It is six years to the day (almost) since the fbbs moved from the Isle of Wight to the slightly larger island nearby. It was only after settling there that your noble blogger began to awaken his interest in model railways. So, whilst resident, he never visited the model shop in Sandown. That error now needed to be rectified.
This was easy as the old crusties were staying in the Lyndhurst Hotel, Sandown just a pebbles thrown from the aforementioned shop near Sandown Pier. fbb drove past it twice, looking for something that said "model shop" - only it didn't!
The shop is a typical small town emporium, a veritable Aladdin's cave of "stuff" on a ground floor and a much bigger lower level - hence Upstairs Downstairs. (Neat name, eh?). There was certainly plenty there, including a very good selection of kits and bits rather than large numbers of ludicrously expensive locomotives.
In the window was a small display of three wagons appropriately branded for Isle of Wight railway companies; they were commissioned specially by the shop.
Two "locomotive" models were appealing. One was a road/rail bus from Bachmann USA, so-called because it has wheels with tyres and wheels with flanges to run on rails. This was a bit of a craze in the 1920s and 1930s, but never really "caught on".
It runs on normal OO gauge track; a possibility for slack days at Peterville Quarry Railway?
Also seen by fbb in the flesh for the first time was Bachmann's "Wickham Trolley".
Used on the "big" railway for getting people to maintenance jobs ...
... they were powered by a small diesel engine and could pull a small truck full of tools or repair materials. The model's motor hides under the load of ballast in the attached wagon.
So what did fbb buy? Two packs of fencing to replace lengths of same crushed by Jacko the cat as he sunned himself atop the quarry face.
But next time ...
Beguiling But Battered Bus
On Wednesday morning, fbb popped into the Isle of Wight Bus Museum and was immediately greeted by a custodian with the momentous words, "Ah, yes; you are the fat bus bloke". Fame at last!
Preceding the celebrity by a few days was this bus.
It is, as any bus enthusiast worth his salt knows, a Dodson bodied Daimler. It is not in the best of condition but it does date back to 1927**!
It was privately owned and appeared on display at the old Bus Museum in Newport. The Museum Trustees had the opportunity to purchase the vehicle for much fine gold and it has now joined the collection as a fully-owned exhibit.
One of the folk on duty last Wednesday was Brian.
In full he is Brian Dicks and he, with chum Andrew Gardner, has written a little booklet about the history of the bus and the Dodson family whose bodywork it bears. Brian's other book, Civility, is not a guide to etiquette between bus enthusiasts (although one is badly needed), but is about another museum restoration project and should feature in tomorrow's blog.
Like all good preservation stories, the bus was found overgrown and decaying in an orchard on the Island. It had curtains, a kitchen, a skylight and a chimney; having at some stage been used as living accommodation!
For the rest of the story you will need to buy this excellent slim volume, available from the Museum at £4.50. Send a cheque and the wonderful folk there will actually send you a copy by post. Proceeds will all go to the massive cost of the rebuild.
A professional coach builder is already at work on the body (what's left of it) and a clever mechanic is starting to consider putting an engine and the chassis back together. Apparently the "correct" engine type has been located and purchased and is now nearly in working order; likewise a rear axle unit to replace the "incorrect" one currently holding the bits of the body up.
It is a big and a long job; current estimates vary from five to ten years! But the intention is to return this ancient and historic rare vehicle to running condition.
** 1927 : it is known that Daimler made buses/vans for use in Europe during the First World War. Many of these returned to Daimler for "recycling", so this old girl may be older than its official buy-by date might suggest.
Positive Publicity Plaudits
As the fbb's were greeted by a member of staff at the Lyndhurst Hotel, they noted the usual selection of leaflets for the Island's numerous places of interest, including, of course, the Bus Museum.
"But lookee here," quoth an excited Mrs fbb as she pointed to a particular pile of promotional pamphlets ...
... namely the go ahead GoAhead Southern Vectis summer timetable book. And one of the other guests in the gaff was not only clutching one, but using it to plan her day's excursions.
More from this timetable in a future blog.
Of course such a distribution scheme cannot be done easily with leaflets - yet another good reason why a timetable book, showing the whole network, is the best bus publicity that can be provided. The cover of this particular edition emphasises the challenge of the age.
As you read this, the fbbs will be winging (motoring, actually) their way back to Seaton; with a coffee morning for the Bible Society to "do" on Friday and Monday's Bible study to prepare (such are the self-inflicted joys of retirement!!). What comes next blog-wise will depend on the exigencies of the situation AND how weary the old crocks are this evening. But probably ...
Next Vectis Varieties blog : Friday 7th June
Yes but they don't include the Community bus service at Freshwater, Yarmouth in it - though they did some years ago.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know why?
From what I remember the Community bus service is very well publicised by leaflet and at bus stop throughout the area served. Not much use telling the good folk of East Wight about a West only Wight local amenity? Or perhaps the two operators don't talk to each other.
ReplyDelete