ENGINEERING REVIEW 2004
Our annual review, as ever, can only cover the major items and, after a year as phenomenally busy as the last, we fear that we have forgotten some of the biggies! Apologies, therefore, to those who achieved big jobs on buses not mentioned and to those responsible for the host of small jobs that have not registered on the radar. This is also the opportunity to thank those who have laboured on site projects, most significantly the Blue Line spares building which has engaged the attention of a lot of staff, but especially Phil Ireland and Peter Murphy. Thanks also to those who specialise on maintaining the site and keeping the exhibits smart, such as Mick 'mighty fine' Green, Phil Hoole, Maurice Collignon, Mick 'no relation to Ed' Doolan and, not least, the members of the Elmdon Model Engineering Society, especially Dennis Herbert. Also spreading himself across the exhibits (steady now!) has been Bob Williamson, lubricating destination blind mechanisms and ensuring correct blinds where possible.
In the following round-up, the ex-Midland Red buses are listed first to give non-participants an idea of the amount of work carried out in time for the centenary. The remaining exhibits are then listed in date order.
O9926 - Tilling Stevens TTA2
Bob Williamson has been preparing the lower saloon cream areas of the Tilling-Stevens and had achieved topcoat on the nearside before the year end.
CN2870 - SOS 'Queen'
Restressing the point made last year, Dave Parry has had to spend a huge amount of time studying photographs and any drawings he can find to assist him in replacing parts large and small totally missing from the SOS Queen. He has had to think through and prepare accurate drawings of his own to enable commissioning of parts that have to be made by outside craftsmen. A myriad of small castings, notably for the interior of the bus, the bonnet, fuel tank and exhaust wrapper are examples. Two highly visible features now in place are the polished radiator and the lifeguard rails. To fit the latter, Dave had to create and make up all the brackets that carry them. Here we must also thank Bob Kell, who spent a precious day of a bank holiday removing a set from his SOS chassis and despatching them all to us. Having them to hand made Dave's work much easier. Good topcoat quality stands no chance if prior preparation is inadequate. Dave was assisted by Mike Jordan who spent a lot of time preparing and flatting coats of paint, prior to Dave giving it another splendid coat of gloss in time for the Midland Red Day.
GHA337 - SOS 'SON'
Peter Murphy has led work on the SOS SON whilst ensuring it was intact for Midland Red centenary events. The front vestibule area has been remodelled and tidied. Some rewiring of the interior lights has taken place, with the correct grade of wire and eliminating unwanted joins, and a start made on the cab wiring. The SON got a good workout at the Black Country Museum's BMMO event, much to the immense pleasure of those who drove it and rode on it. This included a night photo session for Bus & Coach Preservation magazine, the result being a splendid centre page spread in the February 2005 edition.
NHA744 - BMMO S12
After much hard work on the exterior by Mike Jordan, Dave Brown and John Lowe, painting the S12 was completed just in time for Midland Red Day and looked really good, a wholly unexpected treat for the visitors. The team have now commenced facelifting the interior; in this regard it is worth flagging up that all these early postwar BMMO buses employ copious quantities of brown leathercloth, which has become almost impossible to source. Would anybody aware of a supply please let us know?
SHA431 - Leyland Titan PD2/12 (LD8)
The 1685 Group put in a lot of additional work on the LD8 Leyland PD2, concentrating on the exterior and the platform, to make it as presentable as possible for Midland Red day. All window pans had been refurbished, re-rubbered, reglazed and refitted, and all exterior panels in place and gloss painted, only the panel strips being missing. Work has largely reverted for the winter to interior items, replacing rotted bits of structure (notably the interior lining panels), reinstating restored bits and pieces, and refurbishing reusable items not yet treated such as seatframes. Rewiring continues and attention is also moving under the bonnet. The radiator was removed by the year end and was found to be in very good condition except John James has had to adjust and fit around 90 new rubbers to the tubes - late news at the end of this long and tedious exercise is that the refurbished radiator has been pressure tested and is fine.
