THE
SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM
Alexander
Leyland Tiger TS8 ‘Special’ WG 8790 (P573) Restoration
October 2011
We still have not found a volunteer
to take over as Project Manager to continue the restoration of Alexander P573,
the last surviving Leyland Tiger TS8 Special, since my decision to step down
from this role. Consequently all work on it has ground to a halt.
Thanks to a small number of
regular donors we have money in the kitty but unfortunately this will not go
far without a serious injection of funds. This and some other issues will need
to be addressed before we can proceed further.
We are still looking for someone
to rise to the challenge - the reward at the end of the day being the
satisfaction of ensuring that the only surviving TS8 Special is fully restored.
Come on, chaps - the railway people managed to create a whole new Al Peppercorn
locomotive from scratch and this is kids' stuff in comparison!
Dec 2009
Due to more pressing
commitments elsewhere, the Project Manager of the P573 restoration project has
decided to stand down. Consequently, a new project manager is being sought from
the ranks of the members. If you think you could undertake such a role, and are
interested in further details, please contact the Chairman, David Heathcote, at
the museum (01383 623380)
Dec 2008
With further funds now
available, work on this bus has recommenced. The overhauled brake servo and
master cylinder were refitted before a new floor was installed. Since then a
start has been made on the back end frame using the original domes as templates
to piece in the missing parts.
July 2007
Phase one of the
restoration of the Museum's 1939 Leyland TS8 special has now been completed.
Basically this
means that the body framing and internal stress panels are in place along with the
chassis extensions, riser panels, cab frame and front step unit. The bulk of
the mechanics have also been attended to except for the brakes and fuel lines.
Tarn Loggie has produced a schedule comprising the next phase
which entails repanelling the roof and sides
externally, making rear wheel arches, laying a new floor, making new cab door,
entrance door, emergency door and boot doors, and installing electrical cabling
for interior lights and bells.
On the mechanical
side progress on the brakes has been held up by attempting to source new spring
steel strip for the brake bands to replace the old ones which had rusted away
but we have now found a supplier of this material, and a quantity had arrived
just as we were going to press. Edward George has very kindly completed
overhaul of the brake servo and master cylinder; this means that we can now
more or less complete the mechanicals, and the bus will be able to move under
its own power.
However,
now for the sting in the tail. To complete this next phase is going to cost
something of the order of £12,500, so the begging bowl is out in 
circulation once
again. The cash raised so far has transformed P573 from a rusting hulk to the
outline of something beginning to resemble a Leyland TS8 special. Sincere
thanks must go to all donors large and small who have contributed to bringing
P573 to its current state, and also those who have volunteered their services
in hard graft - but we need more donations. We've got just over £3,800 in the
kitty at the moment; and if we can get the bank balance up by say another
£2,500 we'll have half the above figure and at that point we can at least make
a start on the next phase. So it's up to you!
October 2006
The sump has been cleaned out and a new gasket and
radiator fitted. Paul Adams kindly donated a filler cap off an Albion. The
gearbox has been removed for overhaul.
August 2005
When I first saw this vehicle several
years ago it was tucked away in the far corner of shed four and looking very
sorry for itself. Part of the body framing had collapsed and the rear roof dome
was resting on the floor. This vehicle is now in the annex having been worked
on by the Bus Doctors. The chassis had been stripped down, refurbished,
re-assembled and painted with silver chassis paint some time ago. New vertical
framing has been made up and fitted along with new body stress panels.
P Weswater
April 2005
With
the chassis returned bright silver from Trailer Refurb
(left), it was possible for construction of the body to start.
During February, the body outriggers were all pre-assembled along with
pillars and roof hoops.
The chassis / boot extension was refitted (right) to
enable the last pillars to be installed and final alignment is currently in
progress
R Williams & T Loggie
January
2005
Some progress has been made on
the restoration over the last few months, which is worthy of report.
First, shortly
after the Open Weekend, Tarn Loggie and his team
dismantled the remains of the body and all reusable parts such as front and
rear domes and other body fittings have been carefully labelled
and stored. The frame being rotten was largely discarded but enough was
retained as templates and
I understand from Tarn that a
complete new frame has now been fabricated and is ready for assembly.
