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Rushden & Chelveston Trip - September 7th 2003
On Sunday 7th September a number of group members went on a trip to visit the Rushden Station Museum and the Chelveston Preservation Group, both in Northamptonshire. This trip built on the success of the Fawley trip earlier in the year, and a good time was had by all. Transport was provided by Mick Rolley in his Lincolnshire Bristol FS5G OVL 473, which was admired at both venues, and which was in keeping with the era at the Rushden Station Museum. Rushden Station own a number of vehicles, on the bus front it owns 651 EBD, an early United Counties Lodekka and ORP 273F, an ECW Coach bodied Bristol RE. Both of these vehicles are off the road for major repair. Running vehicles include BNH 250C, an ex-Northampton Corporation Daimler and an ex-Devon General Bristol LH / Plaxton coach, purchased direct from Firstbus several years ago. On the commercial side, a restored 1979 ex-Northants Fire Department Bedford TK fire tender and a Scammell 'Mechanical Horse' added some interest. The station, originally on the branch to Higham Ferrers, has been occupied by the group since the early 1970's, and has a small museum filled with artefacts from the railway scene in Northants. Photographs of the line in it's heyday make for an interesting comparison with what is in existence today. The group's ultimate aim is to reinstate the branch all the way from Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers, but several roads and a number of other obstacles need to be crossed first. The group also operate a 'real ale' bar in the old buffet of the station which is open every day and is operated as a seperate business using the group's premises. The station and the bar are still lit by gas lamps, a very rare reminder of days gone by. The group's main income is from the Rushden Historic Transport Cavalcade, which is held every year over the Mayday Bank Holiday. This is always a successful event with a great focus on all types of transport, as well as real ale! More information about the RHTS is available at their website at www.rhts.co.uk. Later in the day, we moved on to visit the Chelveston Bus Preservation Group, who are based a couple of miles outside Rushden, and who keep a number of superbly preserved United Counties buses, as well as vehicles from a number of other operators. Chelveston was actually the subject of 3CBCVM's first ever trip out, which occurred on an early summer evening back in 2000. The group members are very friendly, and their collection of vehicles spans a wide variety of types and ages, including their rare United Counties 1937 Bristol JO5G, VV 5696, two Bristol SL4K's and a Bristol K type, among many others. A trip round the immediate vicinity on the Bristol JO5G was the end of an interesting tour, enjoyed by all. Overall, the visit to these two established preservation groups was an extremely interesting and enjoyable day out, and should give us all something to think about. The study of the 'modus operandi' of these two groups, which have much in common with our own is something that we will be able to learn and benefit from. On behalf of the members I must thank Mick Rolley for allowing the use of his bus for transport, and to Malcolm and Matt for arranging the tour. Nick Doolan
And from Mike Garton comes this snippet of information on Chelveston : A lot of action occurred to the crews of Chelveston, with many bravery awards, 154 aircraft lost and 780 aircrew killed. One of their aircraft was the last bomber to fall to the Luftwaffe in the war when it was hit by the wreckage of a Me262 over Dresden |
This ex-Northampton Corporation 1965 Daimler CVG6 was one of the last to operate with Northampton Corporation, being withdrawn finally in 1982. It is now owned by the RHTS, and is seen at their compound at Rushden in September 2003.
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Derek Ramsbottom Remembers
A column devoted to memories of working with commercial vehicles in the bygone days of motoring... Having worked with commercial vehicles for over fifty years, I’ve seen many different situations, and encountered many things, both usual and unusual! Hopefully through this column I can share a few interesting events with you, as well as some technical theory and tips I have picked up over my years with commercial vehicles of all types. Back in the early 1960’s I was living in South London, and driving for Margo’s Coaches of Streatham. They had a varied fleet, which included a pair of old Daimler COG5 double deckers, and a number of different coaches including several halfcab Dennis Lancets. One day during the Summer of 1962 I got a job on a seaside run to Margate along with a new driver who didn’t know the area that well. The pickups were around Bexleyheath, Thornton Heath and Streatham, and then straight down to the coast. I explained the route to the other driver, and then we headed off with two of the Lancets. The directions included the instruction ‘straight over’ - little did I know the how the other driver would interpret this statement! Along the route we become separated from each other, with the other driver travelling about half a mile in front of me. As the driver didn’t know the area, in a moment of uncertainty, and remembering the instruction ‘straight over’ - he did just that! Approaching a roundabout, rather than going round, he went straight over the middle! As I caught up with him I couldn’t believe my eyes! The middle of the roundabout was raised, and the raised area in the middle had literally pulled the back out of the coach. In those days the coaches had a big boot in the rear for all of the luggage - this had been ripped out, including all of the panelling on the rear up to the back window and had been left perched on the centre of the roundabout, while the coach had carried on across to the other side. When the driver was asked what happened, he simply said "...straight over...". The repair cost in the region of £3500, a considerable sum in those days, and needless to say the driver was severely reprimanded! Interesting to see how a seemingly clear instruction could be so wrongly misinterpreted! Derek Ramsbottom |
JXK 542, a halfcab Dennis Lancet coach from the fleet of Margo’s, Streatham as driven by Derek Ramsbottom during the early 1960’s. A similar vehicle was involved in the roundabout incident recalled by Derek.
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Birch Bros - On The Move
Now available, an 80 page book detailing the routes and vehicles of Birch Brothers Coaches between 1832 and 1969 - finally a comprehensive history of this well known Rushden based operator. It is packed with 120 photographs, old timetables, advertising material as well as a comprehensive text relating to the company, its history and operations. It was due for release in September 2003, produced by the Rotary Club of Rushden. A number of members were able to purchase this book on the 3CBCVM trip to Rushden and Chelveston on September 7th, and from my brief flick through the book, it looks like a good read for anyone interested in Birch's, or coaching in the local area. Price is £6.95 plus £2 p&p if required.
Model Roads & Tramways |