Bus Preservation Societies in the United Kingdom.

This listing has been compiled by Daniel McIntyre with reference to various bus magazines, including:-

In order to show the variety of bus preservation societies and organisations that currently exist in the United Kingdom.

Links to websites are shown in blue text in the listing below.

Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society

The Aycliffe and District Bus Preservation Society was established in 1980 and was registered as a charity in September 1982. The Society is a member of the North East Museums' Service which acts as the regional co-ordinator of the work of both public and private collections in the North East of England. The Society is provisionally registered with the Museums and Galleries' Commission as a small museum. The Society is also a member of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society.

The preservation of selected local vintage buses in the North East of England is an opportunity to bring the public at large the transport of yesteryear - an opportunity to ride, to touch, smell and to see that which has now left the modern day scene. The Aycliffe and District Bus Preservation Society is committed to the concept of preserving part of that heritage and your interest and support are very much appreciated. Without your help, opportunities to preserve would be gone forever, leaving the north-east of England further down the list in preservation.

The Barton 1246 Society

The Barton 1246 Society was formed in 1999 to restore, preserve and enjoy Barton coach number 1246 in all of its aspects. This Leyland Leopard/Plaxton Elite Express was new to Barton in 1973 and completed 23 years of service with the company. The Society had 50 members in 2005 and produces a quarterly magazine featuring the history of the Barton company and much more, including the re-enactment of Barton services using 1246.

The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Trust

The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Trust has been developing The Transport Museum, at Wythall for over 25 years. The museum located in Chapel Lane, Wythall, accommodates one of the most significant collections of preserved buses in the country, as well as battery electric road vehicles. The emphasis is on Midlands buses, including the largest collection of Midland Red vehicles, many designed and built by the operator itself and now unique. The museum is a licenced bus operator and rides are an important part of event days. All facets of the museum are staffed by volunteers. Most people have a talent that the museum can use, such as maintaining buses, buildings and grounds, staffing buses, the cafeteria and shop, archive cataloguing; not to forget restoration - you don’t have to be an engineering genius although they are needed too! bi-monthly newsletter keeps you up-to-date with the latest developments, and you can help with the progress of the museum by joining The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Trust.

Bristol Vintage Bus Group

The Bristol Vintage Bus Group is based near to the city of Bristol. Its members own a very interesting and varied collection of vintage Bristol buses and a number of classic half cab London buses. All of the buses are maintained and have been or being restored by members and friends throughout the year. During the rally season a variety of the Group’s buses are driven to interesting venues by members, with other members and friends on board. It is a small group with quite a number of buses who are always looking for more members in and around the Bristol area to be involved in the maintenance, restoration and rallying of the fleet.

Bus World Glasgow

Formed in February 2004 after the dissolution of the Glasgow Bus Museum, the Bus World Glasgow organisation aims to have on display buses and associated artefacts from around the world. Included in the present line up are vehicles from Portugal, Holland, Republic of Ireland and Singapore, with more buses due. There are currently over 60 vehicles in the collection ranging from fully restored to vehicles with many years of restoration work ahead of them. Open days are arranged during the year at the Bus World premises at Hillington Industrial Estate, which is located to the south west of Glasgow between Glasgow City Centre and the Town of Paisley.

Cardiff Transport Preservation Group

The Cardiff Transport Preservation Group caters for all people with an interest in the buses of Cardiff and South East Wales. The Group is restoring a number of buses in the Cardiff area and holds monthly meetings throughout the year. It also attends bus rallies and produces a monthly newsletter and organises outings on preserved buses.

Cumbria Omnibus Group

The Cumbria Omnibus Group are the owners of three former Cumberland Motor Service Vehicles, Bristol MW No 231 (AAO 34B), which is now on the road and Bristol LD no 416 (RAO 733), upon which major restoration work is now being carried out. It also owns Bristol VR No 401 (HHH 272N). There is also details of other ex-Cumberland vehicles that are in preservation, plus a general round up of various different Bristol models used by Cumberland Motor Services over the years, including a pictorial selection of that company’s tickets and timetables.

Eastern National Preservation Group

Established in 1971, the Eastern National Preservation Group has preserved a number of ex-Eastern National vehicles which are based at Castle Point Transport Museum at Canvey Island, Essex. New members are very welcome to help restore, maintain and exhibit Group vehicles.

Friends of King Alfred Buses

The Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) are responsible for preserving King Alfred Buses & Coaches and the memory of King Alfred Motor Services that operated from 1920 to 1973 in Winchester and Central Hampshire, Southern England.

King Alfred was one of the few privately owned bus companies to run a municipal service. KAMS was proudly independent, with the statue of King Alfred on the green side panels of its buses to add that ultimate distinction. It is also down to the enthusiasm of members to keep the memory of KAMS alive and protect part of Winchester's great heritage.

Friends of the East Kent Road Car Company Ltd. (FotEK)

Friends of the East Kent Road Car Company Ltd., (FotEK) does not have a website, but was set up in 1999 to encourage the preservation of former vehicles, artefacts, ephemera etc., of the Company, to organise social events for former employees of the company and their families; and to keep members aware of news and forthcoming events by newsletter. Membership is open to all.

Leicester Corporation Bus Preservation Group

Formed in 2002, the group was set up to bring together vehicle owners and enthusiasts interested in the municipal fleeet of Leicester City Transport. The principle aim of the group is to promote the transport heritage of Leicester by preserving buses of historic value for years to come. The collection includes AECs, Bristols, Leylands and more modern Dennis and Metro-Scania types, ome privately and some group-owned. The Group welcomes new members to help with the ongoing programme of vehicle restoration and to assist in other aspects of researching the history of Leicester City Transport. Members of the Group receive a quarterly newsletter ‘Corpo’ which contains updates on restoration projects, plus news of surviving Leicester City Transport buses and rally reports.

