THE SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM - AUX 296

The unique Sentinel HSG/Cowieson of 1939, AUX 296, which formerly formed part of the Purvis brothers' collection arrived at the museum in summer 2000. The bus has been in the workshop since shortly after it arrived and work is well under way on what will obviously be a very comprehensive restoration. So far, the old bodywork has been stripped away and the fitting of new timber framing looks well advanced. Readers may remember that the partner to this vehicle, albeit built by Gilford, ran for Highland Transport.

Above, a photo of the bus when new, that appeared in the monthly magazine Bus & Coach Preservation	Above, 2000 Open Weekend: Allan McCormick

The following information was supplied by B. Mel. Gough in August 2004.

This vehicle was bought by G Cooper & Son Oakengates, Shropshire, now part of Telford. The vehicle was a demonstrator from 1939 to 1942. When it came to Coopers it had a Hercules petrol engine fitted and was put in fleet colours of blue and cream. My father drove this bus regularly on stage service and on private Contract to the Ministry of Defence on troop movement in early 1940s. As a boy I use to go with dad when on holiday from school.

Coopers started in the 1920s with a mixed fleet of vehicles such as Willys Overland / GMC / Dodge / Roe / Chevrolet / Vulcan / Dennis Lancet / Gilford /  Bedford  WTB / Sentinel. In 1948 they bought a fleet of Crossley SD42/7 single deck coaches with bodies by Junction / Metalcraft and bus bodies by Burlingham.  When these vehicles arrived they were in new colours of orange/brown. Some of the older vehicles were repainted in the new colours. The sentinel was painted and looked good in orange/brown.

In 1956 he started to change the older vehicles for Bedford SBs / Val 14s / Vam5s / Vam70s / YRQs . The old girl still worked on local service till about 1960 when she was put to rest in the back of the garage and used as a store for seats. It stayed there till 1976 when Coopers sold to Midland Red [BMMO]. It was  pulled out of the garage and left out in the back yard for a short while until it was taken to Hexhem  for preservation.

That was the last time I saw the bus until I came to the museum on the 1st August 2004 and saw it in the body shop looking better. The guide I was with said it was hoped that it would be finished in about 18 months if all went well.