayed until the Sunday with a BBQ next 7681 on the Saturday night. So back to the question. Sleeping on a bus? Would you believe it, cramped!
AUGUST 2009: Yes it's DMS550 with front doors! However, these are only temporary doors from an ex GMPTE Leyland Atlantean that have been hung there to keep the weather out and provide some security whilst the front step is being built. Maybe a case of from Northern Counties with love? Later this month I have an electrician coming out to sort out 550's wiring so this time next month she may well be mobile again.
SEPTEMBER 2009: This season has been a busy one for 7681. The Herne Bay Rally and the FotEK Running Day where she was in service and carried good loads and proved very popular. In July 7681 had made her longest trip to date down to Rye and in October she is off out again to do a day trip down to Hastings just before she goes for MOT. This months picture shows 7681 back in November 2000 when she had been dragged out of the bodyshop at Westwood Bus Garage and dumped at the back of the yard for disposal with the other two remaining Bristol VRs 7671 and 7682. Her engine was in but unservicable due to a broken engine mount and she still wore Stagecoach stripes. 7681 has come a long way since then as I'm sure your agree!
OCTOBER 2009: Well those of you who have been following the progress of DMS550 will already know that she is now up and running thanks to MCS Electrics (see the video HERE) and now she runs and drops into gear. I'm hoping to move her inside this month and start on the bodywork BIG TIME! Also give her and 7681 a much needed service this winter too and maybe look towards getting DMS550 on the road for next summer. Also it looks like Imay be taking on another DMS project too. More will be posted on this soon!