12/5/2017 0 Comments 2017 Thanet Road Run.Well the 2017 was held on Sunday 7th May and went without a hitch. It was our busiest one to date. A full report can be found BY CLICKING HERE! Many thanks to everyone who attended and all of the vehicle owners who supported us. As soon as I have a figure of the amount raised I will pass this on to you.
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2/5/2017 0 Comments N306XRPAlthough owned by my friend and fellow SCOC member Bernard, N306XRP rarely sees the light. Plagued by minor niggles, she's normally tucked up inside the garage with my N301XRP. I personally love these Mercs having driven them for years at Stagecoach - although not these two as these were based in United Counties.
Here is a shot of former 40306 outside during the move around to allow PKE809M to move in. I'm hoping to take 40306 over myself one day.... 2/5/2017 0 Comments A Busy Month.I've had a busy April which has resulted in me working on mostly other people's buses! Not that I mind at all, it's always a pleasure to help others get their pride and joy on the road plus of course by fixing theirs it sometimes leaves you with better experience of issues you have with your own.
PKE809M is and example of this. Now owned by my friend Andrew, she has been suffering the same issues with her hydraulic throttle that her sister PKE807M has. Andrew decided to replace the old piping with flexible hose which I fitted for his a few weeks ago. After seeing how easy it is and how well it works I've decided this is exactly what I want to do with PKE807M too. PKE809M has now moved into to undercover storage in my area too so this will be a vehicle I will no doubt be working on again soon. I've also been active with Margate's Bus Café, former Crosville WTU487W another Bristol VR.The owners required her to be jacked up and leveled off in their new site on the seafront. This took a few hours but was done with relative ease! 6/3/2017 0 Comments March 2017With the arrival of a couple of new vehicles within my collection, a few little jobs that were underway have had to be paused for a while.
Here is a brief update on my vehicles:- BRISTOL VRs. PKE807M: Currently undergoing repairs to the rear parcel shelf and hydraulic throttle. Hopefully on the road later this year as an exhibition unit. MFN41R: Awaiting fitting of a new tailpipe on the exhaust and will be ready for use. This old girl is also going to remain as an exhibition unit and should be on the road this year. WKO137S: Off the road at the moment but will be prepared for MOT later this year. XJJ656V: Currently away from the rest of the collection being played with by a local engineering firm who are using her as apprentice training. SKL681X: Off road long term although when the better weather comes I'm hoping to get her mobile again. MERCEDES 709D. N301XRP: Undergoing MOT repairs. This has been paused due to a few other projects cropping up within the Southern Counties Collection. METROCABS. All four cabs are currently off the road with one of the series 3 taxis returning later this month. Towards the latter part of the summer I'm hoping work will commence on my series 2 again. 19/1/2017 0 Comments Thanet Vintage Bus Road Run 2017.I'm pleased to announce that the 2017 Road Run will be on Sunday 7th May. More information will be ported on this later but I'm hoping for a varied turn out of vehicles.
19/1/2017 0 Comments January 2017.Work has restarted on Mercedes 40301 with a view to getting her through her MOT this year. She will be receiving new brakes as well as repairs to the front offside wheelarch.
Stay tuned for a few minor changes to the vehicles over the next few months- more on this later. 8/12/2016 0 Comments Christmas 2016Well, as I write this looking back over a really taxing year, I can only hope 2017 will be better all round. 2016 has seen the passing of so many people, some who are icons of the era, some we've watched in awe whilst others have been friends or family. It really puts everything into context and working on and hobby - be it buses, taxis, whatever- tends to be put on hold over these periods.
