THE SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM - BWG 39
DETAILS
Chassis: Bedford OB, built 1948, No 73977.
Body: Coach, 25 seats by Scottish Motor Traction Co,
Edinburgh.
Engine: Bedford 6 cyl petrol, 28HP.
First Licensed: May 1948.
(Click photos for
larger image)
Workshop (Roland Williams)
BACKGROUND HISTORY
Bedford commenced
building the ‘OB’ chassis in 1939 and it became popular with many coachbuilders,
notably Duple of Hendon, who produced bus and coach bodies for both the
domestic market and for export. In 1941.the Bedford OB chassis was selected as
the basis for a lightweight wartime single-decker, designated OWB, with bodies
built to a standard specification with rather angular features and wooden
slatted seats, by Duple, Roe, SMT, and Mulliner. Shortly after the end of
hostilities. SMT started to re-body OWB’s under Duple licence, to the Duple
Vista coach design. New OB chassis were also purchased by SMT direct from
Bedford, and fitted with the Vista coach body for sale mainly to Scottish
operators.
HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE
Between 1946 and 1949, W Alexander
& Sons purchased a total of 42 OB’s. Of these, there was 1 with a Duple
body, 30 with SMT bodies and one purchased second-hand with a Milliner body.
W218 was one of 15 SMT OB’s with 25 seat bodywork purchased by Alexanders in 1948.
It operated in ‘Bluebird’ livery from their Callander depot. On the split-up of
the Alexander empire in 1961 it was
transferred to W Alexander & Sons (Midland) Ltd who operated it until August 1962, when it was
withdrawn from service and sold to William Low of Tomintoul, who operated it as
a PSV until 1969. After a succession of private owners, it was eventually
purchased for preservation in 1987.
Tomintoul 1966 (Iain
MacGregor)
RESTORATION DETAILS
After a period in storage at
Blairgowrie and latterly Spittalfield, W218 arrived at the Museum in January
1990, when work commenced on its restoration. Though basically complete with
the exception of most of its seats, its
wooden frame has suffered over the years from damp penetration, and
considerable reframing will be required. A sister vehicle, W231, has been
acquired and dismantled to provide both body and mechanical parts to aid the
restoration process. It is intended that W218 will be restored to PSV standard
in its original ‘Bluebird’ livery.