Bus nostalgia

[splott]

Sethsmate's day out..............................................

Pictures by Sethsmate the hard work posting by Splott ( Kev - Byron's mate ).................................


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Took me a bleedin' hour, you owe my Byron!!!

[Seth]

Looks like a drink or two on me at Welland then Kev

Got a call from a long-time good mate yesterday .....
"How d'ya fancy a trip up to Dudley's Coaches at Inkberrow today as part of your post-op care?"
How could I refuse, knowing that there's always the very best of welcomes there for this Valleys Lad!

I used to drive their vehicles on the erstwhile free bus link at the Welland Steam Rally, and proprietor Chris Dudley is a super chap. The business was founded by his late father Ernie in 1938, and as you can see from the photos is still going strong. The red/white/blue Volvo/Plaxton is finished in Royal Motorways livery, as a reminder of this former Redditch-based firm which Dudleys acquired some years back. 

Presently 19 vehicles, and almost entirely Volvo-based.


Read their story here:

http://dudleys-coaches.co.uk/history.htm

Long may they continue!

[Martin_1962]

I work in Inkberrow!!!!

[splott]

Looks like a drink or two on me at Welland then Kev
Got a call from a long-time good mate yesterday .....
"How d'ya fancy a trip up to Dudley's Coaches at Inkberrow today as part of your post-op care?"
How could I refuse, knowing that there's always the very best of welcomes there for this Valleys Lad!

I used to drive their vehicles on the erstwhile free bus link at the Welland Steam Rally, and proprietor Chris Dudley is a super chap. The business was founded by his late father Ernie in 1938, and as you can see from the photos is still going strong.

Presently 19 vehicles, and almost entirely Volvo-based.


Read their story here:

http://dudleys-coaches.co.uk/history.htm

Long may they continue!

Only joking mate, did you have a god time

[Seth]

I work in Inkberrow!!!!

Well Dudleys are just down the road in Radford!

I'll let you know when I'm there next time Martin, and we could possibly have a 'mini-meet' and a cuppa!

[Seth]

Only joking mate, did you have a god time


Yes indeed, and it was great reminiscing about the good times we all had 'on the buses' at the Welland Steam Rally!

[splott]

Dudley's have all Volvos now but they originally had Fords.
They now have a Leyand dressed up for the 60th anniversary. They also have a Dennis Javelin Pictured below......................................................................

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How's about that then Byron

[Seth]

The Dennis Javelins have now all gone Kev.

Two of their coaches have passed into preservation, and will send some good photos of them at Welland soon.

[splott]

Sethsmates pictures>...........................................

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[Seth]

The bottom of the two pictures shows Dudleys first-ever brand-new full-sized coach.

UWP 96R is a Ford R1114 with Plaxton 'Supreme' 53-seat body to bus grant spec.
It was first registered on 01/09/76, and is currently undergoing extensive restoration with an enthusiast in Gloucestershire.

It's seen here at the 2004 Welland Steam Rally, shortly before withdrawal.
I always declined to drive it, preferring the heavyweight Leopard for the intensive shuttle service that we operated.



The top photo shows our regular steed at Welland.

Acquired with the Royal Motorways operation, STO 244X is a very late-model Leyland Leopard with Plaxton 'Supreme 4' 53-seat body. A PSU3F/5R model, it has the rationalised Leyland 0.680 engine (with Austrian-made Friedmann & Mayer injection pump), and ZF S6-80 'Synchroma' 6-speed gearbox. This model was a stop-gap option, which was basically available between the cessation of AEC Reliance production, and the introduction of Leyland's B43 Tiger chassis.

Totally reliable, this coach always performed brilliantly, and is also presently under restoration with enthusiasts in the Evesham area.
Watch out for it at an event near you soon!

[splott]

Come on Sethsmate.........................................

Can you name the coaches at Dudley's

[Sixstring]

This is a great thread............BUS PORN!!!

[Seth]

Come on Sethsmate.........................................

Can you name the coaches at Dudley's

Most of the coaches are named with a local theme, generally after the surrounding villages etc.
In alphabetical order they are:

Alexandra
Cowsden Courier
Dormston Harrier
breakenham Voyager
Grafton Traveller
Inkberrow Cruiser 2
Inkberrow Cruiser 3
Jane
Kington Wanderer
Lady of the Lenches
Pride of Rous Lench
Saltway Princess
Spirit of Morton
Tanworth Tourer
Tanworth Tourer 2
The Flyford Connection 2

[alunonhisown]

Look at what I found on the Bay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRISTOL-L5G-MERTHYR-TYDFIL-BY-CORGI-OOC_W0QQitemZ370105122880QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ToysGames_DiecastVehicles_DiecastVehicles_JN?hash=item562bfc0040

That brings back memories but to far back for me.

[tunnie]

how is this thread still going!?

Guess i better add something...

Last time i was on bus, i went to the Alps, noticed it was a Vanhool Astron, interesting auto which behaved like a manual.

Last time i went they used Izar bus? Which was rubbish! Ride in the Vanhool was much smoother.