THE SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM - BXA 464 B
DETAILS
Chassis: Bristol Lodekka FS6G, built 1964, No. 214188
Body: Double Deck, Eastern Coachworks H33/27RD, No. 14389
Engine: Gardner 6LX 6-cyI diesel, 10.4 litre
First Licensed: 1/6/64, BXA 464 B, Fleet No. FRD 199
(CLICK PHOTOS FOR LARGER IMAGES)
(WANTED, ANY PHOTOS OF THE BUS IN SERVICE!)
BACKGROUND HISTORY
The F Series Bristol Lodekka appeared in production form in 1959 to replace the L series, which was first introduced in 1949. The F series appeared in short (FS) and long (FL) versions and continued in production until 1968. Engine options were available with Bristol, Gardner or Leyland engines. Therefore this FS6G is an F series, short, with a 6 cylinder Gardner engine.
HISTORY
OF THIS VEHICLE
FRD
199 was numerically the last of a batch of 34 FSs to enter service with W.
Alexander & Sons (Fife) Ltd from 1963-64. It initially entered service at
Cowdenbeath for operation on local service in that town. Thereafter it was
transferred to Kirkcaldy where it remained till the end of its service days.
FRD 199 was one of only four surviving rear entrance double deck buses in Fife
when it was offered for sale in late 1980.
Left: Dunfermline St
Margaret's Bus Station in the Spring of 1965 on
service 306 to Leven
(Would whoever gave this photo to Eddie Taylor at the Open
Weekend please send his name - we would like to credit him)
Left:
The setting is the bottom of Charlotte St, Kirkcaldy at its junction with the
Esplanade directly opposite the old Esplanade Bus Station. The building
behind the front of the bus is the old Trocadero
Cafe, a well known local landmark for Kirkcaldy travellers. (Eddie Taylor)
Photo:
06/06/1970 (Iain MacGregor)
FRD 199 was purchased by a preservation group in West
Scotland but in 1983 was purchased by Stagecoach of Perth. At some point
with Stagecoach, its Gardner 6LW engine was replaced with a Gardner 6LX
producing a considerable turn of speed. In November 1989 the vehicle was
transferred to Magicbus operations in Glasgow. The
present owners purchased it in November 1990.
Left: Inverness, September 1990, a few weeks before
purchase for preservation. (Eddie Taylor)
RESTORATION
DETAILS
As with all bus restoration, the problem of storage was
first priority. The vehicle was initially stored at a farm near Coalsnaughton by Alloa, where no work
was carried out due to the limitations of space. In July 1991 it was
transferred to Rennies of Dunfermline for temporary storage, where some minor
electrical work was carried out. From September 1991 to May 1992 it was stored
at the Fife Scottish depot in Dunfermline (returning home?) prior to transfer
to the previous site of the SVBM at Whitburn. Once at
Whitburn, the majority of work carried out concerned
the bodywork
Left: Whitburn, 1992?, alongside a
similar vehicle of 1957 vintage.
(Eddie Taylor)
It was driven to Lathalmond in 1995 when the museum
transferred to the new site and immediately claimed a place in the workshop so
that work started at Whitburn could continue
Right: Just
after the move to Lathalmond in 1995 (Eddie Taylor)
It was a long slog at Lathalmond. Several deficiencies were
attended to, including brakes, suspension and battery box. But the vast
majority of time was spent completely removing all body paint down to bare
metal and fitting a few new panels. Owing to the active partners being involved
in all and sundry other projects and activities at the museum, this was only
finished in December 2000. However, no sooner was it done than filler was
applied and sanded down and the undercoat was applied - then filled, sanded and
painted again in various places – ready to be repainted to its original Fife
livery of Ayres Red and cream, with full lining out in black and white.
Left: Lathalmond, April 1999 (Jim Crichton)
By 2001 the bus was back in original livery - complete with
hand-painted period adverts. The bus was put through a Class 5 MOT in July, but
unfortunately failed on two points - a fuel tank leak and excessive play in the
steering drag link. These faults were rectified and the bus was re-tested
successfully on 6th August.
Left: Lathalmond, April 2001 (Jim Crichton)
Moving into
place for her inaugural service trip to Dunfermline on the Saturday of the 2001
Open Weekend.
