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I like Bristols (and AECs) !
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KJA299G



Joined: 06 Nov 2018
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 1:57 pm    Post subject: I like Bristols (and AECs) ! Reply with quote

Hello everyone, first time poster popping by to say hello. My 'fleet' consists of a 1951 AEC Regent III, now finished; and the current money-sink is a 1968 Bristol RESL6G.

The AEC was new to Rochdale Corporation Transport and has a pre-selector gearbox, so hello to any Daimler or Lanchester owners here; the Bristol was new to the North Western Road Car company which was once a pretty big company serving the eastern half of Cheshire, the south and east of Greater Manchester and the whole of the Peak District.

I'll give the occasional update on progress with the Bristol: at the moment the radiator is out for overhaul, which should cure its chronic cooling problems.

Paul

Rochdale 235, Trans Lancs Historic Vehicle Show, Manchester, September 2014 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

North Western 299, St Helens, July 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to the forum, always good to hear from another large-vehicle enthusiast Smile

RJ
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alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome to the forum....

I used to drive for London Transport, so 'learnt', and drove 'in anger' AEC RT deckers.... my route only getting RMs on Sundays.

Bristol REs of many types were driven later, as I drove for United Auto, EYMS, and some small firms in between.
Rams it home how much of an old fahrt I am when I espy vehicles I used to drive for a living, now in museums and shows....
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome aboard, no need to sit in the back row with a first post like that Cool

Very nice. I need a bigger garage......
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Rootes75



Joined: 30 Apr 2013
Posts: 3785
Location: The Somerset Levels

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2018 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The AEC is superb, would love to travel on that.
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DHS2Dave



Joined: 05 May 2016
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 12:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great pics there Paul, nice to see another bus enthusiast on here. Do you keep them inside? A real downside of bus ownership is the storage considerations.
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KJA299G



Joined: 06 Nov 2018
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu May 30, 2019 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Goodness, I just realised I haven't done an update!

The cooling system on the Bristol was goosed: a breather pipe that was meant to prevent airlocks was blocked, and this resulted in a complete lack of water circulation; which meant a blocked radiator; which meant chronic overheating. So the radiator was sent off for specialist repair, at a cost of oo-er-don't-tell-the-missus.

Bristol RE radiator, September 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

This left a gaping hole at the front that gave me an opportunity to get rid of the muck of fifty years...

299, radiator-less, September 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

...and to paint all the metalwork in a fetching shade of Hammerite named 'wild thyme' which is surprisingly close to the original spec.

Say ahhh... North Western 299, October 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

The radiator came back looking like new and was installed, finally curing the cooling problems it's had for at least twenty years and probably more.

North Western 299, November 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

This enabled me to gather my fleet together for the very first time.

My fleet, December 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

Next problem: not charging. This was a puzzle because the charge light went out as soon as the engine started, and only came on when the engine stopped. This took some time to track down until we discovered that the charge warning light had been disconnected from the charging circuit - and had been connected in parallel with the oil pressure warning light! Presumably this was done during its latter days in service, when drivers probably reported it for not charging and the garage fitter fixed the problem by making sure the light went out when the driver expected it to! So at this moment the 24v alternator is at an auto-electrician.

My guess is that at some point, it has been started on a battery trolley or booster with no batteries on the bus. Then if you disconnect the battery booster, the alternator diodes go puff... Okay with a dynamo, but very not recommended with these new-fangled alternator thingies.

I'll swing by again with an update but feel free to comment or ask questions, or make suggestions.

Paul
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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu May 30, 2019 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting update, thanks, any photos you have of your bus rebuild(s) would be very welcome here!

RJ
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KJA299G



Joined: 06 Nov 2018
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 2:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Getting there slowly...

(Click on pics for bigger version)

Comedy air filter set up on preserved North Western RE 299, January 2018 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

A bit of an improvement by Paul Williams, on Flickr
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KJA299G



Joined: 06 Nov 2018
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2019 10:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, it's been a long time since I updated - but here we are. Plenty to report, but not much visually overall.

All pics are clickable which will will show you a larger version on the Flickr website.

The seat moquette is very faded, but thankfully I've been able to source a new roll of the correct pattern. Can you tell the difference?

Seat moquette contrast, North Western 299 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

Re-covering the seats should be one of the last jobs, so the new moquette is in storage for now. But at some point the seat frames themselves will need to come out, all twenty-odd of them, to enable the frames to be painted (they should be grey) and new floor lino to be laid. The floor studs are almost always seized due to the action of dirt and water from mops, so it helps to wirebrush off the paint and crud and apply a squirt of penetrating oil. It also helps to have a 20-year old son to do it for you!

299A's restoration continues, December 2019 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

Also on the inside, the front dashboard stretching right across from the entrance to the driver and then the right-side of the driver is made from glass fibre. This was a pleasant warm grey when new, but at some point drivers complaining about this creating reflections at night so the whole lot was given at least two coats of nasty black paint which now all has to come off. Paint stripper is no good - if it's strong enough to take off the paint it'll damage the glass fibre, and if it's weak enough to not cause damage then it won't take off the paint. So I experimented with soda blasting, which does the job beautifully but it's very slow and very, very messy. I did a bit myself but to be honest the thought of doing the whole lot gives me the heebie jeebies so I think I'll need to pick up the phone to a specialist supplier.

Sodablasting 299's front dash, November 2019 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

All the paint, everywhere, needs doing again. This includes fiddly bits like the grey paint on the inside of the passenger doors. Wet-and-dry sanding in a farm yard in December is not much fun!

299A's restoration continues, December 2019 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

On the outside, all the aluminium panels have been recorded in preparation for removal. Then the frame underneath will be scraped, rust treated and painted; and new panels fabricated.

299A's restoration continues, December 2019 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

An example of a little job that makes the difference is that at some point, it lost a pair of stainless steel handrails that were sited on either side of the entrance doors. These are now reinstated using similar fittings from a scrapped 1980s bus, and you can make them out on the recent 'general view' below.

North Western 299, Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, August 2019 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

All in all, getting there.

Paul
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alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2019 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is a splendid effort. well done.
{RE's were at one time bread n butter for me....United Auto, Scarborough, odd times 1970's and pre-EYMS 1980's.}
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2019 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to see another big old vehicle getting the treatment! Thanks for the update.

RJ
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Rootes75



Joined: 30 Apr 2013
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Location: The Somerset Levels

PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks very good, lovely work.

On New Years day we should with any luck be taking a trip out in an early postwar Bristol half cab single decker.
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KJA299G



Joined: 06 Nov 2018
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 3:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ulp! I appear to have badly neglected this thread... Anyway, the project is now complete and it's now out and about. Here are a few photos to show the latter stages of restoration and how it looks these days.

241362508_348630436955724_5849172562357699868_n by Paul Williams, on Flickr

242136282_559384375269264_6351488528378688_n by Paul Williams, on Flickr

IMG_2827 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

IMG_3024 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

IMG_3116 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

IMG_1260 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

North Western 299A, July 2022 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

The varnish goes on - May 2023 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

North Western 299A, Cat & Fiddle, June 2023 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

North Western 299A, Over Peover, Cheshire, July 2023 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

My fleet, Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, June 2023 by Paul Williams, on Flickr
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Rick
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great to see it back together and on the road, some of those locations look very familiar Smile

RJ
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