Also in 2016 I finally left the bus industry. I've been saying I would for years but this year I made it final- not that I may never return, burning bridges is never a good idea! I still retain the licence and my enthusiasm (which was draining rapidly) has started to return. Like any hobby, if you work it, sleep it and eat it it can be too much. The bus industry has changed dramatically over the last 18 years I was part of it - and not for the better. Moving on to plans for next year, well, Paul T and myself have a plan sorted out of what to do and how we're going to do it. I've recently read back a few of my blog entries where I gush that this will be on the road next year or that will be ready for the summer and something always seems to come along and scupper my plans! All I'll say is "watch this space!" All that is left to be said is to wish you all a very safe Christmas and happy New Year. 8/11/2016 0 Comments A New Start.Following on from my previous post (which I didn't realise was right back in August!) where I mentioned a change of career. Well this has now become a reality and I now work in home to school transport. Obviously it means Monday to Friday term time I'm pretty booked up but weekends and school holidays I'm now free which will be excellent news in the show season.
It also gives the vehicles a better future too as it's better paid. I can now really start getting some work done on all the cabs and buses. It's going to take time but they'll get there! Speaking of which my plans for next year will see two Metrocabs and two buses on the road - although not all at once of course. I'm still planning on what shows to attend but I doubt it will differ too much from last season's. As a family, we tend to prefer the weekend country fayre / steam rallies as it gives us a good opportunity to get away for a few nights and meet our long standing friends who attend these shows. There's many a diverse interest here from road rollers to milk floats! Also the big adventure has to be camping down on your own bus for the night or having that early morning fry up on the stove downstairs. I'm planning a repaint for N301XRP but won't say too much about that at the moment. Also MFN41R will without doubt be on the road. She was ready to go this year but time and money was against me with this one. All in all it looks to be a very positive looking year ahead. 27/8/2016 0 Comments Work Continues.Following on from a rather manic year work wise, I have decided to change my career. My previous job gave me daytimes off of work but meant I worked most evenings. There was very little plans when it came to holiday cover or sickness. This would normally result in us working 6, sometimes 7 days a week. As it was a physically demanding job this would result in me being too tired to do little else when I finally DID get a rest day. This is why little has been achieved this year - strangely enough, the last time I had a unproductive year was during the M&D anniversary a few years ago. Maybe I'm fated with anniversaries?
My new job is very much a temporary thing before I move on yet again. However, the beauty of it is that the pay is at least equal but mostly more. It not so physically demanding so I won't be so exhausted (hopefully). This seems to be a problem in vehicle preservation - lots of time but no money or lots of money and no time! A quick fleet update at the end of August 2016: Buses: PKE807M - Currently off road awaiting repairs to the hydraulic throttle system and a mechanical service. MFN41R - Currently off road but nearing completion. Awaiting final fitting out and a new tail pipe. XJJ656V - Off road and still away from HQ being used as an apprentice project at a local engineering company. SKL681X - Currently off road. Various items removed for the other buses which are currently being refurbished prior to refitting. Awaiting an electrical rewire and repairs to leaking propshaft. N301XRP - Currently off road. Cab floor repairs completed. Handbrake needing adjustment and repainting is underway. Taxis: Series 1 Metrocab - Off road awaiting repairs to the body mounts. Series 2 Metrocab - Off road with a fuel supply and starter issue. Series 3 Metrocab - Off road but MOT work underway. Series 3 Metrocab - Serviceable 9/8/2016 0 Comments I'm Back!After several months away and being unable to edit the site I've managed to get the technical issues sorted out.
In the last few months it's been very busy with various bits and bobs going on. Work on MFN41R is pretty much complete and she's now ready to return to the road. There are still a few little jobs to do on her but her work as an exhibition unit with Kent Police will continue in my ownership. She was chosen for this because of the superb headroom on the lower deck. There's nothing worse than either banging your head all the time or having to walk with a stoop! 40301 has been sanded down ready for a repaint. Although initially it was planned to put her in Stagecoach livery, a recent change of plan will see her go in to a special "in house" livery which will not only advertise Southern Counties but be smart too - plus she'll be unique too. |
Click here for the archive news pages dating back to 2008.JakeOwner of 5807, 5809, 5137, 7656, 7681, 7041 & 40301 All pictures and information contained within this website are the copyright of J Bamford, R Addison, P Tripptree, B Sealy & R Harrison 2008-2019. Any images or information supplied by individuals will be credited to that individual and will be copyright of that person/persons/website.
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