“Two vehicles, both Leyland PD3s, left Barry about 0800, with Caerphilly 32 stopping at Coryton to pick up six passengers.
Richard Johnson was driving PAX, & Alan Jones was driving 32, and after crossing the Severn Crossing Alan decided to miss the roadworks on the M4 & travel into Bristol along the Portway (a bit more scenic). We arrived about 10.00, just behind John Evans Caerphilly 36 and parked alongside. PAX arrived about 5 minutes later and parked next to us, so there were 3 PDs in a row.
Crowds seemed a bit down this year as did the buses, maybe because the forecast wasn’t too promising, but there was only one small shower during the day. There did seem to be a lot more cars.
There were the usual trips on various (mostly local) buses, with an hourly service to Bath, and 3 time hourly to Temple Meads and also the Avon Valley railway. I sampled a Crosville RE (superb) on a trip to the railway which was a vehicle I had seen but not sampled 2 weeks previously at the Worthing rally, and then spent an hour on a round trip behind a class 31. The trip back was on another Crosville bus, this time an open top Lodekka.
Also sampled was a trip on the very frequent shuttle to Flowers Hill, the home of the Bristol group. This was using as usual the open top Bristol K, supplemented by the groups Routemaster, although I was able to walk back.
On the journey home we left in 32 before PAX, travelling the reverse route. We caught sight of PAX at Cardiff Gate & it finally caught us at Coryton. next and photos by Paul Hamley……
Photos below show ex BR Diesel Electric Brush type 3 A1A-A1A 31130 formerly D5548 and now on a 5 year loan to the Avon Valley Railway, seen along with ex Crosville DP, RELL and former Brighton & Hove FLF open-topper.
