Monday, 14 August 2023

Big Bus Show

A successful Big Bus Show was held at Stoneham Barns Park near Stowmarket in Suffolk yesterday held in conjunction with the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group. Whilst we were unable to attend Dan High did! He sent some fifty photos for us to choose from which was a difficult task.



His first shows Smith's Coaches' JKV 412V, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT which was new in December 1979 to Smith of Alcester. The coach was voted Showstopper of the event.



Next up are three almost brand new deckers from 'local' independents in the form of Mulleys' two Switch Metrodekkers YJ23 EKO and YJ23 EKN plus Sanders Coaches' Volvo B8L/ MCV EvoSeti 128 PC23 SAN. The Volvo secured first prize in Company Double Decker category.



Also attending was one of the thirty Volvo BZL zero-emission battery electrics from Stagecoach East at Cambridge. Total access was allowed to MCV bodied 86018 BV23 NSO.



An interesting participant was Dan's Coach Travels' T125 OAH. The Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE was new to Great Yarmouth's Ambassador Travel as their 522 in March 1999 for use on Norwich Park and Ride duties. I understand from David Pomroy that sister vehicle T127 OAH was also present from Fareline of Wingfield.



Hulleys of Baslow sent along their Optare Solo M995 WK11 APY which was new to Western Greyhound of Summercourt as their 987 in April 2011



Among the First Eastern Counties contingent was Lowestoft's ADL Enviro200 44451 YX09 HKK. It was the fifth and last to be received by First Lowestoft replacing their older saloons. The bus secured the runners up award for Best Company Single Decker. It is pictured with First Essex Shuttle ADL Enviro200MMC 67161 YY66 OZW.



Other First Eastern Counties vehicles present included Ipswich's Wright StreetDeck 35919 BN72TVO and Eastern Counties heritage liveried Volvo B7RLE VW547 BF12 KWH plus Norwich's ADL Enviro400 MMC 34421 SN17 MTO. Photobombing the picture was privately preserved ex First Dennis Dart 42905 WX05 RVN.



The final photo shows former Flying Banana Freight Rover Minibus D70 TLV attending its first show. It is owned by the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group which also provided former Great Yarmouth AEC Swift WEX85M, Blue Bus liveried Scania S574 TPW plus Leyland National YYE284T in Eastern Counties colours.

My thanks to Dan High for all the photos and to the organisers of the Big Bus Show at Stonham Barns. For those missing the Show, Graham Sleath has compiled an excellent fifteen minute video of the event on YouTube

Roy

1 comment:

  1. Great set of photos from a most enjoyable day. Thanks for mentioning my video. Hope you like it as it does feature some of the other award winners including best preserved double decker Lowestoft Corporation PBJ 2F Leyland Titan.

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