On a sunshine and showers bank holiday weekend, Cornwall Bus Preservation Society picked the best day of the four for their Penzance Vintage Bus run.
Left to right: An Albion Nimbus, Bristol FLF6G, and Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer
A number of the society’s vehicles offered free rides across several west Cornwall bus routes, including the 16 and 17 journeys between Penzance and St Ives.
At Penzance station, the buses were greeted by the biggest crowd I’ve seen for this annual event, organised by volunteer society members and drivers. Very much an all-age experience, youngsters seemed particularly excited to ride on vehicles such as the green and cream coloured Bristol FLF6G, dating from 1963. It saw service in South Devon, hence its Devonian 824 KDV registration, travelling around Totnes and Paington, with occasional forays into Plymouth.
There was a lot of love, too, for the red and cream XTA 839, an Albion Nimbus, which arrived in Devon in 1958, serving Exeter, Newton, Abbot, and Torquay. It was sold to Fowey Bus and Taxi in 1971, before entering preservation in 1976.
My ride into St Ives was on a 1994 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer, a bus I’m sure I’d been on when it was in service. I’d tried to get onto one of the more interesting old vehicles, but they were already full. Not to worry. The trip on the 16 route was excellent taking in Gulval cricket ground, the sweeping view from Castle Gate down to Mount’s Bay, and ups, downs, and tight encounters with other vehicles through Nancledra and to Cripplesease. Then there’s that lovely view of the sea as one comes down from the Engine Inn towards Halsetown.
It’s great that there’s a team of dedicated volunteers who keep these vehicles on the road for a number of events such as these throughout the year. The next event in Cornwall will be on the Rame Peninsula on 5th July. Find out more on the Cornwall Bus Preservation Society website.
