The AGM of the Aycliffe and District Bus Preservation Society, Aycliffe’s only accredited museum was held on Saturday 21st February. attended by 30 members and friends in another significant year in its 34 years existence. It became a CIO ( Charitable Incorporated Organisation ) on the 1st September 2014 after 32 years as an ordinary registered charity and saw the re-appearance of its 1958 LS United Coach following an engine failure whilst returning from Morecambe in May 2014.
The engine rebuild, together with work on the gearbox, lasted 8 months. Sourcing 60 year old parts is becoming a problem these days in spite of the Society’s connections. Society members have carried out this work in its workshop and members and friends at the AGM saw first hand the re-emergence of this unique local coach. Norman Taylor, chief mechanic pronounced it now to be ‘sound as a bell’.
Now that the coach is back in service the workshop will see the return of the 1940 United tow truck which had to be mothballed whilst the coach was under repair. The tow truck is yet another unique local vehicle and is an example of United’s economical solution to the issues of heavy recovery. Delivered to United in 1940 as a double decker, during Battle of Britain year, the chassis was stripped of its bus body in the 1950’s and had a 1925 crane fitted from an even older tow truck. We now hope to see the vehicle back in service in 2016.
The 2015 running season will commence in April and a varied programme of events will be attended.
Requests for buses to attend local events should be made to Ian Wiggett on 01325 317657 in the first instance. See also www.aycliffebus.org
