NEWS ARCHIVE
October 2010 - July 2010 - April 2010 - January 2010
Museum News
MUSEUM AND WORKSHOP DEVELOPMENT
A 'proper' gantry has been acquired to help with the washing and painting of larger vehicles.
Vehicle News
SOCIETY VEHICLES
KDT 393 -1951 AEC Regent III d/d bus
A 'sort out' in the front destination box has now enabled the blind to be wound both ways! A set of new batteries have been fitted. (2x12 volt)
JDN 668 -1954 AEC Regent III d/d bus
The clutch stop mechanism has been cleaned and adjusted. The windscreen rubbers have been replaced.
CVL 212 -1947 Austin 10 GS1 Saloon
The Austin has had two new tyres and inner tubes fitted.
RC 2721 - 1935 BMMO SOS s/d bus
The brake cylinders have now all been professionally overhauled and new copper brake pipes made up. The off side interior panels have been stripped out so that the rotten framework can be tackled - this should start early in the new year - while the paint stripping exercise continues. The front wings are also being repaired.
NFW 36V - 1980 Bristol VRT/LL d/d bus
One step back with the 'make over' is the that the entrance floor frame needs some welding.
BFE 419 -1941 Leyland TD7 d/d bus
The rewire is well on the way to completion.
UVL 873M - 1973 Bristol RE s/d bus
All the panel work is now complete with the front fibreglass section receiving attention recently. Painting of the sides should start soon . All the seats are being recovered and the all the frames have also been repainted.
A decision whether to powder coat or re-chrome the frame tops (as they should be) will be made soon depending on cost.
PFE 542V - 1980 Bristol VRT/SL d/d bus
The engine doors have been repainted but the shade is not quite right even though we still had some paint left over from the original repaint!
FHN 833 -1940 Bristol L5G s/d bus
The majority of the fixed glass has been cut and fitted thanks to local firm ABC Windows, and the interior wood trim is being fitted on a temporary basis to see what pieces are missing (there are a few!) before the final varnishing.
The passenger door and surrounds are receiving more attention to achieve a decent fit. The luggage rack support brackets have now been received and are being 'finished off' as necessary .
MEMBERS' VEHICLES
VV 8934 - 1945 Daimler CWD6 d/d bus
Following its first MoT test since the late 1950's (!) Northampton 129 is now resident at the Museum and is being prepared for painting, having made an unexpected debut at the November Open Day.
952 JUB - 1964 AEC Regent V d/d bus
Work has recommenced on the rear of the body with a new back panel and some replacement wood in the o/s rear corner.
FFU 860 -1949 AEC Regal III s/d bus
The destination box has been rewired and the saloon heater is now working following work on the motor.
One of the engine side plates has been removed for repair to stop a water leak.
GRW 382 - 1947 Austin 5 ton truck
This has now left the museum.
Museum News
The Society is proud to have won the 'Inspiration Award' for Best Special Project in the Lincolnshire Renaissance Heritage Awards 2010. Full story here
MUSEUM AND WORKSHOP DEVELOPMENT
Recent work has seen new display boards on show in the museum while the 'old' workshop has been tidied up significantly and has a new water heater and perimeter lights installed.
Vehicle News
SOCIETY VEHICLES
VFF 631 -1953 Reliant 3-wheel Van
The Reliant is in the new workshop receiving attention to the electrics. The rear door glass and the two small side windows have been refitted with new rubber seals. New engine mounts have also been fitted.
HBE 554D - 1966 Hillman Super Minx Estate
The Minx has now returned to Whisby Road after storage off-site. It will receive a good clean and polish plus some work to the fuel system before going on display in the museum area.
RC 2721 -1935 BMMO SOS s/d bus
The paint stripping exercise is going very well and the interior has been tidied up recently. All five hydraulic brake cylinders have also been removed for inspection.
NFW 36V -1980 Bristol VRT/LL d/d bus
The cab area is responding well to some renovation and paint and looks good. Archive material from storage in TF 818 the Leyland Lion has now been moved into the bus.
BFE 419 -1941 Leyland TD7 d/d bus
No. 64 is now receiving attention to the engine and cab wiring and an oil change etc is due soon.
