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How to go topless in Cumbria!
By Tony Wilson
Added to website 13 June 2011
Now that I have your attention. If you have ever wondered how those convertible buses get their tops off, then wonder no more. Here we
have a step by step guide as to how it happens courtesy of one of our sponsors Cumbria Classic Coaches.
1. First off locate your former Crosville Motor Services convertible Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol Lodekka, which here is shown
back in late summer 2010 as it operated one of the last journeys on the seasonal 570 service from Hawes to Ribblehead. The route was withdrawn
at the end of that season.
2. Step 1 Place the bus into a position adjacent to a purpose built lifting frame. The frame was made in house so that no undue
stresses are imposed on the roof as the four lifting point chains are located directly above the lifting lugs fitted into the roof. It is
understood that it is about twice as strong as required as it is believed the roof only weighs about 7cwt.
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3. Step 2 Borrow a neighbouring farmer’s handy 'JCB Loadall' fork high lift and attach your homemade jig.
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4. Step 3 Raise the jig and drive your bus beneath.
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5. Step 4 Manoeuvre your bus having released the twenty or so odd bolts that secure the roof to the main body.
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6. Step 5
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7. Step 6
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Steps 5 to 7: From inside and outside locate the securing bolts and affix to the external lugs.
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8. Step 7
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9. Step 8 Stand clear and let the chains and jig take the strain.
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10. Step 9
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11. Step 10
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Steps 9 & 10: Carefully raise the jib and lift the roof away from the body.
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12. Step 11 Slowly drive the bus forward and away from the suspended roof.
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13. Step 12 Lower the roof down to a manageable height.
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14. Step 13 With helping hands guide the roof to a safe place for storage.
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15. Step 14 Lower the roof onto wooden chocks and remove the chains and jig.
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16. Step 15 Place bus back in garage and locate front and rear screens.
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17. Step 16 Having manhandled the screens up to the top deck, locate and make safe the electrics for the interior lighting system.
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18. Step 17 Locate and secure the rear windscreen into place.
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19. Step 18 Locate and secure the front windscreen into place, although this might require a bit of brute force.
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20. Step 19 Take a breather and admire your handiwork.
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21. Step 20 And a few last minute adjustments to make sure all is secure.
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22. So why was the top removed? Answer, for a splendid two day commercial vehicle event during Easter 2011 in sunny
Cumbria. See FOCUS ON FLICKR
HERE.
23. Here the Lodekka is shown as it passed beneath the low railway bridge at Warcop on a special service during the
Easter event, only made possible by the removal of the roof.
24. Later that week the bus still with roof removed was used on the company’s weekly Wednesday-only 572 service from Kirkby
Stephen to Barnard Castle. Here it paused for a few minutes on the bus stop at Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham.
25. The route of the 572 passes through some quite spectacular scenery over the North Pennine Chain and with the roof off, views
were particularly splendid on this particular day.
26. A mixture of local shoppers and tourists were on board as the bus passed through the Cumbrian village of Winton on the
return journey to Kirkby Stephen.
27. The roof has since been affixed back onto the bus and used on wedding and stage service duties.
All images were taken by the author apart from image number 19, when the Box Brownie was handed to the long suffering Mrs W.
For Cumbria Classic Coaches website
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