Leyland National Group

The Leyland National Group was formed in 1997 and has members throughout Great Britain and abroad. Although the group does not own any vehicles itself, some of its members are bus owners. There are more than 100 Leyland Nationals from a variety of operators preserved by group members.

However, one does not need to own a bus to join the group, as membership is open to anyone with an interest in Leyland Nationals. The group also caters for the derivatives of the Leyland National; the Leyland-DAB, Leyland B21 and Leyland National bodied rail vehicles.

Members receive a colour illustrated quarterly magazine, containing fleet news, preservation news, articles and other items of National interest. There is also exclusive access to the members’ only area on the group’s website as well as other benefits.

The London Bus Preservation Trust

The London Bus Preservation Trust is a Charitable Trust dedicated to preserving and restoring its collection of historic London buses.

The origins of the Trust date back to 1966 when bus preservation was in its infancy. Mindful that a whole generation of London buses was in danger of extinction, a small group of far-sighted enthusiasts worked hard to secure premises with garaging and maintenance facilities to help ease the plight of would-be bus preservationists. The Cobham site was acquired in 1972 and the story has been one of steady progress since that time. Much has been achieved but much remains to be done. The Trust's reputation for restoring old London buses is now known internationally.

A visit to Cobham Bus Museum will provide an amazing insight into the high standards of skill and craftsmanship involved in restoring and maintaining the unique collection of vehicles and artefacts. The Museum houses a remarkable collection of around 35 buses and coaches, the widest selection under one roof of ex-London Transport motor buses in the world. About two thirds are owned by the Trust and the remainder by individual members.

The MacBrayne Circle

The MacBrayne Circle was founded in 1990 and consists of a group of enthusiasts dedicated to maintaining and preserving the memory and historical name of David MacBrayne Ltd. Since 1992 a small but energetic number of Circle members have acquired and successfully restored a fleet of MacBrayne buses and coaches. The vehicles have been restored to roadworthy condition, allowing them to participate at rallies, gala days, fetes etc., held throughout Scotland during the summer months.

The Merseyside Transport Trust

The Merseyside Transport Trust (MTT) was set up on the 1st May 1999 to bring together people with a common interest in saving, restoring and preserving historic vehicles, and associated items from the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive, its constituent corporation fleets and other operators within the Merseyside Area, so that former passengers and the general public will remember them and be able to look back on them. In addition, future generations, will have an opportunity to learn about the historic development of the design of buses in the Merseyside area over the years, and to understand and appreciate, as part of the educational process, the predecessors of the vehicles that they come to use or observe on a daily basis.

North East Bus Preservation Trust

The North East Bus Preservation Trust is based at the Bowes Railway, between Washington and Gateshead in North East England. It organises regular meetings, arranges excursions and publishes its own newsletter. It stages open days and takes part in local rallies such as the Gateshead Metrocentre Rally, North Tyneside Rally, Seaburn Historic Vehicle Display in Sunderland each year. Full details of membership are available on the trust’s website.

Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society

Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society (POPS) was formed in 1977 to preserve former Potteries Motor Traction buses, and save for posterity a part of the transport history of North Staffordshire & South Cheshire.

The Provincial Society

The Provincial Society was formed for people with interest in all aspects of the operations, and vehicles of the former:-

Provincial Tramways Company; Provincial Traction Company; Gosport and Fareham Omnibus Company; The Provincial Bus Company Limited; People's Provincial Buses Limited; First Provincial Limited; First Hampshire Limited; First Hampshire & Dorset Limited and all successor and associated Companies from 1878 to the present day together with the preservation of vehicles and artefacts related to the company's history.

Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust

The Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust is a Charitable Trust dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of Ribble Group buses. Ribble was one of the UK’s pre-eminent bus companies covering at its peak an area from Merseyside to Carlisle. The trust’s collection contains buses from the beginning of the 1930’s up to 1980, housed in a modern depot in west Lancashire owned by the Trust.

Routemaster Operators and Owners Association

The Routemaster Operators and Owners Association provides assistance, advice and news for operators, owners and enthusiasts of these vehicles. From the specification of a screw to a complete bus, the Association provides authoritative technical information. Bus rallies and events are organised and other selected events are supported each year. Members receive a quarterly news magazine and discounts on parts and accessories, including a maintenance manual, owners handbook, technical bulletins, suppliers handbook, badges and transfers, window sealing rubber and many other unique products. large batches of Routemaster spares have been acquired from the London operators, including mechanical units, electrical items and bodywork spares.

Swindon Vintage Omnibus Society

The Swindon Vintage Omnibus Society own two vehicles, these are a preserved Daimler Weymann double deck, ex Swindon Corporation and a Bristol RESL ECW ex-Thamesdown Transport.

TransSupport

TransSupport is the support body of the Lancastrian Transport Trust, with over 40 buses and trams of North West England in its care. Members receive a quarterly colour newsletter.

Vale of Glamorgan Bus Preservation Group

The Vale of Glamorgan Bus Preservation Group is a group of enthusiasts formed to operate and preserve all types of passenger vehicles and to establish a working museum. Membership is open to all and the Group wishes to encourage interest amongst people with a wide range of skills and interests, whether you are a bus owner or not.

All enquiries about this page should be made by E-mail to Daniel McIntyre.
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This page was last updated on 6th September 2007.
© Daniel McIntyre 2007.