UVL 873M -1973 Bristol RE s/d bus T
The Co-operative workshops have been busy with new paint on the roof and new panels fitted on the offside. New panels are ready to be fitted to the nearside. New window rubbers are being sourced too.
At the museum the seat frames have been thoroughly cleaned and repainted. We hope to powder coat the unique seat frame tops when funds allow - maybe after the Open Day perhaps?
PFE 542V -1980 Bristol VRT/SL d/d bus
Renovation of the rear engine inspection doors is making good progress.
FHN 833 -1940 Bristol L5G s/d bus
Recent work has included new interior roof panels being fitted, the curved ones being upholstered in red and the ceiling being prepared for later attention with cream lionide after being treated. The bulkhead wood trim has been restored and replaced as necessary and now looks superb.
Templates have been made for new window glass, and a steam unit constructed to bend the interior wood trim as required. The emergency door has been trimmed and the steering wheel renovated. The bulkhead fuel filter has been repaired to stop a mild leak.
MEMBERS' VEHICLES
OLD 714 -1954 AEC 3RT d/d bus
The platform and rear offside rebuild is well on the way to completion with much new steel and wood framework.
952 JUB -1964 AEC Regent V d/d bus
The front offside chassis is now painted.
CVL 850D 1966 Bristol RE coach
The seats have been thoroughly steam cleaned and the interior aluminium fittings cleaned and polished. An air leak has been repaired too.
EVL 549E 1967 Leyland Panther s/d bus The front end has been stripped down and some new steel framing sourced after the windscreen was removed - carefully! New panels have been fitted to the nearside.
FDO 573 1953 AEC Regent d/d bus An air leak has been repaired on the gauge line and the charging valve serviced. A new flexible exhaust pipe has been fitted and welding work undertaken on the drop frame and front offside wing.
OUT AND ABOUT
JV 4936 -1936 Austin 18 York Saloon - The York attended the Rauceby War Weekend at the end of August.
Museum News
The big event recently was the formal opening of the new Peart Pilkington Building, on 12 June 2010.
Our Castle Rally took place on Sunday 6 June, and many Society vehicles attended RAF Waddington International Air Show on 3 and 4 July, either to form a display in one of the hangars, or to provide the usual 'park and ride' service from the airfield car parks.
Vehicle News
SOCIETY VEHICLES
MFE 454J - 1970 Morris 1000 Van
The Morris has passed its annual MOT.
RC 2721 -1935 BMMO SOS s/d bus
Work has continued with the paint stripping on the body - Assistance is still needed with a few wood framing defects to be sorted - any offers please?
UVL 873M -1973 Bristol RELL6L s/d bus
The Lincolnshire Cooperative workshop has now completed the majority of the mechanical work and have now turned their attention to the bodywork with the roof being prepared and etch primed.
JDN 668 -1954 AEC Regent III d/d bus
A set of new batteries has been fitted.
NFW 36V -1980 Bristol VRTLL d/d bus
Water hose clips have been renewed due to a severe water leak
CVL 212 - 1947 Austin 10 GS1 Saloon The Ten has also passed its MOT. A new top water hose has been fitted together with a new heater hose adaptor connector.
TL 48 - 1928 Austin Heavy 12 Open Road Tourer
Yet another Austin has passed its annual MOT.
TE 8318 - 1929 Chevrolet LQ Coach
The 'Chev' now has two new bonnet catches, these new catches were made to a very high standard by Peter L. TE 8318 also has a new MOT.
MEMBERS' VEHICLES
FDO 573 - 1953 AEC Regent III d/d bus
A new front flexible exhaust pipe has been replaced. A new air pipe to the air gauge has fitted and the charging valve serviced.
952 JUB -1964 AEC Regent V d/d bus
The offside front of the chassis has been cleaned and primed and all the upper deck seats are now reinstated after the frames have been painted.
OUT AND ABOUT
CVL 212 (Austin 10 GS1) driven by Bill took part in the 7th Lincolnshire Austin Ten Drivers Club event on 'Drive It Day' - 25 April 2010. This event started at Horncastle with the first part of the drive down country lanes in the Lincolnshire Wolds to a coffee stop at Stockwith Mill. The route then took vehicles on to Woodhall Spa via Somersby (Tennyson's birthplace). LVVS Member David T also took part with his A35 Austin.