XHA482 - BMMO D7
The D7 received the promised repaint by Kevin Hill in original livery, complete with lining out, shaded numerals and black wings. Splendid!
871KHA - BMMO D9
Kevin Hill and Alex Potts have continued their work on the WMPTE D9. The exterior is now largely repanelled and in early coats of paint. The end of the painting season has seen attention turn again to the traditionally desperate areas around the rear axle.
943KHA - BMMO D10
The D10, previously rather jaded in appearance, now looks appropriately striking again after a Kevin Hill repaint.
SBF233 - Leyland Titan PD2/28
Kevin Hill's one-time Harpers PD2 cut down by Midland Red to a breakdown tender received its repaint into National Bus service vehicle yellow, a wholly accurate contrast to the red buses displayed on Midland Red Day.
5073HA - BMMO S15
A member of the Class VI fleet, the S15 needed work to stop oil leaks and some body rectification near the entrance door.
5212HA - Leyland Leopard (LS18)
The LS18 Leyland Leopard was prepared mainly by Bob Williamson for subsequent painting by a team of four (allegedly, it seemed like twenty) who completed the job in half a day. The more obvious transfers have also been applied so the bus looks presentable although 'proper' restoration is required.
6545HA - BMMO S16
The S16 is another member of the Class VI fleet. Smoke emissions with BMMO engines can give some concern but the S16 managed to get through the test again.
BHA399C - BMMO D9
The amount of work in recent years meant that it went through this year's test with relatively little work. The tachograph had recently become temperamental and this was rectified for the 6-year recalibration.
EHA767D - BMMO S17
Jeremy Price overhauled the master cylinder, which was then fitted by Kevin Hill and Pete Murphy.
GHA415D - Daimler Fleetline CRG6 (DD12)
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Almost nothing of the extensive work to the DD12 Fleetline is visible from the outside. Nevertheless Peter Murphy has attended to the extensive rot frequently found on Fleetlines over the rear axle, enabling John Lowe to rebuild the interior. Andrew Gardner sourced some vitally needed replacement Formica for the interior, which is a good match for the original.
UHA941H - BMMO S23
This S23, the very last bus fully completed by Midland Red, was prepared by several souls for a quickie repaint and similar treatment to 5212 HA.
UHA956H - BMMO S23
The Wendaway S23 received mechanical attention during the year and now has a functioning charging system. The alternator and regulator were repaired and overhauled by Jeremy Price who has also overhauled the front hubs and brake calipers. New bearings and hub seals have been fitted. Other significant contributions towards an intended Class VI test have been made by Kevin Hill, Dave Parry and Alex Potts.
PHA370M - Ford R1014
The shortened Ford had its various bits of panel damage repaired and the vehicle was then prepared, largely by Paul Gray, for repainting by Kevin Hill into the very distinctive white and crimson Midwest coaching livery.
NOE544R - Leyland National
Following the 2003 repaint of this Leyland National, which completed works on the exterior, Geoff Hodkinson has refurbished and repainted the interior.
FFY402 - Leyland Titan PD2/3
After a long period in many pieces, continuing work on the Southport open-top PD2 by Peter Murphy and Alwyne Marsden, enabling repanelling and fitting of window pans leading to the first coats of paint, has meant that this restoration is really taking shape.
HOV685 - Leyland Titan PD2/1
Peter Murphy dealt with some significant rot just ahead of the rear wheels of the Birmingham Leyland. Priority by the 1685 Group on the LD8 has meant progress on the lower saloon interior of this bus has been slow. The first reupholstered seat has come back but needs slight modification to sleeving to get it to fit happily in the frame.
FJW616 - Sunbeam F4
The Wolverhampton Sunbeam trolleybus finally made it to Wythall after over two decades storage in the north-west and, following a thorough clean, was immediately snugly parked inside.
