2001

Wed. 10th January - The interior of 114 was Steam cleaned today.

Sat. 27th January - Elmton - 123 was taken for an evening run out to the Village of Elmton near Creswell where we visited the "Elm Tree Inn".

Sun. 4th February - 124 was taken from Barrow Hill to Sheepbridge Commercials for engine repair work.

Sun. 18th February - Today saw us knee deep in mud at a farm near Whatstandwell from where we towed a caravan back to Chesterfield to use for storage.

Sun. 4th March - Repair work was undertaken on 123's exhaust. It was then taken to Stagecoach East Midlands Stonegravels depot who very kindly agreed to let us use their bus wash.

Sat. 14th April - 123 was taken to the village of Bonsall to the "Kings Head" and then onto the "Cliff Inn" at Crich.

Sun. 22nd April - 124 was taken on a test run today to North Wingfield.

Sat. 28th April / Sun. 29th April - Barrow Hill Roundhouse - 123 was used on the free shuttle service from Chesterfield station to Barrow Hill Roundhouse who were having a special open weekend to celebrate the opening of their platform and running line. TM Travel's fleetline WDS 112V was also used for part of the day on Saturday.

Sun. 6th May - Halifax - 123 was unavailable today and so we borrowed Aston Express Marshall bodied Dennis Dart (X166 BNH) for the Journey to Halifax Piece Hall and the Heart of the Pennines Rally.

Sat. 12th May - Sat. 19th May - Devon - Group member Dennis Vickers organised a weeks holiday to Paignton for which we used Mick Pearsons AEC Reliance AUS 649S. During the week we visited the Oldway Mansion rally on Sunday, Teignmouth, Castle Drogo, Seaton Tramway, Plymouth and Barnstaple.

Sun. 20th May - Crich & Darley Dale - 123 was used today by group member Dennis Vickers to celebrate the Golden Wedding Anniversary of his parents. We first visited Crich Tramway Museum where Sheffield's last tram No. 510 was used to convey the party to Wakebridge and back. We then made our way to Peak Rail and had lunch on board the train as we went up and down the line between Matlock Riverside and Rowsley South.

Sat. 26th May - Sparrowpit - To celebrate three birthdays, 123 was taken to the "Wanted Inn" at Sparrowpit where we had a very enjoyable meal and of course plenty of beer to wash it down with!

Sun. 3rd June - Cleethorpes - We joined the 1515 Preservation Group for a visit to the seaside - Cleethorpes was our destination for the day using former South Yorkshire PTE MCW bodied fleetline OKW 515R.

Sun. 17th June - Sheffield - Today we were celebrating the 15th birthday of group member Dennis Vickers daughter. 123 was taken to Valley Centretainment in Sheffield where we visited "Bitz & Pizza" for a meal.

Fri. 29th June - Monsal Head - Group member Shayne Howarth celebrated his birthday today when we took 123 into the Derbyshire Peak District to Monsal Head.

Sun. 8th July - Midland Railway Centre - 123 was taken to the Midland Railway Centre for their Road & Rail rally.

Sat. 14th July / Sun. 15th July - Barrow Hill Roundhouse - We used the 1515 Preservation Groups ex. South Yorkshire DMS lookalike fleetline OKW 515R for the weekend on the free service from Chesterfield station to Barrow Hill Roundhouse who were holding a Gala Open Weekend. TM Travel's ex. Chesterfield fleetline UWA 154S was also used for one journey on Saturday.

Sat. 21st July / Sun. 22nd July - Barrow Hill Roundhouse - We had hoped to have 124 ready for this weekend but unfortunately we had been unable to MOT it due to a leaking fuel tank. TM Travel's ex. Chesterfield fleetline UWA 154S was used to operate the free service from Chesterfield station to Barrow Hill Roundhouse who were holding a Model Engineering Weekend. UWA 159S replaced 154 and was used for the last few journeys on Sunday.

Sun. 29th July - Sandtoft - With 124 still unavailable and 123's MOT expired, we joined the 1515 Preservation Group aboard OKW 515R to the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum near Doncaster.

Thurs. 2nd August - With fuel tank fixed, 124 was taken to Unitec at Hellaby near Rotherham where it passed it's MOT test.

Sat. 4th August - Bolsover - We were asked to provide transport to an outdoor concert at Bolsover Castle during the evening. We borrowed Bristol VRT ODL 661R from Johnsons of Hodthorpe which ran from South Normanton to Bolsover and return after the event. During the concert, the bus was taken to the "Black Horse" at Whaley. Thanks to our driver for the evening, Andy Cooper and to Johnson's for the loan of the bus.

Sun. 5th August - Ruddington - 124 was taken to the Nottingham Heritage Centre at Ruddington. When we returned to Chesterfield the opportunity was taken to position 124 next to 123 and 114 for a photograph of all our buses together.

Thurs. 9th August - 123 was moved to Barrow Hill Roundhouse with its place at Sheepbridge now taken by 124.

Sun. 19th August - Blackpool - 124 made what was quite probably its first visit to the coast today when we made the journey to Blackpool for the Ribble Enthusiast's Club rally. We returned via. the scenic Snake Pass and the "Snake Inn".