Attention then
turned to the bare chassis. This is in surprisingly good condition, with little
rust except in the rear subframe which will require
some welding, and it is obvious that the body remains have protected it from
wind and weather as it stood outside for all those years. All components except
the starter motor were present, and a team of volunteers set-to by first
removing gearbox, wheels, brake servo, fuel tank (still full of diesel!),
battery boxes, etc. and radiator which was disassembled. The engine's injectors
were removed and oil was poured down the bores to free any moving parts that
might have seized, and left standing for a couple of weeks. Then the engine was
carefully turned over by hand, the injectors replaced, a starter motor donated
and fitted, fuel and batteries connected, and as all hands stood by with bated
breath, she fired up almost instantaneously and settled down to a smooth tick
over, enabling the decision to be made there and then to use the engine in the
restoration.
The chassis is now ready for
blasting and painting by Trailer Refurb early in the New Year after which Tarn plans to start
to erect the new body frame.
Most of the scrap tyres have been removed from the wheels which are now ready
for cleaning also. The engine has been removed from the chassis, given a thorough
external wash, and the inevitable silt in the water galleries flushed out with
the pressure wash. The fuel pump and injectors have also been removed ready for
recalibration.
At time of writing
the engine awaits 'prettying-up' with paint and polish, the hydraulic brake
cylinders are being stripped down and new rubber seals are on order for these
and the master cylinder. We will have to source another radiator as the
existing one is damaged and badly corroded but luckily the top tank with its
unusual angled filler cap has survived intact. We have however secured a pair
of luggage racks from an Alexander PS1 found derelict near Taunton but the
biggest problem at the moment remains the SEATS.
There are at least
two possibilities for these. If anyone knows the whereabouts of either (a) an
ex-Guernsey Albion Victor or (b) an ex-Lancaster City Transport Alexander
Y-type (!) Leopard - these both have seat frames of the correct pattern and,
most importantly, width - please let me know as soon as possible.
It's hoped to have
a rolling chassis at least by the Anniversary Weekend bash on 14/15 May next,
time and volunteers permitting. That the progress to date could not have been
achieved without the efforts of participants needs to be recorded -1 would like
to thank all those involved including Eddie Taylor, Jim Methven,
Ian Souter, Mike Chapman, Arthur Davis, David Heathcote,
Daniel Shears (for the luggage racks!), Bill McAlpine,
Roland Williams for his continuing advice and any others I have omitted to
mention. Meanwhile, keep those standing orders and big fat cheques rolling in - the success of this venture depends on
YOUR financial support!
Jasper Pettie
P573 Project
Manager
October 2004
The decision was taken just before
the Open Weekend to extract P573 from its hidey-hole at the back of shed 100
and put it on display in all its non-glory for all to see. I'm happy to report
that as a result of this and some fund-raising activity over the Open Weekend
which plugged the planned restoration project, we raised over £1300 which
brings the total funds raised so far to over £5300. This is a magnificent
achievement and thanks must go to all concerned. Having reached this level some
plans can now be laid. The body of course had all but collapsed and Phase I of
restoration comprises a complete new frame to be built using what's left of the
original as patterns.
We have an expert, a qualified
coachbuilder who is no stranger to this type of work, and he has made a
detailed inspection and assessment of the remains. In order to do this he has
dismantled what's left of the body down to the bare chassis
The bad news is that to fabricate a complete new frame comprising pillars, roof sticks, main bearers, front bulkhead, wheel arches, cab framing and interior stress panels is going to cost a total of £8700.
However,
there's also good news. All the mechanical components are present, and can be
refurbished by volunteers with the minimum of replacement and therefore cost.
The Museum fortunately has a good stock of pre-war Leyland parts which can be
used to replace any worn or defective items. The engine can be rebuilt if
necessary by volunteer labour. The chassis has survived in reasonable condition, having only suffered
surface rust, and once shot blasted and spray-painted will be as good as new.
So,
that's the current situation. Despite the funding shortfall, we are going to
make a start. We feel that if we do this, and it's seen that progress is being
made, this will result in further financial pledges materialising. We're looking for volunteers to
work on the chassis (we already have several offers of help). No skills are
necessary - a willingness to work under supervision is all that's required -
please let me know if you can assist. Better still, if you've some (more) spare
cash in your back pocket which could help reduce the shortfall, don't hesitate
to hand it over - the sooner we raise the funds the sooner P573 returns to the
road!
Jasper Pettie
P573 Project Manager