WALSALL WORTHIES
XDH516G Daimler Fleetline / Northern Counties
Walsall 116 (latterly West Midlands PTE 116L) (Dave Taylor)
Anyone who has seen 116 over the last few years will have noticed the partial repaints that have occurred every spring, leaving various shades of blue just like a genuine Walsall bus. In 2006 we went so far as to paint over the coats of arms and turn the bus into WMPTE 116L for the WMPTE 20 event. All this has been leading to the eventual full repaint which is planned for this year. Work has begun on stripping the remaining scruffy panels and, at the same time, a plan has been hatched to straighten the crooked front fibreglass dash panel under the windows. Hopefully summer time will see Kevin employed on the final touches ready for a trip to Showbus in September.
In addition to the bodywork, a great deal of mechanical work has been carried out over the autumn/winter by Mark, including cylinder head removal & skimming, plus the fitting of a complete set of new gaskets and filters. Over the last couple of years the bus has suffered from intermittent problems with the cooling system causing water to be expelled from the radiator overflow after running for a while. It was thought that the head gaskets might be the cause but after refitting everything the problem still remains. Next on the agenda is the water pump. As usual, Dave Parry has given valuable assistance when called upon and I'm grateful to both Mark and Dave for their efforts. Finally, Mark has also refurbished one of the upper deck saloon heater radiators that had been bypassed for many years.
PDH808 Leyland Royal Tiger / Park Royal
Walsall 808 (BaMMOT)
During late summer and autumn, work was begun on preparing 808 for a repaint which was sponsored at the end of 2006. The coach seats fitted by the previous owners were removed and some more appropriate bus seats from the 1685 Group's Lytham Leyland PD2 were fitted, the frames and feet being cleaned and repainted by Geoff Hodkinson. Kevin and Paul prepped and filled the bodywork as appropriate and the paint job was completed by Kevin in December. The unusually late paint job was completed in the warmer climate of the new Power Hall.
In January thoughts turned to legal lettering and other final finishing touches. I had been searching for several years for a source of transfers for the Coats of Arms, with no joy, but, step forward Stan Letts who turned his considerable skills into producing four sets using his tried and tested laser printed, hand painted, varnish fix, water slide method. Yours truly and Kevin were initiated into the art of applying these.
For the other lettering we turned to a new local signwriting contact, Steve Evans, a solid 'Walsall bloke', recommended by Pete Murphy. Steve has a couple of restored trucks and also does a lot of paint work on canal barges. Originally we were considering vinyl for this work but Steve did a fabulous job, even re-instating the red and white striped used ticket box.
But does anyone know the precise position of the fleetnumber on the rear end?
XDH56G Daimler CRC6-36 / Northern Counties
Walsall 56 (Dave Taylor)
Giant Daimler 56 has had little work done on it over the autumn and winter; however the presence of a sign-writer and a set of coats of arms could not be missed so the opportunity was taken to complete the lettering at the same time as 808. Because of its light blue livery, the majority of the lettering is actually in very dark (BCT) blue, often recorded as black. Only the fleet numbers were standard cream with black edges. Steve duly applied the words with Kevin applying the coats of arms on the sides at the end of January. All that remains is the plaque with the coats of arms on the radiator. All being well, 56 may see some attention to the mass of fossilised pipework and springs under the chassis during 2008.
Dave Taylor
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
