London
Transport Museum
In
the last few weeks there have been a few more things going on. Almost
2 weeks ago I was out for a ride on the Buell and lost the rear end crash
protectors, disappearing somewhere on my travels around Chieveley.
This started off a series of events that meant a trip to R&G
racing near Alton in Hampshire to get replacements and where I left
more fliers for them to send out to unsuspecting customers. In the
middle of that I was out to the Wey Valley Advanced Motorcycle Club
meeting on the Sunday and spent the Monday at the Museum having
another international day with visitors from America, Australia and
New Zealand. The guy from New Zealand knew Bert Monroe and suggested
I go pay the Bert Monroe Museum a visit the next time I'm in New
Zealand. I have seen the film “the Fastest Indian “a few times
and it reminds me of many things I did with my dad working on
motorcycles late into the night in my youth. On this Monday the ABC
Skootamota, the Zenith Gradua and Trusty were missing from the
display. Gone, but where? They must be out for a show somewhere. I
needed to know. It only took a phone call to find out they were
loaded and ready to go to the London Transport Open Day at the Acton
Depot for the coming weekend. It is also the Brighton Burn up Sunday
too. I was not able to contribute much towards these as I was
entertainments officer for my sister-in-law and nephew. I was out on
Tuesday to the weekly Wycombe MAG meeting at the Stags Head Flackwell
Heath on the Kawasaki. Wednesday to R&G Racing near Alton, just
100 miles round trip staring about 9:30 and back for lunch. Friday
was a trip to Brooklands, free to BMCT people like me and after a
very interesting day meeting some German guys with their racing
Austin Sevens the family missed out on the Concord flight but did do
the new show of 150 mph around Montilhery in the1922 550 bhp Napier
Railton that managed 144.3 mph lap record in 1928.
It was a bumpy
ride in the simulator. Saturday was a family day and on Sunday
morning I was doing a little woodwork and did not quite manage to
amputate my left index finger before breakfast with a Japanese saw. I
may have exaggerated a little but it was messy and I now have a very
stiff sore finger! After being patched up I thought that trying to
ride a bike in London traffic with a disabled finger on my clutch
hand was not a good idea so I elected to use my Freedom Pass and use
the public transport to get me to Acton. I got there around 2pm and
spent the remaining time talking to prospective visitors and seeing
little of the what was at the Transport Museum. They have this open
day only once a year and it has some very special bits to it. This
years theme was World War One and hence why Trusty was paying a
visit.
Almost next to the Museum stand was a 1916 army bus that
started life as a London Bus. Done over in Army brown it was a drab
version of the bright red that it would have ben on the streets of
London. Best bit of all, a visitor whose grandfather had served as a
dispatch rider on a Trusty was station in 91 regiment and the bus
next door was 92 regiment. We have more information to come on this.
The army uniform form the bus display was one used by the dispatch
riders and we have had taken a lot of information about the arm bands
they wore.
Further to that RAF Hendon are restoring a 1915 Trusty. I
was there only a few hours but it was well worthwhile. I was pleased
I had used the buses as parking is not good at Acton. This museum is
almost opposite Acton Town railway station. I nearly made it home but at the bus stop in Greenford the E6 was displayed with a 28 minute wait so the calvary was called and I was home in twenty. Sore
finger and all, typing with one less finger that it pointing to the
air taped into immobility is a bit difficult. More to come when we
see it.
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