Photo: Jim
Crichton
Little did we know that
within half an hour a broken front off-side leaf spring - possibly broken on
the trip - would cause a steering fault that resulted in a collision with a
barrier on approach to Dunfermline Bus Station.
Left: Back in Lathalmond (Mike Chapman)
We didn’t really need any
incentive to get the damage fixed, but we got some in the shape of an
invitation to show her at ‘Corgi Classics Scotmodel
2001’ in the SECC, Glasgow. The spring was removed, sent for repair (new leaf)
and refitted. The fibreglass nearside wing and front panel were filled, sanded
and repainted. The offside metal wing was removed and a new one made and fitted
by Tam Loggie and Matt, and painted. We were back in business – and had also
repaired a gearbox leak that we originally intended dealing with in 2002 – with
ten days to spare - ready to roll.
Left: Lathalmond, October 2001
(Jim Crichton)
Returned to pristine condition.
Left: SECC Glasgow, November 2001
(Mike Chapman)
SUBSEQUENT WORK (from J Pettie’s Restoration Update)
Following several years of sterling service,
199 went back into the workshop in May 2009 for the cause of its considerable
oil consumption to be investigated. Jim Methven and Mike Chapman, two of the
co-owners, opened up the Gardner engine - with the unit still in the bus to try
and save effort. With the heads off and the pistons out the reason for the oil
loss became apparent. The piston rings on cylinders 3 and 4 had broken up
causing some damage to each of these pistons and their cylinder liners. The
possibility of a cheap repair faded fast and an engine which seemed to run so
well needed some replacement components. Work so far had taken about 50 hours
and there was still a long way to go.
Worse was to come as Jim and Mike found after further investigation that a new cylinder block would be needed. They managed to get a used one, after a lot of engine stripping, which was good enough to hone and use for the rebuild. While the engine is an LX it was a good time to consider using LXB/C pistons which are greener and give a cleaner start up from cold. They got hold of six and built them into the engine with new piston rings. While off, the cylinder heads were stripped, cleaned and reassembled with new valve guides. One of the old guides was 5 thou oversize and this delayed the refitting slightly. They turned to David Roberts at Gardner Enthusiasts Ltd. and sourced the unusual part with ease. Dave Roberts has been very helpful and indeed has supplied a piston, guides, sprayer castle nuts, gaskets, filters and Gardner enamel for the job, sent by post at an economic price.
By March 2010, Jim and Mike had worked more than 150 hours and the rebuild was nearing its conclusion. The bus heating pipes were re-routed, as it was found that the previous set up had cut into the inlet manifold, and the fuel system was connected up. The oil sprayers were in and piped to the pump and the compressor and drive belts were back on. The radiator, breather and inlet ducting were fitted, followed by the cover panels. Jim and Mike acknowledge that the overhaul would not have been possible without Rab Patterson's guidance and specialist tools.
The lower saloon heater box was removed,
cleaned out and refitted as it had been blowing cold. The timing chain was
adjusted, new fan belts were fitted and the engine stop cable was converted
from "Push to Stop" to "Pull to
Stop".
The first attempt at start up was unsuccessful until it was discovered that the new stop cable was holding the "conker" open. Once this was properly adjusted the engine fired up no problem and ran quite sweetly - a bit smoky at first but that soon cleared. However, joy was short-lived as cooling water appeared in large amounts on the workshop floor. Various hose clips were tightened up and the water leaks disappeared. 199 was then taken for a run around the site during which a. minor fuel leak and a couple of minor oil leaks were spotted and rectified
While the front was off,
the electrics for the headlights were tidied up and a fog light was fitted in
the vacant hole and wired in to the spare switch in the cab panel. Insulation
defects on the starter and solenoid cables were rectified using heat shrink
sleeving and all panels, bonnet and radiator cowling were refitted. A new
battery set was required as the current pair had given up. Some paint
rectification and a repair to the nearside front wing were carried out and the
brakes attended to. The job was finished
– well done Jim and Mike!
Following a pre-MoT check, a few minor advisories were carried out and a test arranged - happily, 199 passed first time. A couple of weeks later, the overhaul was proved successful on a round day trip of approximately 250 miles, to attend the Kirkby Stephen Saturday Running Day in Cumbria, during which 199 did several service runs and took part in the extremely challenging Road Run.