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Added to website 14 September 2010

Ken Jones writes:

"Tennis Court Sidings" made a global first appearance at The International N Gauge Show this weekend (11/12 September 2010) and attracted enormous interest. A special board was presented to the owner painted from a composite of 4 x 1930 posters. Sorry about the flash but cameras were going off everywhere during the presentation. This board also generated conversation about the 1960 / 1970 poster of a female tennis player with a short skirt - think it was an Athena poster and yes I had one at university.

We had no major disasters, said Ken Jones from his home today. One bus took a wrong turning and missed the reserved parking - but the most serious event happened when a member of the public - dare I say a middle aged man who should have known better - actually picked up one of the buses for a closer inspection, despite barriers being in place.

The layout made facebook by Saturday evening, and we are also hoping for press coverage, and pictures might appear anywhere - so let me know if you see any. By the time this shot was taken on the Saturday morning already more than 50 buses had arrived at the rally and others were queuing to get in.

There is a limit on how quickly you can park up buses at a rally - at full scale or at N gauge.

There were several requests about availability of the layout the most interesting one being would it be possible for "Tennis Court Sidings" to attend an actual bus rally in South Wales next year - watch this space.

Ken wants to thank the following people for such a successful weekend:
his agent, the make up team , the catering bus, security, organisers, his family, but most of all the people who gave up their weekend so that the buses could be seen by a large audience - he apologises if he has missed anyone off the list but celebrities always say that.

We are lucky to have a copy of the souvenir programme issued at the rally HERE (PDF format).

Two photographs above taken by Ken Jones; eight photographs below taken by Glyn Bowen

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Added to website 14 September 2010

Ken Jones writes:

Just to let you know the Kingsbridge programmes are now available - the website is HERE. This event is the day before the Exeter Rally at Westpoint, mentioned below.

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Added to website 13 September 2010

Bob Brimley writes:

For all those South West transport enthusiasts out there just to let you know WHOTT's will be holding their 8th Historic Vehicle Rally on Sunday 20th September at the Devon County Showground, Westpoint, Exeter.

Well worth a visit and as a taster here as some shots from last year's event.

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Added to website 11 September 2010

NHG has sent us some photographs of previous Chatsworth events. The first few answer the question posed further down this page about the Post Office bus.

Videos of Chatsworth 2010 may be found on the TRANSPIRE website HERE

Photographs of Chatsworth 2010 may be found on the TRANSPIRE website HERE and HERE

Photographs of Chatsworth 2009 may be found on the TRANSPIRE website HERE

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Added to website 8 September 2010

Paul Smith writes:

Last weekend of course saw the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and there are a number of events being staged across the country to mark the occasion. I've just driven down the M11 past Duxford Airfield and caught sight of the air show display there - no less than 15 Spitfires re-enacting dogfights. Wonderful!

However, the photo below was actually taken at another Battle of Britain Air Display - the one that was held at RAF Finningley (now Robin Hood Airport) every September. In 1971 my Father and I travelled to the display on an excursion by East Midland Atlantean from Bolsover and I snapped the visiting buses marshalled on the airfield tarmac.

Most of the vehicles are East Midland, including for the sharp eyed, the radiator cowl of what is probably a Lowlander just protruding between the two furthest Atlanteans. There are also a couple of Yorkshire Traction buses and, fourth in line, the front end of, I believe, Doncaster independent Felix's AEC Regent V. Happy days!

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Added to website 1 September 2010

Ken Jones writes:

I've had a fantastic weekend!

4 railway lines and a bus rally were visited using the BMMO C5 coach - see below. 2010 is the first year on the road for this vehicle since 1971 after a major rebuild and refurbishment to extremely high standards. Built for the then new motorway system we have visited the Appleby/ Frodingham Railway, The Cleethorpes miniature railway, The South Tynedale Railway, The Tanfield Railway plus the bus rally at Seaburn. (See pictures on this website HERE.)

The coach came straight back to the Midlands from the NE with just one toilet stop. Pretty good for a vehicle dating from 1959. This C5 is part of the Roger Burdett collection.

Also below is the first photo I took for the weekend showing The Twighlight Zone - Bristol FLF CHY 419C rests at dawn. It is under restoration in the Midlands and normally indoors. Originally Bristol Omnibus C7201 it is owned by The Bristol Omnibus Vehicle Collection. More information at www.bristolbuses.co.uk.

The C5 coach may be visiting other rallies this year. It has already attended several, Seaburn being by far the furthest from its home.

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Added to website 31 August 2010 (Peter Williamson answer 18 September 2010)

Tony Wilson writes:

For those of us who have stuck with it, Last of the Summer Wine bowed out last night (Saturday 28 August 2010 8.00pm), after 37-years of transmission on BBC Television.

