Good Days & Bad Days
Trip Start
May 2008
1
3
5
Trip End
Jun 2008
Portland,
United Kingdom
Saturday, September 1, 2007
I went out to Portland to view the bus properly, meeting up with Jon Cartwright, my current mechanical expert. I arrived first and noticed for the first time that the front of the bus was missing. I found it inside the bus later.
I spoke to the staff at the bus depot, who informed me that the radiator was somewhere in Poole (I've no idea why). They did however tell me that they had fired the thing up a few times (over the last 2 years) and it was a runner. They also told me it had a top speed of about 30 mph. 30 mph !!!! They had said 40-50 mph before. It would take months to get there at that speed.
Having spoken to DVLA, who had mentioned the upper weight limit of 7.5 tonnes, I went to check the weight of this one
The Portland Bus
. (If you are interested, it is written on the near side of all buses). 9.25 tonnes. Oh hell ! I've got to lose 1.75 tonnes somehow. I'm taking the roof off (about a tonne ?), removing a lot of the seats (half a tonne absolute max), but I want to put a bar in and a toilet. (Can you make these things from balsa wood ?). The bus itself, albiet dirty and in a few parts, I think we could fix up alright. The engine looked clean, no major oil leaks and not much rust on the bodywork that I could see. However, it is too heavy for us to drive and too slow if the Sureline staff are correct.
They offered me a single decker, told me that it flew (50-60 miles per hour !). It just wouldn't be the same though, I've set my heart on a double decker. Where do you put a beer terrace on a single decker ? Besides, I checked the weight. 9.2 tonnes. Out of range and no way to reduce it. no roof to take off, fewer seats to remove.
So, a few issues to resolve now.....
Firstly, the weight limit of 7.5 tonnes. Is that laden or unladen ? I've got 1.5 tonnes of people to fit on, plus baggage, plus any aid/gifts to take to Romania
The Upstairs
. If it is laden weight, we really are stuffed. Secondly, the speed issue. We can't go on something with a top speed of 30 mph. I'm hoping the staff there were under exaggerating. I'm sure I've been on double deckers going a lot faster than 30 mph.
I came away with some concerns. I wonder if Wilts & Dorset have any lighter, faster double deckers.... we shall have to wait and see if they reply and probably harass a few more companies.
On a plus side, I've got permission to store the thing (once I get one) at work. Ricky Flatt has expressed his enthusiasm for joining up. I've spoken to another traffic copper who seems to think the DVLA have given me wrong information and I can drive any bus with less than 17 seats, as long as it doesn't have a trailer of over 7.5 tonnes. I've also heard from a bloke who has bought buses for unusual purposes before who has given me a few leads to try on Monday.
Ricky Flatt's 70 year old friend may fancy the trip too..........