Sat. 25th August - We were visited by a photographer from the Derbyshire Times today to take photographs of 124 for a newspaper article.

Sun. 26th August - Crich Tramway Museum - One of our local rallies, 124 was taken to the National Tramway Museum at Crich for their annual rally.

Sun. 2nd September - Manchester - 124 was taken to Manchester and the Heaton Park Rally. We returned via. Harry Ramsdens in Manchester and the "Snake Inn".

Thurs. 6th September - An article appeared about the group and our buses in the "Derbyshire Times" newspaper. This was in conjunction with a running day to be held on the coming Saturday. The article also featured ex. Chesterfield Crossley bodied PS1, JRA 635 and Leyland PD2 225 LRB.

Sat. 8th September - Chesterfield Preserved Buses Running Day - 124, 48 (Leyland PS1 JRA 635) and 225 (Leyland PD2 225 LRB) were all present at Chesterfield Town Hall for this event. 124 and 48 were available for members of the public to travel on and several journeys were operated around the Town Centre. After the event, 124 and 225 were taken to their old home at Stonegravels depot and posed together for photographs.

Sun. 9th September - Sheffield - The day of our local rally at the Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield. Beforehand, 12 buses gathered in front of Chesterfield Town Hall, the largest gathering in Chesterfield since the Chesterfield Transport Centenary Rally in 1982. Vehicles in the parade were as follows : - 124, 48 (JRA 635), 225 (225 LRB), L8 NCP (TM Travel Dennis Dart), B82 WUV (TM Travel Leyland Titan), B161 WUL (TM Travel MCW Metrobus), OHV 806Y (TM Travel Leyland Titan), OJD 814Y (TM Travel MCW Metrobus), SAE 751S (Bowers Coaches Leyland National), X187 BNH (Aston Buses Dennis Dart), X840 HHE (Stagecoach East Midlands Dennis Dart) and PO51 WNP (G. & J. Holmes Mercedes Benz Vario). All buses made the journey via. Dronfield and Sheffield City Centre to Meadowhall.

Sat. 6th October / Sun. 7th October - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Diesel Gala - 124 was used all day Saturday and until Sunday lunch time on the free service from Chesterfield station to Barrow Hill Roundhouse. It then developed a power steering fluid leak and was replaced by TM Travel's Bristol VRT URP 943W for the rest of the days service.

Sun. 28th October - Halifax - We joined the 1515 Preservation Group aboard their ex. South Yorkshire MCW bodied fleetline OCW 515R to the Nocturnal Heart of the Pennines Rally at Halifax Piece Hall.

Sat. 3rd November - Oakerthorpe - 124 was taken to the "Peacock" at Oakerthorpe near Alfreton for an evening trip. We returned via. Shirland, Pilsley and North Wingfield.

Sun. 4th November - Blackpool Illuminations - Our annual trip to Blackpool. 124 made its second visit of the year to Blackpool. We left Chesterfield Town Hall at 08:25 and travelled out via. Tideswell Moor. After at 45 minute break at the motorway services, we continued via. the M6 and M55 and arrived at the Pleasure Beach coach park at 12:15. The day was spent enjoying Blackpool's many attractions (Atlanteans!) before returning to 124 at 17:00 for a tour of the illuminations. We returned by the same route as this morning calling off at the "Robin Hood" near Hazel Grove for refreshments.

Sun. 11th November - An electrician payed us a visit today to work on 124. We now have all the interior lights working and the "Pay as You Enter" and "Exit Only" exterior lights have been wired up again.

Sat. 17th November - For the first time in many months, 114 was fired up today and driven around the yard. This was in preparation for steam cleaning and then shotblasting the chassis.

Thurs. 29th November - We purchased another bus today, ex. Chesterfield fleetline UWA 154S from TM Travel. It was then moved from TM to Barrow Hill Roundhouse and 123 moved in the opposite direction. This bus is eventually to be used as a storage facility in place of the caravan currently in use. It is however MOT'd until mid 2002 so we intend to use it first!

Sun. 23rd December - Our annual Christmas running day and meal. 124 was taken to TM Travel at Staveley where we swopped onto TM's ex. Clydeside Alexander bodied fleetline WDS 112V for a run to Worksop via. Creswell. This was returned to Staveley where we transferred to ex. Chesterfield fleetline UWA 159S which was taken into Chesterfield via. Inkersall. We then made our way to Holymoorside via Brampton. After reaching Holymoorside terminus we headed for the hills! 159 ascended the steep climb to the top of Beeley Moor for a photo stop in the snow(see below). As neither WDS or 159 have working heaters we were all getting a little cold by now so we called at the "Red Lion" at Stanedge for a pint. It was now getting towards time for dinner so 159 was returned to TM Travel where we were reunited with our own 124 for the trip to Eckington and Christmas lunch at the "Prince of Wales". After dinner 124 made the trip to Clowne to Northfields for the Christmas lights before returning to Chesterfield via Bolsover for photos under the Christmas lights.

 

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