And how fitting that as the credits ran the final images featured a handsome but aged Bedford OB as it copiously smoked its way up over the hills allegedly above Holmfirth.

For many this was probably a significant event as the long-running series came to an end. However, doubtless there are those who have and will continue to pillory this programme, based around a group of old duffers with nothing better to do than live out the winter of their various existences as best and as frivolously as they could. Good luck to them, but just remember we will all reach that stage at some time. Indeed some of us are already there. (Webmaster comment: We don't need reminding, thank you!)

Anyhow, below is the very same but finely preserved West Yorkshire Road Car Company's Bedford OB, taken a couple of years ago at the annual Bolton Abbey event, providing punters with a ride around the glorious Yorkshire countryside.

Dennis Basord has a question:

Like many others last night I watched the Very Last of the Summer Wine.

The highlight as it must have been for most bus enthusiasts was the smokey Bedford OB.

I assumed that it must be the Duple body, but it didn't look quite right.

Can you enquire via the web site if anyone can confirm who the bodybuilder was?

Thank you, Dennis

Peter Williamson provides an answer:

Re Dennis Basford's question in Memory Lane about the Bedford OB used in the Very Last of the Summer Wine. The body is indeed by Duple, but was heavily rebuilt by West Yorkshire in 1957. More detail on the Aire Valley Transport Group's website HERE.
(Webmaster's apology: Sorry for the delay in publishing this answer. For some unknown reason, Peter's email went into the spam folder.)

Here are links to other websites with information about buses used in the series and some reminiscences HERE and HERE.

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Added to website 30 August 2010

Ken Jones writes:

My wife took the picture below recently for me at the Belper traction engine rally. Anyone able to give me any more details about this vehicle and its history? My wife didn't note the registration number!

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Added to website 25 August 2010

Ken Jones writes:

My 'bus rally' at “Tennis Court Sidings” will take place at the International N gauge show in September. More information on exhibition website HERE. Meanwhile, here are exclusive pictures:

This Walsall trolleybus has been built and painted for me and a local company has done the artwork:

. . . and changing the subject, I've acquired this unusual picture - don't know anything about it or who has copyright but it shows the real use of railways!

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Added to website 24 August 2010

Ken Jones writes:

Taken on the day of the Wirksworth bus rally these 3 shots show Derby Light Weight unit Iris in service whilst the steam locomotive was taking on fuel and water. It ran a few times between Wirksworth and Ravenstor.

I'll be exhibiting some of my model railways at The Wirksworth Show on 16th and 17th October

Train photographs on Ken Jones' website HERE

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Alan Ridge asked:

Does anyone know if EMMS 175 175 NVO Albion Lowlander has survived? Are there any preserved East Midland buses around?

Neville Whitmore replied:

I was once co owner of East Midland Albion Lowlander 175 (175 NVO) which I think we acquired from the company in 1981. We sold it on to a preservationist based in Chesterfield in either 1983 or 1984 who later sold it on to an owner it Italy. A couple of years ago, it was reported for sale at a garage in Italy so there is a good chance that it still exists.

If you are looking for an ex East Midland bus to preserve, there is currently one "free to a good home", CRR 537J, a Marshall bodied Bristol RE. I can furnish further details if interested.

Then Oliver Foreman got working:

A Google search for 175 NVO brought up this photograph on Flickr HERE.

A Google search for CRR 537J brought up this interesting page (scroll down for the RE) HERE.

If you have more information or wish to follow up on Neville's offer please CONTACT us.

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Added to website 23 August 2010

Ken Jones sends photographs of the BVBG Rally (Sunday 15 August 2010) :

More photographs of the Rally on the BVBG website HERE

Train photographs on Ken Jones' website HERE

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Added to website 22 August 2010

Daniel Shaw shares some good news :

I am very pleased to inform you that ex Trent Leyland Atlantean Willowbrook ONN 571P has been bought for continued preservation from the South Wales Transport Group, Swansea. It is in very good condition with only minor repairs to the body work need to complete the restoration. It will be driven back from Swansea to Sheffield around October time. It will be attending rallies next year.

Photograph of ONN 571P in service on Tony Griffin's website HERE

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Added to website 18 August 2010

Richard Lomas wonders about these old signs and similar ones put up by EMMS.

Last week we visited visited Whitby. We stopped in Goatland to look at the trains and I saw these two road signs which I assume were put up by the former United Automobile Company many years ago. I remember that East Midland Motor Services had similar signs on Matlock Bank and The Slack on the Chesterfield - Matlock service. My recollections are of larger wooden signs and I was puzzled by two things. Why would East Midland put up a sign saying 'All cars stop here'? Motor cars never did and secondly if cars referred specifically to buses why didn't the North Western Road Car Company put up similar signs on the other hills round Matlock?

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Added to website 17 August 2010

Martin Arrand saw this RM at Burton Agnus Hall, used as an Art Gallery.