BARTON BOTHIES
A brief item in 'Omnibus' no.145 (April 2002) asked if anyone could identify three ex-Barton coaches in a field between Ratcliffe-on-Soar and Kingston-on-Soar. There was no response at the time. The collection of vehicles has changed in recent times; there is still at least one ex-Barton coach, plus a double-decker. A reader has recently asked for further information about these vehicles. Can anyone help?
EDITORIAL
Many thanks to Malcolm Keeley and all of the Engineering team for their annual review of restoration work, and to John Carroll, Bob Deloyde, Keith Turner, R.J.Nutt, Brian Dicks, Paul Gray, Alan King, Allen Gibson and Dave Taylor for their contributions to this edition. Thanks also to Simon Gill for logistic support.
Malcolm Keeley has, correctly it seems, taken the Editor to task for describing Walsall 56 as a Daimler Fleetline. Although its underframe is predominantly the same as a Fleetline, the rear subframe that carries the engine differs, and officially its designation is just CRC6-36.
Curiously, the contemporary 36ft chassis for single-deck bodies also had a different rear subframe, but since it retained a transverse Gardner engine, it remained a Fleetline.
Above Right:- Walsall 116 is a Fleetline. [photo: Andrew Gardner] Above Left:- But Walsall 56 isn't. Nor is it a double deck Roadliner or a secret Bristol VRL! [photo: Dave Taylor]
THANKS
Our thanks are extended to Mr.Tony Reekie at Telford for his kind donation of a Midland Red 'Day Trip' display board and a semi-automatic gearbox suitable for our Leyland Leopard LS18. Kevin Hill and Alex Potts, in the Cargo, collected both items on Sunday 30 January 2005.
Paul Gray
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
