2003

With the arrival of 124 at Butterley in February, all three of our buses are now undercover together in the Midland Road Transport Group building. This has enabled work on the buses to carry on throughout the winter come rain or shine, initially on 114 and then on 123 to prepare for its return to the road for the 2004 season.

Sat. 8th February - 124 was moved to Butterley to join 123 & 114.

Sun. 20th April - Aston Buses Leyland Leopard DWF 22V was used to visit the Lincoln Bus Museum.

Sat. 24th May - Group members visited Northampton by car to ride on former Grampian Leyland Atlantean KSA 183P which was running for Midland Routemaster.

Sun. 6th July - Bass Rally, Burton, using Aston Buses Leyland National 2 PWY 584W.

Sun. 13th July - Midland Railway Centre rally. We travelled down on Aston Buses Leyland Leopard DWF 22V. 114 and 124 were brought out of the building where they are kept and put on display with the other buses. Work continued on 123 indoors.

Mon. 21st - Fri. 25th July - Working week on 123. (photos : Andy Cooper)

Sun. 27th July - Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum rally using Aston Buses Leyland National 2 PWY 584W.

Fri. 22nd August - Group members helped out Aston Buses to fetch Northern Counties bodied Leyland Atlanteans A751 NNA & A679 HNB (new to GMPTE) from Focus Coaches, Much Hoole near Preston.

Fri. 29th August - Another trip to Preston, this time to fetch A455 SCW (formerly A664 HNB).

Sun. 14th September - Meadowhall Rally, Sheffield. We used Aston Buses Atlantean A751 NNA to travel from Chesterfield Town Hall to the rally site. The bus was also used during the day on the shuttle service from the rally to the Sheffield Bus Museum at Tinsley Tram Sheds.

Sun. 28th September - We visited Keighley Bus Museum to view former South Yorkshire PTE National look alike Bendy-Bus FWA 450V.

Sat. 1st & 8th November - Midland Railway Centre firework displays. The interior of the building housing our vehicles was floodlit during these two evenings to enable visiting members of the public to view the buses

Sun. 2nd November - Blackpool. Our annual trip through the Blackpool Illuminations, this year using TM Travel's brand new VDL (DAF) DB250, YJ53 VBM, with East Lancs Myllennium Lowlander H51/29F bodywork.

Sun. 28th December - Our annual Christmas run around and dinner. Aston Buses provided Leyland Atlantean A751 NNA. We visited Holymoorside, Kirkstone Road & Bolsover before taking the bus to Eckington for our Christmas dinner at the "Prince of Wales" (excellent food, crap beer!). Afterwards we made our way back to Chesterfield town centre for photographs under the Christmas lights.

 

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