MD60 moves again!

It has been a few years since MD60 moved under its own power but today it did so again after hours of refitting the engine and then remedying fuel, oil, air & coolant leaks finally allowed the bus to build up sufficient air pressure to allow the gears & brakes to fuunction. The momentus occasion was recorded on video!

MD60 - more progress

Work has accelerated on completing Metropolitan MD60 ready for its booked repaint in LT red & white livery in March. The offside is now completely repanelled, moulded and riveted. Due to extensive corrosion, the side bonnet and rear engine access doors have had to be completely rebuilt. The next significant area to tackle is the front end framing.

Lodekka SRU981 refurbished

Interior refurbishment on Lodekka SRU981, part of the Crosville Motor Services fleet, has been completed. The work has included new marmoleum floor covering, relined interior rexine panelling, powder coated seat frames and a retrim of the seats in original ribbed styling.

MD60 progresses for Ensignbus

MD60, one of the few survivors of the 164-strong batch of MCW Metropolitans, is making good progress in the workshop area, following the completion of offside and rear framework repairs. Following side repanelling, work is now progressing on the construction of new engine bonnet and side access door frames which were (like the rest of the bus) severely corroded.
Now that the rear framework sections are all renewed, we can safely refit the engine - the bus had almost broken its back due to the extent of framework corrosion and the original rear framework design, which has been improved upon.

MD60 is booked in for a respray in original LT red and white livery in early March which will completely transform its appearance.

Big Bus Olympians for USA

This winter, we are converting 10 tri-axle Olympians for Big Bus Tours for export to USA where they will replace older stock in San Francisco & Philadelphia. The ten buses started their lives in Hong Kong but after withdrawal by KMB the vehicles were exported to England for open top tour work with Big Bus in London. Now replaced by newer buses, the last of the Olympians are going for further life in the USA after a thorough refurbishment and new engines.

Almost ready for delivery back to Big Bus for export to USA

The work being undertaken in Blackpool includes conversion to full open top, reducing the overall height down to 4m, transposing the centre door to the offside, meeting USA lighting regulations, new glazing rubbers, a complete repanel and respray into Big Bus maroon & cream livery.

360 prior to respray but after an almost complete repanel

 

359 stripped for roof mod, door mod & repanelling

 

New blog - Classic Bus North West

Go to Classic Bus North West blog

Location, location, relocation!

The BusWorks and Classic Bus North West is on the move! Following a decision to focus more on the bus operation & hire activities, the BusWorks site has been taken over by Blackpool Coach Services and we have leased a 20-vehicle depot next door to the Lancastrian Transport Trust premises on Brinwell Road. The excellent premises are now being utilised for the operation of the private hires, Sea Front 12 and the soon to start 22 service.
A two-bay workshop on the former BusWorks' site is being retained for completion of Ensignbus projects RTW335 & MD60.