Cumbria Classic Coaches Blog

CUMBRIA SUMMER SERVICES END ON A HIGH

2011-11-03T06:29:00.012Z

AEC Regent UTC 672 at Barnard Castle ((click to enlarge)

Cumbria Classic Coaches summer service to Barnard Castle ended on a high on Wednesday 26th Oct when so many passengers wanted to travel on the last run of the summer / autumn route via Middleton in Teesdale that a duplicate vehicle was called for. CCC have a policy of using duplicate vehicles whenever the loadings exceed capacity of the normal service bus to ensure that passengers are never left behind. The scheduled vehicle, ex Bamber Bridge AEC Regent, had already set off with a healthy load of passengers from the Bowber Head Bus Depot to the Fat Lamb where a significant queue was encountered, with more joining at Kirkby Stephen Station, so by the time the 1955 double decker reached Kirkby Stephen Market Square it was a forgone conclusion that a duplicate vehicle would be required.

Ian the conductor gives directions to alighting passengers (click to enlarge)

CCC had already prepared ex Preston Corporation Leyland PS1 and this was swiftly despatched to Kirkby Stephen to pick up the excess passengers. The 1946 PS1 set off in pursuit of the AEC Regent which had also left intending passengers at Winton and Brough, so, to their relief the Leyland PS1 stopped to collect them before making its way to Barnard Castle. Although the service to Barnard castle runs all year round, the normal summer timetabled service is via the more lengthy and picturesque route calling at Middleton in Teesdale before setting off again to Barnard Castle, with its thriving Wednesday market and shops.

Having dropped its passengers, the AEC heads for the coach park (click to enlarge)

The Cumbria Classic Coaches Tuesday market day route to Hawes also came to an end during the same week and unlike the Barnard Castle route, it ceases completely until Easter time when it re-starts again and this years final run using the AEC Regent to Hawes was also heavily used on the final day, but didn't require a duplicate.

David Gambles

Is there anyone there?

2011-05-22T16:34:00.025+01:00

Well, it's gone very quiet on the Cumbria Classic Coaches blog so I thought I would post a few pictures from the Easter Kirkby Stephen rally. CRN 79 Visited and was posed alongside CRN 80, the first time they had been together for many years The steam bus also attended and it is seen here at the Cumbria Classic Coaches depot

Florence update

2011-02-22T10:37:00.001Z

I just thought as I'm stuck in a car on my way over to Newcastle to look at bikes that I'd use the time to bring the blog up to date.

Well on Flo work has not stopped, all the side panels are recovered and back on. We've replaced the lino on the floor too. The roof lining has been stripped and the back replaced with new leathercloth and we are going to fit a new liner to the sunroof this week. Then it's seats back in and back on the road next week. Fingers crossed.

Ant has also been hard at work on the exterior of Rosie restoring the front and repainting round the windows.

I'll take some photos when we've finished and upload them, got to go now feel a bit car sick!

posted from Bloggeroid

This weekend

2011-02-06T12:38:00.002Z

We were cooking with gas this weekend and on Friday we managed to finish the passenger side panels and refit them. On Saturday we stripped the drivers side, the framework was very good on that side and only a couple of pieces of wood needed replacing, so we soldiered on and fit those pieces, made the new panels and covered and refit them in just the one day! It's pouring down today so I'm having a lazy day. Front panels tomorrow.......

Todays Challenges

2011-02-03T19:28:00.003Z

Its blowing a hoolie here tonight! Never mind the renovations I think everything is going to blow away. It was a good days work today. Whilst my extremely capable assistant carried on making wooden trims, I finally managed to recover the rear quarter on Flo. It looks great if I do say so myself! Just the trims to varnish and that will be the back end finished with. I also took some photos.... before and after, beware it's a bit of a shock.