FW 5698 - (Leyland Tiger TS7) attended the opening day of the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival on 22 June, and provided a free bus service linking the event with Louth Bus Station.
CVL 212 (Austin 10 - GS1 Saloon) and FUT 947C (Austin Champ) attended the Wickenby Wings & Wheels 2010 Event over the weekend of 19 / 20 June.
HPW 133 (Bristol K5G) attended the Hull - Bridlington East Coast run on 13 June.
Museum News
the eagerly awaited new building is now completed, and was open to visitors for the first time at our Easter Open Day.
Our Easter Open Day took place on Sunday 4 April.
A number of vehicles are still stored away from the Museum while building work progresses - we are most grateful to Beckside Buildings & Installations Ltd and Hodgson Elkington for their help in securing temporary premises.
Vehicle News
SOCIETY VEHICLES
MFE 454J - 1970 Morris 1000 Van - The van had some fuel problems. This has been cured by fitting a new electric fuel pump. The van is now ready for its MOT.
RC 2721 - 1935 BMMO SOS s/d bus - The fuel system has been serviced so that the bus can run as designed i.e. we can dispense with the temporary fuel line and funnel! This will be a great help when repositioning the bus in the new building so that more work can continue soon. The fuel filter and tap were 'discovered' behind the bulkhead paneling which was fitted for its use as a booking office with Trent Motor Traction at 'Skeggy'. Originally there was an interior access panel for these! A new 'substantial' flexible fuel pipe is now fitted.
Meanwhile the paint stripping is continuing on the lower panels. We still could do with a bit of help to sort out some wood rot near the cab though!
UVL 873M - 1973 Bristol RELL6L s/d bus - Work on this project with Lincolnshire Co-operative is progressing well with the front axle being overhauled and new road springs fitted, along with the new exhaust system.
The necessary welding work has been finished on several of the seat frames and members of the Society will be renovating these shortly. One disappointing step back is that the replacement seat cushions we had sourced are just a little bit too small for the frames so we may have to look at recovering the old set in due course, if funds can be raised.
The seat frame tops are very rusty and these too may have to be painted rather than being re-chromed due to cost. I had always thought these unusual shaped grab rails were the usual stainless steel! The seats have been removed for repair and for the front floor to be replaced.
New alternator belts, accelerator cable and shock absorbers have been bought by the Society to assist with the project and new brake cams are on the way too. New bushes for these are a problem and the next challenge! At the time of writing the rear axle is being overhauled too. We welcome assistance from members to help with the body preparation, lots of parts need cleaning and painting, so if you like Bristol RE's please make yourself known!
MEMBERS' VEHICLES
OLD 714 -1954 AEC 3RT d/d bus - Good progress has recently been made with the rear end reconstruction with more metal and woodwork being fitted
952 JUB - 1964 AEC Regent V d/d bus - The upper deck offside seat frames are now being renovated after the interior panels have been repaired and refitted, and the floor scrubbed. The lower cowl middle panel is now repaired and painted too.
CVL 850D - 1966 Bristol RELH6G s/d Coach - After a period away at Bus Works in Blackpool this vehicle has returned to the County. Further work is required to see it fully return to traffic.
Museum News
Our 'end of season' Open Day took place on a very wet Sunday 1 November 2009. A report and pictures can be seen here.
The Museum celebrated Lincolnshire Day (October 1st 2009) with a display of items from Lincolnshire RoadCar, including the incendiary bomb that landed on the Bracebridge Heath depot. (It has been de-activated!). A short item was aired on ITV Yorkshire news.
Construction work of the Museum extension has continued; the main steelwork frame being erected by the end of November. Other work has included the installation of a roller shutter door to the rear of the Main Exhibition Hall, thus allowing easier access for vehicles to/from the workshop area. A new stores area has also been constructed - the space of which was vacated by the SOS.
A number of vehicles are still stored away from the Museum while building work progresses - we are most grateful to Beckside Construction and Hodgson Elkington for their help in securing temporary premises.
