Bus Preservation and Rallies

by Malcolm Batten

ISBN: 9781399087902

Published: 2023-04-30

The preservation of our transport heritage is something that the British excel at. The Buses magazine Museum & Rally Guide 2020-21 lists forty museums in the United Kingdom plus one in the Republic of Ireland with collections of buses (and sometimes trams or trolleybuses) amongst their exhibits. The rally calendar section lists hundreds of events taking part every year. This has all developed since the 1950s. Prior to this a few far-sighted companies such as The London General Omnibus Company (later London Transport) had put aside some old vehicles but they were not on regular display. Private preservation started in the 1950s and the first clubs for preservationists were established such as the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club in 1958. A few early events were held, but the first regular event was the HCVC (now HCVS) London to Brighton Run which began in 1962 and has continued ever since. Museum sites were established in the 1960s - The Museum of British Transport opened in stages...