Northampton Transport Heritage News
After another busy year behind us we are now in 2024, on this page are the 4 key NTH Events listed, our preliminary events list for the year are on the events page, and of course we must add the proviso that all events are dependant on having enough volunteer drivers and staff to enable us to run the buses. So if you have the odd day free, why not volunteer and help us at just one of the events, it all helps to keep the Charity running.
Just to remind you, for all trips (unless stated otherwise against the event) each membership card allows you to bring one guest, extra guests or non-members can have daily membership for £5.
Wellingborough Bus Running Day
The following vehicles are booked to attend the Wellingborough Bus Rally. The list is subject to change depending on availability of vehicles so check back regularly to see any additions or amendments. Information is given in good faith but relies on availability on the day.
For all those attending, thank you for supporting the event and hope you enjoyed yourselves
Carbon Capture
Knowing our vehicles are not eco-friendly, we try and offset using Carbon Capture Offsetting - and this is our 2023 contribution.
St James Tram and Bus Depot
We are pleased to announce we have submitted an application to Historic England to List the St James Tram and Bus Depot. It has taken a lot of work and in doing so we have accumulated much more information and details of the construction of the original tramways. There are some of these pictures on our Depot page.
FULL PRESS RELEASE ON THE DEPOT PAGE
Wellingborough Bus Rally April 2024
Our first event this year is the Wellingborough Bus Rally on 6th and 7th April. We are now running the bus rally side of the event and will be doing local tours on vatious buses from the layby on Castle Way, Wellingborough. More details on the events page, but if you have a vehicle you would like to use in the rally, please download the attached form and return to us as noted at the bottom of the form as soon as possible please.
We will be running a bus from Northampton Railway Station leaving at 9.05 and calling at Victoria Street returning at 4.30 from Wellingborough
Other key NTH Events for 2024 -
Saturday 15 June 2024 - Transport Day at Abington Park
Saturday 7 September 2024 - Daventry Heritage Bus Running Day
Saturday 14 September 2024 - Northampton Heritage Open Day
Save The Depot Campaign
The Northampton Corporation Bus Depot that has a long history since it was built in 1911 is now up for sale by its current owners. We now have a campaign to save all or even part of this historic building for future generations and want to create a Transport Museum and Community centre for the area. Please see our dedicated page for more information over the next few months.
Events for 2024
We will have dates for events listed on the events pages.
We have also acquired a large collection of the late John Childs photograph collection from Northamptonshire Archives and we hope to put a history in pictures of the rebuild of our Crossley VV 9146 onto its own page in the new year.
Northamptonshire Archives have the remainder of the collection with many photographs of Northampton Corporation Transport Vehicles and Documents including fleet lists, disposal information, leaflets and posters.
Heritage Days 2023
We have 2 Heritage events coming up, full details in the posters below. Please come and support us, or read the appeal for Volunteers below - be part of our team.
Heritage Open Days - 2023
We love this event, and so do you! Which is why we have been working really hard behind the scenes negotiating with WNC to make this year's event happen!
Two 'new' vehicles for 2023
Well the time has come to reveal our latest vehicles - full details are on the Vehicles pages.
First is No 260 - GRP 260D - Bristol MW6G/ECW C39F - One of three MW dual-purpose coaches bought new by United Counties (Nos 260-262). This vehicle will be used in 2023.
Next we have No 40 – PBD 40R Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB with Alexander AL H45/27D body. - One of a batch of 36 similar buses (Nos. 35-70 with varying registration letters) delivered to Northampton Transport Ltd between May 1977 and October 1978. This vehicle runs but is in need of some cosmetic changes and new seats throughout and second doors but may be used in 2023 for static display/sales stand until we can refurbish it.
Mercedes 709D - L381 LBD
We have acquired this bus recently, it was originally a Stagecoach bus that ran in the County and has now been bought and returned to it's 'home'.
It runs well and has been cleaned up so it can be used, we hope to eventually put it back into its original Stagecoach livery which along with its fleet number can still be seen under the current green paint.
August 2022 News
We attended the Buses 2022 Festival at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire on a glorious hot Sunday 7th August, we took 5 buses to the event - 146, 157, 202, 267 and 654. Whilst 3 of the buses were in the exhibition area 267 and 654 did many visitor trips organised by the Festival organisers.
We were both surprised and delighted to receive the trophy for Best Preserved Double Deck for our 146 - the 1946 Crossley - seen left with our Chairman and the Cup.
146 will be at Roade on 13th August if you would like to see the bus and have a free ride around the village. See our events page for more details