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
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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.
![]() Dunfermline St Margaret's Bus Station in
the Spring of 1965 on service 306 to Leven |
![]() Kirkcaldy
06/06/70 (Iain MacGregor) |
HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE
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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. It 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
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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 to concerned the bodywork.
Left: Whitburn, 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) |
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It has been 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 the 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) |
| 2001: As this photo and the one at the
top of the page shows, the bus is now 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. Right: Lathalmond, April 2001 (Jim Crichton) |
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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. Right: Back in Lathalmond (Mike Chapman) |
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We didnt 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 ..... Photo: Jim Crichton |
| ..... on Sunday 25
November, in the Lathalmond blackness of 6:30am. The
intrepid crew of Mike Chapman, Jim and Steven Methven, my
two grandsons Scott and Andrew - and I set of for
Dear Auld Glesga Toun. The photo sees us south of Kincardine Bridge at Bowtrees petrol station, where we stopped for newspapers. Photo: Mike Chapman |
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We journeyed uneventfully
(we thought) into Glasgow, arriving at the SECC around
8:30 as instructed and got into position before being
moved as someone hadnt turned up. It had rained
pretty heavily on the road through so the
cloots were out as we all mucked in to make
our pride and joy look her best. Then it was time for
free hot drinks and bacon butties. We also tried
unsuccessfully to find a replacement for a headlamp bulb
that had blown on the way. Photo: Jim Crichton |
| The bus was greatly
admired by the hoards of visitors to the exhibition,
which is really a model fair with some life-size exhibits
and side attractions such as James Bond with
Jaws and Oddjob. We were visited
by a fair number of SVBM members during the day. Corgi released a model of our bus in Early summer 2002, in their Original Omnibus range. The trip back to Lathalmond was straightforward and we arrived about 7pm, having left the SECC around 5:30pm. Having only one headlamp was cause for concern but Mike had his digital camera ready to show any traffic police that we were fully operational when we left. |
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On the weekends of 5th & 6th and 12th & 13th July
2003. 199 took the role of 'Bulgy the Bus' in the Caledonian Railway's
'Thomas the Tank Engine' weekends. Thomas ran from Brechin to Bridge of
Dun and Bulgy ran from Montrose to Bridge of Dun. The train and bus left
Bridge of Dun Station at the same time and ran a mock race for a short
distance before parting company to go their separate ways. The kids loved
it and were very disappointed that Bulgy didn't have a face (owing to the
offered face completely covering the radiator). As it was, Bulgy took sick
on the last journey on the second Saturday and had to be nursed home. His
place was taken the following day by the museum's 'Rory' the Leopard.
Left: Bulgy at Bridge of Dun station, awaiting
the arrival of Thomas the Tank Engine from Brechin |
![]() Thomas setting off for Brechin ..... |
![]() ..... with Bulgy trailing behind |
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