PRESERVATION GROUP
(The 'Fife Scottish Preservation Group' would like to thank the management involved at Stagecoach Scotland, for the kind help shown by them in helping to get this project off the ground)
The group started off unintentionally quite quickly. It all started near the end of January 08, when an idea I had was mooted around the depot. A notice was put up asking drivers if they wanted to start a preservation group. We would all chip in some money until enough was collected in the fund to purchase a suitable candidate. The day after the notice was put up, and purely by coincidence, I was contacted by Alan Rathbone of the Gifford Transport Group. He was putting ex-Fife 'Y' type leopard PSX189Y (FPE189) up for sale, as they had just purchased another ex-Edinburgh vehicle. They needed the space at their premises, so I contacted him with a view to purchasing the vehicle. I explained the situation to Alan regarding starting this new group within Dunfermline, and finally agreed to go to Gifford to view the vehicle. For its 25/26 years of age, the bus was in great condition. A few photos were taken of the bus and were shown to the interested members at Dunfermline. It was quickly agreed to buy the bus. All the new members of the group chipped in and bought 'shares' in the vehicle.
My next step was to contact Robert Andrew (Man. Dir., Stagecoach Scotland) with a view to storing the bus whilst work was being carried out. We were allowed to bring the bus back to Dunfermline depot - it's temporary home while it was being refitted. We brought the bus back on Sunday 2nd March. Any work carried out was to be done through co-operation with the engineering department. For this, I must thank Sandy Brydon (Eng. Dir (Now retired)) and Dave Stewart (Eng. Manager, Dunfermline).
On this preservation group page, we will document the progress of this, our first undertaking, starting with a few pictures of the bus when I went to see it at Gifford.
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This is my daughter, who was delighted at getting to start FPE189 up. It fired up first time with no trouble at all. I took it for a little run up the track and she handled very well. To be honest, I could have just drove it home that day. What memories it conjured up. |
| Everything is there as it should be. 1st gear slips, but we hope to get that sorted out when we get her back 'home'. Beeping to the Christmas tree warning panel (hopefully just a loose contact or two somewhere). |
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Externally, the bus was fine. Just a few minor dents and a panel or two to be replaced. It will obviously need a good rubbing down before any painting can be done. It carries an original Fife (Kirkcaldy area) destination blind. |
| On the off side, there are only 2 or 3 little dents on the lower panels - nothing that can't be fixed. I do not know if we will have to replace any bodyside panels. I think we will want to re-attach the missing pieces of panel 'beading'. |
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It has had a replacement panel fitted to the front, but still the original type. |
| We will take the school sign off the rear boot and see what needs to be done in this area. all external lights are originals. |
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A view of the inside, looking forward. You would think the bus just came out of service with Fife Scottish, what with the original Fife notices inside. No graffiti on the seats, or anywhere. Excellent. |
| Inside view, looking to the rear. All windows throughout are still in a watertight condition. |
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This was the last new 'Y' type Leopard delivered to Fife Scottish in 1982. I believe it was new to Kirkcaldy depot, but would have been shunted around the other depots from time to time. It never carried the old Alexander 'script' style of fleet name, but was delivered with the normal Fife Scottish 'corporate type' logo. It later carried the 'large logo' type of fleet name, a style which - to me - suited this type of vehicle, and indeed, the possible style for this preservation.
Since the bus has come back to Dunfermline, it has been decided that it shall indeed be repainted into the 'large logo' livery. Shown in the photographs below, are the progressive stages of the work done to the bus since it's arrival.
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This is the first visit to the workshop at Dunfermline depot. It had an assessment of the work needing done to it to bring it up to a pre MOT standard. |
| The second visit into the workshops where the most important jobs were done (See photo below). |
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This included replacing one panel and the repairs to the electrical system. The panel warning lights now come on when they are supposed to. |
| It was also assessed where any other body filling, or repairs, would have to be done. |
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A start was also made on stripping the old paintwork off the bus. This stage seemed to take an eternity to complete. It was worth it in the end though. |
| I worked bit by bit on painting the various areas. The early undercoat used was Halfords white undercoat on the cream areas, and Halfords red undercoat on the red areas. I was not totally happy with the results, so used the cream and pink undercoats that Stagecoach use - a lot better. I bought authentic paint from Dingbro in Kirkcaldy and I could slowly see how the bus would take shape. |
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A selection of pictures showing the progress of the bus through it's painting stage. |
| Another selection of pictures when the bus was parked up outside one day. The entrance door was undercoated and painted and the legal lettering was applied. Later on that day, the bus was lifted and given a final wash underneath to the chassis, engine etc. |
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The bus failed it's MOT in August, but at least I knew what was still to be done. I had already changed one of the bushes on the forward N/S leaf suspension, but now needed to replace another 2 pins and bushes on the rear suspension springs (both sides). The pins and bushes were sourced, but work commitments limit the time I have to carry out the remaining repairs. The bus is now at it's new home up at Rennies yard at Wellwood, Dunfermline, but the remaining repairs will be carried out at Dunfermline depot. As I would not have the bus ready in time for the open weekend at Lathalmond this year (2008), it was decided not to rush the repairs through. Time would now be on my side to have the bus ready for the new season (next year). This would include purchasing and applying the large logo fleetnames and purchasing the red 'Herzim' for the horizontal beading.
ABOVE:- The bus at present whilst at Rennies yard at Wellwood in Dunfermline. The bus can usually be found either up at Wellwood or at the Stagecoach depot in Dunfermline.