More work on Flo

2011-02-02T18:17:00.002Z

Today we did manage to put the windows back in with new rubbers, We made some more wooden braces and I've started work on the sewing and cutting of the new headlining. I plan to fit that tomorrow and the moquette arrives so we are going to do some panels too! In other news, the bus couldn't go to Barney today there were accidents on both the A66 and the Middleton road. It's probably a good job really as the wind was so bad this afternoon I'm sure it would have been shut on the A66 to high siders. Also have to mention a Happy Wedding Anniversary Anthony and Pensri!

Florence Renovation

2011-02-01T19:40:00.002Z

Well we started work a couple of weeks ago on the interior of Florence. The side trims were getting a little bit tatty and as she's the most popular of the buses for hire I thought she was due for a bit of TLC. The plan is to renew the side trimming panels, the back quarter roof lining material, some of the leathercloth on the roof and parcel shelves and finally replace the floor lino. Firstly we too out all the seats and stored them in Rosie. We have started at the back end and renewed the wood around the window frames. Getting new window rubbers has been a bit tricky but I was directed to a company called Baines and they had 2000 profiles to choose from so the rubber arrived today and I plan on putting the back windows in again tomorrow. Next we have replaced whatever wood framing necessary down the passenger side. The new trimming material will arrive on Thursday, it's not ideal but getting hold of appropriate green moquette has been a bit of a trial, the best suppliers so far have been AS Cummings of Gateshead. So I hope to have at least 3 panels back on by Friday. In the meantime Anthony has been repairing, repainting and generally making better the bodywork on Rosie. So far he's repainted the wheels, wheelarches and radiator. He started on the window frames today. It sounds simple but it all involves lots of gouging out, rubbing down, fiberglassing and a steady hand with the old coachpaints. So anyone looking out for her next season best tell Ant what a good job he's done.... just so he'll carry on and do another! Oh and we've nearly got the new doors on the bus shed! Will post pics soon Anthony has taken some photos so far of progress so I'll try to upload them soon.

Low wood wedding fair

2011-01-30T20:47:00.001Z

Attended the wedding fair at the Low Wood Hotel today. It was a really great event and we had lots of interest in the buses and cars. Karin sang there too with her new band 'Once scene' . Looks like its going to be another busy year

A very belated Merry Christmas!

2011-01-28T13:15:00.002Z

Hi Everyone, I really must apologise for not attending to the blog more often, I'm going to make it my New Years Resolution to write here more often and let everyone know whats going on. Firstly Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to you all. We had a really busy Christmas on the buses with quite a few weddings in December in all the snow which was a bit of a worry but we managed to get out for every occasion. We didn't even miss any of the timetabled routes either. We has a great staff dinner at The Hayloft in Barney, enjoyed by all and Dad didn't even make his usual long speech but limited himself to a much shorter one. Thanks to everyone who helps at Cumbria Classic Coaches, 2010 was a great year. January has been busy but I'm going to tell you all about that in the next blog. It just remains to attach our newsletter to this one. Hopefully this will work as I've only put in pictures so far....nope I'll have to put it up on the website page. all the best Ali

Bio Fuel

2011-01-22T22:57:00.002Z

There's been some recent postings on the Focus Transport website about the use of bio fuel and Tony Wilson has pointed out that the entire Cumbria Classic Coaches fleet runs of bio diesel obtained from a local supplier. His posting shows some good pictures of the vehicles in action in various locations and they can be found at http://www.focustransport.org.uk/news04.aspx#lat02 He also mentions the faint odour of 'frying tonight'! David G

Video on youtube

2010-10-31T00:52:00.001+01:00

Was just having a mess around on the internet tonight and found this great video of a job I did earlier this year, thought some of you might like a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Oo7YNrUmF0

COMMER RESTORATION

2010-10-29T22:48:00.002+01:00

Well in an exciting move, after receiving an interesting introduction letter, work on the Commer restoration has finally, after 12 years been resumed.

We bought our 1949 Commer Commando first in a flush of enthusiasm when we started Cumbria Classic Coaches and although work progressed rapidly in the first 6 months, when we bought the already restored Leyland Lion the business of actually operating our classic fleet took over and the Commer was put on a back burner.