Vehicle News
SOCIETY VEHICLES
TL 48 -1928 Austin H 12-4 Tourer - The 12's dynamo has been rebuilt and is now charging with thanks to a long standing member.
FHN 833 -1940 Bristol L5G s/d bus - Following the Open Day FHN has been repositioned in the Museum behind the new rear door so that work can continue whilst the development of the site is underway.
The front bulkhead lower interior panels are now fitted with the emergency door check strap in place. The stanchion poles recently powder coated in the original colour are now fitted with the re-chromed fixings, as are the heater surround, decency screen and 'used ticket' box.
Current projects are the renovation of the upper bulkhead (lots of trim needs to be made) and floor treads being screwed down.
BFE 419 -1941 Leyland TD7 d/d bus - The week before the Open Day further work saw the vacuum leak fixed and the bus 'tested'.
KDT 393 - 1951 AEC Regent III d/d bus and VL 1263 - 1929 Leyland Lion LT1 s/d bus - These were also 'tested' the same week.
NFW 36V - 1980 Bristol VRTLL d/d bus - A 'deregulation' destination blind has been received from the Manchester Museum of Transport with thanks. It is now in place and we are looking for a set of correct style of numbers to finish the job off.
The cab area is currently being tidied so eventually it can be utilised for children to sit in - we do receive lots of requests for this type of facility. It would be good to give the bus a 'quick' make over to smarten it up in maybe 'deregulation' livery before long. Any offers of help will be greatly received!
DFE 383 -1948 Guy Arab III d/d bus - The windscreen rubber surrounds have been replaced and a puncture repaired.
PFE 542V - 1980 Bristol VRTSL d/d bus - Following early withdrawal from duty at our Open Day, it was taken to Retford the following month for a replacement mitre box to be fitted. Thanks here to Wells Recovery at Lincoln for their continued help, together with Kettlewells of Retford who kindly gave us the use of their workshop.
RC 2721 -1935 BMMO SOS s/d bus - A start has been made to smarten up this long standing member of the collection which has been laid up in the workshop for many years now, in use as the members 'tearoom'.
This bus had a long career with Trent Motor Traction of Derby, latterly in use as a booking office for the company on Drummond Road Skegness before being sold to the Society in 1962. It then performed sterling work a tender vehicle for the LVVS until the 1970's. The big drawback was the lack of any front windows when riding in it but its performance and the sound effects were stunning!
321 started very easily in October and drove out of its resting place without fuss to be given a wash (badly needed!) After the open day the paint was stripped from the lower offside with some panels being removed around the cab area to repair a bent wing and some waist-rail wood rot. It's not too bad but we do require a person with a chisel and a saw to lend a hand with this bit please.
We will also have a sponsorship drive shortly to see if we can get some support for this unique bus. Wouldn't it be great if it could turn up at our Lincoln Castle rally in June as our 'Control Vehicle'!!
JDN 668 - 1954 AEC Regent III d/d bus - New battery connections are being fitted.
UVL 873M -1973 Bristol RELL6L s/d bus - This Alexander bodied ex Lincoln Corporation bus has now been taken under the wing of the Lincolnshire Co-operative Limited in a joint project to restore the bus in the guise of an overall advert vehicle for the Co-op's 150th celebrations in 2011.
Very generously they are providing the technical expertise for this restoration at then- Lincoln workshop, the Society supporting this with the necessary parts and materials. When completed it will be out and about on publicity events for the Co-op as well as Society Open Days, Waddington Air Day etc. Great News! - More to follow.
Society members have been heavily involved in all the above projects. The Board are very, very grateful for the expertise and enthusiasm shown by everyone. Thanks again!
MEMBERS' VEHICLES
BUT 7 - 1939 SS Jaguar 2.5 litre Saloon - The SS passed its MOT just before the November Open Day, so next year it will be seen flying along 'like a Swallow'.
This news appears first in the Society's quarterly newsletter, the Con Rod which is free to members. If you would like to get your news quicker, why not visit our membership page. Better still, membership allows you to join us with vehicle restoration and maintenance - come and make the news as well as reading it!