| Nostalgia, thats what it's all about. This bus was a part of my early life in Bolton, Lancashire and I was taken into town on it and its brothers many times by my mother in the early-mid 60's.
I remember gleefully kneeling up on the front long seat behind the driver, watching all that he did while he was driving. The only interesting thing about school were the old buses that took us there and back and 122 was one of many that came and went. It disappeared to what I thought was a scrapyard in the early 70's and that was that I thought.......! In 1999 someone in the bus restoration world said it had been restored in the early 80's but was now down at heel, languishing at a bus depot in Wigan just a few weeks away from being chucked out for the local kids to destroy. I had to have it. So here we go; little did I know how bad the condition was.... This collection will hopefully illustrate what goes into restoring a vintage bus on a tight budget. The fact I obtained it at no cost was a good start! The restoration of Bolton 122 is funded by a little business called Boltons Bits selling 4mm scale model bus components and transfers. PLEASE NOTE.....THE PICTURES ARE NUMBERED IN HISTORICAL ORDER FROM 122#2 ONWARDS. The early pics will be scanned photos but digtal ones will appear later on. |
New Section of aluminium floor fabricated and fitted. 1024x768 122_195.jpg |
New Section of aluminium floor being fabricated. 1024x768 122_194.jpg |
New Section of aluminium floor being fabricated. 1024x768 122_194.jpg |
Ex Leyland Tiger cub voltage regulator fitted to replace lost original equipment. AND IT WORKS! 2048x1536 122_193.jpg |
Ex Leyland Tiger cub voltage regulator fitted to replace lost original equipment. AND IT WORKS! 1536x2048 122_192.jpg |
Ex Leyland Tiger cub voltage regulator fitted to replace lost original equipment. AND IT WORKS! 1536x2048 122_191.jpg |
Ex Leyland Tiger cub voltage regulator fitted to replace lost original equipment. AND IT WORKS! 2048x1536 122_190.jpg |
As the experiment with the alternator didn't work, the original dynamo was unearthed, serviced, tested and re-fitted. Sadly all the original voltage regulator gear had crumbled away so this is the regulator off a Tiger Cub! Works well after Graham sorted a dodgy contact for me! 2048x1536 122_189.jpg |
Last window fitted. 800x600 122_188.jpg |
Repaired cab door with all glass fitted. 600x800 122_187.jpg |
Repaired cab door with all glass fitted and primered. 600x800 122_186.jpg |
Repairs to Cab door so far. Window surround straightened, new sheet aluminium on top half of door. 1024x768 122_185.jpg |
Repairs to Cab door so far. Window surround straightened, new sheet aluminium on top half of door. 768x1024 122_184.jpg |
Repairs to Cab door so far. Window surround straightened, new sheet aluminium on top half of door. 768x1024 122_183.JPG.jpg |
Repairs to Cab door so far. Window surround straightened, new sheet aluminium on top half of door. 768x1024 122_182.jpg |
Repairs to Cab door so far. Window surround straightened, new sheet aluminium on top half of door. 1024x768 122_181.JPG.jpg |
Repairs to Cab door so far. Window surround straightened, new sheet aluminium on top half of door. 1024x768 122_180.JPG.jpg |
Work has now re-started on the cab area. Mudguard cleaned up and primed ready for filling and smoothing. New woodwork also primered. 800x600 122_179.JPG.jpg |
Work has now re-started on the cab area. Mudguard cleaned up and primed ready for filling and smoothing. New woodwork also primered. 600x800 122_178.JPG.jpg |
Work has now re-started on the cab area. New woodwork around cab entrance and wheel arch. 600x800 122_177.JPG.jpg |
Work has now re-started on the cab area. New woodwork around cab entrance and wheel arch. 600x800 122_176.JPG.jpg |
Work has now re-started on the cab area. New woodwork around cab entrance and wheel arch. 600x800 122_175.JPG.jpg |
Work has now re-started on the cab area. New woodwork around cab entrance and wheel arch. 600x800 122_174.JPG.jpg |
The finished lower deck ceiling (at last!) 1024x768 122_173.JPG.jpg |
The finished lower deck ceiling (at last!) Just the lights and bell pushes to fit now. 1024x768 122_172.JPG.jpg |
The finished lower deck ceiling (at last!) Just the lights and bell pushes to fit now. 1024x768 122_171.JPG.jpg |
First bits of new ali interior trim over the offside windows, ready for the plastic strip to be installed. 1024x768 122_170.JPG.jpg |
First bits of new ali interior trim over the offside windows, ready for the plastic strip to be installed. 1024x768 122_169.JPG.jpg |
Almost completed beading between the decks and front valance in position 1024x768 122_168.JPG.jpg |
Almost completed beading between the decks and front valance in position 1024x768 122_167.JPG.jpg |
Almost completed beading between the decks 1024x768 122_166.JPG.jpg |
More beading between the decks 1024x768 122_165.JPG.jpg |
New small panel sections by front window. 1024x768 122_164.JPG.jpg |
New small panel sections by front window. 1024x768 122_163.JPG.jpg |
Drilling beading for new panels over windows. 2048x1536 122_162.jpg |
Drilling beading for new panels over windows 2048x1536 122_161.jpg |
New panel sections going in over N/S lower deck windows 2048x1536 122_160.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels all glossed an waiting for the beading and trims. May 07. New lower bulkhead panels also fitted 1024x768 122_159.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels all glossed an waiting for the beading and trims. May 07 1024x768 122_158.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels being painted. March 07 1024x768 122_157.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels with cove panels glossed. May 07 1024x768 122_156.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels back in. May 07 2048x1536 122_155.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels back in. May 07 1024x768 122_154.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels back in. May07 1024x768 122_153.JPG |
Downstairs ceiling panels back in. May 07 1024x768 122_152.jpg |
Downstairs ceiling panels going back in. March 07 1024x768 122_151.JPG |
Downstairs ceiling panels going back in. March 07 1024x768 122_150.JPG |
Downstairs ceiling panels going back in. March 07 1024x768 122_149.JPG |
Rotten planks replaced 800x533 122_148.jpg |
Rotten planks out 800x533 122_147.jpg |
Trial fitting of oil box 800x533 122_146.jpg |
Both front vents repaired and re-fitted. 640x427 122_145.JPG |
Front vent ready for new rubber seal. 640x427 122_144.JPG |
Me prepping the front window vents for re-painting and new rubbers. 640x427 122_143.JPG |
First upperdeck windows going in 640x427 122_142.JPG |
Upper deck windows stripped out, repainted ready for new rubbers and windows back in. 640x427 122_141.JPG |
Upper deck windows stripped out, repainted ready for new rubbers and windows back in. 640x427 122_140.jpg |
U/D cleared of bits & pieces for further work 1075x717 122_139.JPG |
L/D windows dismantled, repainted,new rubbers and back in place 1229x819 122_138.JPG |
L/D windows dismantled, chemically stripped and etch primed 1024x768 122_137.JPG |