Therefore our fans will be delighted to know that Rusty Trucks aka Paul Brooks of Warcop are manufacturing a new front end and we hope to get it fitted by the end of November, hopefully also, time willing Alison will be looking at the interior this winter, (first Paul has to fill up the holes on the bulkhead and then the cat can be kept out!).

Details of Pauls work so far can be seen on http://rustytrucks.tripod.com/

On the Buses

2010-10-02T14:22:00.005+01:00

A fortnight ago one of the passengers on the Wednesday trip to Barney, Frank Dixon from York handed me a piece of paper. He said I could put it on the blog and share it with you: The Seven C's Cumbria Classic Coaches create cleaner country conditions (less cars!) (I) Come with us and travel by bus, off to the town ho-ho. After your shopping we do the drop offs wherever you want to go. (II) Rolling along on the open road, everyone's chatting with our happy load. There's no need to speed let the fast cars lead We'll happily trundle behind. Past people, they're waving while we do the saving in Cumbria's clean open road. (III) 'Meet the Fleet' Florence and Lawrence Rosie and Peter Klipper and Harvey too There MUST be a bus (Just get onto us) to suit whatever you do! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did, thanks Frank.

2010 a bumper year!

2010-10-02T13:52:00.003+01:00

Well we are coming to the end of the season for 2010 and it's been a really busy year. We've had lots of wedding bookings and the Barnard Castle route is well established with lots of locals going shopping as well as the odd tourist not to mention the Hawes route which still enjoyes bumper numbers.

Don't forget to put in your diaries the last trips of the year to Hawes and Ribblehead on Tuesday 26th October, your favourite conductor Gordon will be onboard (I know lots of you have missed him this year in his second retirement). The Barnard Castle route will be changing after the Wednesday to the winter timetable. We have had some of the ladies asking about any possible changes the govenment might bring in to the passes but we know of no changes and will definately be running the winter wednesday shopping spectacular regardless!

We have had lots of very interesting private hires this year with Ant and Gordon going as far as Arisaig in Scotland and Dad staying in a castle near Edinburgh. The second box file of thank you's is bulging, with 3 coming in for Dad's jobs just this last week! We now have a competition going as to who gets the most.

Florence in Edinburgh with Dad.

Favourite Pics

2010-08-11T09:04:00.005+01:00

Hi everyone, Mum has been doing some closeup pics of the buses for our keyrings and I just thought I'd share them with you. I'll let you guess which buses they're off!

2010-07-15T22:18:00.008+01:00

Just thought I would show some pictures taken this week whilst on the trip to Hawes, travelling on Peter the bus. Anthony was in charge of the driving department and Charlie did a good job as conductor, demonstrating his sales skills on the return journey by selling numerous fridge magnets, key rings etc.

Shetland Trip Update

2010-06-03T23:16:00.006+01:00

I spoke to Will this evening, their journey to Aberdeen went well, having stayed overnight on Wednesday at Perth and Will phoned from the ship to say that they had set sail two hours previously and that they were settled on board and enjoying a pleasant evening meal. How the mobile phones work when you are two hours from port is a bit of a mystery to me, but that's the wonder of modern technology! Peter the bus is performing well and tomorrow it will be unloaded at Lerwick and be driving around Shetland, apparently few double deck vehicles have ever been used on the island so it will probably cause a fair amount of interest. The party (and the bus) will be attending the bi-annual Classic Vehicle Show.

TV appearance

2010-05-18T21:46:00.002+01:00

Hey did anyone catch Rosie bus and Dad on BBC1 last night. It was the History of the World programme at 7.30 it's probably on BBC IPlayer.It was all about the opening of Calder Hall. The first time we went to film there was a blizzard and although the bus got there the film crew didn't, the second time was cancelled as the guy got ill however lucky for some, filming happened on the third time.

