| By then end of 2008, the bodywork was largely complete so the bus's appearance didn't change much after that. Work then concentrated on finishing the seats and attending to the mechanicals, fitting six new tyres (two by Ian and the rest by me once I knew how), clutch and brake adjustment and freeing up of the accelerator pedal so that at last we were able to move outside for the first time since 2003 on Thursday 6th August 2015. |  |
| Closeup of the front and a nearside view. Service 314 ran from Chipping Sodbury to Filton for the benefit of workers at the BAC and Rolls Royce Engines plants. |  |
| A view from the rear - bumper yet to be fitted and the dust cleaned from the roof. |  |
| However, it took until March 2017 to complete all the external details, lettering and finally fit all the seats! And the roof still hasn't been cleaned! In the distance can be seen our next project, Devon General AEC Regal I SR510 |  |
| A thorough clean (including the roof) and we are ready for a visit to the MOT testing station in Takely for its first test since 1980 |  |
| At last, on 4th April 2017, the bus left its home for the first time since January 1996 and set out for Takely along the road through Cutlers Green. |  |
| Here we are, waiting patiently for our turn in the test bay. |  |
| In the test bay... a nerve-wracking hour but all was good and we had our ticket at the end. |  |
| A brief stop on the way home for photographs allowed us to take this interior view with the seats all fitted and with the right colour vinyl cappings at last. |  |
| As a finale, we made a brief stop at the bus stop by the Guildhall in Thaxted on the way home. |  |
| So ends twenty-two years of
restoration of HHW 452D, formerly Bristol Omnibus Co. Ltd fleet no,
2636. Here it is looking very tidy, I hope you will agree, at the
East Anglia Tramways Museum at Carlton Colville, Lowestoft. Quite
appropriate, really, as it left Lowestoft for the first time in
September 1966. If you would like to know more, please follow our exploits here. |
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