KFM775 - Bristol L5G
The Bristol L5G is a popular member of the Class VI fleet but also the oldest and required a number of routine rectifications to get it through its annual test.
JOJ245 - Leyland Tiger PS2/1
The extensive restoration of the Acocks Green Bus Preservation Group's Birmingham Leyland Tiger was completed in 2004. What can we say except Bus & Coach Preservation magazine declared it restoration of the year. That's the best in the UK! Well done, Dick, Fred, and Steve. Brilliant!
JOJ976 - Guy Arab IV
A change of front tyres resulted in heavy steering on the Birmingham Guy but, as usual so far, little was needed to get a Class VI test for a further year. The acquisition in 2004 of some seats gathered by the late Maurice Newman will help to lift the appearance of the somewhat tired interior upholstery over the forthcoming year.
FRC956 - Leyland PD2/28
The Trent PD2 had an engine block crack 'stitched' and a reconditioned vacuum pump fitted as part of the preparatory work for Class VI retest.
802MHW - Bristol FSF6G
The Cheltenham Bristol Lodekka returned to the road but as a Class VI vehicle thanks to an arrangement with Stagecoach West. Exercising it after years of storage however gave rise to a number of defects; the need for attention during the Classic Car Show was referred to in the last edition and the bus has been over the pit for a number of other defects to be rectified. Kevin Hill and Phil Ireland dealt with many of them but Jeremy Price's expertise was called on to overhaul the brake system.
248NEA - Daimler CVG6-30
Dick Lolley, with help from Steve Johnson and Fred Withers, has taken on the completion of the upper deck of this West Bromwich Daimler and the replacement linoleum has already been laid.
HBF679D - Leyland PD2A/27
Geoff Hodkinson continues to work on the interior of the Harpers PD2 and is currently seen in contortions as he works in the cramped cab.
XDH56G - Daimler CRC6-36
Dave Taylor's giant Daimler is currently inside and looks much smarter, having had much of the new panelwork painted.
AML588H - AEC Merlin 4P2R
Tim Clayton's London Merlin now has an engine that runs thanks to Alex Potts' efforts although, at the time of writing, due to some fault in the electronics of the gearbox the bus still won't move under its own power. The offside panels have been replaced and primed.
SOE913H - Daimler Fleetline CRG6-33
The WMPTE Jumbo Fleetline has seen renewed vigour in recent weeks and it is moving on at a pace. It has generated a number of significant jobs, recently the top deck rear cantrail has been replaced. Kevin was last seen repainting the interior.
OWE271K - Bristol VRT
One suspects some modesty from Phil Ireland regarding his Sheffield VRT/ East Lancs as he has only reported lower deck seatframe repainting and chassis cleaning work.
PDU135M - Daimler Fleetline CRG6
Geoff Hodkinson was able to apply first topcoat to his Coventry Fleetline this year.
KON311P - Leyland Fleetline FE30ALR
After minor rectification works and some chassis painting, the WMPTE Metro-Cammell bodied Fleetline was successfully submitted for Class V test.
SDA757S - Leyland Fleetline FE30AGR
Jim Munro's WMPTE East Lancs bodied Fleetline was completed this year. After a steam clean, chassis painting and new window rubbers, it received a Kevin Hill paint job. Back in blue and cream, it rightly attracted a lot of attention.
BOK1V - MCW Metrobus DR102/12
Jim Munro has continued to source original items for the first production WMPTE Metrobus. He has investigated the non-standard back end and, thankfully, reversion to the original style will not be as big a job as feared although some glorious rot was discovered in the process!
NHR156M - Daimler Fleetline CRG6
Bob Williamson has been titivating the appearance of the Daimler Fleetline demonstration chassis.
Malcolm Keeley (plus the Engineering team)
[photo of S12: Bob Deloyde, photos of S16 and Bristol L5G: Andrew Gardner]
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