Classic bus display marks Coventry bus anniversaries...

[dutchman]

A selection of classic buses will roam the city's streets to mark a poignant moment for Coventry's public transport



Buses of yesteryear are set to grace Coventry’s streets on Saturday August 24. Local residents and classic bus enthusiasts will be able to see the classic buses, which were operated in Coventry by Coventry Corporation Transport and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, at various locations across the city during the day.

The event marks just over 50 years since Coventry Transport operated buses for the last time on March 31, 1974. As a result of nationwide Local Government Reorganisation services came under the control of the West Midlands PTE from then on.

August 24 also marks 45-years to the day since the last rear open platform buses were used in service in Coventry, though they carried on usage in other parts of the country - most notably in London where old AEC Routemasters regularly ran until the mid 2000s.

READ MORE: Huge classic car event to celebrate 100 years of Morris Commercial vehicles

The buses will assemble in White Street Coach Park and leave at 10am to travel to Copsewood and then return to Earlsdon - the route (service 9) that the last rear entrance buses operated on their final morning in service in 1974.

Later in the day the buses will travel along Harnall Lane East, past the former location of the transport department’s garage. They will also be seen in Bedworth - a location which was beyond the city boundary and was intensively served by Coventry Transport.

The buses will also be visiting the Keresley, Green Lane, Finham, Cheylesmore, Keresley areas of the city during the afternoon. The four former Coventry Transport buses will be from the collection owned by local bus preservationist Roger Burdett and comprise:

• 244 (EVC 244) Daimler COG5/Park Royal (1940)
  
• 366 (EVC 966) Daimler CWA6/Roe (1944)
  
• 94 (GKV 94) Daimler CVA6/Met Cam (1950)
  
• 334 (334 CRW) Daimler CVG/Met Cam (1963)

These will be joined by a Leyland Fleetline with East Lancashire bodywork that was part of an order option placed by Coventry Transport but delivered to the PTE. Also, in attendance will be one of the many Metrobus vehicles that the PTE operated in the Coventry.

It had been hoped that the last rear entrance bus to operate in Coventry and now with the Coventry Transport Museum could be part of the event, but the Museum is not in a position to make it available. Daimler CVG bus 333 was gifted to the museum by the West Midlands PTE after being withdrawn from service and repainted into historic Coventry Transport colours.

[dutchman]

Vintage buses tour city to mark anniversary



A number of veteran buses have toured the streets of Coventry to celebrate the 45th anniversary of them last being used in the city.

The vintage vehicles could be seen in the city on Saturday, exactly 45 years to the day since the last rear-open platform buses were used in service in Coventry.

Four former Coventry Transport buses which were involved were from a collection owned by local bus preservation campaigner Roger Burdett.

The buses assembled in White Street Coach Park and travelled to Copsewood and back, travelling the number nine route.

This was the route last operated by the rear-entrance buses.

The vehicles, which had been operated by Coventry Corporation Transport and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive when they were still in service, appeared at various locations in Coventry throughout the day.

The 94 Daimler has an advertising sign promoting Agers Fine Shoes, a shop which is still open under the name Charles Ager. It has been operating for more than 180 years and is believed to be Coventry's oldest shoe shop.



Mr Burdett owns the four Coventry Transport buses, including Coventry's oldest single-decker (the 244 Daimler) and double-decker (the 366 Daimler), having restored them to working order.

He said he owned 26 buses in total, which he kept in a "large shed" at home.

"It's quite stressful at times because obviously they're all quite old," he said.

"You've got to get them back on the road, you've got to keep them roadworthy, you've got modern traffic issues.

"None of them do more than 35mph so it takes forever to go anywhere and you've got to have a good team around you to make sure the maintenance happens."

Mr Burdett said he had needed a hobby to "break up the work", saying that buses were the most flexible, as there was "too much regulation with trains" and "boats were too slow".