Event Sad bus geeks unite - Wythall, Video Review

[dollywobbler]

I was all set to head to the VSCC Welsh Trials on Sunday, but then I remembered that there's a big bash at Wythall to mark 30 years since WMPTE was formed (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive I think?). 

 

So, I think I'm going to have to get all bus geeky instead. Here's the timetable and a list of buses taking part.

http://www.wythall.org.uk/octoberbuses.pdf

 

It's all quite excited to a humble Brummie such as myself. I've not even seen an Ailsa for years, let alone heard one! Certainly haven't ridden on one since about 1984.

 

Anyone else fancy it? I'd be aiming to pay £6 admission and then make full use of the free bus journeys - though I imagine donation buckets will be placed in strategic places.

[Felly Magic]

The Ailsa belongs to a bloke called Keith Billingsley, he has 4, yes 4 of the things, the prototype for WMT, a production Wumpty example, the unique ex Derby lowheight, and V1, ex London Transport

[davidfowler2000]

Scottish sad bus geeks will not be attending because we have our own sad bus geek event on for the whole weekend at Bridgeton.

 

I even did painting in preparation. Just don't look at it too closely.

[chaseracer]

You missed a bit... 

[dollywobbler]

Sadly, I may well be burning up my October ticket to the Midlands with this event, so alas, will be missing the SVM Cannock interface. Shame this event wasn't a week later actually for THE PERFECT WEEKEND.

[lisbon_road]

Looks great, would love to go but alas - no time.

 

Need to go to some events a bit further away, as it does tend to be the usual suspects locally - no disrespect to them and the effort that goes into them.

[Noel Tidybeard]

The Ailsa belongs to a bloke called Keith Billingsley, he has 4, yes 4 of the things, the prototype for WMT, a production Wumpty example, the unique ex Derby lowheight, and V1, ex London Transport

 

and he doesn't drive it like miss daisy neither!

[davidfowler2000]

It's went through about 3 engines in preservation alone.

[Lankytim]

It's a good museum that! Can't go though...

 

FUN FACT - My Mum is buried in the cemetery next door.

[Justin Case]

 Unfortunately I won't be able to make it but for anyone who does go, a ride on the Ailsa is a must. It's quite different from any other WM bus. Also try and catch Walsall 56, an experimental Daimler CRC6-36. It's the long pale blue bus with 2 doors Now that the Aldridge Transport Museum's Tracline (A 110 WVP) has passed its MOT it may also be a late entry.

For those who can't make it tomorrow then there is another opportunity for riding on old buses from the WM area at Aldridge the following Sunday (16th) with the Autumn Running Day:

http://amrtm.org/events/16-oct-2016/

[Inspector Morose]

By the way, this is in service...

 

[Inspector Morose]

And this:

 

https://youtu.be/2pdc6U_Jccs

[Felly Magic]

The only way to drive an Ailsa is like you stole it, 4772/5 were regularly hammered along the old A63 dual carriageway with their third owner and relatives of mine Parkinson & Gordon of Gt Preston, made L10 Lynxes look slow

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

I visited last year, a great day out for anyone with an interest in old Buses.

 

And I can recommend the hot sausage rolls, almost on par with Cannock Auctions Death Burgers.

[Junkman]

Scottish sad bus geeks will not be attending because we have our own sad bus geek event on for the whole weekend at Bridgeton.

 

I even did painting in preparation. Just don't look at it too closely.

 

That's like paining the Blackpool Tower, that is.

[Felly Magic]

You never know, even serial tea cosy wearer/Car SOSiger Fuzzbot might turn up, he is a buzzlicker and ex WUMPTY employee, and does own an ex Wallsall/WUMPTY Daimler Fleetline

[chaseracer]

Sadly, I may well be burning up my October ticket to the Midlands with this event, so alas, will be missing the SVM Cannock interface. Shame this event wasn't a week later actually for THE PERFECT WEEKEND.

 

Boo!  Wrong answer!

[dollywobbler]

The day, in video form. Contains screaming Ailsas and a rather raucous Cummins V6. Oh yes. 

[davidfowler2000]

The V6 Fleetline....

Excuse me a moment. I need some private time.

[Felly Magic]

The Nat 2 has a DAF engine fitted

[Inspector Morose]

IT'S NOT A BLOODY FLEETLINE.

 

It's a CRC6-36. As there was only one built for this country, they never gave it a name. The chassis layout was different, the engine position was different, the gearbox was different. In fact it has more similarities to a Bristol VRL which has an almost identical chassis.

[Felly Magic]

The Bristol VR originally was due to have the same layout mechanically as Walsall 56, 2 prototypes with Gardner 6LX were built, but were pretty hopeless reliability wise. One did survive into the 1990's but was scrapped as a fluid flywheel couldn't be found for it (allegedly). A batch were built for export with Leyland engines, and bodied by BUSAF in South Africa, they had the same internal layout of twin staircases and doors at each end. British VRL's were the superb looking ECW bodied coaches for Standerwick, and there is a fully restored example on the rally scene.

 

We also got a twin staircase, front & rear entrance bus built as an experiment for London in 1983, the infamous Volvo B55 Ailsa V3, which spent over 15 years being restored by Black Prince after it rolled. The owner of the WMPTE Ailsas, Keith billingsley used to own it, but sold it on, and it is now in full London guise with twin doors once again. 

[Inspector Morose]

South Africa also had some CRC6-36s delivered at the same time as their VRLs

 

 

[chaseracer]

Geek.

 

[Inspector Morose]

Yup.

[dugong]

BUSES

[Noel Tidybeard]

you went passed me at 4.48 in the vid taking pics from the spaceship

[Noel Tidybeard]

WARNING BEARDY ALERT

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[Noel Tidybeard]

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[dollywobbler]

That's some spot! It looks like I was in recording mode at the time.