MAY OPERATING DAZE
The good attendances and weather continued with the May bank holidays. While the Sunday and Monday at the beginning of the month seemed quiet compared to Easter, they actually broke all records for that particular weekend. The 'boat people' from Droitwich were again with us and, as usual, provided a magnificent display. 113 passengers presented themselves for the Monday Henley departure. Even a D9 couldn't take away that lot. Fortunately a duplicate was already lined up, thanks to the lads concerned. In addition to the normal services, the owners of Fleetlines 116 and 3796 kindly provided rides.
The later Sunday in May saw another marketing idea tested with senior citizens having their admission tickets upgraded to all-day rides. The idea was to test whether this would generate advance publicity and thus additional visitors. Sadly no newspapers took up the press release highlighting the concession, unless you know better, seemingly confirming the perception of bias against older people. We also had with us the winners of the 'Solihull News' competition, picked up in Solihull town centre, and a party from Shirley Baptist Church, collected and returned by the same buses under a cunning plan devised by Steve Richards.
The next day was Two Museums Day with our buses trekking half hourly to and from Aston Manor Transport Museum. Colleagues from Stagecoach returned the Cheltenham District Bristol RELL, complete with Class 6 test, and we were able to add this to the mix. Your writer was its conductor, a rare off-site excursion! It was good to see and hear the buses coming in the opposite direction, such as 2976's exhaust as Keith Lewis handled the incline of Salisbury Road, Moseley, followed by Midland Rider's now rare Leyland Lynx, kindly organised by Ray Ward. The Guy looked very much at home - as it should, 2976 would have climbed Salisbury Road on service 1/1A for many years as one of Acocks Green's finest. The RE, of course, is also no slouch in the exhaust noise department, particularly enjoyed in the Queensway tunnel. At this point two boy racers decided to demonstrate their tinny exhausts and worked very hard to compete with the RE. The combined decibels must have been interesting.
Working other departures were D9 5399, West Bromwich Daimler CVG6-30 248, Leyland-engined Fleetline 6311, and S16 5545. Back at Wythall, the 1685 Group kindly provided 1107 and 1685, as did the owners of ex-Chase Leyland National AYR339T, to give contrasting riding opportunities. The car park shuttle offered a dizzying variety of Fleetlines, etc.
Also back with us on Monday was the Model Bus Federation, providing a delightful extra attraction. They were last at Wythall in 2006 - now we have a fuller grasp of our revised site, we were pleased to accept their request to return. Visitor numbers and carryings on Two Museums Day were the best apart from 2006 when the world descended on us before we closed for rebuilding. Despite the numbers, all departments reported no problems (apart from a water shortage beyond our control) so well done everybody and thanks.
Malcolm Keeley
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