Update News

2010-05-11T22:23:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, Been a bit busy recently and just thought I've been neglecting my Blog! It's nice to see at least David has been putting up a couple of posts in my abscence and we have a couple more followers. News: We were awarded runnerup in the Eden Hero's Business Award, thanks to all who nominated us! It was a lovely dinner and we got to hobnob with all the councellors. The 569 route has started again, I've managed to get out and drive it once so far, 32 on this week so we took 2 buses just in case, The Klipper and Florence. Charlie is doing well, getting his own way of Clippying sorted, just ask him about his box! Bookings are coming in thick and fast for this year (touch wood) we have a couple of jobs that will be taking us far afield, up into Scotland and Alnwick and lots of Proms too. We have enough bookings for the Shetland Tour, Mum and Dad are looking forward to taking that and there has been lots of interest from the islanders. Peter bus was starting to jump out of gear again but we had him to the garage yesterday so we'll see if thats sorted this weekend. Also looking forward to Anthony's 40th in June. Well thats all for tonight, got to signwrite 2 catering trailers tomorrow!

2010 EASTER RALLY

2010-04-07T21:46:00.010+01:00

2010 EASTER RALLY Well, the Rally happened, weather OK-ish and everyone seemed happy. Some pictures attached which hopefully capture the mood of the event David G

Nearly Easter!

2010-03-24T19:46:00.003Z

Not long now to the 2010 Easter Rally. Hope you've managed to get all those envelopes sent out to the entrants Claire! Here's a view from the 2009 rally, it looks warmer than I remember, T shirt weather! David G

Room 19

2010-03-17T22:19:00.002Z

Anyone wishing to have a go one one of our cars needs to go to Kendal this weekend. We are going to help Karin promote her new shop extension by running chauffeur driven cars from Kendal town centre to her shop in Kirkland. So come and see us on Saturday! Take care though Charlie is going to have a drive!

Upholstery Update

2010-03-17T21:38:00.002Z

Well just thought I should update those interested...out of the horses mouth as it were. The Arab upholstery is now finished! Finally, it took us 3 weeks which is I suppose not long but you never think it's going to be that big a job when you start. I have really enjoyed it though and I think I've done a good job (helped a lot by Charlie). We found and replaced quite a lot of rotten bits with good hard wood, we used our Sycamore which strictly speaking isn't right as it was a teak frame but it has to be better that what was there. The seats are back in now, I just want to sand and revarnish when I have another spare day. Then it's on to Florence next.... maybe next month.

Bus Jigsaw!

2010-02-08T21:30:00.001Z

Just found this website and thought you'd all enjoy having a go. xxx

Busman's holiday to Shetland - June 2010

2010-01-26T14:29:00.004Z

In 2008 Will and Claire and two friends took 'Poppy' the 1936 Rover, to Shetland to take part in the bi-annual Shetland Classic Motor Show. We found the whole experience brilliant and we kept saying "Wouldn't it be good to bring a group on a bus".

We have been told that there has only ever been one or two double deck buses on Shetland so we thought it would be fun to take one.

So - we are organising a holiday again for anyone who is daft enough to want to join us sitting on a bus for many hours - but the views from the top will be magnificent. Let us know if you want to come.

This is the itinerary:

Cumbria Classic Coaches Shetland Adventure 2010

Join us on a trip of a lifetime to visit the Shetland Classic Motor Show (oh and Shetland)

When: Wednesday 2nd June to Thursday 10th June 2010

Cost: £629pp sharing, £800 single

Classic Bus: 1955 AEC Regent ‘Peter’ our superb doubledecker

Itinarary:

Wednesday 2nd June - travel from the bus depot at Ravenstonedale through lovely scenery up the A7 via Edinburgh to Perth. Stopping on the way for leg stretching and head scratching

Thursday 3rd June - Complete the journey from Perth to the ferry terminal at Aberdeen. Our ferry sails at 17.00. Dinner and breakfast onboard is included, this is an overnight sailing and cabin is included.

Friday 4th June - Arrive Lerwick at 07.30. We’ll spend the day having a little ramble around Shetland visiting Scalloway and Sunborough Head.

