07/02/07

After acquiring the Bedford blind on E-bay, the busmen were relieved to find that the engine ran well and essential parts were present. A sticking front wheel and no MOT meant that driving it from Spalding, Lincolnshire to its temporary home in Yorkshire was not possible without repairs. With the help of a friend, Mark Harrison, and his flat-bed truck, the bus arrived in Yorkshire late one Sunday evening in August 2005. Illegal. Probably.

Repairs and renovations

After several weekends spent removing seats, overhead storage, bird crap, and rubbish, the busmen assessed what work was needed to get the bus through its MOT. With a professional quote of £2000 for likely repairs, they set out to apply some personal elbow grease with help from friends:

• Two new 12 volt batteries
• Re-treading the bus’s 16 tyres (thanks to Ian Brown)
• Installation of friendly seating area with card table, beanbags and disco ball
• Steam cleaning courtesy of the young students at Woodleigh School
• Oil change and tune-up
• New brakes by Mr. Richard Welch, father of a Woodleigh pupil (a serious matter to the great reassurance of Busmen)

Will it pass its MOT…?