Our hotel is the Lerwick Hotel, a modern hotel with fantastic views over the bay. Rooms are ensuite and the hotel is only a 10 minute walk to the town centre.

Saturday 5th June - Rally day. The Shetland Show hosts a fabulous collection of vehicles including the most Sunbeam Talbots you’ll ever see in one place!

Sunday 6th June - Either stay at the rally or there is an option of a modern coach Island Tour to Yell and Unst which is the northerly most point of The British Isles. Cost £35.00

Monday 7th June - Joining in a commercial vehicle road run touring the island. 08.30 to 15.30

Tuesday 8th June - Either a tour northwards on the island or a leisurely day finally writing the postcards home then we catch the overnight ferry back at 19.00

Wednesday 9th June - Start our journey back, again stopping at Perth or Edinburgh to rest the backsides

Thursday 10th June - Back down the A7 from Perth to the bus depot. Many tears at the leavetaking.

Cost Includes: Your transport on our superb vintage bus, Bed and breakfast accommodation in Perth and Lerwick, Overnight ferry to the Shetlands, cabin, dinner and breakfast onboard.

Evening meals are not included but we are planning on visiting various establishments on the island.To Book Contact: 015396 23254 Bowber Head, Ravenstonedale CA17 4NL will@cumbriaclassiccoaches.co.uk

New Years Eve

2010-01-18T11:36:00.002Z

We just received some photos back from a birthday pub crawl that Anthony drove on New Years Eve. The hire was all around the Cockermouth area including Whinlatter Pass! As you can see the roads were treacherous ice and snow but the passengers loved it and had a great day out , which I'm sure was very welcome after the awful floods there recently.

Ten Years on the 569 Route

2010-01-13T21:48:00.002Z

Here's a photo of Harvey returning to Bowber Head taken on 29/07/2008 this being the tenth anniversary of Cumbria Classic Coaches service to Hawes. The bus had been decorated inside with balloons and had a special 10th Anniversary poster displayed in the upstairs back window of the bus. Carol and I always enjoy our Tuesday trips to Hawes, wandering around the market, having lunch in the Fountain pub or the Creamery (both highly recommended) and generally taking in the atmosphere of this busy little market town. David G

Memories of a great few days

2010-01-12T20:58:00.003Z

Last summer we organised a short break for this group of friends from Germany. They stayed in local b & b's and hotels. We took them on our buses into the Lakes and Dales and we all had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Snow coated Indian

2010-01-08T10:24:00.005Z

Thank you David for trying to warm us up with a picture taken in August. This little Indian might appreciate the memory of a warm summer!

Hawes in August

2010-01-07T18:19:00.003Z

In view of the wintry weather I thought we should look back at one of last years' Wednesday Market Day trips to Hawes, a photo taken on 25th August, when the Cumbria Classic Coaches service was ready to depart for Kirkby Stephen. Will is looking suitably relaxed, leaning on the bonnet of Peter the bus. Passengers for the service to Ripon are boarding their vehicles which depart at a similar time to the Cumbria Classic Coaches services Seems an age away when looking at the weather we have at the moment! David G

Winter Scene

2010-01-07T09:31:00.004Z

Thought you might like to see a photo taken at Bowber Head in the recent cold weather. What do you think one bus would be saying to the other two? David G

Snow stops route 572

2010-01-06T14:51:00.000Z

Um what to say for our first post.

Well Hi

Welcome to Cumbria Classic Coaches blog.

Hopefully we'll keep this up to date with our latest news and happenings.

Today..... Snow!

Today we couldn't run route 572 because of the snow and the A66 being shut. This is the first time we have missed a service run in 11 years! The snow is really deep here (for us) and yesterday we took a bus up to the Fat Lamb as our lane is really bad, the bus slid down the slope outside. And the bus is still there! The A66 is shut with deep snowdrifts and a jacknifed lorry.

Glad we don't have any bookings this weekend. Anthony was out on one on New Years Eve and went over Whinlatter Pass, bit of a white knuckle ride, road was shut but the signs were half way up the pass not at the end so he couldn't turn round!